The latest minutes from the meeting on the 13.12.17 are now available under the tab on the left. Entry added: 15 Dec 2017 |
Adding value to farm crops is next topic for club’s winter programme.
A leading researcher into maximising potential value from food chain products, Prof Keith Waldron will update members on Wednesday, December 13.
He started a research programme at the Institute of Food Research (becoming the Quadram Institute from 2018) almost 20 years ago. It led to the development of the Biorefinery Centre – closely linked to the National Collection of Yeast Cultures.
Prof Waldron, who lists his hobbies as flying, photography and cycling (slowly), will talking about some of the exciting opportunities for farmers and growers.
And please support our chairman, Jonathan Deane, at the supper beforehand at the Norfolk Mead Hotel. The two-course meal costs £20 and all members are most welcome to join him from about 6pm. Supper is served about 6.25pm and the meeting begins at 7.30pm.
Supper must be booked in advance by Monday, December 11 (by 10am) at the latest – let Jonathan know by email - jmpdeane@outlook.com or ring him.
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Future diary dates
Wednesday,January 10 – Nuffield scholar and dairy farmer Emily Norton. Members of local YFCs have been invited to supper as our guests.
Wednesday,February 14 – Dr Lynn Dicks, of the UEA’s School of Biological Sciences.
Wednesday,March 14 – Annual dinner and presentation of trophies. Entry added: 23 Nov 2017 |
Members stood in silence in memory of the late John Purling at the opening meeting of the winter season. It was also announced that the club's president, William Donald, would like to stand down at the annual meeting. And guest speaker Chris Durdin shared his love of dragonflies and damselflies during his talk about Norfolk's latest 25-hectare nature reserve on the edge of the city. See "Minutes & Reports" section for full details.
A date for St Valentine's Day. A leading UEA researcher, Dr Lynn Dicks, of the School of Biological Sciences, will be addressing members on Wednesday, February 14. Interviewed recently on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today by Norwich-based Anna Hill, she talked with authority on some of the challenges facing farmers and growers in protecting crops from diseases and pests.
Entry added: 17 Nov 2017 |
Supper invitation - A "beefy" start to the opening season has been selected for supper ahead of next Wednesday's meeting at the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall.
And the chairman, Jonathan Deane, would welcome as many members as possible to join him and the guest speaker from about 6pm on Wednesday, November 15. He has chosen "beef bourguignon" followed by a lemoncello plum tart. All welcome.
The two-course meal costs £20 and because it has to be ordered in advance - by Monday, 10am at the latest - please let the secretary, Michael Pollitt know. You can either email - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997. But please don't leave it too late.
The meeting proper will start at 7.30pm when Chris Durdin will be talking about wildlife on his doorstep at Norfolk's newest nature reserve.
Natural wonders on the edge of the city - A welcome return to naturalist Chris Durdin, of Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays, who will launch our autumn programme.
Entry added: 08 Nov 2017 |
A “behind the scenes” briefing at the Wymondham headquarters of Norfolk Constabulary was much appreciated by members of Stalham Farmers’ Club.
The visit by an 18-strong group follows a talk almost exactly a year ago by Ch Insp Lou Provart, who had outlined Norfolk's rural crime strategy.
Members were welcomed by DC Andy Brown, who is well-known in the farming community for his dedication to Operation Randall, the crime-fighting initiative.
The use of new technology, drones, was also outlined by one of his colleagues. Two types are used, which have proved to be very cost-effective and help to gather evidence for use in prosecutions. And more recently, drones even assisted with monitoring crowds at Carrow Road.
With a flying time of about 30 minutes and capable of speeds of up to 40mph, they have been used with success to track criminal gangs hare coursing.
Jack Askew then outlined the challenges facing the control room team. It takes about five weeks to train the mainly civilian staff to handle calls plus another three weeks to master the radio control system. He said that about a quarter of calls related to mental health issues. Experts in drug and alcohol abuse and also mental health nurses were also on hand to help callers respond. All calls are graded, A to D, with the target of getting a police presence for an A-call within 7.5 minutes.
