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 have to have a plan for how we’re going to produce food for 70 million people living on an island and the resilience of our domestic industry is absolutely critical to that.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw on Times Radio
War in the Middle East
With the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz causing huge disruption to global oil and gas markets, NFU President Tom Bradshaw has done several interviews on the knock-on effect to food supply chains here in the UK.
This includes an interview on Times Radio (08:07:49) and a BBC News special segment, Iran War: What It Means For Your Money (18:50). He raised his concerns around what the war means for UK farmers and growers, particularly around energy, fuel and fertiliser prices. Tom’s comments were also picked up on TalkRadio.
Tom was also quoted on the topic in:
BBC Radio 5 Live (14:40) also covered the issue and spoke to NFU Livestock Board member Esther Rudge, who outlined the challenges around getting any concrete prices for fuel and fertiliser.
Tom Bradshaw on Times Radio
Watch Alison Lawson on Countryfile
Esther Rudge on Radio 5 Live
Upland farming
BBC InDepth has explored changes in upland farming. NFU North and South Upland Group Chairs Dave Stanners and Mat Cole both feature in the piece, which covers food consumption patterns, debates over the environment, potential market opportunities and the need for clear plans for what policymakers want from the uplands.
Fly-tipping
The Times reported on the money raised for an elderly member who had 200 tonnes of rubbish fly-tipped on his land and faced up to £50,000 in clean-up fees.
It came after a drive by the NFU’s regional media team to generate press coverage to support the fundraiser, led by a sympathetic member of the public, and resulted in a meeting between them and the farmer.
NFU Hertfordshire County Adviser Freya Samuel‑Smith was quoted in the piece calling for stronger regulations.
Members in the spotlight
- Multiple NFU members featured on the latest episode of BBC Countryfile. NFU Sugar Board member Alison Lawson was interviewed as part of a story about the journey of Britain’s sugar beet, 100 years after the first production of home-grown sugar. Meanwhile, Will Oliver, who sits on the NFU Combinable Crops Board, and Suffolk member Glenn Buckingham were interviewed as part of the ‘Tom Heap investigates’ feature, discussing the pros and cons of using sewage sludge.
- Will’s Countryfile interview was also played on Farming Today.
- Former NFU Student and Young Farmer Ambassador Jon Watt featured in a Daily Telegraph article on the closure of small abattoirs.
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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