YFC members in Oxfordshire were recently given the opportunity to learn more about Defra’s plans and meet the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner.
The informative meeting was organised by Oxfordshire County Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, after one of its members made a connection with Defra at the Newbury Show.
The meeting included talks from Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The Minister also took time to chat with YFC members about their experiences in YFC, asking what they enjoy most about being part of the organisation.
During the session, Defra outlined its key goals, including:
Members also received a detailed presentation on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and how it aligns with these goals while offering practical benefits to farmers.
Becca Ludlow, Oxford FYFC County Chair, shared her excitement:
“We feel incredibly fortunate to have had such an insightful and informative talk for our members, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Defra is interested in offering this talk to other clubs across the country, and we highly recommend it.”
The RPA’s Sandy Kapila, Head of External Affairs, also spoke about the agency's ongoing efforts to economically support farmers through various schemes.
The session was highly interactive, with members encouraged to ask questions throughout. A dedicated Q&A at the end allowed members to voice their thoughts and engage directly with the speakers.
Becca added: "Some of the questions were quite challenging, but the speakers handled them well, even agreeing with certain points raised by members. It was inspiring to witness the passion from our members, especially those who don’t usually speak up."
YFC members who would like to arrange an event, speaker or include Defra/RPA in any scheduled shows or events should contact Michael.Sturla@defra.gov.uk in the first instance.
Please feel free to contact sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk if any help is needed to start organising.
