New chair: ‘Farming in Essex is changing’

FOURTH-GENERATION farmer Robert Padfield is following in a proud family tradition as he takes up the role of NFU Essex county chair.

He is the fourth member of his family to serve as county chair, after his grandfather Robert, father James and mother Rosemary.

Mr Padfield said: “Someone has to fight the corner for agriculture and I’m pleased to be playing my part.

“I also saw what they got out of it through their NFU work and what that brought back to the business.

“Member engagement will be a priority for me. I want to hear from members about their issues and, in an election year, I’ll also be encouraging them to invite their MPs out on farm.

“We need the politicians to understand about food security, unfairness in the supply chain and the other challenges that we are facing.”

Mr Padfield farms 1,500 acres in a family business at Magdelan Laver with wife, Zoe, and his mother, Rosemary. They grow arable crops alongside several farm diversifications. Former farm buildings are let to a diverse range of businesses, including the UK’s largest breeders of locusts and snakes.

He said: “Farming in Essex is changing. Many businesses have diversified, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a growing population. We’ve been lucky to be able to diversify as not every farm can do that, which is why farmers must be able to make a profit from producing food,” he said.

Three years ago he went on a three-week residential course at Cirencester, which encouraged him to take a fresh look at the business.

He said: “The course encouraged me to evaluate the business even more than we’ve done before.”