Fenland Chairman of sugar board

Fenland grower William Martin has been elected chairman of the National Farmers' Union's sugar board.

He succeeds fellow fenland farmer John Hoyles, of Newton, near Wisbech, who stood down after two years of representing 4,900 growers.

Mr Martin, who used to have a dairy herd and farms at Littleport, near Ely, is also a former chairman of Cambridgeshire NFU, and has been vice-chairman of the sugar board.

Mr Martin said: "The beet industry needs to see some stability after a number of years of change and uncertainty. The European reforms continue to provide challenges but with a constructive relationship with Defra and British Sugar we aim to mitigate the effects. British Sugar must also continue to recognise the changing economic climate and the need to ensure beet can compete financially with other crops. In 2008, transport issues will be a priority for NFU Sugar..."

Mr Martin said: "I would like to pay tribute to John Hoyles who led the board through extremely difficult times. He took on the role in the knowledge that it would not be easy... But NFU Sugar achieved an awful lot in that time and it is in no small part down to John's strong leadership."

Lincolnshire farmer Nick Wells, a former vice-chairman of the sugar board, was elected for a further term.

The board elections also saw farmer Colin Holman, of Feltwell, elected as the beet reception chairman in succession to Mr Martin.

A joint campaign to vaccinate against the virus bluetongue has been launched by 12 farming organisations. The Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB) is backed by the NFU, livestock markets, vets and abattoirs, which will press for a mass vaccination of bluetongue- susceptible animals. There have been 108 outbreaks since September.

Source: Eastern Daily Press