22-28 April 2019
On the BBC radio programme Costing the Earth NFU Deputy President Guy Smith joined host Tom Heap to explore the question: could Britain feed itself? Guy discussed the need for innovative technologies and investments that can be used to help farmers.
Deputy President of NFU Cymru, Aled Jones, featured on BBC Breakfast speaking about the devastating impacts of livestock worrying to both animals and farmers. Aled stressed that there needs to be a formal requirement for the police to report each case. The programme is watched by around 1.5 million people.
A number of newspapers, including The Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph reported on Natural England’s decision to revoke three general licenses allowing farmers to kill pest birds. Guy Smith, NFU Deputy President, is quoted highlighting the essential need for these licenses, and emphasises that it is a priority of the NFU to ensure Natural England reissue the licenses immediately. NFU President Minette Batters appeared on Farming Today also reacting to Natural England’s decision.
Warwickshire NFU Chairman, Julian Douthwaite, featured on BBC News to raise awareness about the increasing issue of illegal butchering of sheep on farms. This is often carried out by semi-professional gangs and Julian urged people to be wary if offered meat of unknown origins as there is no control over hygiene or whether it is fit for human consumption.
In both Farmers Weekly and Farmers Guardian the NFU had numerous mentions. Both magazines featured an article on the Asda-Sainsbury’s merger block. NFU Director General, Terry Jones, is quoted explaining the NFU’s original concerns with the merger and how findings from The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have recognised this. Farmers Guardian and Farmers Weekly mentioned the London Marathon and the five NFU representatives that were running in aid of Farm Africa.