CHAROLAIS - Harrison & Hetherington

He insisted his comments werenot about advocating ‘big, corporate’farms over ‘small, family’businesses: “It is about attitude:whether to pine for the old days ofgovernment intervention and protection,or to face the challenges.”At the heart of his speech wasBy Alistair Driverthe need for the industry to use ‘thebest research, technology andFARMING Minister Jim Paice has knowledge transfer we can get’ tochallenged British farmers to ‘set help boost production, while protectingresources and biodiversity.the industry on fire’by leaving thepast behind and embracing theopportunities on offer in today’smarketplace.Mr Paice identified the AgricultureSpeaking at the Oxford FarmingConference, Mr Paice laid out ment Board (AHDB) as theand Horticulture Develop-his vision for British farming ‘professional body’ to drive the industryforward in this area and hadbased on seeking out new globalmarkets, innovating using all asked AHDB chairman John Godfreyto address how this could beavailable technologies and ultimatelythriving without the achieved. He stressed the industrysupport of direct subsidies. needed to accept it was competingHe also revealed Defra would in a global food marketplace andbe hosting an ‘innovation summit’ to seek out export opportunitiesin London in March followed by a ‘where we are most competitive’.series of ‘practical’regional events. Shadow Defra Secretary MaryHe dismissed the view of farming‘as a quaint old industry’ and defining political issues of this cen-Creagh said food was ‘one of theurged farmers to look to the future. tury’, but criticised the Governmentfor failing to address all the“We can keep the cosy imageof Buttercup in the field producinga few litres a day and the Highlighting the role farmingissues surrounding it.bucolic farmer leaning on his gate and food can play in stimulatingWe can sentimentalise farmers as economic recovery, she warned ofsmall players in a market dominatedby supermarkets at home against a backdrop of rising foodincreasing food poverty in the UKand multinational conglomerates prices, exacerbated, she claimed,abroad,”he said.by commodity speculation.“Or we can set this industry on NFU president Peter Kendallfire and take the opportunities and said he was heartened by Mrface the reality they provide.” Paice’s message.With Britain set to take centre stage this year, we celebrate all rural Britain has to offer.NEWS 2-3BUSINESS 10MACHINERY 18LIVESTOCK 46YOUNGSTOCK 52SALES 54IN YOUR FIELD 60WILLIAM AND ANDREWCOWX, CUMBRIA117Subscribe toAgriculture’s National NewspaperFarmersWWW.FARMERSGUARDIAN.COMGuardianOLYMPIC SHOWCASETime for British produceto shine p6-7FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2012 £2.00AGRICULTURE’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPERLOCALLY-PRODUCED RENEWED PASSION AMBASSADORSNEW WAYS OF ATTRACTING A COUNTRYSIDE POTATO GROWERS’CUSTOMERS p50-51 CELEBRATION p48-49 PUBLICITY DRIVE p12British farmers urged toseize new opportunitiesrOperating in a trulyglobal marketplacerSurviving withoutGovernment subsidyDriving ambitionBEST OF BRITISH FARMING Special issueLAMMA 2012 31-PAGE SHOW PREVIEW p15-45PPA EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR WINNER 2008 AND 201188 PAGES OFNEWS ANDCLASSIFIEDSFull reportfrom OxfordBuilding yourown websiteUK machineryin focusBeef’s uniqueselling pointAgriventurecompetitionReports fromaround the UK“We can be quitepleased with thereturns we havehad for both cattleand sheep”Save 20%Pay £22.88 everyquarter, equivalent toonly £1.76 per issueFree first class postCall now on 01858 438 893 and quote HH12or visit www.farmersguardian.com/hh12FG281No.1 for livestockcoverage andauctionsFG281_A5_30%subs_ad(HH12).indd 1 25/06/2012 17:15