NFU24: Our conference sponsors and exhibitors

A promotional image for the NFU’s 2024 annual conference

The NFU would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the organisations sponsoring the 2024 conference. A number of them have display stands in Hall 3 and they look forward to meeting you to discuss products and services that can help you run your farming business.

 

ABP

ABP UK is a leading agrifood business, operating across 17 locations, working with over 12,000 farmers. It is a significant contributor to the UK rural economy and has been delivering premium quality meat for the UK’s retail, food service wholesale and manufacturing sectors for over 60 years.

Visit ABP Food Group’s website

Addington Fund

Addington Fund helps the farming and rural communities through

  • Disaster Relief if your farm is severely impacted by inclement weather and certain animal disease outbreaks
  • Retirement Homes for retiring farmers
  • Affordable Houses to keep agriculturalists and rural workers in their chosen location
  • Farmworker Grants for active or retired farmworkers on low incomes.

For more information about the Addington Fund and to support our work please visit addingtonfund.org.uk

Registered charity number 109092.

A.J & C.I Snell

A.J and C.I Snell

A.J and C.I Snell is one of the UK's leading fresh and frozen fruit growers.

Owned and run by company partners Anthony and Christine Snell, they grow an impressive 1000 tonnes of strawberries plus raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, along with a further 700 tonnes of conventional and soil association organic blackcurrants.

Visit A.J and C.I Snell's website

Arden Lea Nurseries Ltd

Arden Lea Nurseries

Arden Lea Nurseries is a family run business based in Hesketh Bank near Preston, Lancashire. Started in 1949 it is now a fourth generation business supplying a range of bedding plants, hanging baskets and planted container to a number of retailers nationwide.

Asda

ASDA

Founded in the 1960s by Yorkshire dairy farmers, Asda is one of Britain’s leading retailers. Headquartered in Leeds, ASDA is the UK’s third-largest supermarket by market share, employing more than 140,000 colleagues and serving over 18m customers every week in its 633 stores and online via www.ASDA.com

BT

BT

Landlines in the UK are going digital, and most calls will be made over a broadband line by the end of 2025 – this is part of an industry-wide shift. BT is rolling out its new home phone service, Digital Voice, on a region-by-region basis and for most customers, it’s as simple as plugging their existing home phone into the back of their broadband router rather than the socket on the wall. BT is working with key stakeholders to help ensure customers get the support they need to make the move, including government, Ofcom, local authorities, charities, and community groups.

Visit BT's website.

CoOp

Co-op

The Co-op is a leading convenience retailer with more than 2,500 stores across the UK – that’s one in every postal area.

As a member-owned co-operative, it is guided by principles that include open membership and concern for community.

As set out in the Co-op Future of Food ambition, they are committed to caring for the environment in which ingredients are sourced from. By working closely with our farmers and suppliers, we put a lot of thought and care into the food that goes into our members’ and customers’ baskets. We know that animal welfare is important to our customers and members, so we are committed to creating products that have been produced to good animal welfare standards, regardless of their budget.

Visit the Co-op’s website

CT Planning

CT Planning

CT Planning are a firm of Chartered Planning Consultants that form part of the NFU group of companies. They provide Town and Country Planning advice and services throughout England and Wales including:

  • Planning applications
  • Appeals
  • Enforcement
  • Lawful Development Certificates
  • Promotion of land through Development Plans
  • Prior Notification applications

Visit CT Planning’s website

Defra

Defra is committed to working with the sector to deliver changes to farming.

As it works with farmers, land managers and stakeholders to revive new schemes, it will share its thinking, work policy progress and developers in the wider farming world, so please visit Defra’s stall to share your views, concerns and suggestions.

Visit Defra’s website

Defra: The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway

Are you a livestock farmer and wish to improve the health and welfare of your herd or flock, then look no further!

Defra through its Sustainable Farming Incentive has launched the Annual Animal Health and Welfare Review and is funding free vet visits to farms to carry out health and welfare review of eligible livestock.

We recently simplified applications so farmers who do not currently claim BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) can now apply. The offer is open to the keepers of pigs, sheep, and cattle and we will continue to roll this offer out, widening it so that reviews can cover multiple species (beef cattle and sheep) and multiple herds or flocks. Over 4000 farmers have already applied and benefited from a vet visit and tests.

