The wind and rain continue, but it’s been a busy few days attending meetings and networking with farmers.

The joint Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), UAS and Cafre arable conference was a great day, with the speakers all complementing each other.

There was a clear message that if livestock and arable farmers worked together, both businesses would be better at utilising manures and reducing emissions.

See also: Why urea fertiliser use is changing this spring

About the author

Richard Orr

Richard Orr farms cereals and potatoes in a reduced cultivation system in County Down, Northern Ireland, with his wife and two children. He is a cereals and oilseeds sector council member and focuses on soil and plant health. He also keeps a small number of cattle, pigs and sheep.

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I mentioned “networking”. Many farmers would laugh at the mention of this and perhaps say, “you’d be better doing a good day’s work”.

However, today I attended the AHDB agri-leader event “Playing the field, farming your network” which was a thought-provoking, engaging and inspiring event. I met so many farmers and shared ideas and experiences.

The whole crux is about building a network around you and your business that has a clear understanding of your goals and aspirations.

When we think of farming, how many of us know what our goals are for this year, three years’ or 10 years’ time?

Are we working towards those goals or just rumbling along from one day to the next, hoping to survive?

We constantly complain about aspects of the network around us: staff, advisors, suppliers, customers. But maybe we do not utilise them correctly?

Either way, this often costs us money, so maybe having good relationships and inclusive networks built around these vital people could improve our business.

Likewise, if you feel they don’t fit in to your network, find new, engaging people to work with.

The AHDB put on an excellent two-day conference, inspiring its levy payers. But has the AHDB implemented these concepts within its own structure?

A new chief executive is taking up office, and surely this is the time for the AHDB to put a clear plan in place, giving staff direction and providing engagement to levy payers to make them an integral part of the network.

I have put this directly to the AHDB and hope they build on the ideas from their own conference, especially in this time of change.

Why not take half an hour and discuss with your partner/family what your goals are, print it out and stick it on your fridge. Let it hold you to account every time you open that door. Think big…