NSA Sheep Farmers’ Conference 2025 highlights resilience and optimism in UK sheep farming

The NSA Sheep Farmers’ Conference explored the challenges and opportunities facing the sector as it welcomed delegates from across the UK to its 2025 venue, the Great Yorkshire Showground yesterday (Tuesday 18th November).

NSA Chair Pete Delbridge opened proceedings describing the UK sheep industry as being at a crossroads with many questions to be answered of the direction it will take. Mr Delbridge, a sheep farmer from Devon, highlighted there was much farmers can do to shape their own destiny and that the theme of the conference, strive and thrive, encouraged those in attendance to do just that, focusing on what they can control within their own businesses.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker welcomed delegates remarking on a strong sense of enthusiasm across the early morning workshops and trade stands available before the programme moved into the morning session on business resilience.

Led by Emily Symonds of AHDB, the session featured Northumberland farmers Matt Jordon and Rich Oglesby, both of whom have taken part in AHDB’s Roots to Resilience programme. Matt, farming in partnership with his family, joined to gain confidence in understanding his financial position. With 700 ewes and beef cattle, he said the programme helped him identify where the business was performing well and where losses were occurring. This clarity prompted a move towards fewer, better-focused enterprises, combined with a shift in mindset: profitability mattered, but so did enjoyment and long-term business goals.

Rich Oglesby, who farms in partnership with his wife Jen under a contract farming agreement, shared a similar story. Their entirely forage based system of 1,700 ewes, 530 ewe lambs and 100 Aberdeen Angus cows has recently been simplified after the farm’s decision to step away from a less profitable red deer enterprise. He highlighted the importance of good structure, professionalism and keeping systems simple. As new entrants with limited capital, Rich explained that he and Jen had relied on enthusiasm, expertise and networking to grow their business. Opportunities such as the Henry Plumb Foundation and NSA Next Generation were instrumental, he said, demonstrating the value of ‘putting yourself out there’. Both speakers also stressed the need to make time for office work and forward planning, not just daily practical tasks.

After lunch, Phil Stocker introduced keynote speaker Baroness Minette Batters, who set out the early themes emerging from her government-commissioned farm profitability review due for release before Christmas.

Baroness Batters explained that the review, commissioned by former Defra Secretary Steve Reed, had generated more than 400 responses from farmers and industry bodies, including NSA, and had enabled conversations that would not otherwise have happened.

She described some of her proposals including a national plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Matters (FARM), giving each sector a clear mission within a shared government industry partnership. She also called for better use of the UK’s 16 agricultural attachés, stronger alignment with devolved governments and a shift within Defra to restore its economic focus.

Baroness Batters explained that the review does include some stark findings showing mid-performing farms are increasingly vulnerable, reinforcing the need for consistency and long-term strategy.

She closed her presentation saying she hoped the review will reset the industry’s relationship with government, adding that it will be monitored through six, twelve and eighteen-month checkpoints to ensure real follow through.

The afternoon session continued with Grace Kempthorne, a Farm Business Adviser, presenting Farm Business Survey results from 2024. Grace included some interesting characteristics of high performing farms and emphasised that it is not the actual farm that defines a farmer but the farmer him or herself. 74% of the success of farm performance can be attributed to farmer action rather than the farm they are managing.

In 2021, the third afternoon speaker, Kate Drury, was asked if it was possible to make rope from wool - a question that inspired her sustainable rope business, an alternative farm diversification model that has been used as a case study in the Profitability Review. Kate spoke about the potential from wool innovation complementing farm businesses before handing over to North Devon farmer Liz Griffiths who closed the day’s seminars with advice to “find your sweet spot”—stay focused, act in a timely way and pursue opportunities aligned with your goals.

Phil Stocker comments: “Nobody involved in UK agriculture today can dismiss the challenges we all face, but I am confident that delegates at this year’s NSA conference will have returned home with positivity at the front of their minds. We are privileged to work in an industry we love and that offers plentiful opportunity for those looking for it. There is a positive future to be found.

“We have enjoyed the most fantastic day with engaging and inspiring speakers both in our seminars and workshops. The most sincere of thanks go to all who supported the event and especially to main sponsor Shearwell Data and session sponsors Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD, and Pickstock Foods.”