First woman leader for NFU

THE National Farmers’ Union has appointed a woman as president for the first time in its 110year history.

Minette Batters, pictured, only became a farmer after begging landlords to let her take over her father’s Wiltshire farm 20 years ago. Now she will represent more than 50,000 farmers across England and Wales.

But the mother-of-two, who joined the NFU as a grassroots member and has risen up the ranks, dismissed suggestions her appointment was a ‘big issue’ for women.

After the vote at the union’s AGM in Birmingham yesterday, she added that this was her ‘great opportunity to reposition the sector’ in the run-up to Brexit.

Two weeks ago Mrs Batters, 50, took aim at the Government’s immigration policy by highlighting how unpicked fruit and vegetables were rotting in fields. She has also described badger culling as the best method to prevent TB infecting cattle.