James is the former chair of the NFU Poultry Industry Programme and rears broilers on the family farm in Shropshire.
The mixed family farming business is split into three enterprise areas consisting of poultry, arable and renewable energy production.
He will be supported by Will Raw who has been elected as vice chair of the board. Will is a former participant of the NFU Poultry Industry Programme and operates a mixed farm in North Yorkshire comprising 250 acres of combinable crops and 231,500 broilers, supplying the independent poultry sector.
‘We need to continue to be bold’
On the announcement of the election results, James said: “I’m honoured to be able to represent our poultry members for another two years.
“Poultry businesses are still facing huge challenges when it comes to avian influenza and unsustainably high production costs, which are testing cash flow and producer confidence as demonstrated by our latest poultry production survey.
“That’s why boosting business resilience and ensuring fairer supply chains will be key focuses for this board over the next two years, alongside addressing environmental challenges.
“Boosting business resilience and ensuring fairer supply chains will be key focuses for this board over the next two years.”
NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead
“We need to continue to be bold and ensure the government delivers to build a better future for our members. It will be a huge team effort to get our policy asks over the line and I look forward to working with the board and our members to do this.
“I’d also like to thank Phill Crawley for his support over many years as poultry board vice chair, and welcome Will Raw to the role.”
‘Resilient, dedicated and progressive’
NFU Poultry Board vice chair Will Raw said: “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to work alongside James and the board on behalf of poultry producers across the country.
"The poultry sector is incredibly resilient, dedicated and progressive and I’m passionate about promoting the fantastic work we do to the British public, stakeholders and politicians.
"Alongside supply chain and avian influenza challenges, another key area will be safeguarding our high food safety standards in trade deals and this will continue to be a priority for the board going forward.”
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