Our democratic structure

Clear organisational and staff structure charts, showing our decision-making processes and the flow of information:

The NFU Democratic Structure

The NFU is governed by its Constitution and Rules. Under the Constitution and Rules the NFU shall maintain a number of bodies, which are responsible for the governance of the NFU. These are:

NFU Council

The governing body of the NFU is NFU Council, an elected body of farmer members which
meets quarterly. Comprises:

• Council representative of each county (other than the Isle of Wight)
• County chairman of each county
• Welsh representatives
• National officeholders
• Chairmen of National Commodity Boards
• A representative of the Farmer and Grower Controlled Business Sector
• Members as approved by Council from time to time: e.g. Chairman of the Legal Board
• A representative of the National Pig Association or its successor body (if any), such representative being notified in writing to the Secretary by the National Pig Association (or its successor body) from time to time
• Representatives of other agricultural associations as Council may determine from time to time, such representatives being notified in writing to the Secretary by the relevant association from time to time
• The Honorary Life Members of Council
• A representative of the Young Farmers’ Club, such representative being notified in writing to the Secretary by the Young Farmers’ Club from time to time

♦Click here to visit the NFU Minutes Library to see the most recent minutes of NFU Council.

Governance Board

Responsible for setting the financial strategy, annual budget and management of the resources of the NFU. Comprises: National Officeholders, DG, President NFU Cymru, five National Commodity Board, Chairs and Regional Board Chairs, each elected by Council.

Policy Board

Responsible for determining NFU’s policy priorities and setting its work programme.
Comprises: National Officeholders, DG, President NFU Cymru, Chairmen of each
National Commodity Board, Director of Policy.

Audit and Remuneration Committee

Responsible for reviewing the NFU’s financial procedures and setting the honoraria of those entitled under the NFU Constitution.
Comprises: Five Council members (not members of the Governance Board, Policy Board or Legal Board) elected by Council.

Legal Board

Responsible for the management and strategy of the Legal Assistance Scheme and its funds.
Comprises: 8 Subscribers nominated by the Regional Boards and NFU Cymru, ratified by Governance Board.

National Commodity Boards

National Commodity Boards in respect of the following commodities may be established and maintained:

• Livestock
• Dairy
• Combinable Crops
• Such other agricultural and environmental interests as Council may from time to time determine.

Comprises: Chairmen of each Regional Commodity Board and the Chairman of the Welsh Commodity Board in respect of the relevant commodity or interest and any Appointed National Commodity Board Members.

National Commodity Boards in respect of the following commodities may be established and maintained:

• Horticulture and Potatoes
• Poultry
• Such other agricultural and environmental interests as Council may from time to time determine.

Comprises: Nominated members who are active within the relevant commodity sector, selected by a committee appointed for the purpose by the President.

♦ Agendas and minutes of national commodity boards are published in the NFU Minutes Library

Regional Commodity Boards

Each region may establish and maintain a regional commodity board in respect of the following commodities and interests:

• Combinable crops
• Dairy
• Livestock
• Sugar
• Horticulture and Potatoes
• Poultry

And such other agricultural and environmental interests as Council may from time to time determine.
Comprises: up to two representatives from each county.

Regional Boards

Each Region has a Regional Board which comprises:

• County Chairmen of each county in the Region
• Council Representative of each county in the Region
• Chairmen of each of the Regional Commodity Boards

♦ Agendas and minutes of regional boards are published in the NFU Minutes Library