New NFU representitive in Cheshire hopes for a stable future

CHESHIRE’S new NFU county chairman, Norman Lawson, hopes for brighter prospects for Cheshire farmers and a better dialogue with the general public during his year of office.

Norman Lawson, 57, and his wife Margaret, farm at Barthomley near Crewe. He took over the helm of Cheshire NFU during the county inauguration which was held at Hunters Lodge in Crewe.

A former farm manager in Shropshire, Norman has been a tenant farmer on the Duchy of Lancaster’s estate for 22 years and has farmed all his life.

He was a dairy farmer with 80 milking cows but sold his herd two years ago to concentrate on rearing select dairy heifers.

The Cheshire Ploughing and Hedging Society has benefited from his innovation and expertise for two years.

As its secretary, Norman organises the Cheshire Ploughing Match, which is one of the biggest events in the county’s agricultural calendar.

Commenting on his forthcoming year as county chairman, Norman said: “It is a great honour to be county chairman of Cheshire NFU. It is very important that farmers establish more dialogue with the general public and groups interested in rural issues.

“The industry has not got the powers it once wielded so we have to get the public on side. The majority of people in Cheshire have a lot of appreciation for the good work farmers do on a daily basis but we have to turn that acknowledgment into revenue at the farm gate.”