Seminars during the day
9.30 - NSA Breakfast Club live streamed seminar at NSA Sheep SW
A discussion with Baroness Minette Batters in her role leading the Governments review into farm profitability
Arrive 15 mins early for a free bacon roll and drink kindly sponsored by Cornish Mutual Assurance.
The seminar will set the scene for this Govt review, in the context of sheep farming, before we hear from Minette Batters as to the scope of her work, how it relates to all the other high level policy themes such as the Land Use Framework, the Farming Roadmap and the growing recognition of food security. We continue to benefit from strong sheep meat prices but, in part due to our approach to land sharing and multifunctionality, this doesn't always result in true profitability. And then there is wool...
Minette will be looking to gather views and thoughts. Time will be made for audience participation.
11.00 - MSD: ‘How Sheep Health Diagnostics and Monitoring Can Boost Profitability’.
Dr Monika Ptaszynska-Sutton, MSD Regional Veterinary Advisor will focus on the importance of health diagnostics and monitoring in sheep farming and how these practices can enhance profitability. It emphasizes the role of proactive health management in improving flock performance and reducing costs. This presentation demonstrates that integrating health diagnostics and monitoring into sheep farming practices is essential for maximizing profitability. By prioritising sheep health, farmers can achieve sustainable growth and enhance their competitive edge in the market.
11.45 - NSA: ‘You and your worms – burrowing into the importance of your soils’.
Join a discussion looking into the importance of soil health for climate, biodiversity and your business and what it means at field and farm level.
Chair: Liz Griffiths.
Panel: Professor Andy Neal – soil scientist from Rothamsted Research.
Anne May – Senior Environment Advisor from the Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG).
Chris McWhirter – North Devon sheep farmer,
12.45 - Innovis: ‘Finding the right genetics for the way YOU want to farm’.
Join Innovis to discuss the importance of aligning to a ram breeder that selects their sheep in an equally hard environment to yours, letting the breeders do the heavy lifting and buying their improvements.
Chair: Dewi Jones.
Rob Priest – Farmer, Holsworthy.
13.30 - Siggs & Co: ‘To wool or not to wool – that is the question’.
A panel of farmers and end users will discuss the pro’s and con’s of wool-shedding versus non wool-shedding sheep.
Chair: James Siggs. Former sheep farmer and previous Chairman of NSA South West Region, now helping farmers across South West England thrive.
Richard Stanbury: Host farmer for NSA Sheep South West 2025.
Tom Nancekivell: 2023 South West Sheep Farmer of the Year, farming 500 acres in North Cornwall with 500 beef cattle and 500 commercial/pedigree sheep.
Lesley Prior: Tellenby Merino produces Australian Superfine Merino sheep on the edge of Exmoor. The wool, sheep and germplasm are mainly exported to Europe.
Gareth Jones: Head of member engagement at British Wool, focused on marketing and stakeholder relations.
Peter Morris: Spence Cross Consulting, with extensive experience in the red meat sector, supporting west country beef and sheep farmers and former NSA CEO.
14.15 - UK Agri Tech Centre: ADOPT.
Is there something you could improve on the farm? Come and find out whether your practical or technical innovation could earn you some funding through our ADOPT fund.
Wallace Currie.
15.00 - Richard Stanbury: ‘Ask the Farmer’.
A chance to discuss in more detail some of the things on view during the farm tour.
