Tributes to Norfolk farming leader David Ritchie, who was club president, are reported in the latest edition of the NFU's British Farmer & Grower. Described him as a "Flower of Scotland," it reports that hundreds of mourners from across the county attending a recent service of thanksgiving at Ludham. See page 33 of the December edition. Entry added: 18 Dec 2014 |
A first-time entrant has taken supreme honours in Norfolk’s malting barley competition.
And for the first time, Stalham Farmers’ Club has beaten an entry from Holt & District Farmers’ Club in the annual malting barley awards.
The sample of Cassata winter barley from HBS Farms, of Happisburgh, was judged by Bob King, of the Crisp Malting Group. The other contender for the inter-club trophy, a sample of the spring barley, Concerto, from FJ Clabon and partners, had won the Hammond Cup for best Holt entry.
William Sands, who has been running the family farm since January, was surprised and indeed shocked when informed of his success by Stalham’s chairman, Neil Jordan. “I didn’t think that the Cassata looked a winner. So I was shocked and delighted that it won,” said Mr Sands.
He said that the farm’s former farm manager Richard Filby, who had worked for the past 45 years, deserved the credit for growing the crop.
Mr Sands said that the Cassata had yielded well, probably between eight and nine tonnes per hectare. About 200 tonnes had been bought by Dewing Grain and in store at Aylsham. “I’ll have to tell Andrew Dewing that he’s got Norfolk’s top malting barley crop in his store – maybe I should get a bonus payment,” he added.
When it was tested, it had a higher nitrogen content at about 1.6pc than his samples of Concerto which were running at 1.4 or 1.5pc. “That’s why I was surprised – it must have caught the judge’s eye,” said Mr Sands.
The inter-club competition was started several years ago with the support of merchants, Adams & Howling, who had also judged the entries from Stalham Farmers’ Club. Chris Borrett and colleague Matthew Adams were the judges.
The best sample from each club was then sent to Mr King, of the Crisp Malting Group at Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham, to determine the overall winner. It was bought by Boortmalt, of Bury St Edmunds, for malting into the ale market.
Entry added: 18 Dec 2014 |
For latest beet and cereal results - the first and last, then see new section, competitions, on the left-hand side of the homepage. Entry added: 11 Dec 2014 |
At the meeting last night one of the club's more senior members, Tom Crane, of Oxnead, attended his first meeting for more than 20 years. As he told the guest speaker Peter Hough, he had delivered his first load of sugar beet to the Cantley factory in 1935. Admittedly, he had been a five-year-old passenger in a new Dodge lorry, with 2.5 ton capacity. Then, fitted with so-called "greedy boards," it enabled another 1.5 tons to be delivered at the same time. And members also welcomed another member, Stephen Roberson, who returned to the fold after an absence of almost 10 years. Now a fieldsman with AF Biomass, the arm of Anglia Farmers, he hopes to be a more diligent attender. Entry added: 11 Dec 2014 |
If you are interested then please respond to the Survey from Vicki hall on the Homepage about Stalham Sports Centre. Entry added: 02 Dec 2014 |
Calling all bowlers and 10-pin enthusiasts. After last year's highly successful "Big Match" against Holt Farmers' Club, players are invited to join the fun on Friday, February 20 at Rossi's, North Walsham. Organiser William Donald would like names of bowlers while Rob Norman and Luke Paterson will be raising another 18-strong squad for the second annual 10-pin match. It will start at 4pm and the cost is likely to be about £20, including meal. Please note change of date. Entry added: 25 Nov 2014 |
A very berry Christmas from one of the club’s most senior members, Peter Boardman.
He has a star role in the latest edition of the National Farmers’ Union’s Farmer & Grower.
In a double-page spread, he tells the NFU’s regional publicity officer, Brian Finnety that he doesn’t really know why his father planted the only commercial orchard in the country in the 1930s.
For Peter, who always comes to the club’s annual dinner, holly has taken him around European and especially America to meet other growers.
When the NFU encouraged farmers to plant Millennium Avenues of trees in the late 1990s, there was only one tree of choice. Peter planted 60 holly trees along a road through How Hill Farm, Ludham.
And he started to sell holly for the Christmas trade about 50 years ago after obtaining old fishing nets from Great Yarmouth. Now, his nephew Nick Coller, another member of the club, looks after the holly business now.
With about 350 acres of crops, including wheat, barley and sugar beet, he has about five acres of holly including varieties brought back from the USA and also Holland.
Entry added: 21 Nov 2014 |
David Ritchie's Funeral service of thanksgiving will be held at St Catherine’s Church, Ludham, on Friday, November 21, at 2pm Entry added: 11 Nov 2014 |
Warm tribute to club president and leading Norfolk farmer
Norfolk farmers stood in silence to mark the passing of two former county chairmen of the National Farmers’ Union.
Retiring NFU chairman, Ken Proctor said with the death of David Ritchie the county had lost a great servant and a “forthright character.”
About 75 members and guests at the 95th annual meeting of Norfolk NFU county branch at Easton also heard that Robert (Bob) Steven, who had been chairman in 1998, had also died.
Mr Proctor, who is a leading dairy farmer, said that Davy had been Norfolk NFU’s chairman in 1985. Earlier, he had been a successful chairman of the Norfolk British Friesian Club.
Mr Ritchie, who died at home in the early hours of Sunday, aged 82, became president of Stalham Farmers’ Club in 2010. He had been chairman in 1972, and his late son, Laurie, had also held the same post more than a quarter of a century later.
As a member, David, who farmed at Hall Farm, Ludham, had always supported club events and competitions. To his obvious delight, the family’s farm won the Cantley Cup for best overall performance in sugar beet a couple of years ago.As president, he supported club activities wherever possible although his declining health in recent months and weeks had not always made it possible. However, when the secretary visited him in the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, he insisted that the farm again enter the annual competition and also the grain competition.Our thoughts are with his widow, Marion, and his daughter, Marion, and his four grandsons.Funeral arrangements to be announced.
Entry added: 05 Nov 2014 |
Norfolk NFU made a special presentation of five volumes of Parson Woodforde’s diaries to the club secretary, Michael Pollitt. Council delegate Tony Bambridge thanked him for his efforts in the past 30 years and noted that he had been the longest serving agricultural editor in the 144-year history of the EDP. He also presented a cheque. Retiring chairman Ken Proctor thanked him “for his sterling work on behalf of Norfolk farmers.” Entry added: 05 Nov 2014 |