The Oxford Farming Conference

Monday 6th January, 2014

15:00
AGM

 
 in the Examination Schools

15:45
Delegate Registration Opens

Examination Schools Foyer

16:10
Fringe Meeting

Field Research– translating world-class research into world-leading agriculture. Where are we now and where do we need to be?

16:30
Fringe Meeting

Investing in innovation: when farmers drive R&D

16:50
Fringe Meeting

Is pasture the way to future proof the dairy industry?

18:00
Chairman’s Reception for Speakers, Scholars, Patrons and Sponsors
18:30
Champagne Reception

at Oxford Town Hall

19:30
Pre-Conference Dinner

with after dinner speaker Rt Hon Sir James Paice, MP for South Cambridgeshire

Produce kindly supplied by ABP, Greenvale, Arla, Geroge Romney Ltd and J Farrer & Co (Kendal) Ltd

22:00
After Dinner Bar

 
at Oxford Town Hall

Tuesday 7th January, 2014

07:30
Morning Prayer

With Jerry Marshall at University College Chapel

07:45
Barclays Bank Breakfast

Return on capital: Does it/should it matter for UK farmers and landowners?

(limited tickets)

08:45
Conference Opening

Adrian Ivory and Julian Gairdner

08:55
Session 1: Politics

Julian Gairdner, Chairman

09:00
Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP

Secretary of State for Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

09:20
Simon Coveney

Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

09:40
Peter Kendall

NFU President

10:00
Dacian Cioloş

EU Commissioner for Agriculture

10:30
Coffee Break
11:00
Question Time

with the session speakers and chaired by Charlotte Smith, Presenter on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today

11:45
The Frank Parkinson Lecture

Social Media – changing the way farmers do business
David Taylor and Michelle Carvill, co-authors of The Business of being Social

12:45
Lunch
14:00
Session 2: Vision and Inspiration

Adrian Ivory, Chairman 

14:10
Grasping the dairy opportunity: a young person’s perspective

Sally Wilson, Dairy Farmer

14:35
Putting oomph and passion into rural tourism

Caroline Millar, Nuffield Scholar and Owner of The Hideaway Experience 

15:00
Farming in the modern world

Hans Henrik Koefoed, CEO, Ingleby Farms & Forests

15:25
Making the most of our resources

Chris Musgrave, MD, Musgrave Management Systems

15:30
Discussion
16:15
Close and Tea
16:20
Scholars’ Workshop
18:00
Debate at the Oxford Union

This house believes that green energy is not worth the carbon it takes to produce

Proposing the Motion: Roger Helmer, UKIP MEP for the East Midlands
Seconder: Matthew Sharp

Opposing the Motion: Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party
Seconder: Duncan Howie

19:30
Post-Debate Supper

at Christ Church

Wednesday 8th January, 2014

07:45
The RSPB Breakfast

Working together for nature
(limited tickets)

08:45
Session 3: Opportunity Agriculture

Tom Hind, Chairman

08:55
Presentation of the 2014 Oxford Farming Conference Research Report

Ian Ashbridge, Report Author, Bidwells

09:30
Craigmore: building commercial farmland portfolios

Forbes Elworthy, Craigmore Sustainables/ Farmland and Forestry Investment Manager

09:50
Farming for the customer

Guy Poskitt, Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year 2012

10:10
Using collaboration and imagination to grow a dairy farming business

Tom Rawson, Director, Evolution Farming Ltd

10:30
Coffee Break
11:00
Panel Discussion
11:40
OFC/RASE Practice with Science Award
12:00
Lunch
13:10
Session 4:Technology and Innovation

Richard Whitlock, Chairman

13:15
A vision of farming with robots in 2050

Professor Simon Blackmore, Head of Engineering, Harper Adams University 

13:45
Broiler breeding toward 2050: feeding the world

Jerry Moye, President, Cobb-Vantress Inc

14:15
UK Agri-Tech Strategy: The UK as a global hub of Agricultural Innovation

George Freeman, MP for mid Norfolk

15:15
Panel Discussion
15:30
Chairman's Closing Remarks
15:40
2015 Conference Taster
15:45
Close and Tea
19:30
Oxtail Club Dinner

At Worcester College