Our work behind the scenes ensures the voices of farmers and growers are heard loud and clear by the public, politicians and key decision-makers.
Catch up on where you, our members, have featured in the news, where we've been, what we've said and how the media is helping push farming up the agenda.
You can also keep up to date with all of our activity by following us on X (formerly Twitter) @NFUPress.
Quote of the week
"It’s important we get this right, so British farmers aren’t unduly bound by rules which restrict our ambitions for food production."
NFU President Tom Bradshaw on trade negotiations with the EU
Family farm tax
Coverage continued this week of the NFU’s campaign around the family farm tax, following the NFU urging Labour MPs to abstain from voting on a Finance Bill resolution related to the family farm tax last Tuesday.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw was quoted widely across The Telegraph, The Times, Independent, Evening Standard and the Daily Mail, thanking the Labour MPs who stood with farming families and abstained or voted against the Bill.
Our lobbying over the past year was also referenced in the Daily Express and on BBC News online, as well as on broadcast stations including BBC Radio 4's Farming Today, Sky News Radio and Sky News' The News Hour with Mark Austin.
Autumn Budget
Tom discusses Autumn Budget announcements, beyond the family farm tax, in the Daily Mail, including the expansion of the sugar tax, the increase in the living wage and changes to energy costs. Finally, he features in the Daily Express warning of the impact inflationary pressures like changes to the minimum wage will have on the food supply chain.
EU trade
And finally, Tom is also quoted in Politico’s Morning Trade UK newsletter – the outlet’s one-stop source for trade news. This past week, it led with the NFU’s call for the Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the EU to include exemptions on bTB vaccines, mycotoxin rules and gene-edited crops to safeguard British farming.
Rachel Hallos on beef sector confidence
Oli Lee on forage pressures
#BuyMyTurkey Day shoutout on Radio X
Don't miss these key news stories
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Livestock worrying: The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill passed through the House of Lords last Friday and has been reported on by The Telegraph, Daily Mail and Independent. NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos is quoted stressing the need for responsible dog ownership, as the Bill proposes a deterrent of unlimited fines for dog walkers whose dogs worry livestock.
- Farming Profitability Review: The front-page of The Telegraph reports on expected findings in the Farming Profitability Review, suggesting it will say that the changes to inheritance tax will harm family farms. The NFU’s reaction, that the change to the policy in the Autumn Budget does not go far enough, is highlighted. This was also covered in the Daily Express and GB News.
- #BuyMyTurkey Day: To celebrate, Warwickshire member Charlie Gronning wrote an opinion piece for Farmers Guardian about how his family farm prepares for the day. The day also received a shoutout on The Chris Moyles Breakfast Show on Radio X, with presenter Chris and Dom reading out a letter the NFU press team sent in to celebrate and highlight the day to more than 1 million listeners.
- Christmas turkeys: Turkeys were also a key topic for national press in the run-up to Christmas, with NFU Poultry Board member Mark Gorton speaking to BBC Radio 4's Farming Today (4:51) about the benefits of buying a local, British bird for the holidays and Berkshire turkey producer Tom Copas in The Times showcasing a day in his life and highlighting the turkey enrichment on his farm.
Elsewhere in the news
Tom Bradshaw is quoted in The Guardian questioning how farmers can have confidence in Landscape Recovery projects which struggle to attract private finance, in an article on a clause in Landscape Recovery schemes allowing the government to terminate contracts with one year’s notice.
Rachel Hallos spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live (2:20:58) about the confidence of the beef sector and current beef prices. Meanwhile, NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton featured in The Times discussing the public's strong desire for British beef.
NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows looks at the challenges arable farmers faced this summer in The Guardian, as part of an article on the crop losses due to this summer’s record heat and drought.
Tell your story
If you've been affected by any of the issues covered in the news this week and want to share your story, contact our press and editorial teams.
Email: [email protected]
Or contact our press team below:
Lucy Wood
NFU Press Officer