Activity highlighted at annual meetings

Dorset | Cornwall | Isle of Wight | Somerset | Wiltshire | Devon | Gloucestershire | BBO | Hampshire

Securing improvements to the SFI

Dorset’s winter conference featured an update from NFU Vice President David Exwood. He outlined some of the improvements that the NFU had secured for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and urged farmers to take advantage of it where they could.
“We need to engage or money will go back to Defra or the Treasury and that will make things much harder,” he said.
This was followed by a panel discussion about soils – our greatest asset. Farmers Dougal Hosford, Sam Vincent and Ian Baggs told the audience about their various different approaches toward regenerative farming and took questions from the audience.

Fit for the future

In Cornwall NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw talked about some of the issues he is currently working on and took questions about topics including farm assurance and the accountability of organisations like the Environment Agency and Natural England.
This was followed by a panel discussion led by county chair Bridget Whell where representatives from three Cornish farming businesses including Kate and Will Martin from pasture-fed beef and seasonal poultry producer Treway Farms, dairy farmer Tom Jones and arable and beef farmer Jon Perry joined Tom to discuss some of the issues they face, including succession, staffing and on-line marketing.

International trade improvements

NFU President Minette Batters told the Isle of Wight annual meeting that she could never have imagined some of the challenges the industry had faced – including Brexit, Covid and the Ukraine but progress had been made, with a team of UK agri-food attaches improving international trade and developing markets.
Minette was presented with a gift basket of Island produce.

Inspiring education work

At the Somerset meeting NFU President Minette Batters gave members an update on the current issues facing farmers – including trade, environmental schemes, farm assurance and supply chains – and the challenges she has faced during her time in office, including dealing with several different Defra secretaries of state.
County deputy chair Bridget Christensen said Minette had been an inspiration to her many other farmers, and Somerset members gave the President a standing ovation.
Josh Payne from the NFU’s education team told members about their work and how they have reached hundreds of thousands of children across the country with positive farming messages.

Minette goes back to her roots

Minette, who lives near Salisbury, began her NFU career as an officeholder in Wiltshire and thanked members and the county management team for their encouragement and support throughout her Presidency.
Outgoing county chair Philip Greenhill was thanked for his contribution, with Tom Collins now taking over as chair and Philip becoming council delegate.

Food security promises crucial

NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw told farmers at the Devon winter conference that some of the most important work the NFU will do in the run-up to the general election is holding Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak to account for promises they have made about increasing food security and promoting British produce.
Tom’s address was followed by a panel discussion looking at some of the issues around recruiting and retaining staff, featuring a selection of Devon farmers both in the room and on video.

‘Critical work’ ahead of election

NFU President Minette Batters told Gloucestershire’s annual meeting that the work of the NFU would be critical in the run up to the general election. All four members who have held the role of county chair during Minette’s time as a national office holder paid tribute to her unstinting efforts on behalf of farmers.
County chair Allison Ractliffe highlighted Minette’s role in making sure the wildlife control measures which have had such an impact on bovine TB went ahead.
Charles Day now takes on the role of county chair, with Allison becoming council delegate.
The Summers Trophy was presented to Imran Atcha from the St James city farm in Gloucestershire, in recognition of all the work they have done to help children connect with farming and learn about where their food comes from.

If not the NFU then who?

At the Berks, Bucks and Oxon annual meeting, a packed house heard Minette reflect on what she described as 10 “extraordinary” years at the NFU top table, during which time she has endeavoured to persuade the several Prime Ministers and Defra Secretaries of State she has dealt with to “move the dial towards food production,” culminating in the food summit meeting held in Downing Street earlier this year.
“The question is: if not the NFU, then who? Only the NFU, led by farmers and with the back-up of professional staff, has the clout to bring that sort of thing about,” she said.
Alex Nelms was re-elected as county chair.

The challenges of Presidency

The last county meeting of the year took place in Hampshire. A packed house heard from Minette Batters, who reflected on her time as a national officeholder and the many challenges it has brought.
The group secretary award was presented to Richard Buer, who is about to retire after 36 years with NFU Mutual and 32 years as a group secretary. His expertise will not be lost, however, as he is staying on with the Alton agency for another year as a consultant.

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