The UK Dairy Day Industry Panel 3: The Future of the Dairy Industry

1.30pm on first floor in Sharing Knowledge Zone

Chair:
> Michael Oakes, NFU National Dairy Board Chair

Panellists

John Powell, DEFRA

John Powell is Head of Agriculture Sectors Team in Defra a post he has held since March 2020. He joined MAFF in 1983 and until 1999 worked in various advisory and policy leadership roles. From 1999- 2017 he worked as an advisor to over 15 EU candidate countries on the establishment of EU agricultural policies and institutions. He re-joined DEFRA in 2017, and has worked on future farming policy, EU Exit and the Environmental Land Management schemes.

James Breen, Veterinary Consultant, Mag of Ag

James Breen qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Bristol University in 1998 and after a short period in mixed practice he has worked with dairy cattle ever since. This has included front line practicing work, research at University of Bristol, consultancy for QMMS Ltd, and currently in a teaching and research role at University of Nottingham alongside, alongside his Veterinary Consultant role at Map of Ag. Through his work at Map of Ag, James is heavily involved with supporting processor and retailer clients in driving positive change across their supplying dairy farms, through the use of farm data and on farm consultancy advice.

Michael Smale, Dairy Farmer, Glebewin Holsteins

Michael farms in Cornwall with a closed herd of 150 pedigree Holstein cows with 140 followers.  The Glebewin herd is all year calving with an annual yield of between 8,500 and 9,000 litres at 4.4% butterfat and 3.2% protein. Milk is sold to Dairy Crest Davidstow for the production of Cathedral City Cheddar and also sold off farm through their vending machine. Michael has been involved with the Holstein UK Breed Society for a number of years and recently held the position of Chairman having spent two full terms on the Board of Trustees..

Amy Eggleston, The Dairy Daughter

Amy Eggleston is a fifth-generation dairy farmer from Leicestershire, UK. She helps manage their family dairy farm alongside her Dad and younger brother. The family farm consists of 600 spring calving cows, run on a grazing, low-cost system. As well as her farming role, Amy also has an agricultural marketing business, Pastures Green Communications, and she showcases her daily farming life on her Instagram page, @thedairydaughter to over 24,000 people.