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Council Staff

Council Members for Year 2010
Five Council meetings are held each year. All RABDF members are welcome to contact Council to air their views and, if required, to ask that them to put forward those views at forthcoming Council meetings.

 
Chairman - David Cotton
David farms in family partnership in mid-Somerset with 160 Holstein Friesians averaging 7500 litres. Home of Kingshay Farming Trust with various trials on farm. Former County Chairman of Somerset YFC and Somerset CMA. Member of IagrM and Council Member of Milk Link. Married with two young daughters with tennis as a hobby away from the business.

Tel (H): 01458 850 431
Fax: 01458 850 626 		 Mob: 07771 824 690
E-mail: dwcotton@msn.com
Vice Chairman- Ian Macalpine
Having run his own dairy herd for the last 28 years, Ian changed from Holstein Friesians to Jerseys in 2002. Progressing to the Ribblesdale Jersey herd, he has been a RABDF/NMR Gold Cup Finalist for the last three years. Ian believes stronger links should be forged with milk markets to strengthen the dairy farmers' position; and that new and young people should be encouraged to work and invest in our industry. He would like to contribute to that future.

Tel (H): 01200 422 574
Mob:  07973 481750		 E-mail: ian.macalpine@farming.co.uk
Derrick Davies
Derrick is a farmers son from south west Wales where he is in partnership with his brother in a diary farm.  He lives in Berkshire where he manages two estates with 270 milking cows based at one farm supplying milk to Marks and Spencer.  Derrick is also a representative for the dairy farmers supplying milk to M&S.  His hobbies include watching rugby and flying.

Tel (H) 0118 9302580       
Mob: 07977 451241

 E-mail: derrick@follyfarms.freeserve.co.uk
Lyndon Edwards
Managing partner of a 560 acres family farm (organic since 2000), 200 cows (Beechpike herd), Nuffield Scholar, Waitangi fellow, Director of OMSCO, President of Chepstow Agricultural Society, Director of the Dairy Event 2001/2, Chairman of RABDF 2007-1010.

Tel: 01291 622 421
Fax: 01291 629 421		 Mob: 07850 842 101
E-mail: l.edwards@farming.co.uk

Mary Mead
Practising dairy farmer with 400 pedigree British Friesians averaging 8000 litres and into organic conversion on 1200 acres grass and arable, selling milk to family owned yoghurt company. Staunch supporter of British dairy farmers in their quest to gain more control over their market. Member of the 300 cow club and Council member of RABDF.

Tel (H): 01761 462 709
Tel (W): 01761 461 600		 E-mail: mary.mead@holtfarmsgroup.co.uk

John Owen
Married with one teenage son. As Farm Manager at Gelli Aur College, he runs the 400 cow Two Herd Evaluation project, managing both a low input spring calving crossbred herd and a purebred black and white autumn calving higher input herd, and delivers relevant comparisons. He is a 2002 Trehane Nuffield Scholar and studied 'The Role of Development Farms in Successful Technology Transfer.' He has also served on the management committee of the British Grassland Society and is a keen member of the European Dairy Farmers Club.

Tel: 01554 748 571
 E-mail: john.owen@colegsirgar.ac.uk

Mark Roach
Managing director of Grosvenor Farms for the last eight years - a large dairy/arable business in Cheshire, with four dairy herds totaling 1400 cows, including the Gold Cup winning herd 2006. Previously worked as a Dairy Consultant working closely with some of the country's leading dairy farmers. Has a wide appreciation of dairy farming issues, particularly low milk prices.

Tel (W): 01244 670 160
Fax: 01244 620 325		 Mob: 07775 561 822
E-mail: mark.roach@grosvenor.com

David Roberts
Head of SAC Dairy Research Centre, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries. Research interests include development of dairy systems, grassland and feeding of by-products. In addition to research work, also involved in teaching and consultancy. Recent consultancy work has included farm assurance and improving nitrogen efficiency on dairy farms. Nuffield Scholar - studied dairy farming systems in Israel and Portugal. Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies.

Tel (W): 01387 263 961
Fax: 01387 251 789		 Mob: 07979 245 890
E-mail: dave.roberts@sac.ac.uk
    
 
Andrew Snodgrass
Andrew has been a farm consultant in Shropshire/Cheshire since 1978. He has been in partnership with his son on a 480 acre farm since 2002 where they milk 250 North American Jerseys. Co director of Marches Green energy and from 1990 to 2008 he owned and operated with his wife a nursing home in Shrewsbury for 32 residents.

Tel (H) 01743 790140   E-mail: loweroaks@aol.com
Guy Trehane
Milking 170 cows in the long established Hampreston herd of Holstein Friesians.  Unique in having closed all the female families since 1913.  A Nuffield Scholar and past chairman of the Maize Growers Association.  In the face of bTB and NVZs I actively campaign as a member of the Commercial Farmers Group and the past chair of the RASE committee on "Science, Agriculture and Rural Affairs" for sound science, sustainability and competitiveness to be the key drivers for the future of British dairying. 
 
Tel (W): 01202 574223  
   E-mail:  guy.trehane@farming.me.uk 
William Whiteford
Dairy farmer and partner in family business, milking 300-400 Ayrshire and Red & White's in the North of England. RABDF Council Member & linked with Dairy Event as Cattle Steward. Part of organising group to represent dairy farmers in forward farming project. Mindful of RABDF's position 'no future without youth on board', keen to assist and listen to comments & thoughts of our younger members. Stakeholder on Animal Health For Dairy North of England.

Tel/Fax (H): 0169 772 220
Mob: 07775 537 633		 E-mail: middlefarm@freeuk.com

Angus Wielkopolski
As both a practical farmer (milking 2000 goats on 300 acres) and a milk processor of both goats and cows milk, Angus has experience in the production and marketing of milk products. He fully supports the need for a sustainable dairy industry, earning a fair return from producing products that today's consumers demand.

Tel (H): 01430 861 299
Tel (W): 01430 861 400		 Mob: 07850 285 059
E-mail: info@sthelensfarm.co.uk

Patron - Her Majesty The Queen

President - Baroness Byford 

Lady Byford has agreed to resume the position of president of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers following incoming president, Lord Rooker’s decision to resign after being appointed by government to chair the Food Standards Agency.  

 
 “We are delighted that Lady Byford has agreed to continue as our president for the next 11 months, a role she has most ably carried out over the past two years,” comments RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington. “While we are naturally disappointed that Jeff Rooker has had to step down after less than one month in office, we understand the reasons for his decision and believe he is an appropriate person for the job. We wish him well.”

She continues to bring a comprehensive wealth of knowledge and experience to the organisation having studied agriculture prior to managing a poultry enterprise producing parent stock. She has interests in her family’s Suffolk based farming business. Lady Byford holds a number of positions within the sector; she is president of the FACE strategy group, LEAF and Concordia, and an honorary associate member of the British Veterinary Association and of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She is also a patron of several rural organisations including the Rural Stress Network, the Village Retail Services Association, and the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators.   

“RABDF members will have the opportunity to meet and talk with her at the forthcoming Dairy Event on 16 and 17 September.”