Following the call for nominations for elections to join the NFU Sugar board we have received two completed nomination forms for the two positions available on the board beginning in March 2015. This means there is no need for an election, and both those nominated will duly join the Board.
The successful candidates and their personal statements are below for your information.
Please note that following the conclusion of the appointment process in mid-February full details of all board representatives will be circulated to growers.
Michael Sly (Grower - Wissington Factory)
Farms in the Fens of North Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire, in a family business (farming 1,600 hectares across three businesses), the family have farmed in the Fens since about the 1680’s.
Growing: Wheat, spring barley, sugar beet, oilseed rape, marrowfat peas & mustard.
Current positions: Chairman, English Mustard Growers Ltd (Co-op); Environment Agency, RFCC (Anglia Northern); Fengrain Director (Co-op); NFU Council delegate for Cambridgeshire; NFU Audit Committee; NFU Sugar board co-option (2014); North Level Internal Drainage Board Vice Chairman; and Thorney Society Chairman.
Other Activities: Open Farm Sunday and Vintage Weekend (with 6,000 visitors in attendance over the weekend) promoting food production, environment on farm and building community interaction. 2015 will be the 10th Open farm Sunday event on our farm. The farms are in both Entry and Higher Level Stewardship. I am proud of our local Fenland history, its drainage system which helps to feed the nation.
I was co-opted on to the NFU Sugar negotiation group for the 2015 price negotiation with British Sugar. Whilst this has been a very tough market, I believe passionately that we can build a successful beet industry post 2017.
Matthew Smith (Grower – Wissington Factory)
I farm in the Cambridgeshire Fens near Ramsey, in partnership with my brother. Growing both wheat and peas on seed contracts, potatoes for the fresh chipping market and 2600 tonnes of sugar beet for the Wissington Factory.
I studied agriculture at Writtle College from 1996-1998 including a year working at House Farm, Nacton Suffolk working on light sandy soils.
I see sugar beet as a key part of our farming system. I was co-opted onto the board after taking part in the Sugar Industry programme in 2013 and have been involved with the IPA working groups and also as a representative for sugar beet producers on NFU environment forum looking at the development of new countryside schemes following CAP reform. I have also recently been elected as vice-chair for the regional sugar forum.
Factory ForumsI wanted to also take this opportunity to remind all growers that they are welcome to apply to be part of their local factory forum. Meetings are held at the start and end of each campaign with both British Sugar and representatives of the RHA to provide an opportunity to discuss practical issues related to the campaign and provide information about changes being made at your local factory site.
Each factory forum will have space for up to 8 growers at each meeting and expressions of interest to join the meetings of your factory forum are welcomed from all growers. Please email YmVldC5ncm93ZXJzQG5mdS5vcmcudWs= if you would like to be considered for the forum, stating your contract number and the factory where you deliver beet.
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Digby
NFU Chief Sugar Adviser