Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2010 | Page 60

life COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING February/March 2010 Breakfast with the NFU President anyone? The national president of the NFU (National Farmers Union), Peter Kendal, visited the Island this week. Mr Kendal was invited by the Isle of Wight County branch to speak at its AGM and dinner, held at Albert Cottage on the 13th January. The event was followed up with a breakfast and farm visit the following day. Mr Kendal requested the breakfast meeting as an opportunity to meet up with a group of Island farmers, Guests (24) turned up at the Chequers Inn for breakfast with the NFU President Peter Kendal including some of the younger the goods. So I have every confidence that the “next generation” members. The breakfast, next generation of farmers and growers has the attended by 25 members of the farming ability to produce more food yet impact less on community, was held at the Chequers Inn, the environment.” Rookley and was sponsored by the NFU Mutual. Following the breakfast it was off to Coppid “We are pleased to welcome our President to the Island and the breakfast meeting and farm Hall Farm, in Havenstreet, home of Wight visit has given some of our younger farmers a Milk. The President was shown around the great opportunity to ask questions directly to farms dairy unit and processing plant by Harold the top of the NFU”. George, who farms in partnership with his The President asked those at the breakfast wife, Andrea and son Alan. Coppid Hall Farm what they felt the NFU should be doing for runs a milking herd of around 150 Holstein them and was able to answer the wide range of Freisian Cows with the milk being sold direct to questions put to him. doorsteps as well as to shops and hotels. Isle of Wight County Chairman, Laurie Young NFU member, Jack Morris commented “It’s amazing that we can ask Mr Kendal Calloway, commented: “There is no doubt questions today, which he might then bring up about the importance of attracting and when he meets with politicians. I didn’t realise encouraging more young people to work within what influence the NFU can have in influencing UK agriculture and horticulture. We need to the decision makers in the UK and European recruit 60,000 people at management level parliament”. over the next decade because our industry must meet the challenge of helping to feed the world’s growing population. British agriculture has a long and impressive history of providing 60 Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com