From getting out on the airwaves on Times Radio to discuss the impacts of conflict in the Middle East, to interviews with BBC News Online about a royal farm visit, here’s a round-up of where the NFU has been making its voice heard this week.
“If we don’t get that guarantee of the availability of red diesel, of natural gas and of fertiliser, then farmers are going to face some very, very difficult decisions.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaking to Times Radio
Conflict in the Middle East
The conflict in the Middle East and its far-reaching impacts on markets continues to dominate the news agenda.
The NFU and its members have been working hard to highlight how the disruption to global oil and gas market, driven by the war, is hitting farmers and growers in the UK, who are grappling with rising fuel, energy and fertiliser costs.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw has been interviewed on the issue by national broadcasters including:
He has also been quoted speaking about the impact of the war on farming in news articles by The Sun and The i Paper.
Tom and NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton have both also been interviewed by The Sunday Times about the effects of rising and unpredictable fertiliser prices and delivery delays.
Tom Bradshaw talks Middle East war on Times Radio
Jon Swain discusses how his energy costs have increased
UK-US trade deal
NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair, Jamie Burrows, has been interviewed by Politico in an article about the impacts of the UK-US trade deal one year on and the impacts of the Middle East conflict on the farming sector.
Jamie highlighted the increasing strain on British farming linked to the war, pointing to rising financial pressures and warning that there “isn’t the cash flow to cover these costs”.
NFU North members James Mills and Brett Askew were also quoted in the story.
Glyphosate
There has been some national news coverage this week on the use of glyphosate, following calls from campaigners to ban its use as a pre-harvest desiccant.
The NFU has been working hard behind the scenes to provide background information on glyphosate to journalists. Our position on its use has also been outlined on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today and BBC News Online.
Members in the spotlight
NFU North member Adam Hunter welcomed royalty onto his farm in North Yorkshire yesterday. The Prince of Wales spoke with Adam and other farmers during the visit and asked them about the "headwinds" the industry is facing, BBC News Online reports.
And finally, NFU North member Callum Stark has been interviewed by the Financial Times about his decision to transform a potato storage warehouse at his farm in York into padel courts.
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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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