The Crops and Sugar Beet Sector Board welcomed James Mills, NFU Crops Vice Chairman and Northeast arable farmer replacing James Cox, Joe Brennan Head of Technical at UKFM, replacing Alistair Gale and Sarah Woolford, Sector Director at AHDB, replacing David Eudall.
At the board, I shared the likelihood of my being elected as Chair of NFU Sugar and in this instance I would step down from my Red Tractor positions. This has now come to pass and it is with a heavy heart that I will be stepping down from my role as a Red Tractor Sector Chair and a Director of the company. I am a huge supporter of Red Tractor and farm assurance and will continue to champion its vital role in British agriculture at all levels of the industry. As a farmer, responsible for several businesses, I am regrettably unable to commit to both roles.
The new chair will be joining a fantastic team with a real opportunity to create positive change in farm assurance. The search for my replacement is now underway. Red Tractor is seeking applications from across the sector and will recruit according to a robust nominations process. Please consider applying if you want to join the Red Tractor team in this crucial role: https://redtractorassurance.org.uk/careers-at-red-tractor/.The board is looking to fill the position by the next round of sector boards, which will take place in June.
The main item on the agenda was for the Sector Board to discuss and provide feedback on the Farm Assurance Review. The discussion was extensive, productive and positive and I am eager to share detailed insights from that meeting later this month. This will be included alongside the Main Board’s response, which I am actively contributing to still as a Director of Red Tractor. We also discussed how to sequester current work and projects to incorporate the recommendations from the review.
Finally, I’d like to thank the Sector Board and all the farmers I’ve had the pleasure to engage with during my time as Crops Chairman. Farm assurance is a vital component of the food chain and underpins consumer trust in UK food. I am also extremely grateful to have worked alongside many fantastic colleagues at Red Tractor, and I look forward to supporting farm assurance in my new role at NFU Sugar.
Best Wishes,
Kit Papworth,
Chair, Combinable Crops and Sugarbeet Board.
Members of the Crops board:
Angela Bowden – Oilseed Crushers
Jamie Burrows – Cereals grower
James Mills – Cereals grower
Matthew Culley – Cereals grower
Julian South – MAGB
Patrick Mitton – Pesticide Issues Consultant
Brin Hughes – BOBMA
Tom Wood – AIC/Grain Merchants
Peter Chandley – Weetabix
Sarah Woolford – AHDB
Nick Morris – Sugar manufacturer
Joe Brennan – UK Flour Millers
Gill Barrow – AIC/Grain Merchants
Ed Dale – Sugar beet grower
Nigel Davies – TAC Chair
Harriette Roberts – BRC
