National Farmers' Union of England and Wales

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) is an employer association representing farming and growing businesses within England and Wales.

The NFU originated as the Lincolnshire Farmers' Union (LFU) which was founded in 1904. Over the next four years, similar farmers' organisations were established in neighbouring counties. In 1908, these organisations formed the current National Farmers' Union. Colin Campbell was its first president.

The organisation has been led by Tom Bradshaw as president since 2024.

History

Background tensions

The late 19th century coincided with increased struggle between three main groups:

• farmworkers, those farming on land on which they had no control over;
• tenant farmers, those renting the land to farm; and
• landowners, those owning the agricultural land.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":5" />

The rise of the labour movement saw farmworkers organise agricultural trade unions such as the Lincolnshire Labour LeagueTemplate:Refn and the Warwickshire Agricultural Labourers Union.Template:Refn These unions initially achieved modest victories and growth, but a series of unsuccessful attempts to use collective action resulted in the decline and dissolution of early farmworkers' unions.<ref name=":5" />

In response to the victory of the Liberal Party in the 1906 UK general election, many farm owners took revenge against farmers suspected of radical views or of Liberal sympathies.<ref name=":5" /> On 20 July 1906, the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders UnionTemplate:Refn was formed in an attempt to combat these retributions, and further renew unionisation efforts among farmworkers.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite book</ref>

Further angered in their opposition to potential land reform by the Liberal government, the Central Land AssociationTemplate:Refn (CLA) was formed to represent landlords' interests against their farmers, and against the Liberal government.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Formation and growth

A 1900s postcard of the Agricultural Hall, where the Smithfield Show was held when the NFU was formed in 1908

In 1904, the Lincolnshire Farmers' Union (LFU) was founded to represent tenant farmers, in part against both increasingly unionised farmworkers, and against landlords.<ref name=":5" />

On 10 December 1908, a meeting was held at the Smithfield Show to discuss the formation of a national organisation formed from the LFU. The meeting resulted in the formation of the National Farmers' Union.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 1913, it had 20,000 members—a majority being tenant-farmers—and excluded landowners but allowed owner-occupying farmers.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" />

The NFU's first president, Colin Campbell, worked to get new branches off the ground, encourage membership and establish the NFU's credibility with government, at a time when farming was going through the longest and deepest depression in its history, as imports of cheap grain and frozen meat flooded in from abroad.<ref name=":1" />Template:Primary source inline

The NFU stood six candidates in the 1918 general election, none of whom were elected. In the 1922 general election, it stood three unsuccessful NFU candidates under its own name, and sponsored four successful Conservative Party candidates. It again sponsored Conservative candidates in 1923 and 1935 elections, but has not done so since.<ref name="craig">Template:Cite book</ref>

Campbell was succeeded as NFU President in 1921 by Richard Robbins, an employers' representative on the Agricultural Wages Board.<ref name=":6" />

On 3 December 1955, 12 Welsh members of the NFU left and formed the rival Farmers' Union of Wales.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Verley Merchant, the NFU's Welsh Secretary, responded to the formation by saying "We will smash you in three months".<ref name=":9" />

Recent history

In 1972, the NFU, alongside other farming employers' associations, set up the British Agriculture Bureau to represent their interests in the European Economic Community and later the European Union.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":4" />

In 2000, with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, the Ulster Farmers' Union, and other farming and food organisations, the NFU founded the Assured Food Standards company which administers the Red Tractor food quality mark.Template:Sfn<ref name=":03">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2003 Ben Gill stood down as NFU president.<ref name=":11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Both deputy president Tim Bennett, and Derek Mead—a founding member of Farmers for Action (FFA) as well as a NFU Council member—stood as candidates.<ref name=":11" /> Tim Benntt successfully defeated Derek Mead.<ref name=":11" /> In late 2005, Derek Mead along with Farmers for Action chairman David Handley, established the pressure group Better NFU over what they saw as the failures of the NFU's leadership.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Better NFU also received support from Zac Goldsmith and Robin Page.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12" /> Following, the pressure groups' formation David Handley announced he would challenge sitting NFU President Tim Bennett for the position.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":8">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Handley said wished to see the NFU be more proactive and democratic, while his opponents feared he would turn the NFU into a larger version of the FFA.<ref name=":8" /> Deputy President Peter Kendall also announced his candidacy.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Peter Kendall won ahead of both in the 2006 leadership contest. Handley would describe Kendall as more collaborative than prior NFU Presidents.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As a part of the UK quango reforms by the Cameron–Clegg government, in 2013 the government prepared to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board—the body which had been responsible for regulating farm workers' wages.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As pressure grew to maintain the board, the NFU lobbied in support of abolishing it.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The government and the NFU were successful and in 2013 the board was abolished. In the same year, the NFU campaigned against the imposition of any cap on subsidies that farmers could receive.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2016, the Ethical Consumer Research Association published a report Understanding the NFU - an English Agribusiness Lobby Group. The report described the NFU as promoting policies that benefit big agribusinesses at the expense of farm workers pay and conditions, the environment, and animal welfare.Template:Sfn

During the Brexit referendum, the NFU Council voted overwhelmingly to endorse the Remain campaign, but did not actively campaign on the issue.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> In the lead-up to the referendum, the NFU commissioned a report by Wageningen University which found that two of three Brexit scenarios could increase farm-gate prices.<ref name=":2" />

