Minette Batters

Minette Bridget Batters (née Hill), born 1967, is the President of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales from 2018, and was vice-president 2014 - 2018.

Minette Batters
Born
Hill
OccupationFarmer
Known forPresident National Farmers' Union of England and Wales

Career

Batters is a tenant farmer of a small (300 acres) mixed farm in Wiltshire.[1] As well as the farm, she also runs a catering business and has diversified into using a renovated barn as a wedding venue. She was a co-founder of the campaigns "Ladies in Beef" and the "Great British Beef Week".[2]

She joined the NFU when she started farming and rose to be county chair and a member of several NFU committees. In 2018 she became the first woman to be president of the National Farmers Union, having been vice-president from 2014 - 2018. She was re-elected in 2020 for a second two year term as president.[1][2][3]

In her role as vice-president and then president, Batters represents the farming community at a time of great change. She has agreed a target for the NFU of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Leaving the European Union with its freedom of movement for farm labour as well as Single Market and Common Agricultural Policy will result in significant change to farming. New regulatory and transitional subsidy arrangements in the British Isles will also affect farming. Batters has supported orderly change and maintenance of high standards in UK agriculture. She had made a working relationship with Michael Gove while he was secretary of state for the environment.[4] She encourages working with the government on agriculture and trade policies so that the farming community can produce food that is globally competitive while also improving the environment and mitigating climate change.[5]

Awards

In November 2020 she was included in the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power list 2020.[6]

Personal life

Batters was brought up on a tenant farm near Salisbury and always wanted to be a farmer. She attended Godolphin School, an independent school in Salisbury, Wiltshire.[7] Her father discouraged her from becoming involved in farming. When she was a teenager she worked with horses for David Elsworth, including riding over 30 winners in races. Her father encouraged her to develop a career so Batters attended catering college and then ran a catering company.[8] In 1998, when her father retired, she took over the farm's tenancy.[2]

She is married and they have two children. Her husband does not work on the farm.[9]

References
  1. "Minette Batters, NFU President". NFU. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  2. "NFU elects first female president". BBC News. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. Ryan, Chloe. "Minette Batters re-elected as NFU president". Poultry News. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  4. Baggini, Julian. "Minette Batters: Brexit has been "a face-slapping moment" for farming". New Statesman. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  5. Pelletier Marshall, Michelle. "EXECUTIVE PROFILE: Minette Batters, President of NFU". Women in Agribusiness. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  6. "Woman's Hour Power List 2020: The List". BBC Radio4. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  7. "Congratulations to OG Minnette Batters, first female president of the NFU!". Godolphin School. 22 February 2018.
  8. "Minette Batters, Desert Island Discs – BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  9. "Britain's most powerful farmer says dad would be shocked a woman's leading the NFU". ITV. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
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