After such a disappointing harvest for most, a post-harvest social event was a welcome opportunity for members to get together and hopefully look forward to a better year ahead.
Members turned out in force to join County Chair Steven Glover on Hugh Richard’s beef farm at Biddendon. Hugh led them on a fascinating farm walk, demonstrating how he is working to improve organic levels on the farm and showing them some of the 12 farm ponds that have been cleaned out and restored.
Afterwards, there was the chance to relax and socialise over a barbecue.
Celebrating Back British Farming Day
We used the 11th Back British Farming Day to call for ambitious homegrown food targets. Our Ready to Grow report revealed that the UK’s self-sufficiency in 10 out of 11 everyday foods, such as wheat, vegetables, beef, poultry meat and eggs has fallen in the past 30 years.
At the same time, food import volumes are up 70% while export volumes have stalled.
Kent MPs Sojan Joseph, Kevin McKenna and Helen Whately attended our breakfast reception at Westminster, where the report was launched.
County matters
While Amanda Corp has been away from work, Regional Network Manager Hannah Padfield has been working on your behalf with your county management group.
This includes meeting group secretaries to help plan a busy winter programme and finalising arrangements for the annual general meeting.
This is a breakfast meeting on 4 November at Kent Showground, with NFU President Tom Bradshaw. Full details are available here.
If you have any county queries please email [email protected]k or call 024 7693 9403. Your regional colleagues and group secretaries are all available to support you.
Kent Police action on rural crime
A rural crime series involving the alleged theft of high-value farming navigation systems has been swiftly tackled by Kent Police.
Two men suspected of conspiring to steal from nine victims across the county appeared in court on Monday 14 September.
It is alleged they were involved in the thefts of GPS equipment from tractors and other agricultural machinery at an estimated total cost of over £170,000.
Thanks to the rural team for all their work on this.