On Wednesday I shall be chairing the Sentry Conference at Chilford Hall, just south of Cambridge. I am pleased to report its a sell-out and nearly 400 people will be there to listen to a distiguished line-up of speakers on the theme of "Matching the Food, Energy and Environmental Challenge". So, what I am about to say may, on the face of it be considered unimportant to me. My concern, however, is for the future.
Because on the same day, Feb 6th, there's to be an event on beet growing at the East of England Showground organised by British Sugar and another on water quality and NVZ's at Newmarket racecourse. All three events are within a few miles of one another and are potentially of considerable interest to East Anglian farmers. Some of the delegates to each of them might have preferred to be able to visit at least one of the others.
My point is that there is surely a need for a national directory of planned events of interest to farmers so that anyone planning a programme can refer to it and choose a date that is free. It would clearly have to be voluntary in that anyone prepared to take the risk of doubling up could do so. But it would help avoid frustration among punters and poor attendances by farmers.
Maybe such an agency already exists. It certainly should in these days of electronic communications. If so I hope someone will respond to this and tell me. If not someone might think it appropriate to start one. Perhaps even Farmers Weekly! I look forward to developments.
Comments (3)
David
This is a good point and one we're working on at FWi. We have an events calendar at FWi and we're just reveiwing all the contents to make sure it has as many events as possible in it that are happening.
I would encourage the farming community to refer to it...and update it (users can add events) so it becomes a really good central resource.
Perhaps you might mention it at the conference!
Here's where you find it:
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Events/Search.aspx?Keywords=
Posted by Julian Gairdner | February 4, 2008 12:11 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 12:11
Julian
Thanks for that. My ignorance is to blame but I was not aware of the events diary. And if I didn't know about it I suspect many others didn't either.
Can you give it a bit more publicity both on the website and in FW? 'Cos if nobody knows its there it aint gonna do much good!
David
Posted by DAVID RICHARDSON | February 4, 2008 4:10 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 16:10
For heavens sake Richardson if you can't post anything interesting don't bother - this is the 21st Century, communication has moved on and we don't all need to be locked in a conference venue to get up to date information. If there was 'a need for a national directory of planned events of interest to farmers so that anyone planning............[to] help avoid frustration among punters and poor attendances by farmers.' The private sector would have provided it.
The truth is most of these events often generate more heat than light and are populated by the has beens (sorry senior partners) who are at a loose end following the end of the shooting season whilst the industry's leading lights are back at the shop getting on with things.
I suspect your motivation is more down to the opportunity of raking in more fees for chairing /attending as many of these events as possible than a genuine desire to gain valuable insight into 'cutting edge technology' of sugar beet growing etc
Posted by Roger Shortfield | February 8, 2008 9:19 PM
Posted on February 8, 2008 21:19