South of England Farming Technical Forums
Our Farming Technical Forums address a variety of subjects in land-based industries with leading experts in their field.
Forums are held online, two times a year, are free to attend and are available to book online.
Our next Technical Forum will be taking place on 8th June. More information coming soon.
Thursday 22nd February: 'Resilience - Riding the Rollercoaster
Watch the Farming Technical Forum ‘Resilience – Riding the Rollercoaster’ here.
We discussed the likes of:
- As we’re all aware, currently there are multiple challenges and pressure faced both in our industry and lives. Join our panel to discuss and gain insight into how they are riding the current rollercoaster and adapting their businesses to become more resilient, motivating the people around them, whilst ensuring they look after themselves.
Chaired by Mark Campbell
Our Speakers:
Chris Appleton, Dairy Farmer
Tom Rawson, Director of Evolution Farming
Charles Anyan, FCN Ambassador & Farmer
About our Speakers
Chris Appleton - Dairy Farmer
Chris has been fortunate enough to return to the family farm as a fourth generation dairy farmer managing 450 autumn block cows near Lewes, East Sussex. The farm has seen significant changes over the last 8 years with a project currently underway to build a new dairy unit and expand the herd to 650 cows. Chris is ably supported by a fantastic team that prioritise the welfare of the animals, allowing all to push forwards with the next stages of development for the farm.
Tom Rawson - Director of Evolution Farming
Tom is married to Catherine and they have three teenage children. Tom’s journey into dairy farming started on his parents’ 50 cow tenanted farm in West Yorkshire when he finished Harper Adams University in 1999 having not milked a cow until he was 19 years old. In 2010 Tom co founded Evolution Farming which today milks over 3000 cows on 8 units and at peak employed over 80 staff in a variety of different enterprises. Tom also has wider industry involvement including being Vice Chair of Nuffield Farming, current Chair of The 1000 Cow Club and a Committee member of The Farmers Club.
Charles Anyan - FCN Ambassador & Farmer
Charles is an arable farmer and keen environmentalist from Lincolnshire who took up running during the Covid lockdowns. A five stone weight loss quickly ensued. Now a veteran of 4 marathons (and currently training for number 5) he still hasn’t stopped. He has found running to be a great way to look after both his physical and mental health, and is an advocate for breaking the stigma around this.
Anyan became an ambassador for The Farming Communtiy Network in 2021 and was also a judge of Britain’s Fittest Farmer in 2023.
James Wallis - Farm Manager, Sutton Hall Estates
James has been contract farming the Sutton Hall Estate near Newick for 13 years, managing 850 dairy cows and 700 acres of arable cropping. More recently, in a move to maintain long term income after the removal of BPS, the estate has invested in a Christmas tree growing enterprise, aiming to harvest 25,000 trees per year from 2024.
Previous Farming Technical Forums
Watch previous recordings by clicking the button below:
