Award-winning Norfolk farm business, LF Papworth, was making headlines on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today. Kit Papworth told Norwich-based presenter Anna Hill about the bees in oilseed rape crops and also about the additional costs of growing a crop without the ability to use proven seed protection products. To hear the latest on the BBC - go to Listen Again - for the next 30 days. It was broadcast on Thursday, April 23 - St George's Day. Entry added: 27 Apr 2015 |
QUIZ RAISES FUNDS FOR RABI
A fun general knowledge quiz for farming’s charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, bought 15 teams together from across the county.
Stalham finished in the top half of the table at East Tuddenham village hall with a respectable total of 139 although the overall winners from Dereham managed to score 161 in the eight rounds of questions and the picture quiz. Organiser Jenny Youngs and husband William’s six-strong team, the Brampton Film Club were runners-up with 159. In third place was the team, Chalkie’s Charlies, skippered by Sir John White, of Salle, chairman of Norfolk RABI committee.
A number of members from Stalham, including vice-chairman, Jonathan Deane, and George Gay, Tim Place and John Mitchell, and committee members John Purling and Ken Leggett and the secretary, Michael Pollitt, also competed in other teams on Wednesday, April 22.
The light ploughman’s supper, which was served by a team including Mrs Youngs and RABI secretary, Sally Mitchell, was much appreciated. Although it is not known exactly how much was raised, Stalham was also a sponsor.
Entry added: 23 Apr 2015 |
North Walsham Young Farmer Dan Laddiman is looking for grazing for his expanding flock of Texel X sheep. If you have any grazing that might be of interest to him then please contact him on 07776412754 or Danladdiman@yahoo.com Entry added: 23 Apr 2015 |
TRUSTEE PRAISED
After nine years as a trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Louis Baugh, of Neatishead Hall, was thanked by the chairman, Sir Nicholas Bacon.
Mr Baugh, who was club chairman in 1997, has been succeeded on the trustee body of the RNAA by Ches Broom, of Easton & Otley College.
Entry added: 20 Apr 2015 |
HONORARY POST
A former head steward at the Royal Norfolk Show, Broadland farmer and club member Richard Hirst, of Ormesby, was elected an honorary vice-president at the RNAA’s annual meeting. After stewarding for several years, he became head steward of private driving in 2002 and stood down last year. Another member and former honorary show veterinary officer, Roger Clarke, was made an honorary vice-president at the annual meeting last year.
Entry added: 20 Apr 2015 |
Stalham has entered a team for the inter-county quiz on Wednesday, April 22 at East Tuddenham but there are a couple of places in the six-strong team to be filled. Please contact the secretary if you'd like to join the fun. A total of 19 teams have already entered, boosting the funds for farming's charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. It starts at 7.15pm prompt and includes a light supper. Entry added: 17 Apr 2015 |
CONGRATULATIONS TO PRIZE WINNER
A former chairman and the club’s potato champion, Robin Baines, has been awarded the Timothy Colman Prize, it was announced at the Norfolk showground.
The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s annual award, which is presented for an outstanding contribution to food, farming and countryside education, was made in the presence of the retiring president, the Earl of Wessex.
Sir Nicholas Bacon, chairman of council, said that Mr Baines was a “worthy winner” who had shown “infectious enthusiasm” for taking as many as 20 parties of schoolchildren around farms for many years. The parties included many children from the city and even from Birmingham over the years.
Mr Baines, of Hoveton, who was Stalham’s chairman in 1996, will be formally presented with his award by the newly-elected show president, Robert Carter at the Royal Norfolk Show in July.
Sir Nicholas also said that show steward Mr Baines had played an important role raising almost £16,000 to send a “Tractor for Faith” to Zambia with fellow members of Wroxham Bure Valley Rotary Club two years ago. The 55hp John Deere tractor has helped to clear scrub and land for an orphanage, which trains agricultural students.
Mr Baines, who starts his farming career in his native Worcestershire, is now farming about 5,000 acres in Norfolk having started as a tenant with about 175 acres. He joined Wroxham Home Farms in 1983, where he also starting taking groups around the farm, and then became farms manager until 1996. He had been supported by the Gurney family at Heggatt Hall and also at Whitehouse Farm, Sprowston, in welcoming school and other group to learn about the production of food over the years.
He was also presented to Prince Edward.
Entry added: 17 Apr 2015 |
Club's donation helps to meet charity's increasing demands. Walking With the Wounded, which was sent more than £1,500 the club's dinner, reports calls for assistance averaging 30 per week and the trend is upward, writes trustee Harriet Parker.
Her letter of thanks can be seen on the left in the Newsletters section.
Entry added: 01 Apr 2015 |
Spring Fling Success -From organising tractor and trailer rides for several thousand visitors and running quizzes at the 16th annual Spring Fling, many members of Stalham Farmers’ Club took part in the latest highly-successful event.An estimated 5,500 youngsters and parents descended on the Norfolk showground for what has become a highlight of the Easter holidays. With a total of about 70 displays and demonstrations inside the exhibition hall and adjoining buildings, just a handful of outside events could not take place because of the excessively blustery conditions But the team of tractor and trailer drivers, led by Simon Daniels, made a total of 114 round trips throughout the day. Although it was not possible to give a precise total, it is estimated that more than 2,250 youngsters and parents went for a ride around the showeground. And Mr Daniels, added: “The trips worked better this year, as there were sheep grazing some of the sections on the route which gave the visitors something to look at plus the added entertainment of lambs getting out!The six trailers included one lent by LF Papworth and Tim Papworth was another “Fling” volunteer helping on Tuesday, March 31.Ken Leggett was helping presenter Johnny Ball and fellow Stalham club member, John Newton, with the NFU Roadshow. Fortunately, they managed to find out how to quieten the penetrating bellow of the star wooden cow, Annabelle – much to the relief of adjoining exhibitors. They disconnected her electronic “moo.”And nearby Emily Page was helping the Norfolk Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs with filling more than 1,000 with a variety of coloured sands. They used food colourings mixed with household salt – and in fact cleared the nearby Sainsbury’s of all salt supplies.The Spring Fling, which was first held in 2000 with about 550 visitors, has expanded more than ten-fold over the following years.And visitors were still arriving at noon as your secretary, Michael Pollitt, checked tickets for some of the last parties coming to the showground.A small army of stewards, including members of fellow club, Holt & District Farm Farmers’ Club and countless volunteers, ensured that visitors had a fun day learning about food, farming and the countryside.A record number of sausages – more than 3,600 – made by retired Harleston butcher Terry Beales were cooked by members of Ladies in Pigs and handed out to visitors. And nearby B & C Farming bagged up half a tonne of Maris Peer as a total of more than 9,000 tubers were given to the youngsters.The RNAA also appreciated the club’s donation and no doubt, another Stalham member, Greg Smith, must have been mightily relieved that the worst of the windy weather spared the showground. It was another great success and not least feeding thousands of visitors within two hours with a hog roast and Suffolk apple juice.
Entry added: 01 Apr 2015 |
Chairman’s farm walk - Stalham Farmers’ Club, which is preparing to celebrate its 175th anniversary, is joining forces with East Norfolk NFU branch for a visit to Hall Farm, Wickmere, on Tuesday, July 7. The tractor-and-trailer ride will last about 90 minutes, said host farmer Jonathan Seaman. It is planned to meet at 5.30pm for a 6pm start and end with supper and drinks. More details to follow. Entry added: 27 Mar 2015 |