I hope harvest is progressing well for everyone. It was great to see members at the Tendring show last month. Despite the unrelenting hot weather beforehand, it was a great day showing the farming community at its best. We also met with Sir Bernard Jenkin the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex and Bishop of Colchester - Rt Revd Roger Morris alongside the Agricultural Chaplin - Revd Janet Nicholls.
The countdown to the Mayoral election has started with the announcement that Louise McKinlay will be standing as the Conservative candidate for Greater Essex Mayor. We will be contacting candidates from all parties as soon as they are announced and line up farm visits so they can see the issues you are facing, if you’d like to host a visit, please let us know.
Save the date for the Essex County Harvest Festival Service that will be held at Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday 28 September 2025 from 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Finally, we have started work on the county plan for Essex for the new membership year focussing on the key priorities set by the regional board for 2025/2026, these are:
1. Water – water quality, management (flood, drought, availability and storage)
2. Resilience – agricultural transition, climate and nature, taxation, cashflow and devolution
3. Safe and secure farms – H&S, rural crime, fire safety and mental health
4. Infrastructure and development
5. Plant and animal health and animal welfare
If you have any meetings you’d like to see or an issue you’d like the NFU to work on please contact myself, the County Officeholders, or your local Group Secretary.