The NFU has launched its first ‘shed talk’ event, designed to help farmers maximise their business, share ideas and find out more about food production and the farmed environment.
The event in Yorkshire attracted more than 80 farmers to NFU vice president Rachel Hallos’ farm in the South Pennines, where she runs a commercial beef and sheep business with her husband and two children.
Hallos was joined by a panel of other industry experts at the family business in Ripponden and they discussed food production, green finance, the environment and how farmers can make the most from their farm business now and for the future.
Guests visited Beeston Hall, which is a 2,000-acre Yorkshire Water tenanted farm, where the family specialises in pedigree Salers cattle. Hallos’ farm is also rich in wildlife and is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The family has special habitats on farm, blanket bog, heathland and acid grassland, which are all species rich and home to important upland birds such as golden plover, curlew, twite, dunlin and merlin, among others.
Hallos said: “I was delighted to have so many members and farmers from different parts of the country come along to have a day on our farm and listen to our farm experiences as upland and tenant farmers, and also hear from a panel of experts.
“With the changes to SFI and farm subsidies, ever-changing weather conditions and running costs, a lot of farmers are really struggling to make a living. We want to host these events to share experiences and help each other make the most of our farm businesses.”
The NFU is hosting a series of shed talk events across the country over the next few months to bring farmers together, look at different ways of working, share ideas and consider how to maximise funding grants that are available.