Visit the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway stall next to Hall 1 to talk to us about getting a free visit or just simply sign up!

Visit the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway pages on GOV.UK.

Farm Africa

Farm Africa

Farm Africa is an innovative charity that reduces poverty in rural eastern Africa by helping farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more: we help farmers to not only boost yields, but also gain access to markets, and add value to their produce.

We place a high priority on environmental sustainability and develop approaches that help farmers to improve their yields and incomes without degrading their natural resources.

Visit Farm Africa's website

The Farming Community Network

FCN (Farming Community Network)

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a voluntary organisation and charity that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in farming and provide support at times of difficulty and change.

The charity has a wide network of volunteers, located throughout England and Wales, many of whom are involved in farming, or have close links with agriculture and therefore have a great understanding of the issues farm workers and farming families regularly face.

FCN runs a confidential national helpline (03000 111 999) which is open 7am-11pm every day of the year, as well as an e-helpline ([email protected]).

Each year FCN helps approximately 6,000 people deal with a variety of issues, including financial difficulties, animal disease, mental ill-health and family disputes.

Visit the FCN website

Forestry Commission logo

Forestry Commission

Established a century ago, the Forestry Commission is the Government’s forestry expert responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting sustainable woodland in England. We aim to increase the value of woodlands to society and the environment. Trees have far reaching benefits for individuals, the land, the environment and for future generations. By planting the right tree in the right place for the right reason, we can ensure those benefits are realised.

We provide advice on woodland creation and management, tree health, offer financial support, including our flagship grant the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and administer felling licences.

The Forestry Commission works with two agencies: Forestry England, which manages the Public Forest Estate, and Forest Research, the principal organisation for forestry and tree related research.

Forestry is a devolved matter, with a range of agencies leading the sector in the devolved administrations. The Forestry Commission leads the sector in England and looks after the English Public Forest Estate through Forestry England. Forest Research continues to operate across the whole of Great Britain

You can talk to us about the variety of funding options available to support the creation and management of new and existing woodlands and get advice on woodland design and management.

You can find out more by visiting: Forestry Commission | GOV.UK

More information about the grants, advice and support on offer can be found on at: Tree planting and woodland creation overview | GOV.UK

Frontier

Frontier

Frontier Agriculture is the UK’s leading crop production and grain marketing business, recognised for its close customer relationships with farmers and grain consumers and its successful management of the arable supply chain.

Frontier has 46 sites across the UK and employs more than 1,100 colleagues. Operating across all aspects of arable crop production and grain marketing, Frontier supplies seed, crop protection products and fertiliser to farmers, as well as providing specialist agronomy advice through our team of 160 agronomists. Frontier’s grain marketing business has well-established contracts with the UK’s key grain consumers, giving our farmer customers unrivalled access to end markets.

Frontier has a number of divisions providing additional specialist advice to growers. These include SOYL precision crop production and Kings who are experts on game cover, conservation crops, green cover and forage crops.

Visit Frontier’s website

Genus

Genus

Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company.

We supply high-quality breeding animals with desirable characteristics to farmers, enabling them to produce better quality meat and milk more efficiently to feed the world more sustainably.

Our market leading breeding animals have desirable characteristics such as feed efficiency, disease resistance, growth rate, protein and fat content, and fertility. These characteristics enable farmers to produce better quality meat and milk more efficiently, and to feed the world more sustainably.

Visit Genus' website

HSBC UK

HSBC

HSBC UK Agriculture is delighted to be a sponsor for the 2024 NFU Annual Conference. As one of the UK’s leading banks in the agriculture industry, our national network of over 90 dedicated specialist Agriculture Managers are focussed on providing support so you can make the most of opportunities that arise and progress your business.

We are proud to be the bankers for the NFU and greatly value the relationship we enjoy with both its office holders and members alike.

We wish the NFU, its staff and members a very successful Conference and farming year ahead.

Visit the HSBC Forward Planning website.

Landmark Systems

Landmark Systems

Landmark Systems have over 35 years of experience in providing leading business management software solutions, tailored for rural enterprises.

From small farms to diversified estates, their user-friendly software is favoured by thousands of clients. Their suite includes KEYPrime Accounts & Property, Geofolia for crop recording, FarmData for livestock management, and the latest addition, KEYinfinity -a cloud-based accounts package.

NFU members can enjoy discounts of up to 15% on Landmark Systems products through NFU Member Rewards.

