Almost 50 members and guests heard a fascinating background briefing by an Army veterinary surgeon, Capt Emma Lane-Ley at the opening meeting of the winter season. Commissioned in 2016 into the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, her recent role had been looking after the horses in the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery involved in the late Queen’s State Funeral and also the King’s Coronation. Brought up in north Norfolk, she had done placements at Westover vets before qualifying at Nottingham University. Full meeting report – See the minutes and reports tab on the left. Entry added: 14 Nov 2024 |
Congratulations - Two member of Stalham Farmers’ Club have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the agricultural industry. Broadland farmer Nick Deane, also a former county NFU chairman, was made an associate by the Council for Awards of the Royal Agricultural Societies. Nuffield scholar Emily Norton, who is a partner in the family’s farm at Frettenham, was also made an associate at the House of Lords earlier this month. Hosted by Lord Taylor of Holbeach, the annual awards highlight individuals who have gone above and beyond, driving change in sustainable farming, supporting charities and pushing the boundaries of research and technology.
Mr Deane, of Barton Turf, was made an associate (ARAgS) for his leadership over the past two decades with water and irrigation issues.
As the current treasurer of BAWAG (Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group), his contribution to highlight water related issues had been significant. Emily, who is a trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, and was formerly head of rural research at Savills, was recognised her personal contribution to agriculture. A Nuffield scholar, she read law at Cambridge.
There were a total of 28 awards, including 11 Fellowships, made by the English panel on October 15, 2024. Mid-Norfolk dairy farmer Ken Proctor, of Shipdham, and the deputy president of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association Poul Hovesen, who had been made associates in 2019, were both awarded Fellowships.
The UK wide CARAS (Council of Royal Agricultural Societies) recognises distinguished achievement in agriculture and related land-based industries with an awards scheme. To date, more than 1,200 individuals have been recognised by 800 Fellows and more than 350 associates.
Photograph: CARAS. The eastern winners are featured in photo gallery.
Entry added: 18 Oct 2024 |
RNAA president and HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk to present club trophies – It is with great pleasure that His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Lady Dannatt MBE has accepted the invitation to address members and guests at the club’s annual dinner on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The retiring president of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association has also agreed to present the prizes at the dinner, which returns to Salhouse Lodge after the highly-successful event earlier this year. Lady Dannatt was appointed to her current role in August 2019 by the late Queen Elizabeth. Details of the dinner will be sent to members early in the New Year when invitations to apply will be requested. It is being held a week later than the provisional date sent to members earlier this month. Entry added: 16 Oct 2024 |
Loneliness of the long-distance runner – Charlie Lockhart set himself a challenge to run 100 miles in a month to raise funds for Cancer Research. And his just-giving page is still open for further donations if any member would like to support this worthy initiative. Charlie, who started as one of British Sugar’s agricultural managers in May, would admit that he is possibly a somewhat reluctant runner but he achieved his goal and has raised almost £600 for the charity. As many will know, his father, John, who was club chairman in 2005, and is living near Belvoir Castle between Nottingham and Grantham, was treated for cancer last year. Charlie, who lives near Oulton Broad, found the discipline of a daily run a challenge at first but soon got into the swing of it. Now, he looks after beet contracts from Lowestoft to Stalham, he intends to join the club.
http://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/charless-giving-page-234 Entry added: 11 Oct 2024 |
Welcome to the 2024 winter season of Stalham Farmers’ Club.
We meet at Wroxham Barns NR12 8QU for supper with the chairman Jon Pye.
All members are invited to supper and welcome the evening’s speaker from 6pm, with the meal served about 6.30pm. The meetings starts about 7.30pm.
If you’d like to come to supper, please let the secretary know by 10am on the Monday (two days before) because meals have to be booked. All requests will be acknowledged.
Members are most welcome to bring a guest or partner – the more the merrier. YFC members and potential club members will be most welcome too.
