New adviser to serve East Yorkshire and Moors farmers

Rebecca Hesketh has joined the union as the new York East county adviser covering the East Riding of Yorkshire and most of the North York Moors.

Growing up on her family’s mixed farm in West Lancashire, Ms Hesketh studied agriculture at Newcastle University before taking a farm management traineeship at G’s, a horticultural supply company based in Cambridgeshire and progressing into the role of crop manager at the same firm.

Her horticultural experience will come in useful in an area of Yorkshire that is home to many horticultural growers who produce everything from poinsettias to peas.

Ms Hesketh said she was pleased to have joined the NFU at such a pivotal time for agriculture. The first stage of the NFU’s post-Brexit membership consultation came to a close in England yesterday.

“Given the current political issues we face, this is no time to shy away from difficult discussions about the direction that farmers want the industry to take,” Ms Hesketh said.

“It is a great opportunity to be part of this debate and to ensure that the views of farmers in my patch are well represented.

“My challenge initially is to pursue every opportunity to meet our local members and discuss the aspirations they have for the industry.”

Ms Hesketh assumes the county adviser role vacated by Lucinda Douglas who has joined the union’s team in Scarborough as a group secretary.