Farm News
LAA appoints new chairman
John Brereton, an auctioneer with more than 40 years’ experience, is the new chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.
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WORKING AS A SPECIALIST DEALING with all types of livestock, farm dispersal sales and agricultural properties, as a managing partner of Jones Peckover, John operates through St Asaph and Oswestry markets, and is the first Welsh chairman for several years.
His career started in the valuation office in Chester in 1971, continuing at Jones & Son, where he completed his studies and became a chartered surveyor in 1973, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1983. In 2008 he became a Fellow of the LAA.
“ I’ m delighted to take on this role at such a time of opportunity,” he said.“ The next year will celebrate 200 years of the auction mart system. We’ ve always been on the side of the farmer, and in today’ s challenging market, we all need to be working together to tell the whole story of livestock farming.”
‘ There’ s never been a more important time’
The LAA is already leading a group of key stakeholders across Britain planning a route forward for farming after Brexit. These industry bodies are determined to work together to find ways to positively support the UK and devolved Governments
as negotiations start and crucial decisions are made.
“ The industry’ s future is at stake, and future generations must be protected,” he said.“ There’ s never been a more important time- it’ s been crucial that we’ re clear and articulate, and provide a strong voice.”
CPA appoints new chief executive
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SARAH MUKHERJEE, CURRENTLY Director of Environment at Water UK, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association, taking over from Nick von Westenholz, who will be moving to the NFU as Director of EU Exit and
International Trade in the New Year. Sarah will take up the role on the 13th March 2017.
Commenting on the appointment, CPA Chairman, Gary Mills-Thomas said:
“ I am delighted that we have been able to appoint someone with such a wealth of expertise and knowledge as the Association’ s Chief Executive.
“ As the crop protection sector continues to face significant political and regulatory pressures, which will only be magnified by the process of Brexit, Sarah’ s experience working with senior civil servants, politicians and regulators will be hugely valuable.
“ Sarah has an excellent track record in communicating often very complex ideas to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, and I believe she will bring strong leadership and a fresh approach to the opportunities and challenges that our industry currently faces.
“ In the interim it will be business as usual at the CPA, the organisation is in excellent shape and will continue to effectively represent the crop protection industry ahead of Sarah beginning work in March.” Sarah said of her appointment:“ I am delighted to be taking up such a crucial post at such a pivotal time for the industry. Brexit and the post-CAP regime will bring both challenge and opportunity to the crop protection sector, within a context of population growth and climate change.
“ We need to balance the needs of the environment and sustainable farming with the requirement to feed a growing population, and I very much look forward to taking on these issues next year.”
18 Dec / Jan 2017 www. farmers-mart. co. uk