Historic moment as union elects first female chief
The English NFU yesterday elected Wiltshire farmer Minette Batters as the organisation’s first female president in its 110 year history.
Promising to “hit the ground running” Batters’ election attracted considerable media attention after the union’s council voted to move her up from deputy president to succeed Welsh farmer Meurig Raymond, who stepped down after four years at the top.
As the president who will lead an organisation which represents more than 50,000 farmers through to the other side of Brexit – widely viewed as likely to be one of the most difficult periods for the industry since the Second World War – Batters fought her campaign on championing the industry to those outside farming and on gaining certainty around Brexit.
“I am delighted to have been elected as president of the NFU and I am grateful to all the members who have given me the opportunity to lead our industry through Brexit and beyond,” she said.
A beef, sheep and arable farmer who has also diversified her business into weddings and catering,
0 Minette Batters will front English union during Brexit Batters was also a cofounder of the influential Ladies in Beef group before moving her way up the union hierarchy.
“British farming is in the spotlight like never before and this is a great opportunity to reposition the sector in the eyes of the nation,” she said after her election, .
“Together as a new officeholder team, we will hit the ground running and I look forward to sharing our new vision for farming at the earliest opportunity.”
Media-savvy Essex farmer Guy Smith, who also stood for the top position, was elected as deputy president to serve with Batters for the next two years, while Hertfordshire arable and livestock farmer Stuart Roberts beat off strong competition for the role of vice-president.
“Having worked with Minette for the past four years, I am looking forward to working with her and Stuart as a close team in what will be a pivotal two years for British agriculture,” said Smith.
The vote was widely welcomed throughout the industry in the UK and abroad, with Scotland’s NFU leaders stating that they looked forward to working with their new English counterparts in the run up to Brexit.