OFC told of growing need for new ways into farming

The Oxford Farming Conference is always divided fairly neatly into two sections, with the politicians and economists dominating the early sessions, and practical farmers and entrepreneurs telling their stories later in the two-day event.

In recent years there can be little doubt that politics, especially European politics, have taken centre stage.

This time it has been slightly different, with many of the 450 delegates feeling that, with CAP all but settled, the politicians had less to offer and certainly nothing new.

Instead, the attention turned to opportunity and how to grasp it.

The future for farming looks positive as demand for food builds up.

At the same time there is a realisation that, for the future to work, young people will need to become engaged.

Richard King, of Andersons Consultants, was in the audience and noted that the old model of a new entrant starting on a council holding milking 30 cows was a concept from the 1950s and would not apply in the future.

New ways into the industry would be needed, and some of the speakers pointed to these opportunities.