Overview

A lyrical and powerful memoir-meets-manifesto by Britain's leading voice in agriculture, life-long farmer Minette Batters Minette Batters was the first female president of the National Farmers' Union in its 109-year history. During that time, she fought tooth and nail for the interests of farmers, never afraid to put her head above the parapet. But Minette's expertise in British farming spanned many more years than her presidency. In fact, the union was the third act of a life lived at the heart of the farming community- first, she was born and raised on a farm and, even after her father warned her there was no future in farming, her heart brought her home to take over the family farm. In her third act, as advocate for the UK's farming industry, she became not only a life-long farmer but the most visible agriculture expert in the UK, at a time when Brexit, Covid and international conflict has pushed our farms, and our food production, to a state of crisis. So, who better to understand how British farming really works? Blending memoir and manifesto, this book will be a powerful insight into the real life of farmers, a love letter to British rural life, and a rallying cry to save it - and how.

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9781529953893

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Reviews

Minette Batters was one of the few people in our public life to come out of the chaos following BREXIT with her reputation enhanced - no small feat for a tenant farmer and caterer who was, initially, scared of public speaking. This book tells her story. As our politics descended in to La La Land she tried to combat the nonsense. She was a bastion of common sense about how much we need farmers, and how screwed up our food system was becoming. As the first woman president of the National Farmers Union, her mantra was that she would strive not to mess it up for the women that followed. She more than achieved that, becoming the most impressive leader farmers have had for a very long time. She came to transcend agriculture - a powerful voice for things that matter. -- James Rebanks, author of 'The Place of Tides', 'English Pastoral' and 'The Shepherd's Life'

One of the few people in public life to come of Brexit with her reputation enhanced – no small feat for a tenant farmer and caterer with a fear of public speaking. A bastion of common sense about how much we needed farmers, she is the most impressive leader farmers have had for a very long time. As the first woman president of the NFU she has transcended agriculture, becoming a powerful voice for things that matter. -- James Rebanks, author of 'The Place of Tides', 'English Pastoral' and 'The Shepherd's Life' Her passion for British agriculture shines through in everything she does. * Farmer's Weekly *

Author Information

Minette Batters is an award-winning British farmer who was the president of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales from 2018 to 2024. She has been a member of the House of Lords since 2024, and has run Barford Park Farm for decades. She is one of the most respected voices in British agriculture, advising both farmers and government, and is a columnist for Country Life.

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