Farming Minister Victoria Prentis faced a grilling by local farmers during a visit to a farm in Upton-upon-Severn covering areas ranging from staff recruitment to the current drought.

The Minister, who is MP for Banbury, visited Pegoty Hedge farm in Upton to talk to a delegation of local farmers as part of a visit to the county.

The meeting was hosted by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin who joined her colleague discussing some of the many challenges faced by the farming community beyond the pandemic and Brexit.

Harriett said:

“It was great to have the Farming Minister coming to visit and as a farmer herself, she is well aware of the challenges being faced by business owners up and down the land.

“We were able to pick up some urgent issues which she promised to look into, including some of the challenges recruiting staff to pick crops – which is something I have been raising on behalf of our local farmers for many years.

“I regularly meet with a delegation of National Farmers’ Union members to hear their views and I always find these conversations to be constructive.

“I am grateful for the Minister for taking the time to visit and hope local views will be taken into account when the Government continues to hone its support for the agricultural and horticultural sectors.”

Photo: NFU branch chairman Oliver Surman with Harriett Baldwin MP and Farming Minister Victoria Prentis MP