THE NFU will again be on the road this autumn in a bid to engage with senior politicians during party conference season.

Fringe events are being held at all three main party conferences to ensure food and farming is kept at the top of the political agenda during the coming year.

The season kicks off with the Liberal Democrats in Birmingham on September 19, where the NFU will team up with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) to ask the question; are the Liberal Democrats being heard on food and farming issues?

Another joint FDF event will be held at the Labour conference in Liverpool on September 26. As the Labour party carries out its extensive review of party policy, the question for the panel, including shadow Defra Secretary Mary Creagh, will be; what can Labour offer the food and farming sectors in the policy review?

The final fringe meeting takes place at the Conservative party conference in Manchester on October 3. The full Defra ministerial team, including Secretary of State Caroline Spelman and Minister for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice, will be on the panel to discuss the Government’s forthcoming sustainable food strategy and whether we can improve the environment while increasing food production.

NFU senior parliamentary adviser Matt Ware said: “These fringe events are an important part of the NFU’s lobbying efforts and allow us to maximise and maintain influence with politicians and delegates from all three main parties and even more importantly, the machinery of government.

“They also give MPs the opportunity to outline and endorse their policies on major issues facing agriculture such as bovine TB and CAP and to engage directly with our farmer members.”

All fringe events are open to NFU members who are welcome to attend.