”The Middle East conflict puts huge pressure on our farmers, who are having to shoulder spiralling costs for fertiliser, which is already shaping decisions for next year’s planting.”
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins to The Sunday Times
UK-EU trade deal
NFU President Tom Bradshaw was out on the airwaves on Wednesday morning on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today to talk about the ongoing UK-EU SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement negotiations.
Tom highlighted the actions that need to be taken by government to minimise disruption for British farmers and growers, including the need for a sufficient transition period.
Tom Bradshaw talks SPS deal with BBC Farming Today
Jimmy Russo talks rising fertiliser prices on ITV Tonight
Conflict in the Middle East
The war in the Middle East continues to be covered by the media. NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins spoke to The Sunday Times about the impact of the conflict on fertiliser supplies and food and farming.
He said the conflict is putting “huge pressure on British farmers and growers.”
Weather
The weather has been a key topic covered by the media over the past week following the recent heatwave, which sent temperatures soaring across the country.
NFU south Lincolnshire County chair Heather Oldfield spoke with BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today for its episode on Saturday morning (8:20) about how her crops have suffered because of the dry weather.
NFU East member, Andrew Blenkiron, also spoke to the BBC News channel on Tuesday evening about the challenges of the UK’s volatile climate. It followed several news reports of warnings from the UN that the El Niño weather event could strengthen throughout the year, bringing more extreme weather.
Members in the spotlight
NFU Midlands Regional Board Chair Jane Bassett was interviewed on BBC Morning Live on Monday (32:00) as part of a feature on rural connectivity.
Jane said it is “vital” she has good internet connection on farm, including to connect with government agencies and to ensure safety on farm by communicating on phones.
And Cumbria member Greg Penellum spoke to The Times about his experience of livestock theft following 120 of his sheep being stolen last summer.
In other news
NFU Poultry Board Chair Will Raw has penned a letter to The Telegraph in response to an article by Rosa Silverman which blamed poultry farmers solely for pollution issues in the River Wye.
Will said the story “overlooks how poultry farmers are addressing environmental concerns”.
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