Farmers meet with councillors on Back British Farming Day

Back British Farming Day is an annual event that includes a reception in the House of Commons, where farmers meet with MPs to discuss agriculture. 

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Farmers in Dorset spent their day serving food to councillors in front of Dorset County Hall. This included cheese burgers, ice cream, apple juice and cider - all of which came from local farms. 

Brace of Butchers provided the burgers, Open Air Dairy brought the cheese, Craig’s Farm Dairy served up ice cream and Cranborne Chase Cider and apple juice came from Myncen Farm.

Burgers cooking at the event. (Image: NFU)

Hazel Hoskin, who farms at Maiden Castle Farm in Dorchester where the Brace of Butchers burgers came from, said: “It was great to see so many councillors make the effort to come and speak to our local farmers and to sample some of the excellent food that we are proud to produce here in Dorset.

“Having the opportunity to discuss the future of farming with councillors whilst they enjoyed the burgers that came straight from my farm was excellent as it really drove home the message that farming is integral to keeping the nation fed.

“Support for our farmers is needed more than ever and I'm hopeful that positive conversations between councillors and farmers will continue to happen.”

Councillors saw the tractor parked outside their offices and tasted some of the food on offer while talking to farmers about how they can work together to help farms thrive. 

Tractor parked outside council offices. (Image: NFU)

Dorset County Chair Wakely Cox said: “I was very pleased with the turn out of people, both farmers and councillors, and I had some really good conversations with various councillors who were each working in different departments such as with the council farms or in planning.

“It all seemed extremely positive to me with many councillors being keen to meet and discuss farming issues further and a couple of meetings have already been suggested by councillors as a result of those conversations on Wednesday.

“I think having the event outside of County Hall was well worth doing and it was received well by the councillors that we had put the effort into doing it.

“It was a very positive event and I absolutely think we should do it again – we have made that contact and now we need to keep it going and keep having these conversations so we can build on those relationships.

“Oftentimes people don’t know what issues we face on farm until we talk to them so I think this event was a really good opportunity to speak to councillors and I look forward to seeing what comes from it.”