Visit the Landmark Systems website

Lidl

Lidl

Lidl GB’s first ever stores opened over 29 years ago, and during this time we are proud to have developed and maintained strong, long-standing relationships with our suppliers, some of which we have worked with for decades. We now have over 950 stores across Great Britain, and as we’ve grown, so too have many of the British businesses that we work with.

In 2017, we were proud to sign the NFU's Back British Farming Charter, signalling our commitment to supporting the growth of the British farming sector. This is further reinforced by our commitment to selling 100% fresh British Beef, Chicken, Eggs, Pork, Milk, Cream and block butter.

We are also delighted to offer a wide range of fresh produce to our customers from a variety of growers in Great Britain, with around two thirds of our core products sourced from within the UK. We are also investing £17 billion in British suppliers over a five-year period, helping to provide certainty and allow them to invest for the future, create new jobs and develop their businesses.

Visit Lidl’s website

Lookers Personal Leasing

Lookers

Lookers is one of the top three motor vehicle retailers in the UK and is now offering preferential pricing to NFU members. You can browse a huge range of manufacturers and models, with leasing and outright purchase options available.

Lookers offer 36 vehicle manufacturers including Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, BMW, Ford (car & commercials), Jeep, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan (car & commercials), Polestar, Volkswagen and Volvo. View the full range of manufacturers on the Lookers Portal.

NFU members can enjoy can now access preferential pricing on a range of new vehicles from Lookers through NFU Member Rewards.

Visit the Lookers Personal Leasing website

m&s food logo black

M&S

M&S is one of the most trusted brands in the world and we are proud of our long-standing and close working relationships with more than 8,000 UK farmers and growers. We work with them through our M&S Select Farm programme to provide delicious, great quality food for our customers.

We’re committed to collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders from across the agri-food sector and beyond to address the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

We do this through our Farming with Nature and Low Impact Farming programmes, which see us developing new business models to deliver long-term sustainable food production.

Visit the M&S website

Morrisons

Morrisons is one of the UK’s largest food retailers and a proud supporter of British farming.

Uniquely, we source and make most of the fresh food that we sell through our own manufacturing facilities. This helps us to maintain our commitment on only selling 100% British across our fresh beef, lamb, pork, chicken, eggs and milk.

Because we make food ourselves, we have built up many long term relationships with British farmers making us British farming’s biggest direct supermarket customer.

Visit Morrisons' website

Moy park

Moy Park

Moy Park is focused on creating better food for everyone, sustainably. This commitment is built on 80 years of agriculture heritage, and in this time Moy Park has grown to become one of Europe’s leading poultry producers, working with 700 farming partners.

Our team members and farming partners across the UK make the difference on our journey to becoming the best and most respected company in our industry.

Visit Moy Park’s website

NFU Employment Service

The NFU Employment Service offers a personal, professional, flexible service that provides businesses with the practical support and legal guidance needed to comply with employment law.

Visit the NFU Employment Service website

NFU Energy

NFU Energy offers a range of services designed to cater to members' diverse energy needs. From securing competitive energy contracts, to finding the best renewable energy solution and assisting in navigating complex energy regulations and compliance requirements, we’ve got you and your business covered.

Our services include:

  • Contract negotiations
  • Energy efficiency and carbon reporting
  • Energy management
  • Compliance
  • Renewable energy solutions

NFU Energy – here to assist you on your journey to Net Zero.

Visit the NFU Energy website

nfu logo web crop

NFU External Affairs

Visit the NFU External Affairs stand to get a copy of our manifesto Farming for Britain’s Future and find out top tips for lobbying your MP and parliamentary candidates ahead of a general election on the issues facing British farming.

NFU Legal

Providing NFU Farmer & Grower members with a comprehensive, professional and united service. This includes free legal and technical advice, discretionary financial support and professional guidance when facing legal disputes affecting their farming and growing businesses. Supporting and advising our policy teams lobbying on behalf of members, as well as providing access to the NFU’s carefully selected Legal Panel Firms.

Find out more about our legal services

NFU Mutual

Throughout our 113-year history we have worked closely with the National Farmers Union to support the farming industry and rural communities.

Today our relationship has never been stronger. Our voluntary financial support for the NFU was £7,047,000 in 2023 – this benefits members of both organisations and supports our shared local network of over 280 agency offices.

