This will be the last Milk Digest I write before our new Chief Executive, Hayley Campbell Gibbons, joins the team next month. There’s a lot of excitement about what RABDF has been involved in recently, and even more for Hayley to get her teeth into as she takes the helm.
It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm throughout the industry during the Entrepreneur in Dairying workshops, which kicked off earlier this month. Now in its twelfth year, the programme has helped more than 450 aspiring dairy producers achieve their goals. This initiative is a great example of industry collaboration, with RABDF working alongside The Andersons Centre, AHDB Dairy, and the NFU, and with the support of sponsors Oxbury. If you missed out this year, do keep an eye on www.rabdf.co.uk/entrepreneurs-in-dairying for details on next year’s course.
Meanwhile, plans for Dairy-Tech 2025 are shaping up nicely. We have an impressive line-up of speakers, including some special guests from Teagasc—the Agriculture and Food Development Authority in Ireland. We’re excited to welcome Senior Research Officer Emer Kennedy, who will discuss whether milking 10 times per week could help ease labour issues, and Principal Dairy and Beef Research Geneticist Donagh Berry, who will share insights into the practical use of genomics in dairy breeding. Stay up-to-date with the latest event news at dairy-tech.uk, and don’t forget—as an RABDF member, you’re entitled to two free tickets to the event.
Looking ahead, many of our members are eagerly awaiting news from the autumn budget. The biggest concerns for our industry centre on Agricultural Property Relief (APR), which currently exempts farmland from inheritance tax, and the approval of the agricultural budget. Expect more updates in next month’s Milk Digest.
Best wishes,
Robert