Opening meeting and supper invitation -
Treasures under our feet - Wednesday, November 8 at Wroxham Barns NR12 8QU. Archaeologist Peter Crawley, is our guest speaker for the opening meeting. Join our chairman Will Sands for supper, served at 6.30pm. It costs £20 per head and includes a first welcome drink. Please let the secretary know if you like to join him and our speaker - by Monday, November 6 at 10am. Telephone 01603 486997 or email - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com With more than 20 years' experience in Norfolk, Mr Crawley will also talk about discovering the country's largest grain drying operation at Little Plumstead, started by the Romans, dating from between 80 and 150AD. The meeting will start at 7.30pm but come along for supper beforehand, meet from 6pm. Bring a guest but supper must be booked.
Grain samples - entries for the wheat and balrey competitions may be brought to the meeting. Holt's champion sample, Laureate was grown by Melton Harrold at Heacham - it will be judged against Stalham's best barley entry for the inter-club prize.
Entry added: 27 Oct 2023 |
Mustard briefing -
What a "mustard" start to the latest season. Almost two dozen members visited Europe's only double superfine mustard mill, the £11m investment by the farmer-owned company, Condimentum. Chief executive Dave Martin and growers' representative, David Bond, also a club member, gave a fascinating insight into this rapidly-expanding business at Colman's Close, Easton. And, in the next five years another £8m will be ploughed into the business, which produces mint and mustards for Uniilever's Colman's of Norwich brands. They are also looking to recruit new growers too. Full story - Under the minutes and Reports Tab on the left.
Entry added: 27 Oct 2023 |
Sugar beet competitions – Entries for the club’s two competitions are invited. The whole crop and also the best two acres will be judged by Sam Summers, of British Sugar. It would be extremely helpful if entries could be submitted to the secretary by Monday, September 16, please. Details of field location, including size and suggested access should be sent to michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997. All entries will be acknowledged. Incidentally, the whole crop cup was first presented in 1928 – so, this is the 95th year. Entry added: 10 Oct 2023 |
Mustard visit – Any members wishing to join the tour of Condimentum, Colman’s Close, Easton NR9 5FG on Wednesday, October 25 should let the secretary know. As places are limited, it is likely to be over-subscribed. It is planned to meet at 5.30pm for a briefing on this major investment and tour of the site. Final numbers by Monday, October 23 but don’t leave it too late. As our chairman is now a mustard grower, this visit should be of particular interest. Contact the secretary or ring – 01603 486997. Entry added: 10 Oct 2023 |
Autumn programme update and annual dinner speaker. Mark Nicholas, managing director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, will address members and present trophies and prize cards on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 (7.30pm) at Salhouse Lodge NR13 6HD. Please note that the club’s indoor meetings will be Wroxham Barns NR12 8QU, starting on Wednesday, November 8, 7.30pm Entry added: 10 Oct 2023 |
The Autumn and Winter'24 programme is available in the "what's on tab on the left! Entry added: 04 Oct 2023 |
Sugar beet competition entries by Friday, October 13 to the secretary, please. Don't forget to keep your grain samples too! Entry added: 04 Oct 2023 |
Sugar beet competition entries by Friday, October 13 to the secretary, please. Dont forget to keep you grain samples too! Entry added: 04 Oct 2023 |
Congratulation to Stalham members in latest county farms’ competition -
Congratulations to Stalham Farmers’ Club members for success in the latest Norfolk County Farm Business competition.
Organised by the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association, the following were trophy winners in the 42nd annual competition.
The current chairman, William Sands, of Brunstead, near Stalham, was a runner-up as was the club’s webmaster, Tim Papworth, of LF Papworth, of Felmingham.
Others enjoying success included another former club chairman, Luke Paterson, who won the diversification award for the family business, Dilham Hall Retreats. The runner-up was Richard Hirst and son Robert’s enterprise, Hirst’s Farm Shop & Café.
Mr Sands, of HBS Farms, of Brunstead, who entertained more than 130 club members and guests from East Norfolk National Farmers’ Union at last week’s chairman’s farm walk, was a runner-up in the B class, which was won by Wm Youngs & Sons Farms – incidentally the overall reserve champion.
LF Papworth Ltd, run by Tim Papworth and cousin Kit Papworth, were runners-up in the class A category, which was won by the Raynham Farm Company Ltd. The Leonard Papworth Trophy for the winning farm manager/ foreman will be presented to Tom Pearson along with the Barclays Bank Challenge Cup at a farm walk on Tuesday, July 4.
The category for smaller enterprise, under 400 acres, was won by Tony Bambridge, of Park Farm, Blickling.
The AASA’s Jubilee Cup for best livestock enterprise was won by Stephen Temple, of J F Temple, of Copys Green Farm, Wighton, near Wells.
Another Stalham member, Rob Norman, who was co-ordinator of the farm business awards competition, said that there were 14 entries in the farms classes and six for the diversification category, which was especially strong.
He thanked the team of six judges and the sponsors, Brown & Co for continuing support for the annual competition.
The supreme champion, Raynham Farm Company, will host the farm walk, sponsored by Frontier Agriculture and Payne Crop Nutrition, on Tuesday, July 4 at Hall Farm, Toftrees NR21 7EB – arrive by 6pm for prompt departure, returning for presentations by 8.30pm. Entry added: 26 Jun 2023 |
Mustard, flowers and supper at summer farm walk -
A mustard trip and blooming flowers will be among the attractions at the chairman's annual farm walk on Wednesday, June 21 at Brunstead.
Our hosts, Andrew and William Sands and Louisa Butcher, will welcome members and guests of Stalham Farmers' Club and the East Norfolk NFU branch to Brunstead House Farm, Ingham Road NR12 9HE - meet at 5.30pm for 6pm start, please.
Louisa will also be talking about her thriving florist enterprise, which also includes growing British-grown flowers for decoration. Our chairman, William, who has also diversified into growing mustard for Colman's, will brief guests on the other enterprises including potatoes, sugar beet, cereals and land let for salads.
After the tour, there will be a hog roast - provided by the Sands family.
To help planning numbers, please let the secretary, Michael Pollitt (michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997) or the East Norfolk NFU office (northwalsham@nfumutual.co.uk or telephone 01692 402929 by 5pm on Friday, June 16, please.
Also please indicate any dietary concerns as well as numbers - by June 16. The farm walk is being held with the East Norfolk NFU branch. Entry added: 03 Jun 2023 |