Stalham 2019 crop competitions:
Barley inter-club champion - Supreme - Mautby Farms (Laureate). Reserve, William Mack, of Holt & District Farmers’ Club (Propino). Judge, Bob King, Crisp Malting Group.
Potatoes -1 Walcott Farms (Rooster); 2 Robin Baines & Co (Innovator); 3 LF Papworth (Rooster). Judge, Denis Walsh.
Sugar beet
Cantley Cup, best overall 2019/20 crop - 1 R Ellis & Son, Hickling; 2 Kevin Starkings, Coltishall; 3 Andrew Withers, Edingthorpe.
Whole crop - 1 GA Tallowin & Co; 2 LF Papworth; 3 CN Beck & Sons. Judge, Ken Matthews.
Best two-acre - 1 HBS Farms; 2 Hirst Farms; 3 Walcott Farms. Judge, Sarah Bebb.
Cereals
Wheat - 1 HBS Farms- (Spotlight); 2 Mautby Farms - (Graham); 3 Milligen McLeod - (Siskin).
Barley - 1 Mautby Farms (Laureate); 2 Milligen McLeod (Maris Otter); 3 AJ Key (Laureate).
Entry added: 04 Sep 2020 |
Remembering Greg Anderson:
And finally, our thoughts are with Greg Anderson’s family. Details of the forthcoming celebration of the life of Greg Anderson and the tractor and car run on Sunday, September 13, have already been posted on the club’s website. A popular farmer and member, Greg also achieved the double in the grain cups by winning the barley and wheat competitions in 2007. His tragic death on Friday, August 14, was a huge shock to the farming community.
Entry added: 04 Sep 2020 |
Lockdown activity:
A photographic challenge during the Covid-19 lockdown was the brainchild of our webmaster Tim Papworth. His initial “snaps” of farming, landscape and country scenes encouraged several dozen members to take some memorable, and often funny photographs. And, the club’s efforts were also featured during lockdown by the Eastern Daily Press.
Launched in April, more than 60 images were posted that month on the website. In May, another 72 were posted and in all 150 shots were submitted – which can be viewed on “Photo Gallery.”
Roving cyclist David Faulkner, who took some splendid images of churches for the Round Tower Churches Society’s website, started another theme – village signs, also enthusiastically embraced by Tim Papworth, who added several dozen on his travels. To date, a total of 81 signs are currently featured. Please send more to Tim Papworth.
Entry added: 04 Sep 2020 |
Competitions 2021:
Judging of the Potato Cup was carried out last month by Denis Walsh, who was able to “social distance” in eight different fields.
Entries for the whole beet crop, and also the best-two acre, are also invited. Please let the secretary know – with details of the field etc by the end of September. Three entries have been received, to date.
Again, there’s no entry fee – and the whole crop will be judged in the first week of October – before Cantley opens around October 13. Ken Matthews, also social distancing, will run the rule over crops.
The two-acre will be judged later in October.
Grain:
Entries for barley and wheat are also needed. Given some comments about the quality of barley grown in east Norfolk, there may be some cracking samples. Please let the chairman, Chris Borrett, of Adams & Howling, have them or they may be left by permission of Neal Sands, at Sands.
Entry added: 04 Sep 2020 |
Meetings:
Unfortunately, given the official advice and current legal restrictions on public gatherings and indoor meetings, it has not been possible to organise an autumn and winter programme of indoor meetings and visits. It is hoped, however, to plan a number of events/ activities/ visits from early 2021, which will enable members to meet. Any positive suggestions for venues/ visits/ ideas would be gratefully appreciated by the chairman and secretary.
Every effort to keep the membership informed will be made – and the website will continue to play a useful part.
