Back on the family farm near Felsted after retiring from his role as group secretary for the Chelmsford, Maldon and Southminster branches, Graham will be working on behalf of members on key issues including rural crime, supply chain fairness and improving farm health and safety.
“I’m here to help Essex farmers in any way I can. I want to be here to support them, and that comes on the back of 25 years in my previous role,” he said.
“I have some time to give and I’m here to listen and take any concerns forward. Mental wellbeing is one particular concern with the challenges facing farming. It’s important that we all pick up the phone to people to make sure they are okay.
“I think it helps that there’s good public support for farming, It’s very high across Essex. People appreciate what farmers are doing, producing food and looking after the environment.”
Generations of the Harvey family have worked at Felsted, with the deeds going back 285 years to when Thomas John Harvey first moved to Peartree Farm.
After leaving school, the expectation was that Graham would continue that tradition, but instead he changed career, starting a local tool hire business in 1988. A year later it became the main Essex distributor for CPS Fuels, selling bottled gas and lubricants.
He sold the tool hire business in 1990 to concentrate on the expanding LPG enterprise, also working with Calor Gas, which bought the business in 1999.
After another year working with Calor Gas, he was invited to a group secretary assessment day after meeting the area manager of NFU Mutual. He passed that and started at its Chelmsford office in December 2000.
“My time with the NFU was rewarding. I enjoyed expanding our membership, engaging with local farmers and building long-lasting relationships with the agricultural community,” he said.
“I also maintained a close connection with the family farm during this time, taking on full responsibility in 2014.”
The 140-acre farm includes rented buildings, a DIY livery enterprise and 40 acres of grassland dedicated to hay production and grazing, as well as traditional arable crops. It is in the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme as well.
“I’m here to help Essex farmers in any way I can. I want to be here to support them, and that comes on the back of 25 years in my previous role.”
Incoming NFU Essex County Chair Graham Harvey
Graham said: “All these elements are essential to ensure they farm remains economically viable, but it’s not just about the financial considerations. The farm is a way of life, one I find rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable.
“I love the history here. Generations of the Harvey family have continued to live and work in the village, fostering a longstanding bond with the land and the local community.
“The family has also maintained a strong tradition of public service, with at least one family member serving on Felsted Parish Council at any given time since its inception in 1904. I am starting my 40th year as parish councillor, of which I have been chair for 20 years."
Graham will succeed Robert Padfield as NFU county chair after NFU Conference on 25 February.
“I thought long and hard about standing as county chair and had overwhelming support from members,” he said.
“It’s great being back on the farm but it’s also going to be good to get out to meet other Essex farmers, attending local meetings and the NFU meetings that take me to London and NFU HQ at Stoneleigh.”
He is married to Kim and they have a daughter Clare and son John. John has followed in Graham’s footsteps as NFU group secretary at Chelmsfo