David, who is also the South Regional Board Chair, organised the event so members could hear first-hand about the range of work the NFU undertakes on behalf of members.
Livestock board chair Mark Weekes encouraged members to get involved with the sector boards, highlighting the way they were able to gather the views of members, with a good example being Defra’s recent consultation on lamb castration and tail docking to which nearly 700 members responded.
Dairy board chair Stephen Dark told the meeting that the NFU had been working on several issues for the sector including TB, Red Tractor and Farming Rules for Water.
He said the NFU had helped him resolve issues with RPA and highlighted the range of member benefits and discounts on offer, in particular the contract checking service.
Discussions about key issues
Stephen said it was a strength that the NFU was almost always involved in discussions about the key issues.
“There’s nothing like being there, getting them in the room, sitting down from them across the table,” he said.
For the poultry sector, the board’s deputy chair James Smaldon said major wins had been changes to the avian influenza compensation system and to the labelling of free-range eggs in the event a housing order is imposed.
James also pointed out that although the outcome of discussions might not always be what members wanted, there was no substitute for being in the room.
“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” he said.
He also highlighted the NFU’s range of publications, in particular Poultry magazine which he said was the best trade magazine “bar none.”
Delivering wins
Crops board chair Matt Culley said the Clean Air Strategy and Farming Rules for Water were two areas where the NFU had delivered wins for members.
“This demonstrates the value of the NFU and working with staff to take your views forward. You’re never too old, you’re never too young – if you have something to give, however big, however small, then give it.”
Mat Cole, chair of the South uplands group said there had been a lot of challenges for uplands farmers. An Uplands Vision had been launched in the region and there had been an Uplands Summit in Westminster to bring some of the issues to the attention of MPs.
He highlighted the recent judicial review of stocking levels on Dartmoor, where help from the NFU’s Legal Assistance Scheme had been invaluable.
“The community would not have been able to bring it,” he said.
NFU Director General Sophie Throup said: “We have heard how important it is that we have member voices and member representation through the boards, taking the issues that matter locally and then working with us as a wider staff team to escalate those and get them in good position to be used most effectively in lobbying with government, that is really, really powerful.”