STUART Roberts, deputy president of the NFU, has announced he will not seek re-election or nomination for any of the national positions after four years as a union officeholder.

The news came in an email sent to NFU Council and forum chairs last week after nominations opened for the next round of elections, due to take place in February

2022.

Reflecting on the last four years, Mr Roberts said it had been a pleasure to work alongside Minette Batters, Tom Bradshaw and Guy Smith, as well as John Davies and Aled Jones in NFU Cymru and that he had found the tenure, as vice (2018) and deputy (2020) president, to be ’equal parts demanding, rewarding, enjoyable and at times frustrating’. “Farmers face challenges like never before and must balance a host of ever-changing and competing priorities,” he wrote.“As consumers and governments ask more of the people who feed our nation, I am proud of the progress the NFU has made in telling farming’s story, highlighting water issues, celebrating diversity and inclusion and raising the profile of farmers’ mental health.I am grateful for all of the experiences I have had with the NFU, but particularly for the friendships I have gained.,”