In the good old days the British public loved their farmers, but a
recent poll by MORI says we now view them as animal abusing,
money-grabbing bumpkins. In response, the National Farmers Union is
stepping up its PR effort in an attempt to portray its members as
sensitive, cow-loving types.
The NFU’s annual conference, to be held at Ardingly, Sussex on November
20, will debate public perceptions of farming and it has lined up top
industry figures to speak. These include the Rockefeller of arable
cultivation Oliver Walston, editor of The Archers Graham Harvey, and the
chairman of the NFU’s public affairs committee Mary James.
Sue Scott, regional public relations officer for the NFU, said: ’The NFU
has not been renowned for its finesse in the past, but is learning to
position itself as a class act with a polished image.’
However the Union may face a hard task convincing the British media that
farming is a modern, principled industry. Recent PR battles over BSE,
farmers pocketing EU cash in return for not bothering to plant crops on
their land and the increasing use of pesticides have all taken their
toll.
As Scott admits: ’Its going to take a few decades to change public
perceptions back toward a positive view of farmers.’
