Yesterday, it was good to catch up – albeit virtually on a conference call – with local members of the National Farmers’ Union.
We discussed a variety of issues and I found it useful to listen to NFU members from across the Forest of Dean constituency and their experiences during these difficult times.
Among other measures, the Government has most recently offered support for dairy farmers who have seen decreased demand for their produce as bars, restaurants and cafes have had to close. They will be able to access up to £10,000 each to help them overcome the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Eligible dairy farmers who have lost more than 25% of their income over April and May due to coronavirus disruptions will be eligible to access this funding for those qualifying months, with no cap set on the number of farmers who can receive this support or on the total funding available.
I am pictured at a meeting with local NFU members last September.