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MEP meets farmers at Wereham
Conservative MEP for the UK Eastern Region Robert Sturdy visits farms in Norfolk. At EW Porter's Grange Farm in Feltwell, LtoR - James Barkhouse, Will Holmes, Ed Lankfer, Charles Bowes and MEP Robert Sturdy. www.lynnnews.co.uk/buyaphoto
AGRICULTURAL reforms and the changes that face the industry were outlined and debated when a group of Norfolk Young Farmers representatives met their MEP, Robert Sturdy.
To get their point and their concerns across, the farmers took Mr Sturdy on tours of two West Norfolk farms on Friday. Wereham farmer, Ed Lankfer, hosted the visit which started at his family’s Laurel Farm, at Wereham.
He said: “Ten months ago I hedged my bets and assumed that the European Union would release the new Common Agricultural Policy reforms that would be in need of some real agricultural attention.
“True to form the new proposals were released and a few issues needed to be amended. The only way to address these concerns is to lobby the European Parliament and Mr Sturdy came to meet us for an informal discussion.
“We raised our concerns on the recent CAP reforms and then had a tour of the pig unit on the farm. The pork goes into the major supermarkets so the topic of correct labelling was raised to ensure the product is exactly what it says.
“We are constantly told that we need to be part of Europe but it is never a level playing field. Charles Bowes, director of East Anglian Pigs, raised the issue of sow crates and battery cages in chickens. These are just two examples of the UK towing the line on EU law and other members of the EU27 dragging their heels and giving them a financial advantage over us.”
The group moved on to Grange Farm, Feltwell for lunch sponsored by E.A.P. and Syngenta.
James Barkhouse of Syngenta, talked about “producing more from less”.
The farmers also brought Mr Sturdy up to speed with the current changes that are afoot in the sugar beet industry and although his background is in agriculture he admitted that his knowledge of sugar beet is a little rusty.
There was a trailer ride round Jeremy Porter’s farm accompanied by his manager Jim Scarrett. He raised the issue of taking large hectarages out of production for the benefit of the environment. Mr Bowes replied that while it benefits the environment it effects the supply of food going into the food chain. This, in turn, makes pig food increasingly more expensive, with 72 per cent of the cost of raising a pig now being spent on food.
“At the end of the day we felt satisfied that Mr Sturdy had a greater knowledge and understanding of grass roots farming and how recent reforms need to be changed to suit both UK farmers and the environment,” said Mr Lankfer. “We were confident that all our concerns were in safe hands and were going to be lobbied at EU parliament with our interests at heart”.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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