The subject was raised at one of Mr Rutley’s farmer forum meetings on Friday 13th January, this time kindly hosted by the Eardley family at Plant House Farm in Prestbury and arranged by Macclesfield NFU group secretary Keith Brightmore.
Hannah Barton, Chairlady of Cheshire YFC, will work with her NFU colleagues to formulate specific policy ideas which David will then forward to Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs for their consideration.
Following the meeting, David had a tour around the new milking parlour at Plant House Farm which helped highlight the investment required in agriculture. The new parlour is much more efficient than the previous and has lower running costs, allowing the Eardley family to reduce the time it takes to milk.
David Rutley said: “Following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, cooperation between politicians, the Government and the next generation of farmers will be crucial to ensuring that the rural economy continues to prosper. I am grateful to the NFU and YFC for committing to such cooperation post-Brexit. I would also like to thank the Eardley family for hosting this important meeting, and for the tour of their new parlour. I wish them every success for the future.”
NFU Cheshire County Adviser Helen Wainwright added: “It’s crucial the farming industry works with MPs to shape what the intended trading environment will be for Britain post-Brexit. 72% of agricultural exports go to the EU with some sectors being heavily dependent on trade with the rest of Europe. For example, of £300m UK lamb exports, £290m came from sales to Europe, and 78% of wheat and barley exports went to the EU. We all need to ensure that British farming has a profitable, productive and resilient future post-Brexit and that a post-Brexit Britain truly does work for everyone.”