NEWS
Exciting programme planned for new season - From a large organic farm enterprise in Suffolk to the country's leading specialist salad grower, there's plenty to interest members, and guests, of Stalham Farmers' Club in the latest winter programme.
A visit to a specialist potato grower using a robotic potato grader kicks off the season later this month before the indoor season starts on Wednesday, November 11 with Henry Shropshire, of G's, and colleague Alex Duncan, of East Coast Growers.
On December 9, again at Wroxham Barns, John Pawsey and his son Rufus, will outline the challenges facing their fourth-generation Shimpling Park business, near Bury St Edmunds.
The New Year starts with another "double header" as Frances Roberson, of the RNAA's food and farming discovery trust, and award-winning ice cream maker and Mid-Norfolk dairy farmer Charlotte Dann, outline their ideas on promoting food and farming on January 13. And young farmers' club members are especially welcome to attend all our meetings.
While the date has not yet been settled, Tom Youngs, from Sankence Farm, near Aylsham, will talk in February about the decision to start a new beef herd. It was a quarter of a century ago that the dairy herd was dispered.
The club's annual dinner returns to Salhouse Lodge on Wednesday, March
24 and George Weston, chief executive of ABF (Associated British Foods) will be speaking and presenting the trophies and prize cards.
The chairman, Jason Cantrill, supported by vice-chairman William Love, hope this attractive programme will encourage more members, and guests, to support the winter indoor meetings at Wroxham Barns. Again, all are welcome to join the speakers and club officers for supper beforehand.
Supper is a two-course meal, which must be booked in advance and the secretary, Michael Pollitt, will circulate details before each meeting.
And meanwhile, entries for the sugar beet competitions are being encouraged as well as grain samples for the wheat and barley cups. For details, contact Michael Pollitt, 07852 718342, email michaelbpollitt@btinternet or ring 01603 486997.
[02/10/26]
Champion farmer award - Congratulations to the Farmers Weekly award winners. Stalham member James Chapman, of Rollesby, won the “Farmer of the Year” title in London on October 1 having earlier taken the arable farmer of the year award. He also won the Norfolk county farm business championship last year, awarded by the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association.
Mr Chapman, also nominated in the Farmers Weekly environmental award category, was one of hundreds if not thousands of disappointed applicants for Defra’s second round of the SFI (Sustainable Farming
Incentive) scheme. When the funding window for the total of £253m closed in less than six hours last week, he lost out on his £6,000 annual claim for a three-year green scheme.
Norfolk also triumphed with Mark Gorton, of Traditional Norfolk Poultry, of Shropham, near Attleborough, as the “Poultry Farmer of the Year.” Earlier this summer, he was awarded the Sir Timothy Colman award by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association.
North Farm Livestock, the north Norfolk-based business originally launched by the late Tom Crane and Roger Newton, and now led by the Baker family, took the “Pig Farmer of the Year title.
And a further Norfolk connection as Will Jones, son of Mid-Norfolk farmer Ed Jones, who farms for Albanwise in Yorkshire, won the Farm Manager of the Year.
Stalham was represented by a good company including the club’s chairman, Jason Cantrill, Tim Papworth, Richard Hirst, Chris Borrett, Henry Alston and Emily Norton.
The Hawkstone Choir entertained the gathering with four of their songs ahead of the album release for Christmas.
[02/10/26]
Beet growers’ meetings
Two open meetings will be taking this month to discuss the implications of British Sugar’s decision to close the beet sugar factory at Cantley next year.
The meetings are open to all Cantley growers and contractors. Further details for campaigns after the 2026/2027 season will be announced.
Both meetings start at 9am and registration to attend is requested.
At Rossi’s, North Walsham NR28 0JQ on Thursday, September 10.
At Cantley Social Club NR13 3ST on Tuesday, September 15. [04/09/26]
Glorious summer visit to special north Norfolk estate - Almost 100 members and guests of Stalham Farmers' Club with east Norfolk National Farmers' Union were invited to tour the Kelling Hall estate, near Holt, on a warm summer's evening by Hayley Robertson, on behalf of the Widdowson family. The visitors, who later enjoyed a magnificent hog roast and ample refreshments, were treated to a tour of the 2,250-acre estate. While the family acquired the estate in 2008, the last four years have seen a major drive to encourage wildlife diversity and habitats alongside at least 500ha of mainly arable crops. The visitors were welcomed by the club chairman Jason Cantrill. Full report - See the Stalham News tab on the left. [19/06/26]
Anorther coup for Stalham - Congratulations to long-standing club members Tim Papworth, his father Jim and to Kit Papworth, of LF Papworth, of Lodge Farmm Felmingham, in the latest Norfolk County Farm Business competition. Their whole enterprise was the reserve supreme overall in the annual competition, organised by the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association. But the honours this year went to Sir John White's Salle Farms and the team led by Andrew Peal. The two finalists have dominated the competition over the past four decades having been frequent winners. [15/06/26]