Labour MPs James Naish (Rushcliffe), Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase) and Maya Ellis (Ribble Valley) visited the farm as part of the NFU Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme.
The MPs toured Lodge Farm, Westhorpe, near Stowmarket, where the first ever Big Farmland Bird Count was launched, back in 2014.
The farm, which has been in the Barker family since the 1950s, grows wheat, barley, oilseed rape and beans.
Food production meets environmental success
The MPs discovered how these products are used in the marketplace, from making bread, whiskey and beer to animal feed.
They also heard about the many environmental successes achieved on the farm, in part through the SFI.
The farmers’ precise methods for optimising use of fertilisers and pesticides were demonstrated and the MPs heard more about the farm’s work to support biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions.
“This was a great event and the MPs were fully engaged and asking lots of good questions.”
NFU National Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows
The MPs also learned about the importance of soil health in arable farming and supporting environment.
Seeing the work 'up close'
NFU member Ed Barker, who is also the AIC's head of policy and external affairs, hosted the tour on his family’s 513-hectare north Suffolk farm, said: “This scheme is an excellent way of getting MPs out on farm to see up close the work that goes on.
“It was great to be able to demonstrate how arable farms are run and show the positive work farmers do to support the environment and to help the MPs understand the pressures and challenges farmers are facing on the ground.”
NFU National Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows, who attended the Suffolk farm tour, said: “This was a great event and the MPs were fully engaged and asking lots of good questions.
“The Barkers do some excellent work and it is a great example of food production and environmental work going together hand in hand.
“This was just one example and there are many other farms across the country doing fantastic work like this.”
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L-R: Patrick Barker, John Leggett, Josh Newbury MP, Maya Ellis MP, James Naish MP, NFU National Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows, David Barker and Ed Barker
