PATRON - HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

PRESIDENT- BARONESS BYFORD DBE

Baroness Byford

Further information on Baroness Byford

 

Council Members for Year 2008
Four Council meetings are held each year. All RABDF members are welcome to contact their county's representative on Council to air their views and, if required, to ask that representative to put forward those views at forthcoming Council meetings.

 

 
 
CHAIRMAN - LYNDON EDWARDS

Managing partner of a 560 acres family farm (organic since 2000), 200 cows (Beechpike herd), Nuffield Scholar, Waitangi fellow, Director of OMSCO, Chairman of Chepstow Agricultural Society, Director of the Dairy Event 2001/2.
Tel: 01291 622 421 • Fax: 01291 629 421 • Mob: 07850 842 101
E-mail: l.edwards@farming.co.uk
VICE 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@email.msn.com

ANDY ARDEN
Following school, Andy attended Coleg Llysfasi for 4 years and joined the family farm in partnership with parents milking 200 pedigree Ayrshire cows. This partnership was added to in 1993 when he married Becky and again in 2000 with the birth of his daughter Eleanor. Recently served on the Member Council for Dairy Farmers of Britain and currently on the Ayrshire Cattle Society Council. Totally committed to strive for a better future for British Dairy Farming.
Tel: 01244 532 516 • Fax: 01244 532 516 • Mob: 07979 068 413
E-mail: andrew@arden1969.fsnet.co.uk
FRANK ARMITAGE
Lifetime in the dairy industry. Vice President of the International Committee for Animal Recording and Chair of its Standards Panel. ICAR Treasurer under French Law. On BSI & ISO Committees. Former Director of NMR, MDCEL and various genetic working groups. Organizer of the Gold Cup and Steward of the Prince Philip Award. Member of HUK. Married with three children and two grandchildren. Enjoys sailing, cooking and rugby.
 
Tel (H): 01752 491 325 • Fax: 01752 491 325 • Mob: 07971 600 332
E-mail: frank.armitage@btinternet.com
JOHN DAW
Former Chairman of both Devon YFC and Devon NFU. Present Chairman of Regional NFU Dairy Board, 200 Holstein Friesian cows on large mixed farm (1000 acres) in mid-Devon. Deeply involved with all the problems in our industry and hoping to find solutions to make our farming businesses viable. Interests include rugby, shooting and YFC.
Tel (H): 01363 877 238 • Tel/Fax (W): 01363 834 46 • Mob: 07885 486 553
E-mail: jdaw9@uk.online.co.uk
TIM DOBSON
Tenant farmer of 100 cow flying herd on 110 acres, along with a small beef enterprise. A Trehane Nuffield Scholar in 1997 and attended the 52 nd Worshipful Company of Farmers Farm Business Management Course in 2002. Council member of DFB. Part of Deeside Dairy Farmers buying/discussion group. Looking to improve returns to the business by maximizing income from all areas of the farm.
Tel (W): 01829 260 437 • Mob: 07815 744 749
E-mail: timdobson@talktalk.net
Ian MacAlpine
IAM 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
E-mail: ian.macalpine@farming.co.uk
Derek Mead
DEREK MEAD
Sixth generation dairy farmer, regional NFU Council member, founder member of Farmers for Action and Chairman of the successful Mead Group, who are developing an agricultural business centre for farmers across the South West. Derek has championed the need for a Supermarket Code of Practise for the British food chain and believes a prosperous future for British agriculture can be achieved by working in partnership with other organizations such as food manufacturers and consumer groups.
Tel (H): 01934 520 808
E-mail: derekmead@themeadgroup.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
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: trish@edenview.plus.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@au.sac.ac.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