Our work behind the scenes ensures the voices of farmers and growers are heard loud and clear by the public, politicians and key decision-makers.
Catch up on where you, our members, have featured in the news, where we’ve been, what we’ve said and how the media is helping push farming up the agenda.
You can also keep up to date with all of our activity by following us on X (formerly Twitter) @NFUPress.
“We need confidence within the farming sector. We need fair returns for the risks that farmers are taking, we need government to prioritise domestic production.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw to Times Radio
Impact of Iran war
As the conflict in the Middle East continues, the impacts on food and farming are being widely covered by both regional and national media.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw has been discussing the impact of rising fuel, fertiliser and energy prices on farmers and growers and how it could affect the wider food supply chain. He has been interviewed on:
- BBC Breakfast (2:38)
- Matthew Wright’s programme on LBC (00:52)
- BBC Radio 4 Today Programme (34:35). The clip was also later repeated on BBC Radio 2 (58:00) and on BBC Radio 5 Live's news bulletins
- Times Radio Breakfast (2:35)
- BBC News at Ten
Tom has also been quoted in several national articles, including:
- New Statesman about fuel prices amid the Iran war
- The Express
- The Telegraph
- The Daily Mail
- The Times – Tom highlights how the cost of bread could rise
- The Times – Tom discusses how food prices could rise similarly to the impacts of the Ukraine and Russia war
- The i Paper (print)
- BBC News online
- The Telegraph
- The Mirror
- Metro
Members have been out on the airwaves telling their stories too. NFU West Sussex Council Representative, Caroline Harriott, also discussed the impact of the Middle East conflict on the ground for farmers and growers on ITV News. NFU Livestock Board member Esther Rudge was also interviewed on Radio 5 Live on the issue.
Tom Bradshaw on BBC Breakfast
Land Use Framework
Following the launch of the Defra's Land Use Framework, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said in The Guardian, the framework was a “step in the right direction”, but said “clear guidance” will be required to deliver on all the objectives within existing land.
The NFU president was also quoted discussing his reaction to the framework in:
Tom was also interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today (05:51) about the framework. He said farmers need to be able to take choices over how their land is best used and highlighted the importance of safeguarding productive farmland for food production.
Fly-tipping
Following the publication of the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan and various crackdowns on fly-tipping, NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt was quoted in a BBC News online story.
Robyn said she hoped tougher powers could "act as a deterrent" to criminals. She also spoke on the issue on Channel 5 News.
North NFU member Olly Harrison discussed the announcement on BBC Breakfast and NFU Hertfordshire member Will Dickinson has spoken on the issue with a number of broadcasters. It comes after a farmer neighbouring Will was left with a bill of around £40,000 to clear a 200-tonne fly-tip from his land. He spoke with:
- LBC News (07:10)
- Good Morning Britain (2:40)
- Good Morning Britain (1:10) – Will spoke to GMB again and made a direct appeal to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook after his land was fly-tipped over the weekend
- Both Will and NFU Hertfordshire County Adviser Freya Samuel Smith were also quoted in an article in The Times on fly-tipping.
Drought
The National Drought Group has said England’s water levels have mostly recovered from last year’s drought after months of rainfall.
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins was on BBC Radio 4 Today (2:42) discussing the news. He called for long-term investment in our water systems.
And finally, NFU Chief Land Management Adviser Sam Durham met King Charles III yesterday at the launch of the England Coast Path in Sussex. Sam also spoke to the BBC South East Today (23:00) about the interaction.
Tell your story
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues covered in the news this week and want to share your story, contact our press and editorial teams.
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