Groundswell Show 2022

[Humble Village Farmer]

No, both days are broadly the same. The keynote speakers will be talking on both days, politicians and Minette etc only on the day they show up

I hope you are charging Minnette to come and advertise for her corporate members.

 

[alomy75]

There's a lot of costs, just the toilet and shower hire must be eye watering.

For sure; I mean I’ve never been-is it smaller/bigger than Cereals? Toilets there and I’ve never paid to go; tickets are economical enough for industry to give them out FOC. I suspect industry stands are equally as expensive as punter tickets at Groundswell…they’re not going to be giving many freebies out. Just my take; don’t get me wrong; I’d love to go and I know cost of everything is going up…but there’s a limit

 

[steveR]

@martian is there any difference between the days now? Last time I came one day was more livestock oriented than the other I think

Just find the Bar for the dull day....

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

For sure; I mean I’ve never been-is it smaller/bigger than Cereals? Toilets there and I’ve never paid to go; tickets are economical enough for industry to give them out FOC. I suspect industry stands are equally as expensive as punter tickets at Groundswell…they’re not going to be giving many freebies out. Just my take; don’t get me wrong; I’d love to go and I know cost of everything is going up…but there’s a limit

MUCH smaller than cereals but that's almost the point, you actually get to engage with everyone.

As @Chris F said, at Cereals YOU are the product......

 

[steveR]

Just find the Bar for the dull day....

And interestingly, I had a 2-3 great conversations, completely at random, while there when I was sitting by my car, brewing a cuppa as not enthused by any offerings at that moment.

Another last time, was with a lady from Reading Uni, a passing hello towards the end of the day, 1 hr later we parted company to go and get supper after a good wide ranging conversation.

And of course there are "A listers" like @holwellcourtfarm and @Clive lurking around...

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

And interestingly, I had a 2-3 great conversations, completly at random, while there when I was sitting by my car, brewing a cuppa as not enthused my any offerings at that moment.

Another last time, was with a lady from Reading Uni, a passing hello towards the end of teh day, 1 hr later we parted company to go and get supper after a good wide ranging comversation.

And of course there are "A listers" like @holwellcourtfarm and Clive lurking around

Similarly I said hello to someone walking in the same direction. Ended up swapping details on a project he was working in, similar to something I am trying.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

And interestingly, I had a 2-3 great conversations, completly at random, while there when I was sitting by my car, brewing a cuppa as not enthused my any offerings at that moment.

Another last time, was with a lady from Reading Uni, a passing hello towards the end of teh day, 1 hr later we parted company to go and get supper after a good wide ranging comversation.

And of course there are "A listers" like @holwellcourtfarm and Clive lurking around

I was queueing for a coffee between sessions in 2019 and casually said hello to the woman stood next to me. She quickly started asking me a raft of questions she had about farming and revealed she was a recovering vegan events manager from central London who'd come on the spur of the moment to learn more about nature friendly farming. She's now a good friend and is WAY more active than I'll ever be promoting British farming and food on social media and aggressively challenging vegan misinformation.

I missed my following session as we were still chatting 90 minutes later

 

[snarling bee]

Shame it clashes with the Highland Show. Already booked tickets for the Scottish event.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Similarly I said hello to someone walking in the same direction. Ended up swapping details on a project he was working in, similar to something I am trying.

The conference sessions are fantastic (and it's a small enough event that you can actually get to talk to the speakers afterwards) but it's the chance conversations with other delegates that are priceless I find. That's what you miss with virtual events.

 

[Wombat]

Will probably do what i did last year and just do a day.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

For sure; I mean I’ve never been-is it smaller/bigger than Cereals? Toilets there and I’ve never paid to go; tickets are economical enough for industry to give them out FOC. I suspect industry stands are equally as expensive as punter tickets at Groundswell…they’re not going to be giving many freebies out. Just my take; don’t get me wrong; I’d love to go and I know cost of everything is going up…but there’s a limit

I am not an arable farmer, and I find there is lots there to fascinate me. Everything in life does not have to be £in=£out. Going for my fourth time this year by the way (and I will add I am a real Cardi, every pound is a prisoner!).

 

[steveR]

The conference sessions are fantastic (and it's a small enough event that you can actually get to talk to the speakers afterwards) but it's the chance conversations with other delegates that are priceless I find. That's what you miss with virtual events.

100%

 

[steveR]

Will probably do what i did last year and just do a day.

Thinking I might do the same. Come down the previous afternoon on 1st day and camp, then catch the events and either come home after, or grab a few more beers and socialise and leave in the morning.

 

[martian]

No doubt. A typical 12 basis point meeting will cost £80 (inc vat) for the day. But; it’s structured, small groups to encourage dialogue, includes lunch and hasn’t got the distraction of shiny kit! Therefore you learn. Don’t get me wrong; I’d love to come but unless someone can say it genuinely costs that much to put it on; the price is rather greedy in my opinion. What is the basis points allocation by the way?

Basis points available, they'll announce more when they know the programme.

Interesting point about greed, we take it on the chin when Big Pharma, or whoever, decides that fertiliser should be £1000/tonne but when little farmer organises a not-for-profit show and conference for other farmers to come to in order to share ideas about how to farm using less, or even no, fertiliser amongst many other things that will make their businesses more economically and ecologically resilient, then we think he might be being greedy. Full disclosure: I haven't taken a penny from Groundswell in all the years we've put it on. It's given a certain amount of local employment and paid rent to the farm for land and buildings used. We've kept the price pretty much where it is as we think it represents good value and ensures that people who come really want to be there, there are not many tyre-kickers even though 200kg of urea would get you a two day ticket.

