Verity Richards

Born in Herefordshire 💕 Studied in Exeter 👩‍🎓 Work in Agriculture 🚜 Lived in 🇧🇪
Currently Chief Dairy Adviser at the NFU 🐄

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

@astephj1 @bellkneesurgeon @hjluks Hiding the keys should also work 🤔🙄

[NFU Dairy @NFU_Dairy]

They say it takes a village...and dairy farming is no different. Do you know of an exceptional team or are you part of one? Nominate below for the @dairyawards 'Dairy Team' award sponsored by @NFUtweets

https://t.co/9VgfIbyhMI

[NFU Dairy @NFU_Dairy]

A really strong panel, covering a lot of key topics at our #NFU25 Dairy Fringe Session and ending with a few inspiring comments about why being an @NFUtweets member right now is so important #united 💪🐄👏🚜

[No Farmers, No Food @NoFarmsNoFoods]

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness delivers a great speech in the parliamentary inheritance tax on family farms debate:

It is possible to challenge one’s Government. I said to my Whips then that the best service we could do the Government was to prevent them from doing something stupid, harmful and alienating to voters. I hope that Government Members can see that, because the Opposition cannot change this. People outside say to me, “Can we get this changed?” It is actually up to Labour MPs. They have the majority. Democracy is not about having a majority and doing what one likes. Democracy is about listening and doing what the now Prime Minister told the NFU when he said:

“You deserve a Government that listens, that heeds early warnings”.

There are one or two warnings about. Listen, change: if the Government change, four years on, no one will remember the U-turn. Whatever civil servants say—they are always very keen to stick with a policy—if it is wrong, stop doing it. And this is wrong. In the minute and 20 seconds I have left, let me say why it is so wrong. We have touched on the various elements, but I am not sure we have pulled it all together.

We have a really peculiar group of businesspeople in this country; they are called farmers. They take a return on capital—the millions they have invested in their farms—that is typically less than 1%. There is nobody that I am aware of—no business I was ever involved in—that would remotely consider continuing in an industry that paid less than 1%. These farmers take a pittance and get up at 4 o’clock in the morning for the privilege. They look after the animals and it does not matter if they are ill; they cannot carry their employment rights and go, “I’m not well, I shouldn’t have to go out,” because the cows do not care: they have to go out and look after them, and then they get less than 1% return.

Those farmers, the most beneficent public-minded businesspeople in the whole country, then provide excellent food at among the lowest prices in Europe. If ever there were a business that we would not want to go and mess with, it is these—I should not say it, because I will make enemies of them.

We must understand how remarkable it is that there is a whole group of businesspeople who take practically nothing from their business, work all the hours God gives, and provide us with some of the finest food in the world at among the lowest prices in Europe. Why would we want to mess with that? Not only do they do that, but they brainwash their children from the earliest age so that they carry on doing it. These people are in indentured service to the nation, providing food while making very little profit. They do it willingly and, in fact, love it: it is their life. To go and mess with them out of some stupid, socialist spite is ridiculous and absurd, and Government Members know that—the hon. Member for North Northumberland certainly does, and he should lead his colleagues to tell the Chancellor to change course, just as we did in 2012 when George Osborne got it wrong.”

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

Great turnout for the Hereford @NFUtweets National Day of Unity, asking the public to #BackBritishFarming and #StopTheFamilyFarmTax. Some great photos coming in from events across the UK 👏💪🚜🐄

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

Three inspiring women speaking @Semex #SemexConf25 conference this afternoon on all things sustainability, biosecurity and dairy. So much knowledge and talent on one stage 👏 @sjtomo157 @Minette_Batters @HelenDent94

[Nick von Westenholz @nvonwestenholz]

I would urge anyone taking this as "the truth" to proceed with caution, for the following reasons:

[Rachael Burford @RachaelBurford]

“Farmers of the future” cycling their way around Parliament Square in toy tractors after (adult) protesters were told they would face arrest for blocking London roads with their vehicles

[Headys farm @HeadysFarm]

Hi, I am heading to Westminster tomorrow to talk to my MP and join the peaceful farmers rally. The @UKLabour party’s changes to agricultural inheritance tax will cripple family farms and needs to be reversed. I hope to see you there! #familyfarmtax #FarmersProtest

[FarmingUK @FarmingUK]

“This awful family farm tax has to be overturned”

Farmers in their thousands prepare to descend on Westminster tomorrow to protest against the recent budget 🚜 🪧

[Tim Farron @timfarron]

Top Tip for Conservative MPs: donning a Barbour and smiling for the camera at the rally tomorrow, will not absolve you of guilt for betraying British farmers over the last 5 years, chucking them under the bus in trade deals and slashing farm payments. Apologise or don’t turn up.

[NFU Dairy @NFU_Dairy]

An exciting opportunity to become the @NFUtweets Dairy Adviser has come up! We are looking for someone with a strong knowledge of agri. policy to join the team & champion British dairy farmers at this pivotal time for the industry. Find out more here: https://t.co/sLGEM00uPt

[NFU Dairy @NFU_Dairy]

🛑🐄🛑Join the @NFUtweets Dairy Board! Are you a forward thinking, active dairy farmer with a strong understanding of the sector, interested in championing UK dairy farmers? Applications are now open to become a national appointee! Find out more here: https://t.co/YZjgmrvXQL

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

@mikeacthomas Sorry to hear Mike, look after yourself x

[Ben Briggs @Ben1Briggs]

A standing ovation for ⁦@Minette_Batters⁩ at the end of her final presidential address to conference #NFU24

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

A significant moment in the campaign for fair, functioning supply chains where producers do not take all the risk and contracts are negotiated business agreements which both parties adhere to 👏🐄🌟

[NFU Dairy @NFU_Dairy]

At #NFU24 Conference,where the PM @10DowningStreet has just announced dairy contract regulation will be laid before @UKParliament tomorrow: fair contracts, transparent prices, strong supply chains 💪🐄📝

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

Shout out to @navaratnampart1 and his @NuffieldFarming report on BPOC in farming. As 33% of UK children identify as BPOC, would a more reflective future workforce reduce the gap between food production&the consumer? Important questions & an important discussion, to be continued…

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

Great to be joined by @DrDowhittle to discuss diversity in ag. at the @NFU_Dairy Board. Strong focus on equity & inclusivity and understanding different barriers - as a sector with labour shortages can we afford not to ensure our industry attracts people from all backgrounds? 1/2

[Verity Richards @verityrichards_]

Supporting local dairy farmers on #WorldMilkDay So lucky to work in this fantastic industry with so many passionate, inspiring and hardworking people, cheers! #backbritishfarming #lovedairy #drinkmilk #yesiknowtheyarenotdairycows 🥛🐄♥️