The NPA’s autumn regional meetings get underway this week, kicking off with the South West event on Wednesday evening.
The meeting will take place at Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, EX6 7XS on Wednesday October 4. It will follow directly on from the George Vet Pig Fair at the same venue, which starts on October 3. As a result there is no fixed start time but we estimate things will get underway at approximately 5.30-6pm. Attendees at the Fair are welcome to stay on.
There will be a strong focus on farm safety over the course of the four autumn regionals, as the wider farming industry tries to get to grips with its poor record in this area, highlighted by the most recent HSE figures. Guest speaker Tom Price from the NFU will discuss how safety on pig farms can be improved to better protect staff and make pig farming a more attractive career for new entrants.
The meetings will address the ongoing attempts to target the pig sector by vegan activists and there will be an updates from the NPA team on Brexit, antibiotic reduction targets, changes to Red Tractor guidance and environmental permitting.
There will also be updates from AHDB Market Intelligence on where the market is going and on the new pork marketing campaign.
South West regional chairman Andrew Freemantle said: “As always, the more people that attend these meetings the more everyone will get out of them by way of active discussion, so please do make the effort to come along. Your views are also very important in helping the national Producer Group formulate policy on your behalf.”
The other three autumn regionals also take place in October:
East Anglia: Thursday, October 12, 6pm at Diss Rugby Club, Bellrope Lane, Roydon, Diss IP22 5RG
South Central: Wednesday, October 18, 6.30pm at Newbury RFC, Monks Lane, Newbury RG14 7RW
North: Monday, October 23, 6.30pm at Sandburn Hall, York YO60 7RG
All meetings start with a hot buffet.
Please email NPA@npanet.org.uk to reserve your place.