NFU East Anglia is organising 14 meetings across the region in the first week of August to update members on current NFU thinking in key policy areas and to ask for their views.
NFU Regional Director Robert Sheasby said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for farmers to be part of deciding the future of British farming. We need as many members as possible to be involved.
“This consultation is taking place during the busiest period in the farming calendar but it’s vital that farmers across East Anglia take this chance to have their say.
“We’ve organised a series of breakfast meetings so farmers can be back on the farm and, weather permitting, back on the combine by mid-morning.”
The NFU is developing an options paper covering crucial areas such as trade, access to labour, financial support and regulation. At the meetings NFU County Advisers will update members on the paper’s draft findings and collate views to feed back as the final report is prepared.
Five larger member meetings are also being organised in the region for September, to gain additional views, before the finished document goes to NFU Council for approval on 11 October.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “We will consult our members, in every sector, in every county, to ensure that they have a say in shaping the future of farming for them, their children and their grandchildren.
“The contribution of this country’s farming and food industry to the economy, and to food security, should be taken extremely seriously by the UK government. We need a policy that ensures a profitable, productive and sustainable future for British farming. The NFU’s influence, with the backing of its membership, is paramount in this.”
NFU East Anglia Brexit Meetings (All 7am for 7.30am start)
Tuesday 2 August
- The Forest Centre & Millennium County Park, Forest of Marston Vale, Bedfordshire, MK43 0PR (Sat Nav MK43 0PS)
- March Golf Club, Grange Road, March, Cambs, PE15 0YH
- The Lion House, Main Road, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 3JA
- Thrift Farm, Baldock, Road, Royston, Herts, SG8 9NN
- The Hunny Bell, The Green, near Holt, Norfolk, NR24 2AA
Wednesday 3 August
- The Room in the Rodings, Dunmow Road, Beauchamp Roding, Essex, CM5 0PF
- The Stables, Tewin Bury Farm Hotel, Hertford Road, Welwyn, Herts, AL6 0JB
- Easton College, Easton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 5DX
- Halesworth Golf Club, Bramfield Road, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 9XA (Wenhaston Room)
Thursday 4 August
- Abbots Ripton Village Hall, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE28 2PF
- Dragonfly Hotel, A12 Ardleigh, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7QY
- The Kings Arms Coaching Inn, 21 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7LA
- Cedars Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 2AJ
Friday 5 August
- NFU Regional Office, Agriculture House, Willie Snaith Road, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7SN