Limited levy rise for young farmers
AN ATTEMPT to raise the levy paid by local Young Farmers’ Clubs to the organisation’s national body by almost a third has been defeated in a vote.
Yorkshire’s federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs supported an alternative option put forward by its Lancashire counterparts to limit the proposed levy rise to 10 per cent at the group’s annual general meeting at Blackpool at the weekend.
The move was backed by 138 members, with 87 against, in a vote which ensured a 10 per cent levy rise will be introduced by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) in September. The increase amounts to an annual rise of £1.64, rather than £5, and takes members’ subscription costs for 2018/19 to just over £18.
Ed Bentley, who as vice-chairman of Yorkshire YFC represents 45 Young Farmers’ Clubs in Yorkshire and about 1,700 young members, spoke at the meeting. He said afterwards: “There were mixed feelings from across the country, but a number of other counties spoke in support of Lancashire and Yorkshire’s joint effort, including Cameron Shell, the northern area chairman.
“He emphasised the fact that the levy has increased so drastically over the past five years.”
Lynsey Martin, the NFYFC’s chairman of council, had said that the 30 per cent rise would have paid for a modernisation of some YFC processes. After the vote, he said the more limited levy rise was not the amount needed to support the necessary changes.
The NFYFC will discuss the implications with its management board and will report back to members at the next council meeting in June, he said.