And in January, we welcome members of North Walsham YFC to supper as our guests
Entry added: 04 Oct 2024 |
STALHAM'S WINTER PROGRAMME
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Wednesday, November 13
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting.
All the King’s Horses - Capt Emma Lane-Ley, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
Wednesday, December 11
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting.
Perils at Sea and the Happisburgh Light, Geoff Turner.
2025
Wednesday, January 15
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting.
Mighty oaks from acorns, Adam Curtis, countryside manager with the National Trust.
Wednesday, February 12.
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting and AGM Sampling air for diseases, Darren Heavens, of the Earlham Institute.
Wednesday, March 19
Annual dinner and presentation of trophies and prizes.
Salhouse Lodge, 7pm for 7.30pm. Speaker TBC.
Entry added: 04 Oct 2024 |
FOWL PLAY ONLINE -
Early-morning risers may have heard the club's secretary Michael Pollitt interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today programme about the challenges of registering on Defra's poultry register. He told the presenter Anna Hill that he had spent a total of 17 hours over two days trying to complete the on-line application for five birds (two hens and three bantams) on his north Norwich allotment ahead of the official deadline for registration on October 1. Defra's website was unable to cope with the surge in applications for poultry keepers with less than
50 birds, who have to register to avoid a £2,500 fine or even possible imprisonment! The online application process required a code from Defra to provide further details but it was only valid for 30 minutes. When the first code arrived seven hours later, it was out of time and thus invalid. In all, 11 codes were sent over two days with the last arriving at 11pm, making it impossible to register. Fortunately, a helpful member of Defra's Cardiff-based Animal and Plant Health Agency offered to send a four-page email to start the registration process. It was somewhat frustrating. And late on Thursday,, Defra's website
stated: "Our online service is currently unavailable due to technical issues." To hear more, go to BBC Sounds (Farming Today, Friday, October 4, 5.45am).
Entry added: 04 Oct 2024 |
Potato Cup entries, please -
After the deluge, maybe a ray of warmth and sunshine will finally be a boost to root crops. Entries for Stalham Farmers' Club's crop competitions will be welcomed. The Potato Cup, now freshly engraved with the names of the last three year's winners, is the first to be judged.
Robin Baines has agreed to cast his eye over the entries and it is planned to walk crops in the first week of August.
Please send details of the size of the field/ variety and access to the secretary - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com at your earliest convenience.
All entries will be acknowledged amd there is no fee for entering.
Fields should be at least 10 acres. Incidentally, the Potato Cup was first awarded in 1970.
Any questions, please contact the secretary, Michael Pollitt on 01603 486997. Please keep samples from cereal crops for the club's two grain competitions. The club's sugar beet competitions will be judged later in the season.
Entry added: 17 Jul 2024 |
The club's annual farm walk, which was staged with the East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers' Union, was a great success. A total of almost 90 members and guests joined the walk around Tony & Emily Bambridge's PArk Farm, Blickling. Thanks to all who atended and who helped to make the event such a success. There's a report on the website. Entry added: 17 Jul 2024 |
Glorious summer farm walk - A glorious summer evening walk was enjoyed by 85 members of Stalham Farmers' Club and East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers' Union. The hosts, Tony and Emily Bambridge, welcomed the party including a dozen members of North Walsham YFC to Park Farm, Blickling. They then led the group around the 94 ha (237 acre) holding - part of the National Trust's 4,464-acre estate. He spoke about the range of cropping, including growing grass seeds, vetch and pre-basic barley seed as well as the pedigree herd of Lincoln Red cattle. His wife Emily talked about the herd of Haflingers and her drive to produce a more modern horse. There was a little history too including a description of diverting the course of the river Bure in 1388 and planting new hedges behind the field boundaries mapped by Faden in 1797. The other speakers, William Heal and Adam Curtis, of the National Trust, also spoke during the walk. Finally, a hog roast supper ended the evening. See Minutes and Reports on the left. Entry added: 10 Jul 2024 |