FARMERS lobbied two local MPs on a raft of ‘key challenges’ facing the industry at the Royal Cheshire County Show.
National Farmers' Union (NFU) members and staff held round table discussions with Conservative MPs for both Tatton and Chester South and Eddisbury, Esther McVey and Aphra Brandreth, on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 17 and 18.
Among the topics discussed were the Stop the Family Farm Tax campaign, and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) - the government’s flagship support scheme for nature and environmentally friendly farming.
Also on the agenda were food security, trade, biosecurity, food standards, planning and water security, along with new challenges with the weather, and bovine TB.
The meetings were held as part of the NFU’s ongoing lobbying work with politicians from across the party spectrum to deliver a positive future for British farmers and growers.
“It was great to see both MPs at the show, and we thank them for taking the time to talk with us.
“Farmers are facing some huge challenges, and we will continue to keep pressure on the government to reconsider some of these policies and to work with us to give farmers more confidence to invest in the future.
“This will enable us to deliver national food security and to continue to deliver for the economy and for the environment.”
Local farmers and growers also met with hundreds of schoolchildren at the NFU education tent, where they were learning about where their food comes from.
NFU Cheshire county adviser, Helen Wainwright, said: “It has been another hugely successfully year at the Royal Cheshire County Show engaging with the public at the NFU education tent.
“It was also great to have politicians on our stand meeting NFU members and staff.
“The NFU is working hard to tackle some major challenges, and the support of the public is vital to this work.
“We are so grateful for the huge amount we receive from the people of Cheshire.”
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