28 March 2011

2 minute read

Europe

Ian, who has recently diversified his business into offering telephone based administrative and marketing services for the agricultural industry, has spent his career spanning more than 30 years working in the industry, initially trading agricultural quotas and entitlements to become the UK’s leading specialist company, as well as the most noted and innovative milk quota broker in Europe. In the last two decades he has become renowned as a commentator within the dairy industry using a variety of vehicles including his own weekly newsletter, established columns and presenting at hundreds of farmer meetings.

“Coming from a small farming background I was always interested in agriculture, and have always set my sights high throughout my career,” he says. “I was the first comprehensive school boy to get into the RAC, Cirencester on a full grant. I was told at the time I would struggle to get in, but I did, and it set me up well for the future.”

His first business venture was keeping rabbits to export to Belgium, and his second was taking on a supermarket cleaning contract while at Cirencester. Every morning, six days a week, he had to supply three people to clean the floors. Ian was one of those people. It was always Ian's ambition to run his own business, and when the European Commission introduced milk quotas he spotted, and exploited, the opportunity. Since then he has been an integral part of the dairy industry - loved by some, loathed by others at times, but nearly always listened to by everyone.

“The dairy industry is a fantastic industry to be involved in. One day it's orderly and logical, and the next day something happens and it becomes as mad as a box of frogs. But it has served me well, and I hope that I, in turn, have put something back into the industry to try and move it forward in some small way. I am delighted and humbled by this honour, and I sincerely thank RABDF for it.”

RABDF chairman, David Cotton commented: “We have made this honour to Ian for his outstanding services to the dairy industry in particular his unique role within the sector as a disseminator of up to date information through his website, his regular press articles and his skill at getting to the heart of the matter for the benefit of all.”

TheCattleSite News Desk