Thanks to the close relationship Shadow Secretary of State and Labour’s Workington MP Sue Hayman has with her local farmers and group secretary Jim Cosker of the NFU Cockermouth branch, NFU Deputy President Minette Batters was able to make an eleventh hour phone call on the morning of the conference and secured Sue Hayman as an additional speaker.
Sue Hayman MP, Meurig Raymond, Gillian and Will Sedgley and David Hall
Sue Hayman MP, who shifted her diary around to be present due to the importance of the tenant farming sector, said: “Representing a constituency in Cumbria which incorporates the Lake District National Park I obviously have a lot of tenant farmers in my patch.
“If there is one thing we all know about farming it is that it’s diverse. Since becoming Shadow Secretary of State I have been very keen to hear from tenants because I want to know what you are going to need in these times of enormous change.
“You are facing dilemmas like what kind of contracts do you sign up to when you have no idea of what’s going to happen in the future.
“Food and farming has to be at the very centre of Brexit trade negotiations and at the moment it’s not. We need to push the Government to see exactly what their plans are for the coming years. I want to hear from you. What do you want Labour as the opposition to push the Government on?”
Sue Hayman, the MP for Workington and Defra Shadow Secretary of State spoke of the special relationship she has with her local NFU and in particular Cockermouth Group Secretary Jim Cosker.
Conference delegates were also treated to a video address from HRH the Prince of Wales, highlighting how important the tenanted sector is to the industry. The Prince’s Secretary and Keeper of the Records on the Duchy Estate Alastair Martin, was a member of the conference’s panel and introduced the Prince’s video to the farmers present. As secretary, Alastair is responsible to His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall and the Prince’s Council for the running of the Duchy.
Mr Martin said His Royal Highness is himself a tenant, renting 800 acres from a variety of other landlords – a fact Cheshire tenant farmer Ken Oliver from Congleton was quick to question.
“Couldn’t that land go to other farmers in the area who arguably need it more?” asked Mr Oliver.
Mr Martin simply stated that the Prince needed more acres, the bigger his business became following establishment, and like everyone else, he had a right to see his farming business grow.
Obviously in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, Mr Oliver then drew laughter from the conference delegates by poking fun at His Royal Highness’ organic farming system.
“So you could argue that the Prince needs more acreage to produce the same amount of food as somebody on a conventional system would,” joked Mr Oliver before also making an envious quip about a reference Mr Martin had made about Duchy tenants enjoying free shooting rights on their tenanted land.
Mr Oliver added: “Following this conference I will be having a word with my landlord to see if they will grant me free shooting rights as well.”
The afternoon session of the conference was entitled ‘Fit for the Future’ and featured presentations from NFU members, explaining how they are positioning themselves for the next 10 years.
The double act from Cumbrian hill farming couple Will and Gillian Sedgley was of particular interest to delegates.
Will and Gillian Sedgley
Will, now 37, was brought up on a small traditional hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales and Gillian, 36, on her parents’ arable farm in Lancashire.
Both graduates of Myerscough College, they built up their WA and GR Sedgley business by renting land on short term tenancies and grazing licences. In 2013 they were fortunate to gain a 15 year FBT on the Whelprigg estate in Barbon near Kirkby Lonsdale where they live with their three children. At present, they are farming approximately 900 acres rented from four different landlords.
They run four flocks of sheep; breeding Blue Faced Leicesters, a flock of pure Swaledales, crossing Swaledales to the Blue faced Leicester, and a North of England ewe and Texel flock to Texel and Beltex tups, lambing 1,600 in total plus followers.
Their accredited suckler herd of British Blue and Limousin cross cows total 60 plus followers. Will is currently chairman of the North of England Mule Sheep Association (Hawes branch) and both enjoy judging at shows when given the opportunity.