This week the grocery ombudsman, biofuels, farm paperwork and the proposed 8,000 cow dairy unit has seen NFU in the News.
NFU livestock board chair Alistair Mackintosh joined in BBC Radio 4 Farming Today’s discussion on ‘Farmers who fail to do their cattle paperwork will have their subsidies cut.’ This week Mr Mackintosh was also quoted in a Countrylife magazine article ‘Beef farmers fight back against ‘meat-free’ Mondays.’
Radio 4 Farming Today: Listen again
The NFU was mentioned on BBC News website after MP Albert Owen’s Private Members’ Bill to establish a grocery ombudsman went through parliament.
Ruth Digby, NFU biofuels adviser, has this week been quoted in a Sunday Times article about plans to build a refinery which will turn wheat into petrol and a letter was published in The Times on the future of biofuels.
Sunday Times: Grimsby to host a biofuel blockbuster
Times: Could the future for UK biofuel be oilseed rape and hemp?
The proposal of Europe’s largest dairy has brought about more speculation in the media on factory farming. A letter sent by Liz Falkingham, NFU Director of Communications, in response to an article in The Independent was published. NFU has said “Farmers and growers are being presented with an unprecedented challenge – to feed the world’s growing population,” and “regardless of the type of farming system adopted, the welfare of the animals is of fundamental importance on all British farms.”
The Independent: Cheap milk and the ‘factory farming’ dilemma
During the past week the NFU has seen South West regional public relations officer Ian Johnson interviewed on BBC1 South West Spotlight, in relation to the ‘Fireman arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.’
Elsewhere NFU adviser Alex Dinsdale and Wiltshire County Chairman Manette Batters were interviewed on BBC local radio stations.