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Suffolk Agricultural Association conference focuses on increasing farm business resilience

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The Suffolk Agricultural Association’s 2013 Agricultural Conference ‘Creating the resilient farm business’ at Trinity Park on 26 February 2013 will be one of most eagerly-awaited in the farming industry’s annual calendar. Focusing firmly on the future it will help the region’s farm businesses to become more resilient to outside factors such as increasing price volatility in agricultural commodities and farm inputs. 

Sponsored by AtlasFram Group, the UK’s foremost farmer-owned farm inputs purchasing and crop marketing co-operative, together with Mills & Reeve, a leading law firm, the Conference will be Chaired by well-known farmer James Forrest, who states:.

“Managing a farming business in the current climate of global uncertainty and unprecedented price volatility is a massive challenge. The conference will examine how this can be achieved, with practical advice, first-hand experiences and real success stories.”

In his presentation ‘The effects of the currency markets on a farming business’ Chris Wilson from World First Foreign Exchange will investigate this critical aspect of operating a farming business and consider the options which are available to mitigate the risks of currency movements.

Sharing the podium will be Ashley Gilman, AtlasFram’s Group Business Manager. His presentation ‘AtlasFram – providing a comprehensive risk-management service for your farming business’ will highlight how the Group enables its members to manage risk more effectively.

Suffolk farmer Richard Symes, a renewable energy enthusiast with plenty of practical experience, will discuss ‘Renewable energy on the farm’. Richard recently installed a 275kW wind turbine on his 390-acres at Bramfield.

Stuart Carpenter, Head of Procurement for ADM Direct, one of the world’s largest processors of agricultural crops, will demonstrate how farmers can add value in his presentation ‘Achieving premiums in commodity markets – a move towards sustainability’.

Suffolk farmer Tom Herring will focus on Developing new market opportunities’, something he knows plenty about having added to his family’s farming enterprise in 2009 by developing the Suffolk Garlic Farm.

Lincolnshire farmer and consultant Andrew Ward will provide a hands-on assessment of the agricultural industry’s potential in his presentation ‘The farmer’s view of the future of UK arable farming’, while Harry Cotterell, President of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA), will discuss ‘Productivity and public goods – the challenges ahead’.

Summarising the aims of the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s 2013 Conference, Senior Steward David Barker stated: “Agriculture has moved from being a relatively local, predictable business to one that is truly global. Future success will depend on creating resilient farming businesses which can withstand the challenges ahead. The Suffolk Agricultural Association’s 2013 Agricultural Conference will highlight how that can be achieved.”

Justin Ripman, Partner at Mills & Reeve, added: “We are delighted once again to be a co-sponsor of the SAA conference, which this year focuses on providing advice, guidance and inspiration to enable all those involved in the business of farming to adapt to, and take advantage of the changes and the challenges that the current market has created.”

Tickets cost £35 for SAA and AtlasFram Members, £40 for non-members and £30 for delegates under 30. They can be booked at www.suffolkshow.co.uk/springconference2013 or over the phone on 01473 707118, or email hannah.woods@suffolkshow.co.uk

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Further press information is available from:

Ashley Gilman                                                     or:          Julian Cooksley

AtlasFram Group                                                                 Kendalls Communications

Tel: 01728 727700                                                             Tel: 01394 610022

Email: ashley.gilman@atlasfram.co.uk                           Email: julian.cooksley@kendallscom.co.uk

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