In this week's vlog, NFU President Tom Bradshaw welcomes the NFU's new Director General Sophie Throup as she prepares to join us in the spring.
He also responds to Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds’ speech at the Oxford Farming Conference, including highlighting the need for a refresh on our planning policy and a focus on economic growth.
Plus, Tom updates on our pre-Christmas win on the inheritance tax campaign and its current position.
Meanwhile, NFU Deputy President David Exwood welcomes news on the reformed SFI offer while outlining the urgent need for clarity and transparency for members.
Keep up to date with all NFU work with the weekly look ahead. Have a look at where your board members and policy staff will be this coming week.
Weekly look ahead
Week commencing 12 January 2026
Your NFU officeholders, board members and policy staff make sure they represent your needs every day.
Monday 12 January
- NFU President Tom Bradshaw is giving a keynote speech at the Semex Conference in Glasgow.
- NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony is attending a member meeting with Natural England’s Head of Agriculture, hosted at NFU Poultry Board member Rebecca Tonks’ egg packing centre in Cornwall.
- NFU Poultry Adviser Tom Glen is meeting with OF&G (organic farmers and growers) to discuss the potential impacts of alignment with EU organic poultry standards as part of the ongoing UK/EU SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) negotiations.
- NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony is attending a Laying Hen Welfare Forum meeting.
Tuesday 13 January
- NFU President Tom Bradshaw will be giving evidence to the Business and Trade Committee on EU relations/SPS in London.
- NFU Governance Board is meeting.
- NFU FFE Board is meeting.
- NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony is meeting with Defra to discuss Ukrainian imports of poultry meat and eggs.
Wednesday 14 January
- NFU Deputy President David Exwood is speaking at the regenerative farming panel session at LAMMA.
- NFU Deputy President David Exwood is speaking at a Cornwall County Meeting.
- The NFU will be attending LAMMA on stand 18.640 in Hall 18.
- BAB Senior Advisor Jenny Brunton is speaking on a panel at the AICC (Association of Independent Crops Consultants) National Technical Conference.
- NFU Poultry Adviser Tom Glen is giving a policy update at the Midlands Regional Poultry Board meeting, hosted by GLW Feeds in Leicestershire.
- NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony is attending a Poultry Health and Welfare Group meeting.
- NFU Poultry Board Chair Will Raw is meeting with the new chair of the Red Tractor Poultry Sector Board in London.
Thursday 15 January
- NFU President Tom Bradshaw will be speaking at the Midlands Regional Board Meeting.
- NFU President Tom Bradshaw will be speaking at the NFU Pershore Conference.
- NFU Deputy President David Exwood is attending the Norfolk Tenants’ meeting.
- NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos is meeting with Skills England.
- The NFU will be attending LAMMA on stand 18.640 in Hall 18.
- BAB Director Robin Manning will attend the Green Week in Berlin, Germany’s biggest agriculture fair, on Thursday and Friday.
- NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony is attending an Avian Influenza Core Group meeting to hear the latest updates from Defra and APHA on the current outbreak.
- NFU Poultry Board member Matthew Donald and NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony are attending a British Poultry Training Management Group meeting to discuss the Poultry Passport scheme.
Friday 16 January
- NFU Poultry Board Chair Will Raw and NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony are attending a Food and Farming Fellowship MP visit to Noble Foods’ packing centre in Lincolnshire.
- NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony is attending an avian influenza vaccination trial working group meeting.
