Sometimes as producers it feels like we are being asked to move mountains, yet we still face criticism for things that are quite often out of our direct control.
I know this as a poultry grower myself,聽and whilst speaking to members in the River Wye catchment area recently I know that there is a lot of pressure on the poultry sector and this is something I鈥檝e been reflecting on.
Finding the right solutions
One of the benefits of being the NFU National Poultry Board chair is that over the past 18 months I鈥檝e been exposed to the sheer amount of passion, expertise and focus of NFU members and NFU staff. Considering the issues in the Wye catchment I鈥檝e seen a lot of frustration which is unsurprising with the pressure mounting, but I鈥檝e also seen the professionalism and desire to find the right solutions from members, the wider industry and at the heart of this, the NFU.
Just this week I have been in several meetings discussing the latest developments where some of our members have been asked to embrace a new approach to litter management. Very quickly, the NFU has organised meetings to ensure we are abreast of these developments and that we are here to support members where needed.
There are NFU staff members from both the regions and HQ who are investing their time in ensuring the best outcomes for members who are reliant on poultry farming being a viable operation in the Wye catchment area in the future. This is a collective effort and to achieve the desired outcomes we need a suite of options, but these must be based on science and evidence.
Continuing to work with members and stakeholders
We all know that farmers take water quality very seriously, and that it is something farm businesses across all catchments are looking very carefully at, often taking steps to implement voluntary best practice measures to address any water quality challenges. These are the points which I am taking forwards in my conversations with various stakeholders on this subject and will continue to do so.
Poultry litter is a valuable resource, and we all know the importance of it being applied according to careful nutrient planning 鈥� determined by soil and crop need 鈥� to reduce the risk of nutrient losses. To this end, we also working with the NFU Crops Board as this collective working should help achieve more desirable outcomes for all.
皇家华人will continue to work with members alongside key stakeholders and businesses to find suitable solutions so poultry litters can continue to be used responsibly, ensuring that any actions are based on sound science and evidence.
