Note from Hayley - March 2025

This month I joined part of a small delegation of farming trade bodies to meet Defra Minister, Daniel Zeichner and Baroness Hayman, to discuss the welfare of farmed animals. From a dairy perspective the UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy, launched in 2023, has cross industry support – from UK Chief Vets to the supply chain. One reason for the widespread endorsement is the recognition that having a strategy not only improves welfare for the animal, but has huge trading benefits.

Note from Robert - February 2025

This year’s Dairy Tech stood out as our biggest and best yet.

As I welcomed show delegates at our breakfast reception on the Barclay’s stand, I reflected on the positive strives in the industry over the last twelve months. We’ve seen hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment pledged to UK dairy processing, along with multiple mergers and significant acquisitions. 

Note from Hayley - January 2025

I write this update fresh on the back of conference season, where I was able to hear the Secretary of State, Steve Reed, set out his priorities for farming in the year ahead – including kick-starting a new Food Strategy that he is keen to collaborate on, the announcement that legislation for new precision breeding regulations will be laid before Parliament by the end of March, and the commitment to increase public procurement of British produce.

Note from Hayley - December 2024

My first month at RABDF has gone in a flash, and it’s nice to have the Christmas break to reflect on what I’ve learned so far, and gear up for a busy start to 2025.

I’ve had the genuine privilege of being part of the judging panel for our Dairy Student of the Year Award. Seven inspiring, thought provoking, incredibly insightful presentations that every student should be proud of. The winner will be announced at Dairy Tech, and there’s more on the award in the newsletter.

Earlier in December I attended my first RABDF Council meeting, which was a wonderful introduction to the trustees, a valuable discussion on future plans and a cracking display of festive knitwear. The following day I joined the great and the good of the dairy industry as the annual Dairy UK Cheese Ceremony at the Royal Chelsea Hospital. It’s always a humbling and heartfelt occasion to mingle with the veterans and celebrate the best of British cheese and the spirit of giving.

Inside the office, Dairy Tech fever is building. This year the show has more exhibitors than ever before and the team are hard at work readying for the thousands of dairy farmers from across the UK and beyond that will pass through its doors.  

Every year at the show we bring forth an illuminating line up of speakers to share their perspectives, insights and expertise with dairy farmers for one day only. The Hub is always a lively affair with sessions and debates that will get people talking. I’ll be chairing the morning’s political session, with NFU President, Tom Bradshaw and AHDB’s CEO Graham Wilkinson in the hot seat, with other high profile speakers to be announced closer to the event.

Let’s remind ourselves of why RABDF launched Dairy Tech in the first place; to place the greatest innovations from every industry at dairy farmers’ fingertips. To lead, to inspire, to inform and to help dairy farmers be their absolute best.

Before that though, I’m looking forward to the New Year Conference scene. I’ll be at the Oxford Farming Conference to hear some edgy talks and debates. I’ll leave there and hoof it up to Bonnie Scotland where I’m looking forward to addressing the audience of Semex, fifteen years after I first attended.

I look forward seeing you in the coming months at one or more of these inspiring events and to kicking off 2025 feeling positive and buoyed by the prospects of this industry.