The evening began with a discussion on the challenges facing British farmers and how the NFU is representing members’ interests in issues.
Some of these issues included changes to agricultural and business property relief, the early closure of SFI 2024 and the challenges and effect of international trade deals. This was followed by an informative question and answer session from the attending local farmers and growers.
The next day Tom Bradshaw attended this year’s National Sheep Association’s North Sheep event, where members had a further opportunity to converse with officeholders and Upland representatives.
An NFU member kindly hosted the latest Barnsley Rural Crime Engagement meeting on farm. Along with the local community officers, the member was joined by South Yorkshire Motorcycle and Rural Crime team and Chief Inspector Peter Spratt. Joining also, within the first week of their appointment, was Kilvinder Vigurs, Deputy Mayor of Police and Crime for South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the police force to highlight successes and ongoing improvements, including an upcoming launch of a multi-agency operation, targeted stolen bike retrieval, an increase in wildlife crime officers trained to 86 and a focus on improving the response from the control room.
Equally, members also had the chance to raise local issues such as crop damage from quads and bikes, fuel theft and police support availability. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 23 October at 6.30pm, at the same location. Please do not hesitate to make contact for further information, all members are welcome.
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos, a Yorkshire West Riding member, hosted Lee Pitcher MP for Doncaster East and Isle of Axholme on her farm. Mr Pitcher is also the Chair of the Water All-Party Parliamentary Group.
The meeting was held to discuss her recent work on water and progress water-related policies, with a focus on major issues like flood risk management, water level management, and the impact of climate change on water resources.