Team AF gladly joined the throng attending this year’s Norfolk Farming Conference (NFC) and we again sponsored the sold-out event.
With an impressive turnout of 450 delegates, the conference attracted a diverse audience, from fresh minds to established industry leaders across the region. Most importantly, we were delighted to see so many of our Members. Hear what Members thought of it:
The answer is no
A highly anticipated address from Daniel Zeichner, Labour MP and Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs began the day. Given recent uproar over the revised inheritance tax on farms, his presence was met with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Many of the questions posed to him came from AF Members, ensuring voices of Norfolk’s farming community were well represented. While Zeichner confirmed that no immediate changes to the budget would be made, his clear and honest approach was widely appreciated. He emphasised new policies aim to transition the agricultural sector away from post-war CAP structures toward a more sustainable future for the industry.
Zeichner also highlighted the need for farm businesses to secure better returns from their customers rather than relying on government subsidies—a sentiment that set the stage for a compelling set of presentations and panel discussion featuring industry giants Diageo, Cranswick Farms, and Branston Ltd.
Their themes included how value can be added to raw material producers who supply their businesses, balancing profitability with sustainability, and what these evolving strategies mean for farmers in Norfolk and further afield. Next, G’s Fresh provided further insight into how these trends already, and will continue to, shape the future of agriculture – and particularly specialty bagged crops - in the region.
Making biosecurity top of the list
The mounting threats to plant and animal health were spelled out. Ian Baker, AF director and Member, delivered an insightful overview of biosecurity measures in place in his pig business (of 2,000 sows and all offspring finished outdoors) North Farm Livestock, emphasising the need for greater shared standards and co-operation across the landscape. His call to action resonated strongly, underscoring the shared responsibility of all – from farm workers to machinery operators to owners - in maintaining high biosecurity standards.
Taking the long view and quick actions
Later in the day, the focus shifted. Economist Dr Sean Rickard laid out his standpoint on the need still for sustainable intensification and more government policy to favour or incentivise that. Also, that he wants to hear less about environment and more about food production at all levels.
Next, Archie Ruggles-Brise from Spains Hall Estate provided an inspiring perspective as an 11th-generation farmer returning to the family estate with a mission to innovate its land management. He described the process he has implemented of reflection, collaboration and long-term vision as the necessary ingredients in a recipe for positive agricultural change and business success.
He shared results so far on 2,000 Essex acres. Plus, what he hopes to investigate, and where in the world, on his journey as a Nuffield Scholar ‘Balancing the Books - does multifunctional productivity represent optimal land use?’. His contribution to the conference was to highlight the value of continuous learning and adaptation in farming.
Buying co-operative buying better, together
Norfolk Farming Conference 2025 was an enlightening and dynamic event, triggering valuable discussions and enjoyable conversations before, between and after the programme of speakers.
As AF Group, we were delighted to be part of and sponsor this gathering. It was good to see familiar faces and meet new ones and to explain how we forge ahead with our commitment to British farmers and rural businesses and protecting their profit margins by buying better, together.
