Membership Talks - Water resources

20 October 2026, 19:00 – 20:00

Virtual Event

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Water source with Polytunnels in the background

Join us for NFU Membership Talks, a new series of short, engaging online discussions tackling the issues that matter most to farmers and growers across our region.

Who should attend?

All NFU members across the Midlands region.

Why attend?

This is a great opportunity for members to hear from NFU staff with regards to topics effecting their farm business and sector.

These meetings are designed to be:

  • Informal and conversational
  • Relevant to your business
  • Packed with practical insight
  • Just 30 minutes long

What will be covered?

Our first episode will be a discussion on water and water resources with Mark Betson, NFU water resources specialist.

  • Ep 2 | 17 November will cover Livestock and Bluetongue with John Royle 
  • Ep 3 | 15 December will be an update on our work in Westminster with Scott Pepe
  • Ep 4 | 19 January 2027 will cover crops and protected crops with Luke Cox

All meetings are 7pm for 30 minutes.

Book your place now

Book 20 Oct

Book 17 Nov

Book 15 Dec

Book 19 Jan

Contact

Any queries please contact the Midlands Hub on 02476 939402 or you can email: [email protected] 

 

 

Meeting the speakers

 

Dr Mark Betson

NFU National Water Resources Specialist

Mark works jointly between the NFU East team and the national environment team providing specialist advice on water resources, focusing on national policy development, representation and member guidance on issues including water efficiency and water pricing.

Mark has joined the NFU from the Church of England where he was providing advice to the church in the House of Lords and national church institutions on public policy issues relating to rural affairs, environmental science, land and heritage.

He has a background supporting agriculture as regional director for the Farming Community Network in the South East and with water research working for Adas as a consultant.

Mark has also been involved volunteering with educational work promoting agriculture in schools and supporting students at land based colleges with the South of England Agricultural Society.

He is now based in Northamptonshire with his family where he has an active involvement in local village life.

John Royle

NFU Chief Livestock Adviser

John has been chief livestock adviser since November 2014.

John is responsible for representing the interests of beef and sheep members on a wide range of policy issues. The livestock team manage the national livestock board.

Scott Pepe

NFU Head of External Affairs

As head of external affairs in the NFU’s London team, Scott is responsible for delivering the external affairs strategy, building collaborative relationships with key external politicians, civil servants and stakeholders. 

He is also responsible for raising the NFU’s campaigning and lobbying profile in Westminster and is the NFU’s speechwriter.

Scott first joined the NFU in 2017. Before that, he worked in Parliament. He worked for the Deputy Chief Whip before going on to run an MP’s office. He has also been an adviser to Treasury Ministers and HMRC.

Luke Cox

NFU combinable crops senior policy adviser

Luke Cox is the senior combinable crops policy adviser at the NFU, working for farmers and growers in the combinable crops sector to represent them on all relevant issues.

Event details
Start Date
20 October 2026 at 19:00
End Date
20 October 2026 at 20:00
Location
Virtual Event

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