Now that I have been in post for six months as NPA chair, I thought it might be a good idea to reflect on some of what I’ve seen during this initial period.
When I joined back in March and took over the role from the highly respected Rob Mutimer, who had been in position for some six years, I thought there might be a period of getting to know the people, places and the challenges that come down the track to virtually all who produce food in this country.
It wasn’t to be – from the beginning it was obvious pig farmers were having their resilience tested once again, having only just come out of the serious challenges faced earlier in the decade. All businesses peak and trough, but it feels none more so than in this industry.
Worldwide instability
Global instability has driven costs high, and a plethora of issues – from oversupply, disease and the ever-present worry of activism on your premises, which is also very often the home to your family – are faced every day.
Having met members from across the country, visited producers and connected across the industry at events like the British Pig and Poultry Fair, there are few who are truly insulated from all these challenges.
Difficult conversations with people who have been in the industry for 50 years are poignant, but never more so than with somebody who has built their own herd, having started with nothing.
It has felt this summer that the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) regulations have added yet another reason to pull out of the market.
Pig men and women are dogged and inventive, looking beyond the immediate to try to find the positivity on the horizon, but many have spoken to me with sadness in their eyes, knowing the key decision is actually whether to continue or not.
But we need a vibrant industry as part of our food security. I worry that we now produce less than 50% of our own pork in this country, and yet we are well able to drive much more into the marketplace, particularly into the foodservice sector that feeds our children, those in hospital and in our armed forces.
Government after government has talked a good talk of buying British, and we have certainly seen with Covid, the war in Ukraine and with current conflicts enough to say we should be working to be more domestically resilient, while also looking to export.
This is before we start examining abattoirs, staffing or the number of vets – so NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson and I went to see the farming minister, explained the state of play and have suggested a number of things that could be done in the short and medium term.
We have also spoken with the chair of the EFRA committee, who admitted to us that he enjoyed his student job working with pigs! We will keep knocking at the door for you – the team at the NPA are small, but highly capable and fighting for you daily.
Farming ecosystem
The pig industry shouldn’t be seen in isolation, but as part of the ecosystem that makes British farming great. Without the feed the industry absorbs, the hauliers it keeps employed and the shed manufacturers, the whole industry becomes weaker.
Protecting pig farmers and trying to ensure there is a brighter future for them is what we will be doing for you at the NPA.
My former jobs taught me that if you can’t fight together to improve things, you are quickly weakened. Looking how we can best work for cohesive approaches on issues will ultimately make things easier to achieve.
Not always comfortable, I know we all value our independence – but moving forward, I hope to see the industry drive a commonality of purpose. I look forward to meeting and working with more of you over the coming years.