Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. September 2025
    2. August 2025
    3. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    4. July 2025
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Buildings supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    13. January 2025
    14. December 2024
    15. November 2024
    16. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    17. October 2024
    18. September 2024
    19. August 2024
    20. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    21. July 2024
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    28. March 2024
    29. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    30. February 2024
    31. January 2024
    32. December 2023
    33. November 2023
    34. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    35. October 2023
    36. September 2023
    37. Health Supplement
    Featured

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025
    Recent

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

Thinking of standing for the NPA Pig Industry Group? ‘You learn a huge amount and meet great people!’

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverNovember 7, 20234 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

A number of long-serving members will be standing down from the NPA’s Pig Industry Group (PIG) after the forthcoming elections early next year.

While this will remove a great deal of knowledge and experience from group, it also opens up opportunities for others to step into their shoes and bring their own energy and vision.

Hugh Crabtree has been involved with the NPA since its inception in the late-1990s, serving for a long time as Allied Industry Group (AIG) chair and, more recently, as NPA vice-chair on the amalgamated PIG.

After more than two decades of unstinting service, he is keen to highlight to those thinking of giving it a go, just what you can get out of PIG.

“The truth is that being in the front line of policy making in a small and almost club-like industry sector like pigs is actually good fun. You’re working with the professional staff – and we have the best – and with peers on both sides of the farm gate,” he said.

“This contact provides a clear insight into the sector and what makes it tick. A better understanding of the industry is always going to be helpful whatever your chosen occupation. I have certainly found it so.

“Better than that, it turns out we’ve got some really good people in this sector who are good to be with and are dedicated, hard-working folk – salt of the earth!”

“The travel can sometimes be a bit of a pain but these days quite a lot of it is done online. “It’s a real privilege though to be in the thick of policy discussions that affect all of our businesses; have your say and pass on words of wisdom from your own network of contacts.”

Understanding the wider sector

Howard Revell, Pilgrim’s UK’s pig production director, has spent 15 out the past 18 years on PIG and its predecessor.

“Before I joined Producer Group, I was probably quite naïve about some industry issues. I was really nervous that I was going show myself up. But it has really helped me to understand the wider sector and to talk about the industry.

“It is a really valuable thing to do and you get to feed into policy discussions that very often affect your business directly.

“And almost without exception, you get really good sorts on PIG, interesting people who you can learn from and pick up the phone to, if you need to know something.”

He stressed that the time commitment is manageable, with only four meetings a year, two of which are online. “Most of the people on PIG are pretty busy people, but they find the time, as they it see it as being really valuable,” he said.

Hugely rewarding

Sally Stockings is another long-serving PIG member who is stepping down. “I have been very privileged over the last 12 years to work with extremely motivated professionals who support the whole pig sector. It is vitally important that the NPA staff receive the backing of pig producers, and being on PIG is hugely rewarding too,” she said.

“It’s so important to understand all the implications of the different government, environment and legislative aspects that affect the industry.

“Farming can be a very insular and introspective occupation. The NPA allows you to see the much wider picture and to meet up with farmers and allied industry people from all over the country.”

Election timetable

  • January 8 – nominations close
  • January 23 – email voting opens
  • February 5 – postal ballots sent out to those who have not voted online.
  • February 22 – voting closes.

Electing a streamlined PIG

  • The NPA is seeking candidates for eight producer and four allied member seats on PIG.
  • Producers will be elected on the basis of the most votes received, rather than a regional basis. Efforts will be made to ensure a balance between indoor and outdoor production and independent and corporate producers.
  • Allied members will be elected via most votes in four categories – buildings/equipment, health, marketing/processing and nutrition.
  • Producers will only vote for producers and allied industry members for allied industry candidates, with one vote per membership.
  • See the NPA website for details on how to nominate yourself, and the latest on the candidates.
Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleSmithfield Foods forms strategic alliance with Spanish meat producer
Next Article Former NPA chief executive Zoe Leach receives OBE at Buckingham Palace
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

GB pig prices for week ending August 30, 2025 – SPP drops back

September 3, 2025

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025
Latest News

GB pig prices for week ending August 30, 2025 – SPP drops back

September 3, 2025

Straw prices for the week ending September 7, 2025

September 3, 2025

Farm assurance debate: An important change driven by the supply chain

September 3, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1773 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1772 Aberdeenshire

    • Aberdeenshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1771 Australia

    • Queensland, Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.