County Update
With the General Election now set and fast approaching we are continuing to engage with parliamentary candidates in the lead up to the 4 July. This week we hosted a farm visit for the North Herefordshire and Hereford & South Herefordshire Liberal Democrats candidates. This was an opportunity for them to hear the challenges local farmers are facing, and what we need from any future MP. Thank you to Rob and Harry Davies for hosting and clearly getting the farming message across. We have visits with other parliamentary candidates coming up this month, details will be emailed to you. While the timing of the election was unexpected, the NFU is well ahead of the game. Our manifesto, which we launched earlier in the year, has outlined key asks of politicians to ensure farmers and growers can continue to deliver for the environment, economy and local communities while producing more great British food. This has been downloaded nearly 2,000 times and has already made real progress in influencing political parties.
We have a number of events coming up in June, including the Three Counties Show on 14 to 16 June. For those of you planning to attend, half-price tickets are available for NFU members and these can be bought through your local NFU Mutual office ahead of the show so please do contact them. We will be joined on the Friday by NFU President, Tom Bradshaw. On 19 June we will be holding a summer health and safety day at Court Farm, Tillington, building on the very popular event last June. All NFU members, and their farm staff, are welcome to attend this event and NRoSO points are available. Look out for an invitation which will be emailed to members shortly.
NFU Herefordshire Summer Health & Safety Event (Member Exclusive)
NFU Herefordshire are holding a free Health & Safety event for NFU Members.
It is really important that anyone who is living or working on a farm, full or part-time, is aware of the risks this brings. Please do bring along your family and farm staff to this event so that they can learn more.
There will be seven stations and practical demonstrations to hear from covering:
- Sprayer pre-season check over.
- Workshop safety top tips.
- Trailer weights, towing age restrictions and speeds.
- Moisture Metric Clinic.
- Yard safety and working from heights.
- Skin cancer prevention.
- Farm security and preventing crime.
NRoSO points are available.
Individual attendance certificates will be provided after the event.
FREE moisture meter check, please bring your kit with you.
Date
19 June 2024
Venue & Timings
12.15pm until 4.30pm at Court Farm, Tillington, HR4 8LG, by kind permission of the Gilbert family.
Agenda:
- 12.15pm arrival – tea, coffee and pork bap (sponsored by NFU Mutual Herefordshire Group Secretaries)
- 12.45pm - 1pm - welcome and farm safety overview: Matthew Ilsley, Risk Management Services Sales Consultant.
- 1pm – 4.30pm – Group rotation between seven stations covering the above topics.
Booking
You MUST book to attend this event and you MUST be a member of the NFU. You can do so by calling the Midland Hub on 02476 939402 or email: [email protected] (please provide your NFU ID number and numbers attending when booking via this format.
Spaces are limited so please register early.
Be vigilant of scam callers
The NFU has received reports from members who have been receiving calls that look like they come from NFU Headquarters. The company purports to be selling insulation.
These companies have no relation to the NFU, NFU Cymru or NFU Energy and should be ignored.
Please do not pass on any personal details to these callers.
You can contact NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458 to check if we are doing any calls or promotions.
Read our advice on how to deal with scam callers.
Three County Show Tickets – half price offer for NFU members
The NFU has negotiated a half-price ticket deal for the Three Counties Show from 14 to 16 June. Tickets are available at £14 per person – which is half the gate price of £28.00. Members can purchase their tickets from any Herefordshire NFU Mutual office.
English Farmers wanted, to test agroforestry advice in ELM
Considering Implementing Agroforestry on Your Farm? Join the Woodland Trust to test different forms of advice and guidance for Defra.
The aim is to test a range of advice and guidance structures with farmers as you go through the process of designing your own bespoke agroforestry scheme. Payment available as a contribution for your time and support to apply for funding if you want to implement your scheme.
If you are interested in getting involved, please email [email protected] with subject ‘Defra Test and Trial’.
- Details of your farm size
- Location and type of farm
- A brief outline of the type of agroforestry you are interested in
- Summary of your agroforestry experience to date.
- Contact details
We will then contact you to discuss the Test in more detail. The Test is being delivered in partnership with the National Trust and the Organic Research Centre. Third party advice providers will also be commissioned.
Phase 2 activity will start from 1 September 2024.
Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you.
If you’d like to find out more on agroforestry, visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/
Bromyard & Leominster Branch have the following member event:
Farm Walk and SIF update
Date
4 July 2024
Venue & Timings
6pm at The Hawkins Farm, Church Way, Stanford Bishop, Bringsty, Worcester
WR6 5TQ by kind permission of John and Rachel Hawkins.
For more information please contact branch on 01568 612427
Cyber Crime
The Midlands NFU held an online member meeting with WMRCCU in autumn 2023, the opportunity to register with them is still available, this is aimed to improve your business’s cyber security.
With membership at the WMRCCU, you will receive regular tips and guidance on how to firm up your business’s cyber security.
Register to become a member (for free) today at www.wmcrc.co.uk/membership
Farming for Britain's Future: our election manifesto
Our general election manifesto – Farming for Britain's Future – outlines our key asks of the next government to ensure farmers and growers can continue to deliver for the environment, economy and local communities while producing more of the great British food we all enjoy.
We need politicians to work with us so we can fulfil our potential and continue to farm for Britain’s future.