WESTMORLAND show is a flagship event for the NFU in the North West with many members from across the region heading up or down the M6 to attend the show, writes David Hall, NFU North West Regional Director.

This year it will be a two-day event to help manage visitor numbers and I am sure it will be a huge success as ever. Both Lancashire and Cheshire have seen both local shows and county shows go ahead, some in a new format and I would like to congratulate the team that delivered the Trade event on the Cheshire showground prior to the show. It was great to catch up with Cheshire members even if the weather on the day was a little damp to say the least.

Sadly livestock production continues to be the focus for many when looking to address climate change. The National Food Strategy produced by Henry Dimbleby has made a number of recommendations, some of which the NFU agree with and some that we feel will have a negative impact on the industry. The report is very positive about the need to set a baseline for standards for imported foods which fits well with our drive for the Trade & Agriculture Commission. He has also asked for Government to commit to the same levels of investment to 2029 to help farmers through the transition to sustainable land use. This is a great ask but, what does sustainable land use mean and will there be a negative impact on the quantity and quality of food produced.

It is good to see that he did not make the recommendation that a meat tax be imposed as he did with sugar and salt, but he did make a recommendation that meat consumption should be reduced by 30%. This is a significant reduction that will not be welcomed by many and does sound very Nanny State telling people what they should or should not eat.

While 30% reduction is significant there is a view that for one count in the region to achieve Net Zero by 2038 meat and dairy consumption should reduce by 70%. This issues I have with these comments is that the reduction in consumption is linked to the volume of livestock we farm and beef and dairy products produced.

The reality could be that if we produce some of the most climate friendly livestock products in the world we should in fact be increasing our production, see this as an opportunity for the industry not a threat. It is worth mentioning that the document is not “The National Food Strategy”, it is a report that has been produced to help guide government in the production of a white paper which will be published in 2022. The Food and Drink sector Council has produced a comprehensive paper which puts a balanced view forward and does not put one sector against another which I am sure members will support.

July saw the announcement from Defra of the organisations that have been awarded funding as part of the Future Farm Resilience Funding. This will give farmers the opportunity to access business advice through a range of different methods. I would encourage members that are looking for help to put together a plan for the future on how to deal with reductions in BPS payments speak to your Group Secretary.