Kendall elects not to stand for fifth term

Mr Kendall said it had been a huge privilege to lead the UK’s biggest farming union for eight years and that he had always intend to stand down at the end of February when his current, and fourth, term as leader ends.

The NFU started the process of electing its office holder team for 2014 during NFU Council this week and nominations for the posts of president, deputy president and vice president are being taken ahead of a closing date of Wednesday, January 15.

Hustings will be held following regional board meetings from Monday, January 27, with all nominees invited to attend, as well as full NFU members who will be able to question the candidates.

Current deputy president Meurig Raymond has confirmed he will run for president.

Reflecting on his time at the helm, Mr Kendall, who farms 620 hectares of combinable crops in East Bedfordshire, in partnership with his brother Richard, said there had been an enormous change in attitudes to farming.

“Sir John Beddington’s foresight report and three global food price spikes has meant that agriculture’s importance is being increasingly recognised,” he said.

“And there is still much work to do in many areas. I have always planned for this to be my final term in office but I will be leaving the NFU in excellent shape.

“There is a wealth of talent and experience out there among NFU members and so I look forward to the elections next year when they will select a new officeholder team to continue the NFU’s work representing and lobbying on behalf of our farmers and growers.”

Mr Kendall was voted in as president in 2006 after pipping his predecessor Tim Bennett in the ballot. Under his leadership, he has represented the union’s 55,000 members during the Foot and Mouth and blue-tongue outbreaks of 2007, reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and last year’s SOS Dairy campaign. He has been outspoken in support of badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset, referring to the pilots as “sad” but “absolutely necessary” in a letter to members and stood up for farmers who claimed they had been intimidated by protestors in the cull zones as the NFU successfully pursued an interim injunction in the High Court to deter objectors from acting unlawfully.

He was last in the region in March when he met with Yorkshire Coast branch members in Scarborough to discuss pressing local concerns.

Mr Kendall added: “To be president of the NFU is a huge privilege and I have been extremely fortunate to be part of a great team at the NFU working alongside very able and committed officeholders.

“I have been supported by the most fantastic, professional NFU staff. The breadth of knowledge, commitment and expertise available to NFU members is unsurpassed in the farming industry – and that has always made me immensely proud.”

Tribute to president’s service

Rosey Dunn, regional board chairman for the NFU’s North East branch, praised Mr Kendall for his strong leadership over the last eight years.

“We have had some challenging times and he has shown great leadership. He has championed the farming industry and represented us as members.

“He has been one of those people who has been able to pick up a brief and communicate the issues regardless of the sector or part of the country. Without doubt, Peter is going to be a hard act to follow.”