In 2018, the NFU Council elected Minette Batters, deputy president of the NFU since 2014, as the NFU's president.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She defeated the only other candidate, Guy Smith, who became her deputy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She stepped down as president in February 2024 and was succeeded by Tom Bradshaw without any challengers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the October 2024 budget, the Labour government announced reforms to inheritance tax which revoke the exemptions for agricultural estates. From April 2026, these estates will be taxed at 20% (half the standard rate) but the first £1Template:Nbspmillion of the property value will continue to be exempt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The NFU opposed the reforms, and responded by organising a protest in London.<ref name=":13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2025 NFU held an AgriFutures Diversity Conference<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at STEAM house in Birmingham to promote inclusivity in agriculture.

The archives of the NFU are deposited with the Rural History Centre at Reading University.<ref>Chris Cook, The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources Since 1945 (Routledge: 2006), p. 345.</ref>

Structure and function

Shared NFU and NFU Mutual stand at the Devon County Show

The NFU is registered as an employer association with the Certification Office for Trade Unions and Employers' Associations.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite potential confusion due to "Union" being in the NFU's name, it is not a trade union.Template:Sfn

The NFU is governed by its constitution and rules, which state that the NFU shall maintain a number of bodies which are responsible for the governance of the NFU. These include the NFU Council, Governance Board, Policy Board, National Commodity Boards, Regional Commodity Boards, an Audit and Remuneration Committee and Legal Board and Regional Boards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The NFU is led by its president (currently Tom Bradshaw since 2024). The position is elected by the 92 member NFU Council, the NFU's governing body.<ref name=":8" />

The NFU is closely associated with the insurance company NFU Mutual.

Prior to its abolition in 2013, the National Farmers' Union nominated eight employers' representatives to the Agricultural Wages Board of England and Wales.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

NFU Cymru

NFU Cymru logo

NFU Cymru is the constituent Welsh branch of the NFU. It was formed in 1999 in response to Welsh devolution and the formation of the Welsh Senedd.<ref name=":10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> NFU Cymru's current president is Aled Jones who has held the role since 2022.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

NFU Cymru is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

NFU Cyrmu nominates one of the two employers' representatives on the seven-member Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

British Agriculture Bureau

The British Agriculture Bureau (BAB) is the joint office of the NFU, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and Ulster Farmers' Union in Brussels. The BAB lobbies for the British farming industry in regards to European Union policy.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Presidents

List of presidents of the NFU since 1945:

• 1945: James Turner
• 1960: Miles Thomas<ref name="na">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 1960: Harold Woolley
• 1966: Gwilym Williams
• 1970: Henry Plumb<ref name="President">Leonard Amey, "President of NFU is ousted", The Times, 30 January 1970, p. 2.</ref>
• 1979: Richard Butler<ref>"Butler, Hon. Sir Richard (Clive)", in Who Was Who 2011–2015 (2016, Template:ISBN} </ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 1986: Simon Gourlay<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 1991: David Naish<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 1998: Ben Gill<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2004: Tim Bennett<ref name=":11" />
• 2006: Peter Kendall<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2014: Meurig Raymond
• 2018: Minette Batters
• 2024: Tom Bradshaw

Election results

1918 general election<ref name="craig" />

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
Barnard Castle	Template:Sortname	1,274	10.0	4
East Norfolk	Template:Sortname	1,926	12.3	3
Hertford	Template:Sortname	7,158	38.8	2
Leominster	Template:Sortname	2,870	17.4	3
Ormskirk	Template:Sortname	4,989	28.3	3
Richmond (Yorkshire)	Template:Sortname	4,907	33.2	2

Barnard was also sponsored by the National Party.

1922 general election<ref name="craig" />

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
Carmarthen	Template:Sortname	4,775	15.9	3
Howdenshire	Template:Sortname	7,021	39.5	2
Leominster	Template:Sortname	10,798	53.1	1
Ormskirk	Template:Sortname	11,921	58.7	1
Rutland and Stamford	Template:Sortname	4,471	20.3	3
Stone	Template:Sortname	7,742	38.3	1
Wells	Template:Sortname	10,210	47.7	1

Blundell, Bruford, Lamb and Shepperson stood for the Conservative Party.

1923 general election<ref name="craig" />

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
Leominster	Template:Sortname	11,582	57.3	1
Ormskirk	Template:Sortname	10,598	53.0	1
Stone	Template:Sortname	10,001	50.8	1
Wells	Template:Sortname	9,909	44.2	2

All candidates stood for the Conservative Party.

1924 general election<ref name="craig" />

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
Leominster	Template:Sortname	13,237	52.5	1
Stone	Template:Sortname	12,856	57.3	1

Both candidates stood for the Conservative Party.

in the 1935 general election, two candidates were sponsored and elected for the Conservative Party.Template:WhoTemplate:Citation needed

See also

• Agriculture in the United Kingdom
• National Farmers' Union of Scotland – Scottish sister organisation
• Ulster Farmers' Union – Northern Irish sister organisation
• Farmers' Union of Wales – Rival organisation in Wales
• Unite the Union (Food, Drink and Agricultural Section) – represents farmworkers in the UK and Ireland

Further reading

• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Template:Official website