The 2003 Conference puts focus on the farm

Cumbrian producer and packer David Brass, pictured here with wife Helen and daughters, will give delegates an insight into the demands of supplying supermarkets with free range eggs

This year’s BFREPA conference will be focused on the farm tackling real issues that concern and interest free range producers.

Speakers will be ‘hands-on’ experts—two of them producers—and a new feature will involve an open forum in which members will be able to thrash out the issues they decide are most important to them. As well as a new determination to be ‘down to earth’ this year’s conference on Tuesday November 25 also has a new venue.

“The plan is to hand the conference back to the members,” said chairman Tom Vesey. “It’s the one day of the year when we all get together and it’s important not only that everybody enjoys themselves but that we go back to our farms with some new ideas, renewed enthusiasm and the feeling of a day well spent.”

Association vice-chairman John Widdowson is making his debut as a conference speaker with a presentation on the background to the successful launch of Woodland Eggs, the new free range brand created on his Devon farm and now on sale in Sainsburys stores across Britain. What he has to say will put a spotlight on those vital links between welfare and performance, production and marketing.

While John operates through a packer, speaker David Brass has years of experience of packing eggs himself. David’s Lakes Free Range Egg Company in Cumbria handles the output from his own 9000 birds as well as contract production and supplies major retailers. David will be exploring the implications of taking on packing and marketing as well as production.

The third confirmed speaker is lighting expert Peter Lewis who will be explaining the role of lighting patterns for pullets in determining the size and number of eggs a flock will produce throughout its lifetime as well as what shape that production graph will take.

The change in the format this year means that the Association AGM will be followed by a new Free Range Forum designed to offer members a unique opportunity to raise and discuss the issues they believe are vital to the future of either the Association or the industry or both. Since this will be in ‘closed’ session only BFREPA members will be able to take part or hear what is said.

Topics will be short-listed in advance. If you have an issue you want to ‘put on the table’ simply contact Tom Vesey or John Widdowson. The Forum does not, of course, affect any member’s right to raise any issues or put forward motions as part of the AGM itself.

Conference Check-List

Date: Tuesday 25th November 2003

Venue: The Landmark Conference Centre and Hotel, Daventry, Northants. Centrally located for both the M1 and the M40.

Cost: £15.28 (vat inclusive) per person including lunch.

Programme: Start at 10.30 with coffee and trade stands. AGM and Free Range Forum (BFREPA members only) 11.00. Lunch 12.30. Conference 14.00.

Booking: Contact Josie Arman at sponsors ISA Poultry UK Ltd 01733 223333 or Fax 01733 223345

Overnight Stay: There is a special delegate rate of £59.00 for a single room and £69 for a double. For bookings phone 01327 304444.