Robert Keatley, Castlederg

Before attending the Oxford Farming Conference, my knowledge was very limited on what the event would mean to me as a student studying agricultural technology at Queens University Belfast and coming from a beef and sheep farm outside Castlederg. The theme of this year’s event was “bold agriculture” with three main sub titles of “inform, challenge and inspire”.

One of the sessions that I found very relevant was titled “step-change science”. We are all aware of the Going for Growth Strategy that is in place here in NI, but with current market volatility this can seem out of touch. During this session, four very different speakers from right across the supply chain gave very informative talks.

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Digitisation of the sector was the main recurring theme and how the inclusion of new technology could help boost the output of our sector. This may seem out of reach for a primary producer, but not for Neil Perkins, a Welsh sheep farmer with 600 acres who undertook a Nuffield Scholarship in 2005. After this experience, he went about transforming his business.

Today, his farm grows an extra 30% of grass per acre. This was done by changing to a paddock grazing system, investing in the latest grass measuring technology and by using specialised mixtures suited to his land. Use of technology didn’t stop there, as he introduced EID across the whole flock that lets him monitor individual animal performance.

Brexit

Phil Hogan was also in attendance to debate the question of whether or not UK agriculture would be better off outside the EU. There was a lively session between him and the former Defra secretary Owen Patterson.

The main points to take away from the debate were that there are a lot of unknowns about a possible British exit (Brexit). Also, there weren’t many answers in relation to what it would mean for NI.

On returning home and reflecting on the conference, I have renewed confidence in our industry, despite the fact that we are currently going through a time of much change.

This experience has also given me more belief in some of the new technologies that are available and hopefully I will be able to adapt these to our production system at home and increase our efficiency.

James Purcell, Limavady

I am a fourth generation farmer, farming in the Roe Valley basin situated outside Limavady. I am currently at home full-time on our mixed enterprise farm consisting of dairy, beef, sheep and cereal, farming alongside my father, uncle and cousin.

During the three-day Oxford Farming Conference, I heard from a number of very informative, passionate, success-driven speakers from all parts of the agriculture sector. The 2016 line-up explored innovation, entrepreneurialism and leadership, as well as step-changes in science and whether food as the new “medicine” can create more opportunities for our sector.

A talk that really captivated me was Dr Bram Govaert, a scientist from CIYMMYT in Mexico. Dr Govaert spoke with passion about his belief in ending world hunger. It is predicted by 2050 that there will be 9.3bn people in the world, yet currently there are one in nine people with no food. He believes that there has to be a greater emphasis on more food from less resources, more productivity with less environmental impact, and more income with less poverty.

On Thursday afternoon, we heard from three entrepreneurs, Englishman Emlyn Evans, Australian James Walker and New Zealander Craig Carr. In a way it was reassuring to know that these farmers are also encountering the same problems we face on a daily basis. However, what really struck me was their drive and passion to succeed, even when obstacles got in their way.

A quote from Emlyn sticks in my mind: “If your goals don’t scare you then they aren’t big enough.”