Vice president race - Anthony Rew

Age: 50  

Farm: Family farming partnership in Devon with dairy, suckler beef and arable enterprises.

NFU positions held: South West regional board chairman 2009/10. Devon chairman 2008/2009. Newton Abbot chairman in 2002/2003 (deputy and vice previously for both); regional dairy board delegate 2004-08.

Main interests outside farming: Competing in and organising Motorcycle Trials competitions, chairman and director West of England motor club, international steward. Enjoy clay pigeon shooting. Director Community Interest Company. 

Tell us something surprising about you: I used to ride over cars on a motorbike at shows. 

Who is your hero? Sir Henry plumb (NFU) Martin Lampkin (motorcycles).

Why are you the best person for the job?

At heart I am a grass roots farmer who understands from personal experience the reality of low product prices, excessive regulation and TB. My background in mixed farming, agricultural education and NFU experience has given me the knowledge, drive, commitment and passion to represent our industry at all levels, with wide experience from farmyard to Westminster and Brussels with MPs, MEPs, Ministers, other organisations and the media.

What would you change within the NFU to improve it?

It’s our responsibility to meet members’ needs and meet their expectations. Everybody looks for different things from the NFU at different times of their farming career. One of my first priorities would be to travel to the regions and listen to members about what they wanted from their membership, communicating with members is key. We also have a bigger responsibility and that is to communicate to the general public positively about farming issues. I believe the NFU is crucial to protecting our industry by presenting professional and credible arguments from a position of strength and knowledge. 

 What farming issue(s) would be your priority? 

We need to see a return to profit from farming, we need a fair price for the goods we supply whether the production of food or environmental goods and we need policies and a regulatory framework to assist this. Which is why this is a very important year for the farming community. A General lection in Britain and the changes in Europe post Lisbon mean that we have to liaise closely with our MPs and MEPs. At the top of the list is the need to eradicate TB, supermarket relationships, cost and responsibility sharing and CAP reform post 2013.

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