The event was held at NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos’s farm in the South Pennines where she runs a commercial beef and sheep business with her husband and two children.
Industry experts
Rachel was joined by a panel of other industry experts, including Helen Avery, Director (Nature Programmes), Green Finance Institute, NFU member James Robinson of Strickley Farm and Poppy Sherborne, NFU countryside adviser.
The discussion centred on food production, green finance, the environment and how farmers can make the most from their farm business now and in the future.
Guests toured Beeston Hall, a 2,000-acre Yorkshire Water tenanted farm, where the family specialises in pedigree Salers cattle.
Rachel’s farm is also rich in wildlife, being part of a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).
Salers are one of the oldest known cattle breeds, identified by their thick mahogany red coats and ability to thrive on some of the UK’s more challenging terrain.
Upland farming
Upland farms like Rachel’s are important not just in terms of the food they produce but also due to their unique setting.
The family has special habitats on farm, blanket bog, heathland and acid grassland, which are all species rich and home to important upland birds such as golden plover, curlew, twite, dunlin and merlin, among others.
Sharing ideas
“With the changes to SFI and farm subsidies, ever-changing weather conditions and running costs, a lot of farmers are really struggling to make a living. We want to host these events to share experiences and help each other make the most of our farm businesses.”
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
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Eden and John Hills with NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
Members and non-members gather for the talk
Members listen as maximising the potential of their farms is discussed
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
Panel discussion
Rachel said, “I was delighted to have so many members and farmers from different parts of the country come along to have a tour of my farm and listen to my farm experiences as an upland and tenant farmer and also hear from a panel of experts.
“With the changes to SFI and farm subsidies, ever-changing weather conditions and running costs, a lot of farmers are really struggling to make a living.
“We want to host these events to share experiences and help each other make the most of our farm businesses.”
NFU head of member experience, Amelia Stratton, added: “It’s so important to host events like these to share experiences good and bad on how to make the most out of farm businesses and explore different opportunities.
“The event also gave people the chance to network with friends old and new.”
Look out for other live and virtual NFU events and catch up with our Watch again videos.