Farmer and grower board elections
Our farmer and grower board is a 16-strong body of men and women, elected by Soil Association producer members across the UK. The 2011 online ballot of our producer members will decide who is elected to the board for a three-year term of office commencing on 21 February 2012.
Six candidates are standing for one elected position: Gillian Butler, Paul Coates, Kate Edwards, John Pawsey, Alan Schofield and Chris Walton.
You must cast your vote no later than 5pm on Friday 10 February 2012. Simply follow the instructions using your Producer membership number. Please note that you can only vote once, you will not be able to change your vote once you have left the voting page.
The candidate who receives the most votes will be elected to the board. If you have any questions – or you cannot vote online – call 0117 914 2400. Results will be published in a future edition of Organic Farming magazine.
Gillian Butler
My presence on the Soil Association farmer and grower board is somewhat unusual. I cannot be described as either an organic farmer or grower, although I would like to think I have made an impact on these sectors. Since the early 1990s, I have been involved with organic forage and livestock farming, initially as an adviser and latterly as a lecturer and research scientist at Nafferton Ecological Farming Group, Newcastle University. My findings on the quality of organic milk products (and the associated press coverage) have helped to raise the profile of organic milk through difficult times, and definitely contradicted arguments that there was no additional nutritional benefit from organic food.
I am an active member of Northumbria Organic Producers groups and was instrumental in accessing ERDP backing which funded development staff to run the North East Organic Programme, managed by the Soil Association, which provided support to local producers. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a co-opted member of the farmer and grower board and feel that my involvement has mutual benefits. I would like to continue to contribute to the practical guidance that the board provides to the Soil Association, and also to help channel ideas and findings between the organisation and the wider research community.
Paul Coates
I farm a 80ha mixed organic livestock/arable unit in Aberdeenshire, producing cattle, sheep and spring barley. I began my farming/crofting career in 1972 in the Shetland Islands on my family’s derelict crofts. Over a 24 year period, we developed a thriving crofting/farming business, enhancing conservation and wildlife through planting acres of trees under the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme. Over the years I was also chairman of Shetland FWAG, a director of Ollaberry Community village stores, a director of the Shetland Lamb Marketing Co-op, secretary to the Scottish Crofters Union and director of my own enterprise, CROFTPLAN.
Since moving to Aberdeenshire in 1998 to fulfil a life-long ambition to farm organically, we have concentrated on building our main enterprises, developing direct meat sales and renovating part of the steading into a farm store/gallery. From 2005-2008, I was a director at Caledonian Organics and, from 2001-2, undertook consultancy for the Soil Association’s Uplands Committee on organic crofting. I currently sit on the committee of the local school council.
I believe that it is vital to maintain the Soil Association’s integrity in the face of continuing commercial development. I will bring a wealth of practical agricultural experience to the board, with connections and knowledge of Scotland’s organic agricultural sector (including the crofting regions) which is not currently represented, and the ability to share this experience through coherent thoughts and arguments in an inclusive and fair-minded way.
Kate Edwards
Having completed a degree in zoology, I finally found a way into farming through the Soil Association’s organic apprenticeship scheme. I completed the scheme earlier this year at Swillington Organic Farm in Leeds, and have agreed to stay on and start sheep share farming using a CSA model.
Swillington Organic Farm is a 65ha mixed organic farm where we rear sheep, beef, pigs and chicken. We also have a 0.8ha walled garden where we run a vegetable CSA. We put particular emphasis on providing the local community with good quality and responsibly produced meat and vegetables, and encouraging a real farmer/consumer relationship.
I am at the beginning of my farming career but I am already passionate about turning the tide of modern farming practices and providing our communities with a more sustainable and locally produced diet. During my time as an apprentice I sat on the steering group as apprentice representative; a role in which I feel I was effective in communicating the opinions of others and bringing a fresh approach to the table. I am ready to take on the challenge of representing a community of farmers and growers that I am excited to be part of.
John Pawsey
I farm 690ha of my own land in Suffolk under a stockless arable rotation, and a further 350ha for four local farmers – all organic. I try to farm in a way that uses the best of modern technology to improve all of our farming operations. I keep a keen eye on soil improvement and environmental diversity, and I am a former chairman of Suffolk FWAG.
I am a director and chairman of Organic Arable, a farmer-owned organic buying group that trades in UK combinable crops. It is a membership-based organisation and does not focus on profits, but instead aims to provide the best independent advice on marketing to its members without the distraction of importing organic cereals and pulses. Our non-farming activities include farm walks for farming groups and the general public, and we are currently developing links with local schools and have conducted several school visits over the last 12 months.
I think that I will bring practical knowledge to the farmer and grower board, with a keen eye to marketing and environmental issues. I am a good communicator and I am enthusiastic. I was extremely encouraged by Helen Browning recent wish to “repositioning us at the cutting edge of practice, rather than in the Luddite camp”, as her statement reflects the mantra that I deliver to farm visitors. I would hope to reflect this sentiment in the farmer and grower board.
Alan Schofield
I have been an organic vegetable grower for 30 years, running our business Growing with Nature along with my wife Debra and son Christopher. We have been operating a box scheme since 1992. I have been involved with the Soil Association for over 20 years; for 12 years I was the chair of the Horticultural Standards Committee and for three years I had a seat on the Standards Board. I was on the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) technical committee for five years, and for the last four years I have been the chairman of the Organic Growers Alliance (OGA).
I have worked as a horticultural advisor for over 10 years and was instrumental in setting up a growers group on the Isle of Man, as well as establishing a series of farmers’ markets under the Manx Local Organic brand. Through the Soil Association and the OGA, I have run many training courses over the last 20 years. I have campaigned within the Soil Association for the farmer and growers to have more of a say in Soil Association activities and feel that the farmer and grower board is the result of this. I am a good speaker and communicator and I work hard for the wider recognition of the benefits of organic growing.
Chris Walton
I am a managing partner at Peelham Farm, Berwickshire, where we farm an organic mixed livestock and arable unit. Enterprises include rare breed Tamworth pigs, Lleyn sheep, and a Luing and Sim-Luing cattle herd. The rotation include spring barley, spring beans, arable silage and red clover silage.
A large proportion of the livestock we produce go through our on farm organic butchery as artisan products. These are sold through farmers’ markets, as well as to hotels, restaurants, delicatessens, private individuals and through the farm website (www.peelham.co.uk). Peelham also runs a number of events on the farm, many which are focused on educating customers in the process of organic farming and meat production.
I have been an active member of the National Farmers Union of Scotland, culminating in becoming chair of the region and a director. I have also been a director of Tweed Forum, a body involved in organising tourism and educational projects along the Tweed Valley. More recently I was a director of Slow Food UK, as well an International Councillor. This role has involved insight into the operation of artisan food production throughout the UK – and beyond.