Yorkshire West Riding
The Yorkshire West Riding AGM took place at Harrogate Cricket Club on Tuesday 18 November. County Chair Richard Pears and Council Delegate Ian Backhouse greeted members.
Joe Payne was elected as county Vice-chair. Ian Backhouse will remain as Council Delegate, and county crops representative, for another term. Joe Payne was elected as county Vice-chair.
Andrew Loftus stepped down as Livestock representative and was given thanks for his work and dedication. John Wilson was appointed to join Joe Payne on the board. Chris Fenteman was also elected as Yorkshire West Riding’s poultry representative.
Attendees heard from guest speaker NFU President Tom Bradshaw, whose speech was followed by a question and answer session.
York East
Over 90 members attended the York East AGM at Sandburn Hall on Tuesday 18 November. County Chair Andrew Sewell and Council Delegate Angela Kirkwood greeted members. Members heard from guest speaker NFU President Tom Bradshaw, before the floor was opened for questions.
Angela Kirkwood will remain as Council Delegate for another term. David Shaw stood down as York East dairy representative and his daughter Helen Stanier was appointed. Whitby Group Secretary Clare Pybus was thanked for her work with members affected by the North Yorkshire Moor wildfire and was presented with flowers and chocolates.
Cheshire
The Cheshire AGM took place at Bidlea Dairy Café on Wednesday 19 November. County Chair Alistair Dobson welcomed members followed by reports from County Adviser Helen Wainwright, NFU North Regional Director Adam Briggs and commodity boards.
Robert Brunt was elected as the next Cheshire County Chair and Julie Egglestone was elected Vice-chair. Council Delegate Richard Blackburn gave a vote of thanks to Alistair Dobson for his hard work as chair. Tim Dobson was elected as county livestock representative.
Attendees heard from guest speaker NFU Deputy President David Exwood, who gave a round up of the year and spoke about challenges facing members and the work of the NFU. David’s speech was followed by questions from members. The topics discussed included IHT, the autumn budget, Red Tractor and dairy and potato contracts.
Lancashire
The Lancashire AGM took place on Thursday 20 November at Lancashire Manor Hotel. County Chair Becki is halfway through her two-year term. Livestock and dairy farmer John Alpe was re-elected as Lancashire council delegate for another term. West Lancashire veg grower John Forshaw was welcomed to the officeholder team as Vice-chair.
Becki summarised some of the key issues the NFU has been tackling in Lancashire and the representation given by her and John Alpe on behalf of the county at the NFU Council. NFU Deputy President David Exwood was the guest speaker and he looked back on the difficult year in farming and spoke about some of the challenges ahead and those issues where the NFU will be fighting hard for its members.
Cumbria
The Cumbria AGM took place on Thursday 20 November at Blaithwaite House. Attendees were welcomed by County Chair John Longmire. Cumbria County Adviser Catherine Stokes spoke about the events and activity which has taken place in the county over the last 12 months. NFU North Regional Director Adam Briggs gave updates on the Uplands Vision, IHT and the NFU’s key policy areas.
The AGM saw County Chair John Longmire reach the end of his two-year term and Richard Pedley was elected to step into the role after the national AGM in February. Richard’s election leaves the Vice-chair position vacant. Kate Waller will service a further two year term as Cumbria Dairy Board representative, alongside Neil Young, and Jonny Bainbridge will serve another term as crops representative.
Guest speaker NFU Deputy President David Exwood gave a round up of the year, covering SFI, dry weather, US tariffs and farm safety. He took questions from the audience on topics including the agricultural budget, IHT and food security.
North Riding and Durham
Around 60 members attended the North Riding and Durham AGM on Thursday 4 December at Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington. County Chair Clare Wise welcomed attendees and delivered her report, reflecting on county activity over the past year. She thanked both members and Group Secretaries for their support throughout the year.
Attendees heard from guest speaker NFU Deputy President David Exwood, who gave an update on the NFU’s work throughout 2025, farm safety, the Budget, Inheritance Tax, environmental schemes and Uplands.
Council Delegate William Maughan and County Adviser Laurie Norris delivered their reports. Vice-chair James Johnson stepped down and Matt Barker was elected to the position.
Andrew Dale was elected as the county’s combinable crops representative. Nev Kitching will serve another term on the Regional Dairy Board. Richard Stevenson was elected as the county’s livestock representative.
Northumberland
Around 40 members attended the Northumberland AGM on Thursday 4 December at Morpeth Rugby Club. County Chair Mac Young welcomed members alongside the county team and County Adviser Charlotte Dring.
The AGM saw Nick Howard come to the end of his term as Council Delegate and Richard Oglesby stepped into the position. In her county report, County Adviser Charlotte paid tribute to Nick and thanked him for his work as Council Delegate and welcomed Richard to the county team.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood gave an update the NFU’s work through 2025, Uplands and environmental support schemes. There were many questions from the floor, including on IHT, the future of farming, the Farming Profitability Review, farming technology, science and innovation.
Pip Robson and Hugh Wood stepped down as county crops representatives. Neil Armstrong and James Wardle will join the board. Livestock representative Jen Oglesby will remain on the regional commodity board for another term, as will Dave Stanners on the North Uplands Group. Catherine Armstrong was elected to be the county’s first poultry representative and Peter Howie stepped up to fill the Northumberland’s dairy representative vacancy.