A PEMBROKESHIRE farmer has been voted in as the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU) for a second term.

At the annual conference of the NFU held at the NIC, Birmingham on Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24 mixed farmer Meurig Raymond was re-elected as NFU president for a further two years.

Commenting afterwards he said that it has been a huge honour to have served as president for the past two years but he saw the new term as exceptionally challenging.

He beat off the challenge of Minette Batters, a livestock farmer from Wiltshire, who was re-elected deputy president, and Alistair Mackintosh of Cumbria, a former national livestock committee chairman.

Guy Smith, a farmer from Essex, was re-elected vice-president.

Meurig, who farms a family business extending to 3,000 acres in north Pembrokeshire, said: “I’m extremely proud to be re-elected as president of the NFU and I’m grateful that the membership and NFU Council have supported me in the way they have.

“We need to build on what has been achieved over the past two years and convince the policy makers, retailers, consumers and society of the importance of food production and British farming and that we, as farmers, can help to grow the rural economy.

“After a successful conference and hearing how much support there is from consumers in supporting the Back British Farming campaign, I know this is a good foundation to build on.”

“Quite obviously the European Referendum will be the big issue for farming but, with the experience that I have already gained in European matters, I feel that I can successfully lead the industry through this process.

“I am determined to argue for greater recognition in the food supply chain to enhance profitability, going someway towards simplifying of the CAP, fighting to mitigate the possibly catastrophic effects of the imminent National Living Wage and ensuring an effective bTB strategy is rolled out.

“With the background of a mixed, but fully integrated, family farming business I have the passion, enthusiasm and motivation to achieve our objectives. I remain acutely aware of all the issues we face and I aim to continue to listen and engage with all our members”.