Oxford Real Farming Conference

[newholland]

ORFC 2020 was well worth going to. As a UK dairy farm, we learned a great amount, met some amazing people from all over the world and we came away inspired, full of new energy.

Wake up and do something positive please.

 

[90hp farming]

Well done to @The Ruminant for his useful precis of the Real conference. When I read this thread this morning, I thought somebody needed to provide an explanation of the event and Tom has done this much more eloquently than I could.

To continue the theme.... these are some of the sessions I went to:

i) Different options for animal feedstuffs
ii) Heritage grains, insight into growing, processing and bread sales
iii) Real farm solutions to reducing antibiotic use
iv) The future of agroecological weed management
v) Saving small abattoirs
vi) Can plants alone regenerate soils

I have not been for a couple of years, and the attendance was huge this year. Too many to be fair. There is a heavy organic influence, and some socialism..... You have to go with an open mind. There is a large range of delegates, lots of NGO type of organisation folk, some city folk with simply an interest in regenerative agriculture and a lot farmers who have travelled from abroad (with an amazing grasp of our technical language).

But what I am most impressed by, is the number of seriously switched on UK farmers - those doing something a bit different, and doing it extremely well. You can learn a lot just chatting to a stranger in the dinner queue.

The comparison with Groundswell is interesting. Groundswell has been very successful - those few `wacky` farmers in the first year have attracted a big following and this will soon be the event to be seen at! The Real Oxford is more far reaching in terms of its agenda and therefore attracts a much broader range of delegates.

I won`t go every year, not least because that might allow a newcomer to go (there is a huge waiting list). But if you want a bit of inspiration I urge you to go. But go with an open mind.............(there are no chips for lunch)

 

[Old Tip]

So I've been at the ORFC for the past few days on behalf of someone else.

All the talks I've been to bar one have had this underlying socialist agenda. They want all farm land turned over to the people. Viva la revolution?

I felt like a pilgrim in an unholy land. On reflection it was I the heathen in their holy land!

I was also there and never heard any of that clap trap, I chose the sessions I went to and came home very excited about the young farmers of the future.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Well done to @The Ruminant for his useful precis of the Real conference. When I read this thread this morning, I thought somebody needed to provide an explanation of the event and Tom has done this much more eloquently than I could.

To continue the theme.... these are some of the sessions I went to:

i) Different options for animal feedstuffs
ii) Heritage grains, insight into growing, processing and bread sales
iii) Real farm solutions to reducing antibiotic use
iv) The future of agroecological weed management
v) Saving small abattoirs
vi) Can plants alone regenerate soils

I have not been for a couple of years, and the attendance was huge this year. Too many to be fair. There is a heavy organic influence, and some socialism..... You have to go with an open mind. There is a large range of delegates, lots of NGO type of organisation folk, some city folk with simply an interest in regenerative agriculture and a lot farmers who have travelled from abroad (with an amazing grasp of our technical language).

But what I am most impressed by, is the number of seriously switched on UK farmers - those doing something a bit different, and doing it extremely well. You can learn a lot just chatting to a stranger in the dinner queue.

The comparison with Groundswell is interesting. Groundswell has been very successful - those few `wacky` farmers in the first year have attracted a big following and this will soon be the event to be seen at! The Real Oxford is more far reaching in terms of its agenda and therefore attracts a much broader range of delegates.

I won`t go every year, not least because that might allow a newcomer to go (there is a huge waiting list). But if you want a bit of inspiration I urge you to go. But go with an open mind.............(there are no chips for lunch)

You had me till you said no chips for lunch. What the hell was there then?! Man cannot live in bread alone...

 

[unlacedgecko]

A lot of people whine about the amount they pay in AHDB levies. Just imagine the howling if you tried to raise a budget the size of Coca Cola’s advertising spend!
Then of course there’d be whining about the ad agencies getting paid too much, driving cars that were too expensive, or having too soft a loo roll in the company lavs.......

Wherever someone does some work for me I do a full toilet audit of premises. If they have anything better than own brand 1 ply "sand paper" I renegotiate their rates.

Comfy bum is a sign of bourgeois.

 

[delilah]

Those of you who went: Did any of the speakers you heard talk about the other side of the farm gate ? Who are they selling to ?

 

[Old Tip]

Those of you who went: Did any of the speakers you heard talk about the other side of the farm gate ? Who are they selling to ?

Yep lots and the main thing was either very local or have a very good website
Lots of folk wanting wool spun

 

[delilah]

Lots of folk wanting wool spun

bugger, knew we should have gone

 

[Old Tip]

You had me till you said no chips for lunch. What the hell was there then?! Man cannot live in bread alone...

That’s why we went to the pub for lunch, proper steak pie, chunky chips, gravy and a token carrot or two

 

[Guy Smith]

@warksfarmer @Guy Smith That's exactly what we need and if the NFU won't do it for us with OUR MONEY then we should with draw that money to do it with someone else. Don't get me wrong I am still very pro NFU, for c####t sake I worked for them for a spell!! .They are not now doing there job, we need media coverage of how we farm and good examples, there are many good livestock and arable farmers out there we just need publicity. Come on Guy, Stuart and Minette get of your backsides and get your staff working for US.
WB

I’ll not defend myself but given how hard I know they work to suggest Stuart and Minette need to get off their backsides doesn’t really warrant a reply.

 

[Tim W]

So I've been at the ORFC for the past few days on behalf of someone else.

All the talks I've been to bar one have had this underlying socialist agenda. They want all farm land turned over to the people. Viva la revolution?

I felt like a pilgrim in an unholy land. On reflection it was I the heathen in their holy land!

I've been a few times to ORFC & enjoyed/benefited from lots of sessions
I have been to sessions that felt like they were run by a load of whinging would be farmers demanding access to land and that the govt. pay for this lifestyle
But i balance this against the amount of mainstream farming events i have been to run by our ''industry leaders'' who still believe that the govt. paying them for their lifestyle is their inalienable right

A great conference for anyone with an interest in alternatives to the mainstream farming agenda ---& you have to look at new ideas if you want to progress right?
I've made some good friends there , found a few new ideas, sank a few pints over ag./food related banter and even made a few sales

 

[warksfarmer]

have you ever been ? To OFC or ORFC ?


i find a lot are very judgemental of these things despite having never attended

Yes OFC

 

[Wolds Beef]

Sorry Guy,(Have had a Particularly rough week!!) I know you all work hard but the PR side of the NFU really needs looking at. Livestock keepers feel particularly hard hit at the moment as no one seems to counter the Vegan publicity. We really need to show how well looked after our stock is. Stock farmers are working 24/7 for very little reward. we also have a big role to play in the carbon story.
@Guy Smith
WB