College makeover will help meet farming needs (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

College makeover will help meet farming needs

10:35am Friday 14th November 2008

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AN AGRICULTURAL college is to undergo a multi-million pound redevelopment.

Farming industry leaders and Northumberland College have agreed the major investment at Kirkley Hall College, Ponteland.

It involves improving both the facilities and agricultural training to meet the emerging needs of the industry.

Mike Keeble, Wensleydale farmer and Northern executive member of the Tenant Farmers’ Association, chairs the eight member panel which is advising Northumberland College.

He said: “The farming industry has a great opportunity to take advantage of a growing demand for locally-sourced produce.

“But to maximise both production and quality, farmers need to be adopting the very latest technologies and breeding techniques.

“The college has agreed to invest in research and development with new stock and make big changes to its curriculum to meet the needs of the industry in the new market conditions.”

A major sale of college livestock on November 1 – including more than 1,000 cross-bred sheep, 500 store lambs and more than 130 cattle – was the first step.

The proceeds will be re-invested in the new year on two new herds of cattle, based on Aberdeen Angus and Limousin genetics, which will be cross-bred for research and development purposes.

The college’s hefted Blackface flock at Carlcroft will be maintained to provide gimmer lambs for Kirkley Hall.

The college is also putting out to tender the management of its farms at Kirkley and Carlcroft, to bring in an experienced commercial farmer.

Rachel Ellis-Jones, college principal and chief executive, said collaboration with key farming figures was one example of the college working closely with industry.

“Renewables is another,” she said. “The farming panel has helped us identify the key issues facing the industry, and how we as the region’s leading agricultural training provider can invest in R&D and training methods to best equip the industry with the skills and solutions needed to take advantage of the new market conditions.”

The college action plan has been approved by senior national and regional industry figures, including Sir Don Curry, Northumberland farmer and senior government adviser; Angus Collingwood Cameron, regional director of the Country, Land and Business Association); and Doug Gray, regional manager with English Farming and Food Partnerships.

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