Watch again – NFU25: Livestock fringe session

20 February 2025, 18:30 – 20:00

Virtual Event

The NFU livestock fringe session gave members the opportunity to quiz the farmers representing them and addressed not only policy and supply chain issues but the projects that are a cause for optimism within the sector. The session is now available to watch again.

In this session, 'Your voice, your policy: shaping the future for beef and sheep', you will hear from NFU Livestock Board chair David Barton and regional chairs Oli Lee, Andrew Loftus, Hugh Broom and Rob Lewis on a wide range of policy and supply chain issues impacting the beef and lamb sectors in England and Wales.

Read NFU25: Reasons for optimism in beef and lamb sectors.

What are NFU fringe sessions?

Sector updates were held during the run up to NFU Conference on 25 February.

These virtual events featured a panel of leading industry speakers who discussed themes such as growth, change and business. This means that our full-day Conference in London will be focused on political and policy developments.

The best thing? You can watch or listen to them on the go to fit in with your day on farm.

Meet the panel

Hugh Broom

NFU Livestock Board East chair

Hugh Broom rears Angus X beef cattle in Surrey. The farm has recently entered SFI and hosts a battery storage enterprise.

He is currently chair of his NFU local branch and has worked off the farm as a journalist. Most recently, Hugh presented the Farmers Weekly podcast up until December 2023.

David Barton

NFU Livestock Board chair

David was born and raised on his family farm in the Cotswolds where he farms a beef suckler herd.

David is in Countryside Stewardship grassland options, such as GS4 herbal leys, which he uses to rear and finish predominately grass-fed beef.

Cereals grown on the farm are also used to feed his stock, allowing David to use the two businesses to support each other and provide sustainable produce. He also has a very small flock of pedigree poll Dorset sheep.

He has also previously stood as the NFU South West Livestock Board chair and has worked with AHDB as a strategic farm to improve profitability and efficiency.

Oli Lee

NFU Livestock Board vice chair and Midlands chair

Oli is a first generation beef and sheep farmer in Leicestershire. He and his wife are partners in her family’s business consisting of a flock of 550 Lleyn breeding ewes, 300 running ewe lambs, and a small Beef Shorthorn suckler herd.

The business has a growing local market for home-produced beef and lamb that is dry-aged and butchered on the farm. The business operates on a forage based grazing system and is part of the SFI Pilot scheme. Oli previously ran the neighbouring organic beef, sheep and arable estate and has worked at the Meat and Livestock Commission and as a farm business consultant.

He is aware that farming may change significantly over the next few years but is very optimistic that positive opportunities will arise for the sector.

Andrew Loftus

NFU Livestock Board North chair

Andrew manages more than 1000 acres of owned and rented land in North Yorkshire and Lancashire. Mostly grassland, he produces beef, lamb and various forms of ‘environmental additionality’.

Formerly Agriculture Manager for Morrisons PLC, Andrew sits on the National Livestock Board of the NFU, the Yorkshire Committee of the CLA and chairs the Beef & Lamb Net Zero Roadmap Group (supported by AHDB).

Robert Lewis

NFU Livestock Board, NFU Cymru

This is Rob’s second term as NFU Cymru Livestock chair.

Robert farms three farms as one unit, where the land rises from 750 feet to more than 1650 feet on common grazing and overlooks the gateway to the Elan Valley.

The enterprise consists of 1000 head of sheep, including 450 traditional Welsh Mountain ewes; the business produces its own replacements, only buying in tups. The cattle enterprise consists of 60 Limousin and British Blue suckler cows which to go a Limousin bull. Calves are finished on farm.

Robert is a lamb buying agent for Pilgrim Foods. He has also judged livestock at many shows including the Royal Welsh Agricultural Winter Fair. He also recently purchased the Triangle Inn in Cwmdeuddwr.

The pub aims to showcase the beef and lamb from Rob’s farm, telling the powerful story of local provenance and a short supply chain. Last year, Rob was appointed as a Fellow for the Royal Agricultural Society.

More from NFUonline:

Event details
Start Date
20 February 2025 at 18:30
End Date
20 February 2025 at 20:00
Location
Virtual Event

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