The NFU met Leicestershire County Council representatives on farm at Lutterworth along with members of their rural estate team, with the county farm estate high on the agenda.
While those from Northamptonshire North and Northamptonshire West met farmers at Rothwell and Marston St Lawrence.
The NFU was also on farm with councillors from Rutland County Council near Uppingham.
What was discussed?
During the meetings farmers and councillors discussed what is needed to help safeguard food supplies after an extremely challenging year.
Business have faced extreme weather alongside other issues this year including soaring costs for energy, fuel and fertiliser due to the conflict in Iran among other issues.
They also discussed water, planning barriers and a host of other topics including agri-environment schemes and the work being done to protect the landscape.
Earlier this year Leicestershire County Council committed, as part of its new rural estate strategy, to further support farming tenants on the council-owned farm estate, safeguarding more than 60 businesses.
Vibrant communities
NFU Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland county adviser Marie Charles said the meetings were useful and helped to further discussions between the NFU and the authorities on a host of issues.
She said: “We toured the farms and looked at some of the different issues and challenges and looked at what could be done at a local level.
“Councillors and their teams have a good handle on the rural brief but it remains important we meet with decision makers nationally and at a local level to look at ways to help build resilience and confidence and to support thriving farms that can invest and grow the economy and support vibrant communities.”
Series of events
The Leicestershire visit was to Lutterworth and Rugby vice-chair Emma Grieg’s farm, which she runs with her partner Pete Jarrom, and other farmers joined alongside Rachel Fyfe, NFU Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland chair.
All the events were part of wider activity around the NFU’s Back British Farming Day on 9 September that celebrated farming and food production.
The NFU also had a stand at Melton Mowbray Market where they spoke to shoppers and handed out Stilton samples from Long Clawson Dairy and locally produced sausage.
Stronger links
Mrs Fyfe, LNR county chair, said: “Back British Farming Day was a great opportunity to speak to shoppers about the work we do to produce food and manage the countryside often under challenging business conditions.
“Farmers were well received by shoppers who value county produce and all of those growing crops and rearing livestock, alongside those busy providing commercial plants and flowers regionally.
“The week of farm visits with councillors proved useful as we were able to cover the issues that really matter to our farms.
“We hope to forge stronger links with councillors going forward as we look to strengthen farming in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.”