South-west wants own group for own needs
South-west wants own group for own needs
By John Burns
THE south-west NFU may be forced to establish a separate regional organisation, affiliated to the national union but with its own council and power equivalent to that enjoyed by Welsh members, says Devon NFU chairman Richard Haddock.
Speaking after union president Ben Gill had addressed farmers in Exeter, Mr Haddock admitted he shared members disappointment that all Mr Gill had been able to offer was a lecture and the statement that marketing and sticking together in large collaborative groups was the answer.
Mr Haddock felt Mr Gills refusal to accept most of the meetings concerns showed the impossibility of having one union policy for the whole of England. The only answer was to get the south-west, with its large areas of lowland grassland and modest-sized farms, treated as a special case.
"I was elected chairman to look after our members interests and I was elected livestock delegate to London to look after specifically livestock members, and I intend to do whatever it takes to do just that," said Mr Haddock.
Many members at the meeting felt insulted by Mr Gills lecture on marketing.
Rod Mackenzie interrupted to tell Mr Gill he had not come to be lectured to. Ian Pettyfer, too, was furious and told Mr Gill: "It was more like a sermon. You cant accuse me of any shortfall on marketing (he was responsible for development of branded Breakfast Milk). You are our president and responsible for all your members and I dont think you are doing a very good job for one section of your members – the lowland beef and sheep producers."
Earlier Mr Gill had suggested the trouble with lowland livestock farmers was they were romantically attached to their cattle and had not been prepared to stand up and get something done for their industry. Producers had to find ways to get more for their meat, he said.
Everyone should get behind those who were actually doing things, such as the recently-formed West Country Beef business. That, a simplified CAP, recognition for the environmental good done by livestock farmers, and a system retaining a balanced size of farms to enable new entrants to come in, was the future for south-west lowland livestock, Mr Gill believed.