Mr Askew also revealed that a new “Smart Storm” system will further assist the control room team to prioritise calls. And, a multi-agency control room was gradually taking shape and Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was moving from nearby Hethersett to share the same site.
It was a fascinating visit and Nick Deane thanked the police team for their time in briefing the group.
On Wednesday, March 14 at the club’s annual dinner, Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green will be speaking and presenting the trophies and prize certificates.
Entry added: 03 Nov 2017 |
Opening meeting - Wednesday, November 15, Chris Durdin. Wildlife on the doorstep at Norfolk's newest nature reserve. Supper at the Norfolk Mead Hotel about 6.30pm, meeting at 7.30pm.
Natural wonders on the edge of the city - A welcome return to naturalist Chris Durdin, of Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays, who will launch our autumn programme on Wednesday, November 15 at the Norfolk Mead Hotel. He will be talking about wildlife on his doorstep atone of the newest nature reserves in Norfolk, right on the edge of the city. Chris, who co-wrote the The Norfolk Cranes'Story published in 2011 and talked to members about these distinctive birds, lives just yards from Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Thorpe Marshes. He has some great photographs of the assorted flora, fauna and other types of 'frequent fliers' including butterflies and dragonflies. And just to tempt you further afield, he may sneak in a few photographs of some extraordinary wildlife often seen by his clients in some of the loveliest regions of Europe.
Join Chris and our chairman, Jonathan, for supper beforehand, from about 6pm, ahead of the meeting at 7.30pm. Details of the menu will be circulated soon.
Entry added: 31 Oct 2017 |
As the autumn programme takes shape, the first meeting will be an early evening tour of Norfolk Police headquarters at Wymondham on Wednesday, November 1. Please note the date in your diary and details will be announced soon. However, numbers will be limited.
And, there is also the opportunity to join the inter-club quiz at Easton & Otley College on Monday, October 30. Anyone who would like to join a Stalham team would be most welcome. Please let the secretary know.
The season's first indoor meeting at the Norfolk Mead will be on Wednesday, November 15 - speaker to be confirmed.
Then Prof Keith Waldron, who has been leading research into adding value into farm wastes, will be speaking on Wednesday, December 13.
Our annual joint meeting with Norfolk Young Farmers' Clubs takes place on Wednesday, January 10 when award-winning dairy farmer Emily Norton will be speaking.
The annual meeting takes place on Wednesday, February 14 (again, speaker to be confirmed) and the club's annual dinner is a month later at the Norfolk Mead Hotel on Wednesday, March 14. The guest speaker will be Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Lorne Green.
Apologies for the delay in sending out the programme.
Entry added: 05 Oct 2017 |
Norfolk Young Farmers are looking for someone to fill their Competitions co-ordinator role. So if you know of someone who might be interested then please let them know. There is an advert going to press and a copy is in the young farmers section of this website on the left. Entry added: 14 Sep 2017 |
Whole crop beet entries, please.
Entries for the latest whole beet crop competition are now invited. The club's longstanding judge, Ken Matthews will be inspecting whole crops in the last week of August. Entries, please, to the secretary by Monday, August 28 at the very latest. A map showing the field, size and location, with nearest road access, would be appreciated - to the secretary michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com There is no entry fee and the single field must be at least 10 acres. The best two-acre will be judged in September or early October.
Entry added: 08 Aug 2017 |
Record potato entries -
A record dozen entries were judged in the Stalham Farmers' Club's annual potato competition. For the second year, almost every member had entered a different variety. From Clippesby to Catfield and from Happisburgh to Honing, the task was "challenging" as 11 different varieties had to be considered by Greenvale's senior agronomist Denis Walsh. The fields entered ranged from Royal to Russet Burbank and from Desiree to Daisy and Markies to Rooster. And when it came to the final weighing of the crops, there was barely half a mark between the top half dozen places. Mr Walsh was impressed by the overall quality of the processing varieties, which showed great promise.
The results will be announced at the club's annual dinner and prize-giving on Wednesday, March 14.
Entry added: 08 Aug 2017 |