Paul joins new-look team (From Gazette & Herald)

Paul joins new-look team

DRIFFIELD cereals and beef producer Paul Temple is the new vice-president of the National Farmers' Union.

He was elected at the NFU's national annual meting in Birmingham and completes a new-look presidential team, headed up by the new president, Bedfordshire arable farmer, Peter Kendall.

Paul had his first position with the NFU back in 1998 as Driffield branch chairman, before moving on to become county chairman for Yorkshire East Riding in 2000 and council representative for Yorkshire East Riding in 2001.

He became chairman of the regional combinable crops board in November 2003 and a year later took on the role of vice chairman of the national combinable crops board. His other roles include chairman of the Cereals, Oilseeds and Proteins Working Group of COPA-COGECA - the voice of cereal producers in the enlarged EU 25.

Paul farms 380 hectares at Driffield, producing a range of combinable crops and raising 150 suckler cows plus store cattle for fattening on home-produced feeds.

He said: "There's no doubt we can expect an exciting two years, but we are under no illusions about the work that needs to be done."

Paul, 44, is married to Alison and has two children, Laura, 18 and Michael, 16. Both children are interested in going into agriculture, so Paul says that is one of the forces driving him on. "It's crucial we achieve a thriving, exciting and profitable industry for our children to inherit," he said.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, March 08, 2006