THE NFU and Eblex will stage their first Northern Uplands Conference next month.

The half-day event, sponsored by HSBC, has a backdrop of shrinking budgets for both pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy, affecting direct payments and agri-environment programmes.

Laurie Norris, NFU regional uplands adviser, said: "Despite the government’s recognition of the importance of the hill farming sector to the country’s unique stratified livestock industry, and the wider rural economy, the impact of changes to agri-environment programmes in particular looks set to hit the industry hard.

“It is in response to this that the Uplands Conference was conceived to focus on the challenge ahead and provide an opportunity to debate possible strategies for optimising farming in the hills while still delivering on the environment.”

Previous CAP reviews have encouraged hill farmers to reduce stock and introduce low-input grassland under environmental management. As a result, those now seeking to increase productivity in the face of falling incomes will need to plan carefully. Increasing grassland productivity will be a major challenge for most, so this will be the focus of the conference, with a range of specialist speakers outlining possible strategies.

There will also be a section devoted to business planning. “While other sectors, such as the dairy industry, have been compelled to embrace new technologies and techniques to help drive down costs, the livestock sector, and particularly upland livestock businesses, have been slower to see the potential benefits,” added Laurie Norris.

“This is something we want to encourage and we hope to follow this conference with events exploring other key areas such as genetics and breeding."

The conference chairman will be Robin Milton, NFU national uplands spokesman. He said: “There has been a lot of uncertainty facing hill farmers over the past 18 months with a number of contributing factors such as the weather, rising costs and disease leading to hill farmers getting less for their produce while facing increasing production costs. It is absolutely vital these farmers are treated fairly and rewarded for their hard work if they are to keep on delivering for future generations."

He does not believe there is one right answer. "Individual farmers have to make individual decisions," he said, "You really have to only take on what fits your farming business. Be critical of yourself but do what you’re comfortable with. Look objectively and make informed choices based on agri-environment schemes and such like.

Speakers include Mervyn Lewis, from Askham Bryan College, on how farmers can begin the process of identifying new opportunities within their business; Gordon Whitford, HSBC Northern regional agricultural manager, on how farmers can use business goals to develop a robust business plan; Peter Molyneux, from accountants Armstrong Watson, on succession planning; and James Copeland, NFU regional environment and land use adviser, giving a CAP reform update.

To kick off the technical section, Dr Mariecia Frazer, from Aberystwyth University’s IBERS Grassland Development Centre, will review past and future research into upland grassland management, examining how farmers can optimise their grazing and considering the role that legumes can play.

Dr Liz Genever, from Eblex, will outline successful strategies and techniques used by upland farmers working with Eblex to improve their returns, while Adrian Vass, from Natural England, will outline an initiative in Teesdale where they are working with a group of farmers to improve their grassland within the confines of their agri-environment agreements. The farmers had significant problems with grassland productivity – pastures were very poor with little grass and a high proportion of rushes.

Farmer case studies will include David Airey from Keighley, James Howard from Holmfirth and John Bell from Teesdale.

The conference is at the Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold, Skipton BD23 4EA on Thursday, February 5, from 1.30pm to 7pm with supper. Places are free but must be booked through Eblex on 01904 771211, email brpevents@eblex.ahdb.org.uk.