Entry added: 04 Sep 2020 |
Annual dinner and chairman
Your committee, which met in early March, decided to postpone the annual dinner. Our guest speaker, Sir Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk between 2001 and 2019, praised the club’s officers for a timely decision. Although it was planned to hold the dinner in October, this will not take place because of the on-going Covid-19 situation. Accordingly, Chris Borrett takes the chair in succession to Henry Alston, who should have presided at the March dinner. Thanks to Henry for steering the club through the past two years.
Entry added: 04 Sep 2020 |
A celebration of the late Greg Anderson's life
A celebration of the late Greg Anderson’s life will be held on Sunday, September 13.
The family has asked friends and fellow Stalham Farmers’ Club members to join a tractor and car run in aid of YANA.
All proceeds will be donated to YANA (You Are Not Alone) – the charity promoting rural health mental support.
Greg Anderson farmed at Lessingham, near Stalham, and was a long-time member of Stalham Farmers’ Club. His tragic death at the age of 58 in a car accident on August 14 has shocked the close-knit farming community in Norfolk.
The celebration of his life will include a tractor and car run starting at Hirsty’s Family Fun Park, Hemsby NR29 4NL – meeting from 10am, and aiming to depart by 11am.
There will be a hog roast and refreshments on return, £10 per vehicle.
Numbers are limited and to assist with catering, please register, via email to glatractorrun@gmail.com by September 5.
This is all subject to current Covid-19 advice, and all taking part are asked to respect social distancing.
The EDP notice, which was published last Saturday, also states that donations to YANA can be sent to the funeral directors.
ANDERSON GREGORY LAWRENCE Tragically taken as a result of a car accident on August 14th, 2020, aged 58 years. Darling husband of Diana, dearest father of James and Michael, loving brother of Fergus and Peggy, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle and wonderful friend to many. Private family funeral. Donations if desired, payable to YANA may be sent to Murrell Cork Funerals of Stalham, 32-34 High Street, Stalham, NR12 9AN.
Entry added: 28 Aug 2020 |
Judging of the club's longstanding competitions for the Potato Cup and also the sugar beet trophies will be taking place in the coming weeks.
It is planned to judge the potato cup in early August. Please could you submit your entry by August 3 with field location/ and a map. Also, the field size/ crop variety and likely market would greatly assist. An aerial location, ie google map or OS reference will help too.
There is no charge for entry - and it would greatly assist the judge to find the correct field if the entrance could also be identified. Entry added: 21 Jul 2020 |
Sugar Beet
It is planned to judge the whole crop and then the two-acre in September/ early October. Again, details of location/ and a map will assist the judge location the correct field.
A further reminder will be sent out next month.
For further details, please contact the secretary or visit the club's website for further updates.
Entry added: 21 Jul 2020 |
Free strategic farm business review for older farmers-------------------------------------------
An opportunity for a free strategic farm business review is being made available to senior members of Stalham Farmers’ Club.
A Defra-funded project across the eastern counties will help “older” farmers navigate the major changes to agricultural support policies. Advisers at Brown & Co have been commissioned by Defra to carry out this practical “resilience audit,” which will involve one-to-one discussions with qualifying farmers.
The audit generally takes an hour to complete and can be carried out by telephone with “older” farmers, defined as 55 and over. While the thrust of the "audit" will revolve around changes to long-established support, it is a chance for farmers to question and consider a range of other issues
Stalham member Andrew Spinks, who is a Brown & Co adviser, has already conducted at least one interview in person.
“It is an opportunity to look at issues and topics which may help farmers steer their business through a period of radical change,” he said. The discussion could range from retirement planning and succession through to the future for the business, he added.
It generally takes about an hour – and is free, said Mr Spinks. (It is available to all farm business partners, who are aged over 55, so early application is advised).
Brown & Co will be making this “resilience audit” available to qualifying farmers across the county. In addition, it is planned to offer a similar programme for tenant farmers later in the year. Again, if a tenant might be interested in taking part, a list of names is being compiled.
If any member is interested, please contact Brown & Co’s Norwich office on Norwich 01603 629871.
Entry added: 15 Jul 2020 |