Minette Batters, the current president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), has announced her intention to step down from her position in February 2024. Batters, elected in 2018 as the NFU’s first female president, has served two consecutive terms and is currently midway through her third term. Prior to becoming president, she held the position of deputy president from 2014 to 2018.
In an article for the NFU Magazine’s October edition, Batters expressed her decision to step down after a decade of dedicated service, stating, “Ten years is a long time and I know I’ve given it my all but it’s time for someone else to take the lead. But in the meantime, there’s a huge job to be done and I remain determined to deliver what’s needed for you, our members.”
Throughout her tenure, Batters has been a strong advocate for UK agriculture and has played a prominent role in lobbying the government. Notably, in 2020, she successfully brought together various organizations, including chefs, farmers, consumer groups, and welfare experts, to support the NFU food standards petition. This initiative aimed to establish minimum standards for food imports, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing food standards in post-Brexit trade negotiations. The petition garnered over one million signatures, highlighting the widespread support for maintaining high food standards.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Batters urged the government to address the challenges faced by farmers and pushed for British farm produce to be prioritized. The NFU led the national response, representing the interests of all UK agriculture and horticulture.
Batters also actively engaged with key political figures, such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, emphasizing the need for support and recognition of the challenges faced by farmers, from worker availability to energy crises.
Throughout her presidency, Batters maintained a cross-party approach to campaigning and welcomed Labour Party leader Sir Kier Starmer’s addresses at the annual NFU Conference in both 2021 and 2023. While appreciative of the rhetoric, she emphasized the importance of meaningful policies to support the farming sector.
Batters additionally voiced her concerns over the government’s Spring Budget in 2023, particularly regarding the exclusion of horticulture and poultry from the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme. She questioned the prioritization of food security in the government’s growth plans.
Under Batters’ leadership, the NFU committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production by 2040. Emphasizing the uniqueness of each farm’s journey, she acknowledged that the aspiration for net zero is a national goal but recognizes that farms will require individualized action plans.
Aside from her role as NFU president, Batters manages a 300-acre mixed farm in Wiltshire, England, comprising a cow herd, sheep, and arable land. She also operates a catering business, running a converted 17th-century tithe barn as a venue for weddings and corporate events. Batters is also a co-founder of Ladies in Beef and the Great British Beef Week.
The NFU, representing over 50,000 farmers and growers in England and Wales, will hold elections in the coming months to determine Batters’ successor for the term spanning from 2024 to 2026.
