ALTON and Petersfield National Farmers’ Union members have met East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds over breakfast to update him on issues affecting farmers and growers.

Seven NFU members, representing a diverse range of farming sectors, welcomed the MP to Blackmoor Estate in Selborne, courtesy of landowner William Wolmer.

Hampshire NFU adviser Sandra Nichols gave the meeting an overview of farm incomes.

She said: “Farmers and growers lost about a third of their income in 2015. A staggering £1.5bn was wiped off farm incomes owing to a cocktail of over production of most commodities around the world and subdued demand due to slowing economies, particularly China.

“There have been two years of falling farm gate prices which has been unusual as it has covered just about every farming sector with dairy down by 33-and-a-half per cent and wheat prices down by 38 per cent in that time.”

Petersfield dairy farmer Peter Caines confirmed that this dire situation had worsened for milk producers owing to a further price cut within the past few weeks.

A wide range of issues were discussed, ranging from crop protection and protecting pollinators to the NFU’s pleas for the Government to mitigate the impacts of the national living wage on growers’ businesses.

NFU members and the MP enjoyed a full English breakfast provided by Julia Britten, the wife of Blackmoor Estate manager John Britten. Mr Hinds also toured some of the estate’s orchards.

Farmers present at the meeting included William Wolmer (fruit, Blackmoor Estate), John Britten (Blackmoor Estate), Andrew Shirvell (arable), Peter Caines (dairy), Andrew Luff (horticulture), Andrew Bray (sheep), Andrew Mckenzie (poultry) and Sandra Nichols (NFU adviser), as well as Alton and Petersfield NFU group secretary Richard Buer and Patrick Govier, Alton and Petersfield NFU/NFU Mutual.