It has been another busy month across Cheshire, with a packed programme of meetings, events and shows providing plenty of opportunities to meet with members.
At the end of July, Cheshire members welcomed NFU Vice President Robyn Munt to the county for a meeting kindly hosted by Ray Brown and family. The discussion covered a range of key issues affecting local farming businesses, including the Peak Cluster project, bovine TB, environmental regulation, rural connectivity, supply chain fairness, food security and the challenges facing new entrants. Meetings like these are invaluable in ensuring Cheshire farmers' views are heard and represented at a national level.
Next on the calendar was Nantwich Show, where the NFU stand was busy throughout the day. It was great to catch up with so many members and supporters. A big thank you to everyone who helped on the stand and to all those who stopped by for a chat.
The following day, we headed to Hazel Grove to meet with Lisa Smart MP and discuss a range of issues affecting farmers in her constituency. Thank you to Bill Mellor and family for hosting the visit and to all the members who attended and contributed to the discussion.
On 5 August, we joined forces with Cheshire Young Farmers' Clubs to host our Farm Safety Event. Following a change of date, we were delighted to welcome more than 200 attendees, who took part in six interactive safety stations before enjoying a BBQ and refreshments. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the event such a success, particularly the Eggleston family for being such great hosts.
It was also fantastic to see the English National Sheepdog Trials return to Macclesfield from 6 to 9 August. As always, the NFU had a stand at the event and, this year, we upgraded from a gazebo to the show trailer. The Cheshire NFU team enjoyed welcoming members and visitors from across the county and beyond for a brew and a biscuit. Thank you to everyone who helped support the stand and contributed to another successful event.
We also continued our political engagement work with a visit from Pippa Heylings MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero, to Stuart and Andrew Yarwood's dairy farm in Congleton. Discussions focused on the impact of drought on farming, including food security, animal welfare, water resilience and fair returns for farmers. A big thank you to the Yarwood family for hosting and sharing their experiences and insights.
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended our recent Rodenticide Training Courses at the Macclesfield and Middlewich offices. We will be running the next course in December, so please contact the North office if you would like to add your name to the waiting list.
Helen Wainwright
County Adviser, NFU Cheshire