NFU President to meet the Prime Minister to discuss future of farming

NFU President Minette Batters will be meeting with Theresa May next week
NFU President Minette Batters will be meeting with Theresa May next week

NFU President Minette Batters has announced she will meet the Prime Minister next week to raise the importance of the food and farming sector to the country.

The meeting with Theresa May will take place on Tuesday 26 June, alongside NFU Director General Terry Jones.

Food and farming concerns across the sector will be raised including the importance of domestic food to the nation, the need for a seasonal agricultural workers scheme and the forthcoming Agriculture Bill.

Mrs Batters said it is a "pivotal time" for the sector with a lot of change expected over the next few years.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to get clarity from the Prime Minister on the direction of the farming industry in the future, but also to raise the importance of our sector in Downing Street,” Mrs Batters said.

“British food and farming provides the nation with a plentiful supply of safe, traceable, affordable food for all incomes, and I look forward to discussing this with the Prime Minister next week.”

The agriculture bill, first mentioned in last year's Queen's Speech, will be published in the second half of 2018, the government announced in April.