Take a look at some of the highlights, including interviews on BBC Radio 4 and coverage in The Guardian.
“There are so many decent, capable, productive, efficient arable farmers out there, asking how they are supposed to finance the crop they are meant to be putting in the ground.”
NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows speaking to The Guardian
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping returned to the airwaves this week following the publication of a new NFU survey highlighting the scale of the problem on farmland.
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today after the survey found that nearly half of farmers feel fly-tipping is getting worse. The programme also heard from NFU member Alex Sell, who described the impact of mountains of waste being dumped on his farm, which could cost £350,000 to clear.
Drought and rising costs
From a drought-hit harvest to soaring diesel costs, the financial pressures facing farm businesses have also remained firmly in the spotlight this week.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House about how higher diesel prices are adding to the cost of running a farm and producing food.
NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows also spoke to The Guardian about the mounting pressures on British arable farmers, including soaring fuel costs.
Our members also continue to highlight their stories. NFU Midlands member Jake Freestone spoke to Farming Today about the impact of this summer’s drought on crop yields at his farm.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw on rising diesel costs
Regions in the spotlight
In the Midlands, the NFU’s work to tackle planning and water security challenges has been covered.
The Hereford Times, Ross Gazette and other local media reported on Herefordshire Council’s unanimous support for a motion backing farmers and addressing concerns about planning barriers and access to water for food production.
The motion came after the NFU held a series of on-farm events in September with councillors to look at barriers to growth, sector challenges, food production, diversification, environmental management and industry opportunities.
Over in the East, NFU Essex member Alex Sell and NFU Essex Vice-chair Ed Ford have done several media interviews calling for a change in the law to ensure fly-tipping victims are not responsible for clear up costs, after Alex has been landed with a bill of £350,000 to clear 2,000 tonnes of fly-tipping from his land. The story has been covered by The Times, Times Radio, Good Morning Britain, LBC, BBC Radio 4, GB News, BBC London, ITV London, BBC Radio Essex, BBC Online, Farmers Weekly, Farming UK and 11 Essex newspapers.
In the North, NFU North Environment Adviser James Copeland was interviewed by ITV Calendar after the Yorkshire region was declared in drought.
NFU member Jake Freestone on this year’s harvest
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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