Andrew Crossley

NFU Combinable Crops Board appointee, East

Andrew was brought up in Sheffield and graduated from Harper Adams in 1991, having gained an honours degree in agriculture.

On graduation he was employed by Booker Farming as a trainee manager with various placements in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Essex and Lincolnshire plus a tree nursery and head office function experience. The permanent roles for Booker then included assistant manager in Hampshire and Farm Manager in Essex. When CWS Agriculture purchased the company, the Essex role expended to 2500 hectares from Saffron Walden to Chelmsford as Farmcare Ltd Essex. This was an all combinable crop operation for Pension Fund owned land and a range of contract farming operations for local land owners.

In 2002, Andrew moved to Cambridge to manage the Trumpington Farm Company, a 2500 hectare combinable and root crop operation. This business was developed to include venue hire, extensive HLS, amenity work and renewables. His corporate farming experience has been a benefit when managing private agribusiness. In 2006, he gained a diploma in business management with the OU.

Nine years ago, he took up the role of Farms Director for Thurlow Estate Farms Limited on the Suffolk, Cambridge and Essex borders. The predominantly combinable crop operation required restructure. The business now operates as one having re-organised cropping, machinery, working practices and infrastructure. The operation is now in a strong place to adapt to the ever changing focus of agriculture and environment.

Alongside professional activities he has been NFU branch chair, IAgrM branch chair, local FWAG and NFU regional crops board chair. These roles have broadened his understanding of the politics that influence the industry and the issues it faces.