NFU furious after cash bid rejected
NFU furious after cash bid rejected
THE NFU leadership is believed to be fuming that an application for money to fund the development of a network of producer-owned national meat marketing groups has been turned down.
The union expected to be one of the successful bidders for the third round of the Agricultural Development Scheme announced by junior DEFRA minister Lord Whitty on Monday (Feb 18).
Sources in the NFU insist DEFRA had recently indicated the NFUs project, which was also to work out ways to drive down costs, would be approved.
NFU marketing adviser Tessa Crago said: "We are somewhat surprised and upset to have the bid rejected. Something needs to be done very urgently and we are holding meetings to see how we can progress this and seek out other sources of funding."
The Royal Association of Brit-ish Dairy Farmers and Plunkett Foundation gained funding for English milk groups, while the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng-land was awarded funds to impr-ove farmer controlled businesses. *