The NFU originated as the Lincolnshire Farmers' Union (LFU) which was founded in 1904. Over the next four years, similar farmers' organisations were established in neighbouring counties. In 1908, these organisations formed the current National Farmers' Union. Colin Campbell was its first president.
The organisation has been led by Tom Bradshaw as president since 2024.
History
Background tensions
The late 19th century coincided with increased struggle between three main groups:
farmworkers, those farming on land on which they had no control over;
In 1904, the Lincolnshire Farmers' Union (LFU) was founded to represent tenant farmers, in part against both increasingly unionised farmworkers, and against landlords.[3]
On 10 December 1908, a meeting was held at the Smithfield Show to discuss the formation of a national organisation formed from the LFU. The meeting resulted in the formation of the National Farmers' Union.[5][6] By 1913, it had 20,000 members—a majority being tenant-farmers—and excluded landowners but allowed owner-occupying farmers.[2][5]
The NFU's first president, Colin Campbell, worked to get new branches off the ground, encourage membership and establish the NFU's credibility with government, at a time when farming was going through the longest and deepest depression in its history, as imports of cheap grain and frozen meat flooded in from abroad.[6][non-primary source needed]
The NFU stood six candidates in the 1918 general election, none of whom were elected. In the 1922 general election, it stood three unsuccessful NFU candidates under its own name, and sponsored four successful Conservative Party candidates. It again sponsored Conservative candidates in 1923 and 1935 elections, but has not done so since.[7]
On 3 December 1955, 12 Welsh members of the NFU left and formed the rival Farmers' Union of Wales.[8][9] Verley Merchant, the NFU's Welsh Secretary, responded to the formation by saying "We will smash you in three months".[8]
Recent history
In 1972, the NFU, alongside other farming employers' associations, set up the British Agriculture Bureau to represent their interests in the European Economic Community and later the European Union.[10][11]
In 2003 Ben Gill stood down as NFU president.[14] Both deputy president Tim Bennett, and Derek Mead—a founding member of Farmers for Action (FFA) as well as a NFU Council member—stood as candidates.[14] Tim Benntt successfully defeated Derek Mead.[14] In late 2005, Derek Mead along with Farmers for Action chairman David Handley, established the pressure group Better NFU over what they saw as the failures of the NFU's leadership.[14][15][16] Better NFU also received support from Zac Goldsmith and Robin Page.[14][15] Following, the pressure groups' formation David Handley announced he would challenge sitting NFU President Tim Bennett for the position.[17][18] Handley said wished to see the NFU be more proactive and democratic, while his opponents feared he would turn the NFU into a larger version of the FFA.[18] Deputy President Peter Kendall also announced his candidacy.[18][19] Peter Kendall won ahead of both in the 2006 leadership contest. Handley would describe Kendall as more collaborative than prior NFU Presidents.[20]
As a part of the UK quango reforms by the Cameron–Clegg government, in 2013 the government prepared to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board—the body which had been responsible for regulating farm workers' wages.[21] As pressure grew to maintain the board, the NFU lobbied in support of abolishing it.[22][23] The government and the NFU were successful and in 2013 the board was abolished. In the same year, the NFU campaigned against the imposition of any cap on subsidies that farmers could receive.[22][24]
In 2016, the Ethical Consumer Research Association published a report Understanding the NFU - an English Agribusiness Lobby Group. The report described the NFU as promoting policies that benefit big agribusinesses at the expense of farm workers pay and conditions, the environment, and animal welfare.[25]
During the Brexit referendum, the NFU Council voted overwhelmingly to endorse the Remain campaign, but did not actively campaign on the issue.[26][27] In the lead-up to the referendum, the NFU commissioned a report by Wageningen University which found that two of three Brexit scenarios could increase farm-gate prices.[27]
In 2018, the NFU Council elected Minette Batters, deputy president of the NFU since 2014, as the NFU's president.[28] She defeated the only other candidate, Guy Smith, who became her deputy.[29] She stepped down as president in February 2024 and was succeeded by Tom Bradshaw without any challengers.[30][31]
In the October 2024 budget, the Labour government announced reforms to inheritance tax which revoke the exemptions for agricultural estates. From April 2026, these estates will be taxed at 20% (half the standard rate) but the first £1million of the property value will continue to be exempt.[32] The NFU opposed the reforms, and responded by organising a protest in London.[33]
The archives of the NFU are deposited with the Rural History Centre at Reading University.[34]
The NFU is governed by its constitution and rules, which state that the NFU shall maintain a number of bodies which are responsible for the governance of the NFU. These include the NFU Council, Governance Board, Policy Board, National Commodity Boards, Regional Commodity Boards, an Audit and Remuneration Committee and Legal Board and Regional Boards.[36]
The NFU is led by its president (currently Tom Bradshaw since 2024). The position is elected by the 92 member NFU Council, the NFU's governing body.[18]
The NFU is closely associated with the insurance company NFU Mutual.
Prior to its abolition in 2013, the National Farmers' Union nominated eight employers' representatives to the Agricultural Wages Board of England and Wales.[37]
NFU Cymru
NFU Cymru logo
NFU Cymru is the constituent Welsh branch of the NFU. It was formed in 1999 in response to Welsh devolution and the formation of the Welsh Senedd.[38] NFU Cymru's current president is Aled Jones who has held the role since 2022.[38][39]
NFU Cymru is based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.
^Known later as the National Agricultural Labourers Union
^Also known as: National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union (1910–1920), National Union of Agricultural Workers (1920–1968)
^Later known as the Central Landowners’ Association (1918–1949), then as the Country Landowners’ Association, (1949–unclear), and now known as the Country Land and Business Association.
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