A CROESGOCH farmer, and former president of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), rewarded for his services to farming in the New Year’s Honours, has described it as an honour for all who have supported him.

Meurig David Raymond, MBE, of Trenewydd Fawr, has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).

Mr Raymond, 66, who was previously awarded an MBE for services to agriculture in 2005, stood down as president of the NFU earlier this year.

Speaking about his latest honour, Mr Raymond said: “I’m absolutely delighted, a great honour; when the letter arrived there was great excitement.

“It’s a huge honour to be given this award, I’m absolutely delighted; it’s a recognition to everybody who has supported me over the years.

"Without that support, the encouragement and fantastic advice, I would never have achieved as much as I have, or travelled so much; a big team effort.”

Mr Raymond was first elected to represent the Pembrokeshire NFU county branch on the national council of the union in 1995, and served as vice-chairman of the cereals committee between 1999 and 2001, and on the Agricultural Wages Board for six years from 1998.

He was elected as vice-president of the NFU in 2004, became deputy president in 2006 and president in 2014.

Meurig represented Wales on the Home Grown Cereals Authority between 1997 and 2004 and he served on the Council of Food from Britain between 1997and 2003. He became a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society in 2000.

Speaking about the CBE, he added: “Obviously it’s a recognition of years of involvement within the farming industry; the award isn’t just for me personally.

"I’m fortunate to have had lots of support from family, friends and staff, and all the people within the NFU, I would like to think these people that have encouraged me have a share in this, the honour is for everyone that has supported me over the last 30 or 40 years.

“I’ve been very fortunate, 14 years at national level, and many years before at county level; the members of the NFU, at executive and county level, I owe them a huge debt, they encouraged me to go further.

“I was elected on to the national council in 1994; if I hadn’t had the support from my family and the people on the farm and members of the council, they all have a share in this award.”

NFU Cymru director John Mercer said: “During his many years of service, Meurig has worked tirelessly for his members and the agricultural industry across Wales and England.

"He is hugely respected in Cardiff, Westminster and Brussels and used his platform to make sure that the work of his members, in producing high quality, affordable food, did not go unnoticed.

“Meurig began his NFU career as an officeholder in his home county of Pembrokeshire before taking up posts in NFU Cymru and the NFU, all while running a hugely successful business alongside his family.

“I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with him and I would like to congratulate him on receiving this honour.”

Meurig farms 3,400 acres in a family partnership in north Pembrokeshire growing 2,200 acres of combinable crops and 300 acres of potatoes. There are 620 dairy cows, with 300 followers.

The farms also carry 600 head of beef cattle and around 2,500 store lambs, fattened during winter.

Married to Hilary, the couple have three grown-up children. His elder son, Paul, is involved in the family farming business.

Nicola is chief executive officer of South Australia Lucerne Growers in Adelaide and assistant to the director of the Nuffield Foundation in Australia, while younger son, Jonathan, is an investment manager with Quilter Cheviot in London.