Horticulture is leading the way for the rest of agriculture to follow in terms of its connections with customers, market focus and protection and management of the countryside.
The sector was repeatedly highlighted at this week’s National Farmers Union conference and agm and the union’s Board for Horticulture will soon be carrying out a detailed statistical analysis to find out exactly how valuable the sector is in the UK.
“There is a dearth in horticulture with regard to statistics on costs and the value of production and how close the two figures are,” said Richard Hirst, chairman of the NFU’s board for horticulture. “That has to be of concern if we are to have a viable future. So this research is one of the board’s priorities over the next six to eight months.”
The board also aims to improve UK growers’ messages to consumers and customers. “We need to look at how we improve the messages of the benefits of UK production, of sourcing locally, managing the countryside and being non-polluting,” said Hirst. “We also need to highlight that we are extremely efficient and have cut and cut costs, but that because of rising costs of energy, labour and regulation, we have to try and persuade customers that we are worth more money.”
A further priority for the National Farmers’ Union is the issue of poly-tunnels for the production of soft-fruit, recently brought to the fore with a court case involving structures erected by the Hall Hunter Partnership falling foul of local planners. “The Hall Hunter Partnership has asked for leave to appeal in its case with Waverley Borough Council,” said Hirst. “We are supporting HHP in this with financial backing as the case has huge implications for production under polytunnels.”
The NFU has also met with British Summerfruits this past week to develop a communications strategy with major retailers and a code of practice for producers. “We have to ensure that everyone is aware - especially our customers - of the importance of these production systems to our industry,” said Hirst.
Environment, food and rural affairs minister Margaret Beckett told the conference that government wants UK farming to succeed,
“We want a world-class industry that is valued for its contribution to the economy and the environment,” said Beckett. She said the UK needs a thriving and profitable farming industry to produce the UK’s food, deliver the landscapes it values and to meet its energy needs.”
She also announced that the first payments had been made to English farmers under the single farm payment scheme and invited views on the next rural development programme due to begin next year.
Not all delegates were impressed with her address however, and one commented: “She did not really show much support for UK growers and producers, in fact Peter Mandelson showed more support in his speech.”
EU trade director general Mandelson spoke forcefully at conference about the future of the WTO negotiations and acknowledged the contraction in rural economies due to competition from outside the EU. He also courted controversy in reference to retailers. “When people complain of the squeeze on farm incomes, we should look to all factors and not just the reforms to the CAP,” said Mandelson. “The question of undue monopoly power in the supply chain is undoubtedly a real issue which competition policy could address along with other policy instruments.”
Tesco boss David Reid also spoke and invited the NFU and Defra to work with the store to find new ways of bringing value to British food and farming products.
Growers and farmers also elected a new president at the NFU agm this week: Bedfordshire arable farmer Peter Kendall defeated incumbent Tim Bennett in the election. Wales’s Meurig Raymond was elected deputy president having served as vice president for two years, an office now filled by Yorkshireman Paul Temple.
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