Andrew Critchlow

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY ADVISER

Andrew has been the NFU county adviser for Derbyshire since the post was created in 2012, a role which involves representing Derbyshire agriculture and liaising with the many stakeholders the industry has.

Having gained an honours degree in agricultural science from Nottingham University in 1986, he returned to the family farm in Edale, Hope Valley, then a small dairy and sheep farm which he modernised and expanded. He also took on the management of a small upland estate in the valley which included 1,200 acres of moorland on Kinder Scout.

In 2006 Andrew decided to cease full-time farming, sold the dairy herd and embarked on a series of short term contracts, which included advising Defra’s Catchment Sensitive Farming team and delivering advice to farmers on behalf of Business Link and Natural England.

When the county adviser's role became available, Andrew jumped at the opportunity, being familiar the work the NFU does for the industry having been an active member since he was 20, including Derbyshire county chair in 2004-5.

As well as dealing with all things Derbyshire, Andrew is the Midlands NFU Dairy lead and picks up uplands issues for the Peak District area of the Midlands.

Outside of NFU, Andrew still farms, rearing Mule and Masham shearlings from bought-in, six-month-old lambs, plus dairy heifers on a B&B basis in the winter. This, he says, keeps him very grounded and in tune with the realities of what NFU members face.