We are the UK’s leading rural insurer, covering those running small farms through to larger enterprises. As a mutual at the heart of the rural community, we continue to move with the times, developing our products and services to support businesses that have diversified to capitalise on new opportunities, or adopted precision technology and practices to improve productivity.

We also offer Union Advantage, available to NFU members who commit to insure with us for at least three years. Union Advantage offers discounts of 20% on NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Limited consultancy and training days, as well as exclusive cover benefits.

NFU Mutual invested more than £440,000 during 2023 to support local, regional and national initiatives that help farmers and rural communities tackle the menace of rural crime. Since 2010, we have invested in a dedicated police unit at NaVCIS and enhance their effectiveness through a dedicated team at NFU Mutual who share claims intelligence.

In 2023, the unit became the National Construction and Agri-Theft Team under the new National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU). Co-ordinating rural crime reporting centrally for the first time, the NRCU will help police across the country tackle organised theft regionally and nationally.

In 2023, NFU Mutual donated £3.25m to local and national charities in response to the ongoing challenges faced by communities across the country.

This included £1.92m distributed through our Agency Giving Fund, a national fund to support local charities that was first set up in 2020 in response to the pandemic – to provide emergency support and assist with recovery. NFU Mutual invites all local agency and branch offices to nominate local charities, using their local knowledge, to ensure funding is directed all across the UK to where it can make a tangible and meaningful difference.

NFU Mutual also pledged £1m to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust to support a range of initiatives, including projects that tackle isolation, support mental health and wellbeing, and enrich young lives through agricultural education and innovation. The Farming Community Network, The Royal Countryside Fund, The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and FareShare have all benefitted from donations in 2023.

NFU Mutual is also proud to support the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) an independent charity (Registered Charity No. 1159000) which aims to raise awareness of, and address the attitudes and behaviours around, risk-taking and poor mental health in the agricultural sector throughout the UK.

Visit the NFU Mutual website

RABI – Helping Farming People

RABI

The charity at the heart of farming, RABI provides practical, financial and emotional support services, directly through our regionally based team and via partnerships with other specialist providers. For everyone in the farming community, there’s always expert help on hand for however long it’s needed.

RABI has been helping farming people for over 160 years and understands the challenges faced by everyone in farming. At the heart of farming, there’s always help, there’s always hope, there's always RABI.

Visit the RABI website

red tractor certified standards logo

Red Tractor

Red Tractor champions British food and farmers and is the UK's largest food and farm standards scheme. We cover all areas of food production from animal welfare and food safety to traceability. The only UK scheme to do so, our standards are the bedrock of progressive farming in Britain. The Red Tractor logo is visible across household brands, supermarkets and restaurants. So, when shoppers and diners buy food with the Red Tractor logo, they know it is British, and responsibly produced.

We look forward to talking to you about the benefits of being a member of the Red Tractor scheme, and how we can work together to ensure standards remain the bedrock of British food and farming.

Visit the Red Tractor website

Rural Payments Agency

The RPA plays an important role in delivering and making annual payments for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Basic Payment Scheme, Countryside and Environmental Stewardship Schemes and supporting delivery of Grant Schemes.

Visit the RPA website

The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture

The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture

The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) is the home of skills and career support for the agriculture and horticulture industry.

TIAH is here to help farmers and growers develop and thrive. Providing tailored information and practical tools to enhance your skills and support your lifelong learning.

For those who aspire to a career in farming and growing, TIAH serves as a gateway to the guidance, support, and training they need to pursue rewarding professional paths.

Visit the TIAH website

YARA

YARA

Yara fertiliser solutions help farmers increase yield and profit. For over 170 years the company's focus has been to be a leading crop nutrition provider specializing in nitrogen and NPKS fertilisers. We provide sustainable crop nutrition solutions, supporting farmer profitability through knowledge, quality and productivity. From the very first step in the form of soil analysis, Yara are with you on your journey to get the very best from your crop in a sustainable, traceable and ethical way. By using our branded solutions, such as YaraBela, YaraMila and YaraVera, you can be assured that you have chosen a fertiliser which has been manufactured in our own factories using low carbon production technology, helping farmers reduce the carbon footprint of their inputs. We also offer agronomic advice and support with a range of tools designed to guide farmers in making informed and sustainable crop decisions.

Visit the YARA website