We can safely say that we are moving into summer, although many of you will be hoping for a bit of rain to freshen everything up – that classic farmer’s wish of rain in this field, but not the other one.
With the continued uncertainty in the Middle East, it does feel as though farmers are being squeezed from both sides. Input costs continue to rise, yet these increases are not being reflected in the prices we receive. We are continually meeting with MPs, banks and industry to make the case on your behalf, but the most powerful evidence in these meetings comes directly from you. We currently have several surveys open on rising input costs, so please do visit NFU Online and complete them – your input is vital in helping us demonstrate the real impact these pressures are having.
As we move into show season, you may have seen that this year the Royal Cheshire Show is offering discounted tickets for farmers at £20 for a one day ticket, compared with the usual £37 – a significant saving. The show is keen to ensure strong farmer attendance and to support those at the heart of the rural community. Book your tickets. You will need your NFU membership number to book.
We are also pleased to announce that Paul Tompkins, NFU Deputy President, will be joining us at the Royal Cheshire Show on the Tuesday. We will be holding meetings and informal drop in sessions so members can meet with him directly. Our county NFU and Royal Cheshire Show President, Stuart Yarwood, has been working hard to invite our local MPs to attend the show. More details will follow, but there will be opportunities to meet several county MPs on the NFU stand.
The Peak Cluster pipeline remains a major concern for many of our members. The proposed 121 mile Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project aims to decarbonise cement and lime production in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. It would involve capturing CO₂ emissions from four major producers, transporting them via a new buried, high pressure pipeline through Cheshire to the Wirral, and storing them beneath the Irish Sea. We know many members have serious concerns about this project and feel they have not yet had the opportunity to hear directly from Peak Cluster representatives. We are actively pushing to arrange a meeting for affected members so these concerns can be raised. In the meantime, if you have not already done so, I would strongly encourage you to work with a land agent who can support you through the ground surveys and associated processes.