Secretary of state for Defra visits Holsworthy Cattle Market

Defra Secretary of State Steve Barclay visited Holsworthy Cattle Market with Torridge & West Devon MP Sir Geoffrey Cox earlier this month to meet local farmers and agricultural professionals.

The event, in the Market canteen, which was chaired by the MP, was also attended by the new National President of the NFU, Tom Bradshaw and Deputy President, David Exwood and DEFRA officials.

There have been several important recent developments in the industry: such as the new Fair Dealing Regulations in the dairy sector, with an independent dairy adjudicator to improve fairness in the dairy supply chain, improvements in the Sustainable Farming Initiative, the Government’s replacement scheme for the CAP, and a consultation on Bovine TB policy, to discuss.

During a question-and-answer session of over an hour, a packed audience heard the Secretary of State’s thinking on subjects such as the Government’s action to place a strong emphasis on Food Security, Bovine TB Policy, relationships with Natural England, new developments in the Sustainable Farming Initiative, and the new Fair Dealing Regulations to improve supply chain fairness in the milk industry.

Farmers were later able to chat with him informally.

Sir Geoffrey said: “The Secretary of State listened intently to the experiences of local farming interests today and his strong commitment to back our farming families to produce high quality food was there for all to see.

“The Government has listened and acted on Bovine TB, on greater fairness in the dairy sector, on major improvements to the SFI, on a better deal on public procurement and labelling for British farming, and on Natural England’s approach, whose CEO attended my Dartmoor Forum with the Secretary of State in Tavistock earlier in the day.

“In Steve Barclay, people saw a down-to-earth Minister who wants to get things done and is a friend to livestock farming and a living, working countryside. I was very grateful for him and to Tom and David for coming to Holsworthy.”