Bringing the farm to Birmingham for NFU’s Back British Farming Day celebration
Food and farming will be brought to Birmingham New Street Station for Back British Farming Day as Staffordshire and Worcestershire NFU members meet commuters to showcase British agriculture and raise awareness of the challenges facing the industry.
The NFU and its members will set up near Ozzy the Bull in the station’s concourse today (9 September) and talk to people about what they do to put food on people’s plates, support communities and the countryside.
This event is one of many planned across the region and wider country for the NFU’s Back British Farming Day as businesses look to build resilience, grow, adapt and innovate at a time of exceptional challenge.
The NFU pitch near the 33-foot, 10-metre mechanical sculpture of Ozzy will see farmers set up a stand complete with a model cow and speak to people who will have a chance to win a British produce hamper by taking part in a fun farming quiz.
Evesham strawberry grower Bal Padda, Bromsgrove NFU Branch Chair Rob Charles and Staffordshire potato farmer Paul Brown will be just some of those at the event from 9am to 4pm.The NFU has also invited mayors, councillors and other city representatives.
The day will celebrate those farmers and growers who are at the heart of our communities, who help feed the nation and manage our countryside.
“Back British Farming Day is an excellent celebration of everything that our farms do but all of those businesses are facing unprecedented financial pressure and threats to production.”
Worcestershire County Adviser Emma Hamer
NFU members are looking to continue to harness support from people and hold discussions with decision makers to highlight the value of their businesses that are growing crops, rearing animals and producing spectacular British flowers and plants.
Emma Hamer, farmer and Worcestershire county adviser, said: “It’s going to be superb being in Birmingham to speak to people about what we do and how their food gets from farm to fork.
“Ozzy is an iconic Midlands sculpture, representing the city, the importance of the industrial revolution and giving a nod to Birmingham’s historic Bull Ring as a bustling cattle and livestock market.
“I can’t think of a better place to be than next to Ozzy, bringing the cow to the bull, in the heart of the city and talking to people about food and farming.
“Back British Farming Day is an excellent celebration of everything that our farms do but all of those businesses are facing unprecedented financial pressure and threats to production.
“For the past few years we have experienced extremes in the weather, global volatility and many other factors hampering our confidence and ability to drive growth.
“With the right policies and investment from government, both local and national, we can build greater resilience into our domestic food production system and ensure farmers and growers can continue producing food for 29 million households, including in Birmingham.
“The NFU will continue to drive for that change so our farms can thrive for generations to come.”
The NFU’s latest campaign is calling on government to provide short-term financial support for farmers and growers who have experienced unprecedented pressure following the worst drought in 50 years, soaring fuel and fertiliser prices and bluetongue disease affecting cows and sheep.
“In today’s uncertain world we need to ensure we secure homegrown food production for the future.”
Farmer Paul Brown
Farmer Paul Brown said county farms remained vital for our communities, the economy and countryside and Back British Farming Day was a great springboard to help put farming and growing firmly under the spotlight.
He said: “I think it is great to see so many farmers and growers getting out there, showing what they do and having those conversations about the importance of our farms, food supply and everything else they contribute.
“We are looking forward to getting into Birmingham to talk to people about what we grow and rear and it should be an excellent event to showcase farming.
“We need to safeguard our farms, have the ability to build the infrastructure that secures food production and food security for the future.
“This will allow us to do what we do best – producing high quality produce and crops to rigorous standards that we know shoppers demand.
“By doing that you are guaranteeing homegrown food production, which supports many jobs in rural communities but also in the wider food supply chain including in Birmingham.
“We want to drive our farms forward, build resilient, thriving communities and encourage growth.
“In today’s uncertain world we need to ensure we secure homegrown food production for the future.”
To see how you can support the industry, visit: 9 ways to back British farming.
