Prospective NFU candidate will put spotlight on livestock (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Prospective NFU candidate will put spotlight on livestock

12:40pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News

CUMBRIA’S contender for vice-president of the National Farmers’ Uni-on has vowed to put livestock issues high on the farming agenda if he is elected.

Alistair Mackintosh, who stepped down as NFU Livestock Board chairman to fight for the vice-presidency, acknowledged that live-stock farmers were benefiting from higher sale prices, but said the industry faced huge challenges ‘going for-ward’.

Mr Mackintosh, who farms sheep and cattle in Ravenglass, said his industry experience left him well placed to rep-resent livestock farm-ers’ interests.

But he warned of ‘diff-icult times ahead’ as farmers struggled to cope with the rising cost of feed, fertiliser, fuel and other over-heads.

“Farm prices have improved over the past 18 months and that has to be welcomed, but on the flip side the cost of production is increas-ing dramatically,” said Mr Mackintosh.

“These rising costs are taking away a great chunk of the increase in farm gate prices and livestock farmers will continue to face real practical problems as they try to get their balance sheets back in order.”

Mr Mackintosh said issues such as Defra trying to deflect costs on the industry, the ‘greening’ of the Com-mon Agricultural Pol-icy and the review of movement controls would continue to present challenges to livestock farmers.

“I believe that having a livestock farmer like myself as vice-presi-dent — someone who has been at the coal face of the industry — will help to drive business forward for the sector. It needs someone who directly understands how costs and other issues, such as reform decisions, can affect business going forward. This understanding is what I would bring to the party.”

Mr Mackintosh, who was Livestock Board chairman for four years, added: “I know the board will continue to lobby hard both at home and abroad to try to resove these issues.

“I firmly believe this industry has a bright future with tremendous opportunities for the next generation of farmers.

“I know my successor will carry on repre-senting NFU livestock farmers with the ut-most drive and integrity.”

The result of the NFU officials’ election will be announced on Feb-ruary 22.