Vice president race - Adam Quinney

Age: 46

Farm: Studley Warwickshire, 250 ha rented from numerous landlords, suckler herd (salers), contract rearing of dairy heifers, bull beef, breeding ewes(llyen), 40 ha arable.

NFU positions held: Local branch chair, national livestock committee for six years, member of regional livestock board, council delegate for Warwickshire, sit on NFU animal health working group. Was NFU rep on MLC beef and lamb promotion council. NFU rep on AMTRA, SCOPS

Other relevant positions held: Director of Meadow Quality until recently. Chairman of West Midland livestock forum. Trustee on the Studley College Trust. Recently became the first English ASDA beef scholar.

Main interests outside farming: Is there time! Before the NFU took over my life, motor sport, mainly rallying. Enjoy shooting when I get the time

Tell us something surprising about you: Sad but true, spreadsheets got me into farming!

Who is your hero? Stig Blomqvist  a Swedish  rally driver whose career ran from 1973-2006 - fantastic driver, never complained when things went wrong. My present sheep dog is named after him and NOT the top gear driver!

Why are you the best person for the job?

I believe that I am because the experiences that I have had in the UK and around the world have brought a deep understanding of our industry, working with the people that the NFU represents and being involved in large marketing campaigns outside the NFU.

I have learnt a great deal working as a director in a cooperative about management and general governance. Being an ASDA beef scholar has also given me an insight into farming politics both sides of the Atlantic and shown how retailers think. Not to mention the experiences that I have gained from farming and growing a business from scratch.

What would you change within the NFU to improve it?

I feel that the NFU membership, the very bedrock of the union, is becoming disconnected from decision making by the continued reliance on traditional NFU formats. If I was elected by council I would create new ways for the union to engage with the membership. In the last few years the work of the union has fallen on fewer shoulders and that in turn has made it more difficult to encourage membership activity.

What farming issue(s) would be your priority? 

Redundant Regulations need to go, such as spinal cord removal in sheep. NVZs or pesticide regulations should practicable and based on science.

CAP must be based on supporting the active farmer and must be common throughout Europe. Rural development must be accessible to all farmers.

TB and Cost Sharing and Responsibility must be prioritised. We must continually go to government with the answers that are more effective and less costly for the industry and the tax payer.

Farmers have a good track record on caring for the environment, food production must now be seen as the main priority of farmers.

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