Meurig Raymond is new National Farmers Union president

Raymond, the union’s former deputy president, was elected at the union’s annual general meeting yesterday (February 26), beating a rival bid from fellow deputy president Adam Quinney.

Raymond said what the union had achieved during recent years was “phenomenal”. ​He added: “We need to 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.”​

Judging by the optimism and confidence on display at the agm, British farming had “a really bright future”,​ he said.

'A really bright future'​ ​

Farming 1,377ha with his twin brother, the 62-year old Raymond farms combinable crops and keeps 620 dairy cows, plus 300 young stock, 600 head of beef cattle and abound 2,500 lambs. Raymond is married to Hilary and they have three grown-up children.

Speaking before his election, Raymond said: “Top priority must be food security and recognition along the food supply chain of the low returns to farmers, particularly when our farmers produce to the highest possible standards.​

“Communicating with our members is fundamental and engaging and listening to their concerns will be key to our success. With the next generation involved in our farming business, I will passionately argue the importance of agriculture and the need to achieve a more vibrant, profitable industry which will encourage young people into farming.”​

Peter Kendall​

Raymond also said it had been a privilege to have served as deputy president during the past eight years and an honour to have worked with former president Peter Kendall.

Dairy UK chief executive Dr Judith Bryans welcomed the result. “This is great news and a well-deserved win,” ​she said. “​I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to Meurig on behalf of Dairy UK.”​

“Peter Kendall did an outstanding job for the NFU and British agriculture over the last eight years and will be missed but I have no doubt Meurig will show great leadership and vision for the NFU. I look forward to a fruitful continued collaboration with Meurig and his team on dairy matters.”​

Meanwhile, Minette Batters, a beef farmer from Wiltshire, was elected deputy president and Guy Smith, an arable farmer from Essex, was elected vice president.

Read why Kendall believes the Common Agricultural Policy does not deserve “its awful press”​​ in our exclusive video interview, filmed at the Oxford Farming Conference last month.

Meurig Raymond – key dates at a glance​

• 1952: Born.
• 1979: Elected local branch NFU chairman.
• 1989: Elected Pembrokeshire county chairman.
• 1992: Welsh NFU Treasurer.
• 1995–2004: Pembrokeshire delegate on NFU Council between.
• 1999–2001: Vice-chairman of the NFU’s Cereals Committee.
• 1998–2004: Served on the Agricultural Wages Board.
• 2004: Elected NFU vice president of the NFU.
• 2005: Awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for services to agriculture.
• 2006: Elected deputy president.
• 2014: Elected NFU president.