Carmarthenshire farmer is new NFU president
Welsh farmer Tim Bennett from Maesybont, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, has been elected as the new President of the NFU. Fifty one year old Mr Bennett who farms in partnership with his wife Susan at Derwen Deg near Llandeilo, was elected as the new President on the second day of the NFU Annual Conference (17 February 2004).
"I am absolutely delighted to become the new President, following in the footsteps of my close friend Ben Gill. My heartfelt thanks goes to Ben for his hard work and commitment during his last six years as President, and I wish him the best of luck in all he will do for the future."
Mr Bennett's career in farming started as a 14 year old youngster helping out on a dairy farm, three miles from his West Midlands home. A few years later, he left the Jersey cows and attended Seale-Hayne Agricultural College in Devon. A period working overseas in France and then back in Herefordshire followed, before he moved to Carmarthenshire in 1978 to farm at Derwen Deg with his wife. Mr Bennett's interest in the Union's work began in South Wales, a strong grounding for his future career.
"I was encouraged from the outset by local farmers in Carmarthenshire, people like Hugh Richards - former NFU Cymru President and Dai Davies - Deputy NFU Cymru President.
They were keen to push me forward in my first few years as an NFU Cymru member, even persuading me to take the County Chairman position early in my NFU career. I will be forever grateful to Carmarthenshire for those early encouragements," he said.
His family home is a 200 acre grassland farm, situated 12 miles from Carmarthen. Last summer, a business decision was taken to change 70 pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy herd into a beef suckler herd.
The farm is currently being established as a rearing enterprise with dairy heifers being reared for market. The main reasons for the change in business were the NFU work becoming increasingly heavier and changes to staffing at the farm.
"I feel you need to change your business according to your own personal family circumstances. I will be away from the farm for five days a week now, and as dairy farmers know, milking is a seven days a week job. Personally, change does not worry me. I am a versatile fellow, ready to move and change with the times. There is nothing I enjoy more after a week in London than to jump into the car and travel back into South Wales. I really do feel at home, once I see the green hills of Carmarthenshire."
So how does Mr Bennett feel about taking over the Presidency at a time of revolution within the industry?
"It is an exciting time for agriculture, and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead. When production support ends it will be a whole new world in business. We will have to be much more closely linked to the customer, and produce exactly what the customer wants to buy. If Welsh people want to buy Welsh food, they will have to send out a clear and loud message to farmers. The supply chain relationship will offer a new dynamic to Welsh farmers and their customers.
"Another area I will be keen to develop during my term is communicating our messages to the public. We are hard working people, producing top quality food, a message which is sometimes lost amidst the political issues."
TIM BENNETT
Tim Bennett was born in July 1953 and was brought up in the West Midlands. He attended Halesowen Grammar School, Worcestershire, and Seale-Hayne Agricultural College, Newton Abbot, Devon.
After leaving college, he worked in France and then in Herefordshire before moving to South Wales in 1978 to farm in partnership with his wife.
He is the owner-occupier of a 200 acre grassland farm 12 miles from Carmarthen. Until July 2003 the farm had a 70 cow pedigree Holstein/Friesian dairy herd. A beef suckler herd and rearing enterprise is now being established with dairy heifers being reared for market.
Tim's NFU career includes time spent as County Chairman of Carmarthenshire, 1988; Vice Chairman of the Marginal Lands Committee, 1990; Vice Chairman of the Less Favoured Areas Committee, 1991 and Chairman of the Less Favoured Areas Committee from 1993 to 1998.
He has also served on the NFU's livestock Committee and the Finance and Organisation Committee. Currently, Tim sits on the NFU Council and is Chairman of NFU Policy Board.
He is also a member of the Agricultural Land Tribunal, a Governor of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research and a member of the Estate Advisory Committee of the National Botanic Garden.
Tim is married to Susan and they have two children - James 25, and
Victoria 23.
