5 minute read
Minette Batters
Minette’s Update
NFU President and Club member Minette Batters spoke frankly to members and guests at The Farmers Club’s AGM Luncheon. Charles Abel reports
IN early July the fine surroundings of the Club’s Farmers Suite, overlooking the River Thames, provided the backdrop as NFU President Minette Batters delivered a powerful insight into UK agriculture’s prospects before fielding a wide range of questions.
Hosted by Club Chairman Keith Redpath the luncheon was one of the first events where members and their guests could gather to enjoy the Club’s wonderful surroundings since its May re-opening.
Upholding its long tradition for facilitating discussions of farming’s key issues, with Parliamentarians, senior industry figures and practising farmers all involved, the day was a very welcome return to normal Club service.
Extraordinary dynamics
Ms Batters, who farms in Wiltshire, made no bones about the “very, very extraordinary times” the sector currently faced. Previous NFU Presidents faced disease outbreaks that challenged farming, but nothing as seismic as the global pandemic.
Back in March 2020, with everyone working remotely, the big question was how could the NFU influence a government holding a large majority, introducing legislation on such as wide front, while such extraordinary dynamics were being played out.
The answer lay in relationships. Networks were drawn upon, contacts called in, new ones forged and covid-secure meetings arranged. So began the momentous campaign to secure the Trade and Agriculture Commission to safeguard UK farming interests in post-Brexit trade negotiations.
An open letter from Jamie Oliver to the Mail on Sunday, calling on Government to prevent a ‘flood of food that would be illegal here’ saw a million people sign a petition within two weeks. The NFU’s communications team converted that into 500,000 Back British Farming supporters and 80,000 emails calling on MPs to act.
A five-minute meeting secured with Prime Minister Boris Johnson expanded into a 30 minute dialogue. The net result was a very different Agriculture Bill to the original draft, said Ms Batters. Agriculture, food and farming were included more prominently. The TAC was added to the Trade Bill, with a reporting element in the Agriculture Bill. And the pilot seasonal agricultural workers scheme, to help address farming’s greatest looming challenge, was secured.
Mobilising MPs
Mobilising MPs was key, stressed Ms Batters. It meant agriculture was the one industry to have Parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals.
With HM Treasury’s focus firmly set on investment, the challenge now was to back “Buy British, Local and Seasonal” and create a comprehensive agri-food strategy, with trade and agriculture policies aligned, including devolved administrations.
The NFU wants a rolling review process for TAC recommendations, to provide a clear picture of the impact of deals on imports, exports, farmgate and consumer food prices, and the UK’s ability to feed itself.
UK farming is well placed to deliver on sustainability, including biodiversity, carbon and climate change, with animal welfare as a key part of that. But policy needs to support it, she stressed. The NFU recently hosted a group of MPs at The Farmers Club to discuss how Government can help UK farmers get ‘match ready’ for future free trade agreements and boost export opportunities for British agri-food products.
Most prized food market
“The UK has the most prized food market on the planet…and we need to hang onto it. Farming is up for change and doing things completely differently. But if we lose the market none of this will happen,” Ms Batters said.
She felt farming’s climate change messages were landing, but the COP 26 meeting in Glasgow this autumn needed to go beyond “green-washing everything” and set clearer policy directions. UK net zero 2050 legislation needed backing with some sense of how that would be achieved.
On the Australia trade deal, more effort was needed to prevent it setting unwelcome “The UK has the most prized food market on the planet…and we need to hang onto it. Farming is up for change and doing things completely differently. But if we lose the market none of this will happen.”
precedents. Constructive safeguards around carcase unbalancing were a key example, to prevent prime cuts dominating the agreed 35,000t, especially as that figure would rise to 170,000t in 15 years, before full liberalisation. Impacts on neighbouring markets needed more attention too.
Policing import labelling was vital, to safeguard UK sustainability gains. The honesty of out-ofhome meat labelling was a particular concern.
She saw Jeremy Clarkson’s TV farm show as a huge positive, helping to bring the realities of farming to life. Indeed, inspiring the brightest young people to come forward to represent farming in politics was vital. “We have to help people understand the complexity of farming and the rural economy and that is not easy.”
“Speaking one to one helps people realise what can make things work. They’re never going to read the brief, so we have to engage to help them understand. Continual engagement and providing solutions is key. It’s what the NFU is seeking to do, with our lobbying toolkits.”
With so much at stake the NFU’s drive to engage politicians and influencers, and encourage all farmers and all parts of the food chain to engage with them too, is of paramount importance.
FINE LUNCHEON
The Kitchen Team was on top form with a superb three-course celebration of simplycooked, seasonal, quality British food. Starter was asparagus and quail egg with richly-flavoured treacle cured Scottish salmon. Delicious West Country lamb was skilfully matched with goat’s cheese polenta and a trio of cauliflower. To finish was a blackcurrant Chelsea bun with Cotswold blue cheese and blackcurrant chutney, which drew considerable comment!
YOUR VOICE
What do you think? Send letters for publication to editor@
thefarmersclub.
com or post to 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL See www.nfuonline. com for NFU lobbying resources.
