shuttleworth lecture

The annual Shuttleworth Lecture took place on 23rd January this year, at Shuttleworth College in Bedfordshire. The speaker this year was Lincolnshire Farmer and Farmers Weekly Columnist, Matthew Naylor.

Matthew delivered an interesting, stimulating, and at times a little controversial, talk entitled How to Make a Million Pounds from Farming! Matthew’s speech was both lighthearted and positive and, while not quite giving the secret of how to become a millionnaire, it gave the audience pointers on taking their business forward. Matthew emphasised that farming is very much a competitive industry now, and that farmers could benefit from looking at other industries and learn much more about marketing their produce. He also questioned farming’s reliance on subsidies and growing commodity crops, and he urged people to look at niche crops - Matthew himself moved from wheat to delphiniums. Matthew emphasised that there were 60 million people in the country, and whilst for some the cheapness of food was an over-riding priority, there was also a large number who would be willing to pay more for a higher quality, or different product.

The question session that followed was lively and led to much discussion about subsidies and bureaucracy, and the debate carried on in the bar! David Hunt chaired the meeting and Stephen Harris closed the evening.

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