Somehow, it's already mid-September. The temperature is finally dropping, the rain is beginning to reappear and the grass is starting to grow again. Hopefully this has enabled many of you to get some crops in the ground and brought some limited relief to supplementary feed costs. While I know the pressures are far from over, particularly where fuel and fertiliser costs continue to fluctuate, I hope that the less extreme weather and a bit of moisture has meant you have been able to catch your breath.
For me, the changing seasons signal the end of the summer shows. It's been a busy few weeks, beginning with Gillingham & Shaftesbury, followed by Melplash and ending with Dorset County Show. Looking back, I'd like to recognise the fantastic work of Dorset's Group Secretaries and branch staff. They have worked incredibly hard, not only hosting members on the stand, but also planning, setting up, serving drinks and, in some cases, even baking cakes for everyone to enjoy.
Agriculture continues to face challenges across all sectors, but these events showcase the positivity, resilience and innovation of Dorset farmers. They are a reminder of an industry built on people, knowledge, heritage and skills, and of the importance of supporting one another.
At Melplash, we hosted a roundtable with Edward Morello MP, discussing a number of issues, including the threat of bluetongue, which continues to spread across Dorset. It was brilliant to see Edward raise members' concerns in Westminster the following week, including testing and mapping delays, vaccine availability and disposal costs, with Farming Minister Stephen Morgan MP.
At Dorset County Show, we were pleased to welcome NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins to the stand for a members' reception. Paul shared updates on the NFU's recent lobbying work, from UK-EU trade discussions to the Brazilian poultry and beef ban. He also reflected on conversations with the Prime Minister in Cornwall last month, where issues such as input costs, SFI, drought pressures, investment requirements and family farm tax were discussed.
The shows have also been a fantastic opportunity for me to get my feet under the table, meeting so many farming families from all over Dorset, as well as vets, rural crime teams, farming charities, consultants and other key rural contacts. Thank you to everyone who stopped by. We'd love to hear your ideas for next year's events. You can also catch up on our summer activities through the Dorset Instagram page.
While the shows have dominated much of the month, it would be remiss not to mention our Bluetongue Briefing on 2 September. Members heard the latest updates on disease spread, case numbers, testing and vaccine availability, alongside first-hand experiences from those most affected in Devon. Thank you to our panel: Mark Weekes, Tom Clarke, Rebecca Gristy and Cat McLaughlin for sharing their expertise.
We will continue to support and advocate for members affected by the disease. If you need advice or support, please contact your Group Secretary, County Adviser or NFU Call First, and visit the NFU's bluetongue information hub for the latest guidance.
Finally, if you haven't already, I encourage you to read the NFU's Ready to Grow report, published on Back British Farming Day. The report highlights the importance of domestic food production, improving farm resilience and profitability, addressing barriers to growth, and responding to the significant pressures currently facing farm businesses, including drought, bluetongue, rising input costs and the continued loss of direct payments.
As always, I am here to support and represent you and as we start to plan for a new membership year, I'd love to hear if there's anything in particular you'd like to see from your Dorset NFU. You can get in touch with me at [email protected]