Your East Sussex county NFU update

Romy Gue

Romy Gue

Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex County Adviser

Fire safety and looking ahead to ploughing match season

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have been in touch following the significant fire in Essex that unfortunately set fire to a building containing ammonium nitrate, it is encouraged that you contact the fire service to inform them of the location of fertiliser being stored and the quantity. For all of our fire safety and hot weather recommendations, please click here.

Paul Tompkins, NFU Deputy President visited Barfoots, The Greenhouse Sussex and Farplants on 28th July. Paul was also joined by a number of NFU and WSGA colleagues. Julian Marks, CEO and Keston Williams, COO hosted Paul and the team at Barfoots, managing to fit in a tour of the farm which included courgette, tender stem broccoli and sweetcorn harvest, the water treatment plant and the new, rather depleted reservoir, before visiting the sweetcorn factory which processes nearly 1 million cobs a day in the summer.

Paul also benefitted from seeing tomato growing and an ornamental plant site. Numerous topics were discussed during the day including water scarcity; labour - both seasonal and managerial; audit burden; planning restrictions on growth; energy prices; standing charges and infrastructure; education engagement; BNG and much more.

The full NFU East Region staff team were in Sussex for the annual staff away day. This was a fantastic opportunity to show off our part of the world and for colleagues to bond in an other wise remote working world! 

As we move into September your Group Secretaries are attending a series of popular ploughing matches including Laughton and District, East Sussex and Hurstpierpoint & District Ploughing Match. Please do use the opportunity to stop by the stands and say hello! 

Local news

South East Water livestock register

South East water have just launched a livestock register so businesses can get some degree of priority treatment if they are cut off or impacted by lower pressure given current drought conditions.  

If you are livestock keeper and are serviced by South East Water please do register.

Click here to register

Local news

East Sussex Fire and Rescue - Reporting Ammonium Nitrate Storage on Farms

Following the significant fire in Essex that unfortunately set fire to a building containing ammonium nitrate, it is encouraged that you contact the fire service to inform them of the location of fertiliser being stored and the quantity. 

Ammonium nitrate fertiliser is widely used within agriculture and is generally safe when stored and managed correctly. However, under certain conditions, large quantities of ammonium nitrate can significantly increase the severity of a fire and may lead to an explosion.

Recent incidents have demonstrated the importance of ensuring emergency services are aware of where significant quantities are stored. Providing accurate information helps firefighters assess the risks before committing crews and enables an effective emergency response.

Report your stores in East Sussex here

Report your stores in East Sussex

Local news

Local Nature Recovery Strategies for Sussex published

The Local Nature Recovery Strategies for East and West Sussex have been published. These are spatial strategies which set out priority areas for nature recovery. 

They do not dictate what should happen where, but highlight areas where nature recovery could have the biggest impact. 

Thank you to all members who have engaged in the process of forming these strategies and responded to consultations. 

Read the strategies.

Local news

Beaver enclosure walks and talks

Members are invited to visit various beaver enclosures over the coming months to learn more about beavers and what their potential reintroduction could mean for farmers and landowners. 

These visits offer an opportunity to voice your questions and concerns with members of the Western Rother Beaver Group, as well as other members. 

Places are limited. To book, please click on the Eventbrite link below: 

NFU information about species reintroduction