A positive step towards a more prosperous future for farming

Support is growing for Britain’s biggest push to promote the positive steps farmers take to secure a sustainable future for their industry. During Future of Farming Week, taking place from March 16-22, 2009, Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) is calling on every farmer in the UK to do at least one thing to help secure the long term future of UK farming.

Up and down the supply chain, the industry is uniting to encourage farmers to ’Step up to the Marque’ – make small changes to their farming systems that can make a big difference to the prosperity of their businesses and a step change to how UK Farming is perceived. A number of companies are involved in activities to promote the benefits of Integrated Farm Management (IFM), demonstrate the positive contribution that farmers make and build a stronger farming sector.

Frontier Agriculture, for example, has enrolled some of its younger field staff on a LEAF IFM training course. The company has an on-going recruitment and training programme to ensure the industry’s wealth of knowledge and talent is nurtured for future generations. The course is a small step that builds on its aim of giving farmers access to the best possible on-farm advice, explains Frontier’s Andrew Melton. "This is not just a gesture to sustainable agriculture. We believe IFM enables prosperous farming, and we want our customers to benefit from that."

Precision agriculture pioneer SOYL is offering five farmers one year’s free membership of LEAF when they join via a prize draw. "Through the LEAF Audit many of our customers realise the sheer scope of the benefits precision farming can bring an arable enterprise, and the value IFM has for a farming business," notes SOYL’s Simon Parrington.

Farmers, too, are making the pledge to help build a sustainable future. For Future of Farming Week, Cambridgeshire LEAF demonstration farmer David Felce has pledged to host the first meeting in the development of LEAF’s new work in strengthening its demonstration and innovation activities. This will bring researchers, industry and regulators together with farmers on to a farm where they can discuss and see how practical approaches to sustainability can practically be achieved. "You’d be amazed at how features we took for granted are valued by the people we show round. LEAF has added real value to my farming business, and personally I’m getting more value out of farming," he notes.

The ability of LEAF to enable prosperous farming that enriches the environment and engages local communities is echoed by many in its 2,500-strong membership representing some 10% of the farmed area. A recent poll found financial benefits from membership accrue to the tune of £16,000 per year on average, from an annual membership that starts at £60. "During Future of Farming Week we want more farmers to take initial steps that can start them on the road to a prosperous future," explains LEAF chief executive, Caroline Drummond. Simple steps you can take include:

Monday – Join LEAF and find out how the LEAF Audit helps you identify changes to improve your efficiency, for example reviewing your cultivation policy to reduce costs and increase yield.

Tuesday – Use the LEAF Audit to benchmark your farm against others.

Wednesday – Get support and advice from LEAF on how to promote your business locally by attending one of the many Speak Out workshops around the UK.

Thursday – Assess whether LEAF Marque would help you sell to markets other producers cannot access.

Friday – Visit a LEAF Innovation Centre or Demonstration Farm and discover new ways to benefit from IFM.

"All we are asking is for farmers to set aside a little time to explore what benefits IFM holds for them and then take at least one step towards building a better future for the entire industry. LEAF members are respected as some of the most forward-thinking farmers in the country, which results in us achieving a supportive ear for farming from policy makers in Westminster and Brussels and from the public through Open Farm Sunday and the LEAF Marque. Imagine what we can achieve with an even stronger membership base," notes Miss Drummond.

LEAF’s website (www.leafuk.org/future) has more on how to get involved with Future of Farming Week. This includes more inspiration and ideas for straightforward steps to take to deliver a long-term thriving farming economy, and a chance to see what others are doing. The LEAF Audit Taster allows farmers to quickly gauge how future proof their business really is. There is also information on how to demonstrate the positive steps farmers are taking towards building a more sustainable agriculture.