AHDB Monitor Farms - what are your thoughts?

[Steevo]

What do you think about them over the years they have been running?

 

[T Hectares]

What do you think about them over the years they have been running?

I have had two very local to me
I’ve found it interesting as they are similar businesses and it’s been useful to compare costs and performance to our own farm, we also had a 5 year Benchmarking stint that came off the back of this
Only as good as the host though I would imagine ??

 

[mo!]

Had two local tomme over the last five years. Some great speakers and well organised, there has been a core of regular attendees who have got to know each other well. The AHDB host is excellent.

 

[Rooney]

As above good speakers and discussions

 

[Spud]

Yes I agree, I've been to quite a few, all very good

 

[Farma Parma]

been too a few last year or so very local luckily but the farmer involved has said its a lot of time being involved with it all.
But agree its good to get something back even if a lot of it you might never do on our own farm

 

[Andyrob]

one beside me I film there on a regular basis and the guy has changed the farm a lot but genuinely practices what he preaches with figures backed up

 

[Brisel]

A great resource of peer to peer learning. I've been to several and enjoyed each one.

I got to meet other TFF members too, like @Spud and @Renaultman

 

[Renaultman]

A great resource of peer to peer learning. I've been to several and enjoyed each one.

I got to meet other TFF members too, like @Spud and @Renaultman

Got to agree, get to meet a surprisingly wide range of local farmers, all with one aim, to learn more and share ideas and knowledge.

 

[BigBarl]

I’ve been to a few of the meetings and enjoy them. Some of the speakers have been very inspiring.

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

Excellent project, the meeting organisers are always up for suggestions for future topics, speak up everyone.

 

[T Hectares]

And respect to the hosts who put all their financial info up, good or bad, to be picked apart

 

[Hard Graft]

I found it brilliant and opened up so manny doors I not be were I am today

 

[neilo]

I really think this thread should be deleted and those that have posted on it should be banned from the forum forthwith.

I have repeatedly read on here that AHDB do nothing of value to the industry, and this thread is in danger of derailing TFF policy on the matter. Shame on you all.




Risking such a ban myself no doubt, I consider the trial work and knowledge transfer that AHDB (& their devolved equivalents) does to be incredibly valuable, in all industry sectors. Of course some think they have nothing left to learn...

 

[Andyrob]

One of my local AHDB Farmers

Something of a very different drill with Carsehall Farms is a custom built system to suit the land and how they approach drilling. We have a Valtra T214 with 800s & 710 tyres 4m Erth Engineering Toolbar coupled to a Kverneland MSC Drill which has been fitted with a Vaderstad Rapid toolbar on the rear. #arimagery #farming #agriculture #farmlife

 

[Flat 10]

What do you think about them over the years they have been running?

Don't have time to attend (or haven't made any) as it really doesn't interest me. Glad some others have found them useful but I wonder how many levy payers actually benefit/attend. I noticed that one of the next monitor farms in the East is a research farm- that's hardly going to be comparable for GMs etc is it as it's not in any way a typical business. Interesting maybe- typical no.

 

[Hindsight]

Don't have time to attend (or haven't made any) as it really doesn't interest me. Glad some others have found them useful but I wonder how many levy payers actually benefit/attend. I noticed that one of the next monitor farms in the East is a research farm- that's hardly going to be comparable for GMs etc is it as it's not in any way a typical business. Interesting maybe- typical no.

Do you know much about Morley Flat 10? The Morley farm runs to some 1500 acres if I recall and is operated primarily as a commercial farm outside of hosting the Morley Research Centre. The farm and research centre dates back along with the Morley Trust over a 100 years. Set up originally by forward thinking Norfolk farmers for the furtherance of practical agricultural research for the benefit of advancing Norfolk Agriculture. It has been at the forefront of agricultural research and practical on farm development ever since. I am disappointed in your opinion of the site Flat 10 but so be it.

The Morley Agricultural Foundation - Farming & Agricultural Research Norfolk

The Morley Agricultural Foundation (TMAF) is a Registered Charity which supports Farming & Agricultural Research in Norfolk & East Anglia

tmaf.co.uk

I am attending the Bingham Monitor farm next week. I expect there will be about 30 or so farmer attendees if previous meetings are anything to go by. And will be going to a meeting at the Wainfleet Monitor farm in January where again I expect 30 or so folk if previous meetings I have attended are replicated. Possibly even go to the Wisbech meeting mid December if I can fit it in around another appointment that day.

 

[Flat 10]

Do you know much about Morley Flat 10? The Morley farm runs to some 1500 acres if I recall and is operated primarily as a commercial farm outside of hosting the Morley Research Centre. The farm and research centre dates back along with the Morley Trust over a 100 years. Set up originally by forward thinking Norfolk farmers for the furtherance of practical agricultural research for the benefit of advancing Norfolk Agriculture. It has been at the forefront of agricultural research and practical on farm development ever since. I am disappointed in your opinion of the site Flat 10 but so be it.

The Morley Agricultural Foundation - Farming & Agricultural Research Norfolk

The Morley Agricultural Foundation (TMAF) is a Registered Charity which supports Farming & Agricultural Research in Norfolk & East Anglia

tmaf.co.uk

I am attending the Bingham Monitor farm next week. I expect there will be about 30 or so farmer attendees if previous meetings are anything to go by. And will be going to a meeting at the Wainfleet Monitor farm in January where again I expect 30 or so folk if previous meetings I have attended are replicated. Possibly even go to the Wisbech meeting mid December if I can fit it in around another appointment that day.

I’m sure the Morley farm is excellent. I just said it was clearly atypical and therefore an unusual choice in my opinion as a monitor farm.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I really think this thread should be deleted and those that have posted on it should be banned from the forum forthwith.

I have repeatedly read on here that AHDB do nothing of value to the industry, and this thread is in danger of derailing TFF policy on the matter. Shame on you all.




Risking such a ban myself no doubt, I consider the trial work and knowledge transfer that AHDB (& their devolved equivalents) does to be incredibly valuable, in all industry sectors. Of course some think they have nothing left to learn...

It should all be discussed.
Openly and regularly.

I find monitor farms to be very interesting and helpful.
I also almost feel guilty at the amount of money being spent on the very small number of levy payers who attend.
In the past, I found the meetings rather infuriating as they concentrated on how to make everyone else in the supply chain more profitable with little regard to the profitability of the primary producer, the farmer.
This has certainly improved in recent years.

But you can't ignore AHDB having the same problem as the NFU in that those you meet and deal with locally may be wonderful but the whole thing is undermined if those at the top table are happily and wilfully pulling the rug from under your feet.
A spokesperson for AHDB was only this week, advocating eating less meat.

 

[colhonk]

Have been to one a few years ago. Trouble is,,,,,they are always on better lighter easier working land. so not really relavent. but nice to nosey round others farms