North West cereal growers need to make voices heard

As the newly formed Cereal and Oilseed Sector company currently has no representation from the North West, the NFU believes it is crucial the region's levy payers attend a meeting where the sector company's chairman will be guest speaker.

The chairman is Jonathan Tipples who is also a member of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Jonathan will be the guest speaker at the next NFU North West combinable crops meeting on Thursday 01 November at the regional office in Skelmersdale.

NFU North West's combinable crops board chairman, Richard Reeves, said: "I would urge growers to go along and express their concerns, issues and ideas.

"Growers will hear how Jonathan plans to reinvent the HGCA, including things that need to be changed and areas that need to be examined in an open and frank discussion. This is a great opportunity for them to share their thoughts on how they want their levy spent, what has worked well with HGCA thus far and what the emphasis should be for the future ahead."

Jonathan will also be discussing his involvement with Assured Food Standards, SAFFIE (Sustainable Arable Farming for an Improved Environment) and LEAF (Linking Education and Farming). So if growers have any burning questions about any of these organisations, then this is the perfect time to raise them.

There will also be an update of other combinable crop issues including the latest on set-aside, Renewable Transport and Fuel Obligation, crop protection management plan revamp and a global networking opportunity.

The meeting will start at 7.30pm on Thursday 01 November and is open to all NFU members. For further information, please call NFU policy adviser Rowena Hammon on 01695 554929 or email, Rowena.hammon@nfu.org.uk