Growers firstly had the opportunity to ask Tom about the challenges facing the sector at an exclusive Q&A at Mere Brow Village Hall, West Lancashire.
More than 50 people attended to hear from Tom, who provided an update on the NFU’s work and the NFU’s relationship with government and Defra. Tom discussed the current political climate, standing charges, SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive), UK-EU re-alignment, cost increases, the supply chain, the Seasonal Workers Scheme and energy. He also gave an update on the work of the Government’s new Food and Farming Partnership Board.
Questions from members revolved around environmental schemes, the agricultural budget, IHT, planning and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
Lancashire County Adviser Aarun Naik said: “We’ve got a really important growing sector in West Lancashire and we wanted to showcase the level of work that the NFU is doing on behalf of growers. Thank you to everybody who turned up to support that and to ask questions of Tom.
“I’m also really pleased that the NFU now has strong horticulture representation from West Lancashire, including Kathryn Wright on the national Horticulture and Potatoes Board, county Vice-chair Jon Forshaw and Andrew Webster on the potato policy group. As Tom said, it’s your organisation so if you have got concerns or things that you think we need to do, things you’re not happy about, please let us know at the NFU.”
Office opening
Following his meeting with growers, Tom attended the new NFU Central Lancashire group office in Fulwood, Preston, and officially opened the new premises alongside NFU Mutual’s Head of Agency Gary Thomson.
More than 50 Central Lancashire members and customers gathered to hear from Gary and Tom, and toasted the opening of the new offices after enjoying a Lancashire hotpot lunch.
The Central Lancashire Agency was created as a result of the merging of the former Preston, Blackburn and Chorley agencies. The team moved to Holburn House late last year, from their former offices near Preston docks. The new larger, modern offices boast several meeting rooms and improved parking capacity.
Speaking at the office opening, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “It’s been fantastic to be up in Lancashire today at two member meetings. First of all, starting off with a meeting mainly focused around horticulture, horticultural production and the challenges that are being faced there. Obviously, the energy price rises are being felt very acutely, but also those challenges of trying to pass those costs up the supply chain was something that we discussed in that meeting.
“Now I’m at the Central Lancashire new group office, this is actually returning to home, this is where my family originated and a hundred years ago it would’ve been my local branch office, before moving down to Essex. So, its great to have had the opportunity to come here today to open the new office but also to see so many members at both of these meetings and to take the feedback on to make sure we can update you on everything the NFU is working on, and to hear your voices. Because the NFU is your organisation and it’s great that you have been able to feed into the discussion today and make sure that your thoughts are on the agenda.”
Jo Oliver, NFU Central Lancashire Senior Group Secretary, said: “It was fantastic have Tom Bradshaw here to officially open our new offices, we’ve had a great celebration with our team, members and customers.
“These facilities will transform the way we are as a business and also allow us the opportunity to keep growing and keep developing.
“When I came here 12 years ago my plan was to put Preston on the map for all the right reasons, and I’m proud to say that today in this brand new building, I’m pretty sure we’ve achieved that.”
