Welcome to my first Hertfordshire County Update. It has been a busy few weeks since I started as your County Adviser and thank you all that I have met for making me feel so welcome.
Over the last month I have attended a ploughing match, rural policing meetings, member meetings and workshops, as well as meeting with local Group Secretaries to help develop plans for each branch over the coming year.
Rural Policing and Fly-Tipping
I recently attended two Police Priority Setting events, kindly hosted by a member and by Ian Crickmay at the NFU Watford and Tring Branch. Thank you to those members that attended, it was very valuable meeting with police priorities set for the coming year, including the addition of tackling the Anti Social Behaviour of ATV riding across private land.
The Hertfordshire Rural Policing Team is working both proactively and reactively to tackle rural crime, including hare coursing, antisocial behaviour involving vehicles, fly-tipping, theft, poaching and catapulting. The team continues to introduce additional deterrents and measures to help identify and prosecute offenders.
Please report all incidents of rural crime and ask the call handler to add a 'rural tag' to the incident. This ensures the specialist rural team reviews the case and that it is included within their statistics, helping to justify additional resources and enforcement powers in the future.
Fly-tipping remains a significant issue across the county and is often complicated by the lack of a joined-up approach between various bodies. However, the Rural Policing Team is actively investigating incidents on private land, so please continue to report offences, even if you are advised that they fall under the responsibility of the Local Authority or Environment Agency.
The NFU recently undertook an extensive survey into the impact of fly-tipping. Members can find further details here: NFU survey reveals the scale, cost and impact of fly-tipping on farmers – NFUonline
Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the survey findings or the wider issue of fly-tipping.
The Rural Policing Team also has a number of SelectaDNA products available. If you would like to receive one, please get in touch with me.
Upcoming Events
There are a number of events and meetings planned over the coming months. Please refer to the County Calendar for full details, or contact me if you have not received a copy.
Hertfordshire County Ploughing Match
Saturday 24 October at Hatchpen Farm, Reed, SG8 8AZ, kindly hosted by Rand Brothers
w.3.w location: personal.blocks.brimmed
Hertfordshire County AGM
Preparations are underway, with the County Management Group meeting next week and the County AGM taking place on Tuesday 10 November.
We are delighted that Tom Bradshaw, NFU President, will be joining us as our guest speaker. The AGM provides an opportunity to raise questions, discuss local issues and concerns, and share feedback on what is working well within the county and NFU.
Please register your attendance: NFU Hertfordshire annual general meeting 2026 – register now – NFUonline
Annual Dinner
The Hertford NFU Branch Annual Dinner will take place on Friday 13 November at Tewinbury Farm Hotel.
All county members are welcome to attend. Tickets cost £65 per person and include a three-course dinner, tea and coffee, and a guest speaker.
For further information or to book, please contact Gabrielle Eyre on 01920 469173 or via email at [email protected] .
Rodenticide Management and WATO Training
The NFU is an approved provider of both the Rodent Management Level 2 Certification and the Welfare of Animals in Transport (WATO) Certification.
Our next local course for both qualifications will take place on 1 December at Claas UK, Saxham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Please register your attendance: Register for NFU East Training - WATO and Rodent management
Finally
I hope to see many of you at these events over the coming months and look forward to meeting more members across Hertfordshire in the coming weeks and months.