Please don't come if you feel we are being greedy, we're going to sell out quite soon anyway and I'd rather everyone there was in a positive frame of mind!

 

[alomy75]

Basis points available, they'll announce more when they know the programme.

Interesting point about greed, we take it on the chin when Big Pharma, or whoever, decides that fertiliser should be £1000/tonne but when little farmer organises a not-for-profit show and conference for other farmers to come to in order to share ideas about how to farm using less, or even no, fertiliser amongst many other things that will make their businesses more economically and ecologically resilient, then we think he might be being greedy. Full disclosure: I haven't taken a penny from Groundswell in all the years we've put it on. It's given a certain amount of local employment and paid rent to the farm for land and buildings used. We've kept the price pretty much where it is as we think it represents good value and ensures that people who come really want to be there, there are not many tyre-kickers even though 200kg of urea would get you a two day ticket.

Please don't come if you feel we are being greedy, we're going to sell out quite soon anyway and I'd rather everyone there was in a positive frame of mind!

Don’t get me wrong; that’s all I wanted to know that it was not-for-profit. I’m merely offering some constructive criticism. Having been involved in open days for farmers etc when I had a ‘real’ job in the agchem industry which were always foc I was just struggling with the numbers but admittedly we only ever had a burger van and a portaloo. Like you say; you sell out and if that’s the size it needs to be to work effectively then fair play. I fully take your point too that it needs to be priced to exclude riffraff but for me sitting on the fence it’s a £40 day. I spend more than the ticket on coffee in a month but to spend it on one day I think I would be wanting to take detailed notes of absolutely everything rather than enjoying it. Just my opinion which is what TFF is all about.

 

[CornishTone]

Don’t get me wrong; that’s all I wanted to know that it was not-for-profit. I’m merely offering some constructive criticism. Having been involved in open days for farmers etc when I had a ‘real’ job in the agchem industry which were always foc I was just struggling with the numbers but admittedly we only ever had a burger van and a portaloo. Like you say; you sell out and if that’s the size it needs to be to work effectively then fair play. I fully take your point too that it needs to be priced to exclude riffraff but for me sitting on the fence it’s a £40 day. I spend more than the ticket on coffee in a month but to spend it on one day I think I would be wanting to take detailed notes of absolutely everything rather than enjoying it. Just my opinion which is what TFF is all about.

But they weren't FOC were they? Nothing is FOC, everything has a cost. Your customers paid for their tickets (and then some) before they got to the event, and after they left, by paying a hefty margin on your product.

Groundswell aren't selling a product, so its costs have to be covered by the punter directly without hiding it away in their chemical, fert or machinery bill.

FOC is BS!

 

[Badshot]

Cereals is a load of bollix .
You can't compare the two shows.

Groundswell is more about information,. Cereals is about shiny kit n chemicals.

 

[steveR]

There's an idea...it would require you to have your TFF handle on your name tag? Bad luck on those who've already bought a ticket. I'll discuss this with the team.
You could always pretend to be a student

Any news on discounts??

Only thing I will say is that slightly bugs me, is having to say which day I will attend well in advance, if only coming for the one day...

 

[alomy75]

But they weren't FOC were they? Nothing is FOC, everything has a cost. Your customers paid for their tickets (and then some) before they got to the event, and after they left, by paying a hefty margin on your product.

Groundswell aren't selling a product, so its costs have to be covered by the punter directly without hiding it away in their chemical, fert or machinery bill.

FOC is BS!

What about when you go to say a varieties day? From your grain trader maybe; or hgca? I go to look at new varieties to see what I like the look of? I might buy a bit of seed (from any supplier) to then FSS(?) but I’m not obliged to. This is beside the point. My original point merely said IF this is making a surplus then it APPEARS a little greedy. Which I’ve since been shown otherwise. I think sadly it’s just a snap shot of a bigger issue which I see every day. I feel there are three groups of farmers; the full blown regen lot; the full blown father did it and his father before so we are going to carry on as we were and a huge number in between (including myself) who, because on a small mostly tenanted farm, need to justify each and every cost but want to move slightly toward, let’s say, Conservation Ag but who are financially restricted to do so. If Groundswell is purely to cater for group 1, fine. Keep up the good work. But if you want some middle groups which would represent a way higher proportion of area and therefore impact on the environment…then, like premium priced drills for example, it’s a shame nothing can be done to make it more accessible. Clearly I’m not going to convert anyone in this group so I don’t want to take away from the build up and excitement by putting a negative viewpoint so I’ll not contribute any further. I sincerely hope it’s a great day and will be sure to watch any footage on YouTube.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Don’t get me wrong; that’s all I wanted to know that it was not-for-profit. I’m merely offering some constructive criticism. Having been involved in open days for farmers etc when I had a ‘real’ job in the agchem industry which were always foc I was just struggling with the numbers but admittedly we only ever had a burger van and a portaloo. Like you say; you sell out and if that’s the size it needs to be to work effectively then fair play. I fully take your point too that it needs to be priced to exclude riffraff but for me sitting on the fence it’s a £40 day. I spend more than the ticket on coffee in a month but to spend it on one day I think I would be wanting to take detailed notes of absolutely everything rather than enjoying it. Just my opinion which is what TFF is all about.

Think of it like when you buy a book. You can get a magazine for free or a book may cost £25. Its what is in it that counts.