Tim Brigstocke has been presented with the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers' Princess Royal Award by Her Royal Highness at Buckingham Palace yesterday, Thursday 8 May. The honour was made for his outstanding services to the industry.
Mr Brigstocke, who currently manages a livestock consultancy specialising in advising government, the supply sector and farmers, has spent his career spanning more than 30 years dedicated to the livestock industry. Highlights include managing the unification of the Holstein Friesian Society and the British Holstein Society to form Holstein UK and Ireland; restructuring the organisation and introducing a telephone registration system linked direct to BCMS; as RABDF chairman, establishing an agreed template for dairy farm costings involving all the major costings and consultancy organisations and quantifying for the first time the true costs of family labour; and at IGER and BOCM Silcock/BOCM Pauls, implementing practical and sensible technology transfer which is now fully accepted by farmers as good practice.
"I have a genuine interest in ensuring a sustainable and profitable farming sector," he explained. "I believe my role as an individual has been, and continues to interpret and communicate a wide range of industry information, from R&D findings through to policy documents, and offer general common sense on the way forward."
Recognised as an innovator and valued for his technical expertise across all species, Mr Brigstocke says his interests for the immediate future are focused in four main areas: as a member of Government's England Implementation Group, to drive through its proposed Animal Health and Welfare Strategy; to encourage farmers to recognise the importance of cattle health schemes; as a director of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, to encourage hobbyists and part time farmers into the debate on the industry's future; and as the industry moves in to the new era of producing food versus environmental goods, to help introduce new skills to help them plot the way forward.
Former Genus chairman, John Beckett commented: "UK dairy farmers have gained immensely from Tim Brigstocke's undivided attention and influence, when they needed it most. He works well beyond the call of duty and I don't know anybody who is higher qualified and more respected. I have always admired his wisdom, statesmanship and judgment, but best of all - he makes things happen."