Raymond back as NFU dairy board chairman

Mansel Raymond has today been re-elected for a second term as NFU dairy board chairman.

His re-election comes after an important and influential year progressing a voluntary code of best practice in dairy contracts as well as two years of negotiations and lobbying with Defra, MPs, MEPs and the European Commission on a dairy package.

The new vice chairman is Rob Harrison, a former chair of the Next Generation Dairy Board who farms in partnership with his wife in Gloucestershire.

Mr Raymond said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue my work as dairy board chairman, in these challenging but exciting times for the dairy industry. Our priority will continue to be equitable trading terms for dairy farmers. However, we also need to focus on a coherent and ambitious strategy for the dairy sector, in the post quota era, of growing markets and evolving consumer demand for dairy products.

Following his election, vice chairman Mr Harrison, said: "I am passionate about the dairy sector and I’m determined to take the opportunity this role presents, to make a difference for this and the next generation of dairy farmers. A lot of hard work has been done to progress the debate on contracts. My focus is the future and how farmers capture the opportunities of global population growth."

New board members include Jeremy Burdett representing the South East (previously a board co-option), Ken Proctor delegate for East Anglia and Mike Orton delegate for the North West. Board members continuing in their roles are Michael Oakes, West Midlands, Brain Dalby, East Midlands, and David Shaw, North East.

In the coming weeks, the NFU will be advertising for an additional four to six board members to complement the skills and expertise of the eight existing regionally elected board members. NFU members who are interested in applying should respond to the advertisement in British Farmer and Grower in April.