Onwards and upwards

Greetings all .. but first an apology. I'm a week late in updating this. It has been somewhat busy over the last week; well that's my feeble excuse out of the way.
As I said the other week I was heading to Nottingham to spend a day at the Guild's John Deere-sponsored training course for would-be young journalists.
It proved an excellent day. It was particularly encouraging to see potential new entrants into the world of agricultural journalism.
As I said in my last post, I consider this one of the most important things that the Guild does annually and it is thanks to the generosity of John Deere that we can do it. I find it astonishing that when this scheme was first proposed many years ago that Guild council were not so enthusiastic.
I think all those taking part had their eyes opened on just what happens in journalism and communications. Particular thanks go to all those involved (see last blog for details) in then giving all those on the course three days of work experience.
From Nottingham it was then to London for the Agricultural Engineers Association conference and lunch in rather grand surroundings of the Savoy.
The conference was addressed by Franz Fischler, the Austrian who was until recently European Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner. He's big in stature is Herr Fischler and his presentation was on big issues including food production and more specifically biofuels.
He presented an interesting argument on biofuels which should douse the over enthusiasm so far seen on the potential for oilseed rape as a source of biodiesel. Mr Fischler's argument was that not only to the economics stack up rape as biodiesel, but so does the carbon agrument as it takes considerable quantities of carbon to grow the crop in the first place. It's good when someone stands up and presents the opposite side to what has so far been a simplistic debate that has not tackled the real issues. Mr Fischler did not disappoint.
The lunch saw a warm farewell to Jake Vowles, the director-general of the AEA. Jake has been good friend to the Guiild for many years. He has a tremendous knowledge of the UK agricultural industry and will be missed.
Succeeding Jake is Rear Admiral Roger Lane-Nott. He had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and was latterly involved in motorsport. He's already signed up as Friend of the Guild you will be glad to know.
It was back to London yesterday for the Guild's April council meeting. We had a very constructive meeting you will be pleased to hear.
Your chairman has agreed to put up a prize for the best written press release. This competition is organised by the Guild's Midlands region and will be judged throughout June by Cedric Porter, editor of Farm Business.
The challenge therefore to all PR people is simple; make sure your press releases in June are top notch. Not only will you get the honour of the annual award but also a bottle of malt whisky courtesy of me.
For the first time this year – at my instigation and as result of suggestions from those responding to a previous blog – there will be a booby award for what is considered the "worst" press release. You'll be receiving a bottle of whisky in which to drown your sorrows and in the hope it provides the inspiration to do better in future.
Council also heard yesterday about the plans for the Guild's industry conference at the Royal Show. It is being held in association with restaurant chain McDonald's, Farm Business and the Royal Agricultural Society of England. The conference will focus on biofuels and from what we heard yesterday the line-up of speakers sounds especially newsworthy. More details will come in the next Guild e-Alert.
The Guild hopefully will be launching another initiative at the Royal Show. It is particularly exciting and is aimed at ensuring that agriculture's voice and those who communicate it about day-to-day get wider recognition in the media. I'm not going to spoil what will be a very significant announcement and shall instead leave you pondering just what is happening.
I expect that you will get more details when hand books are sent out in June.
Let's just say that I view it as very important as it could help tackle the knowledge gap in the wider media on issues agricultural.
One further thing before I close is that Midlands region has secured a very distinguished speaker for its annual meeting, expected to be held at the Meat and Livestock Commission's Milton Keynes HQ. This will be a meeting not to be missed as the speaker is one of the UK's leading businesswomen. Definitely a meeting not to be missed, and potentially one where there could be some excellent copy.
Yet more signs the Guild is moving onwards and upwards