National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters has announced that she will meet the Prime Minister at Downing Street this week, to raise the importance of the food and farming sector to the country.

The meeting with Theresa May will take place on Tuesday, June 26, 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.

‘A pivotal time’

Batters said: “This is a pivotal time for our 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.

“British food and farming provide 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.”

Meanwhile, the NFU president has also confirmed that she will speak at the upcoming Women in Dairy conference. The event will be held on Wednesday, September 19, at Sixways Stadium, Worcester.

The over-arching theme of the conference is ‘Breaking Barriers’.

Batters said she is looking forward to addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the dairy industry, providing delegates with real, practical solutions they are able to implement themselves.

We are without doubt facing many challenges within the sector but must remember that with these will come new opportunities that will inevitably make our sector stronger.”

Other speakers include well known dairy farmer Liz Haines, and Helen Rogers from Friars Moor Vets.  Focussed Farmers’ Holly Beckett will complete the programme set out for the one-day event.