It鈥檚 been a busy month up in Northumberland. Thank you to all members who have supported our events. It has been a fantastic opportunity for many of you to get together.
With the recent changes to Bluetongue restriction zones we felt it was beneficial to host an evening of updates from local vets, our NFU Animal Health and Welfare Chief Adviser and auctioneers.
The discussions flowed and members went away with a better understanding of the changes, what impact those changes may have on their day to day business decisions, the costs involved in vaccinating and blood testing and the wide network of support available to them if they have concerns going forward.
We had a brilliant attendance at our Pre-Harvest Health and Safety event. Thank you very much to North East Grains for hosting and to all the organisations who kindly gave up their time and left us with important top tips including Northern Powergrid鈥檚 鈥楲ook up, it鈥檚 live鈥� stay safe, stay inside, call 105. When on farm, remember your safety checks and that help and support are only a phone call away when you need it. Wildfire risk is high this year so take extra care when out on farm this summer and dial 999 immediately at the first sight of a wildfire.
Next up was an opportunity for members to meet with, and strongly voice their concerns, to David Smith MP and Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner. Inheritance Tax and delivery of SFI dominated the conversation among other topics, including the importance of calculating the value of the agricultural industry to the local economy and ensuring that the Government appreciates this value. Members brought along samples of their produce to demonstrate to them the high quality of what is on offer in Northumberland.
I then ventured down to join the rest of the North team at the Great Yorkshire Show. It鈥檚 always a brilliant week. It鈥檚 a real treat for the team to be together and offers us an opportunity to catch up with national officeholders and lots of members from across our patch.
A variety of important and influential meetings are carried out on the stand over the four days of the event, from lobbying MPs and meeting supermarket chiefs to women in farming events and discussing mental health with vicars from across Yorkshire. All of which helps to mould and support activity in the counties for the year ahead.