NFU’s new Norfolk county adviser John Newton comes back to his roots

A farming adviser is coming back to his roots to take on a key role within Norfolk's agricultural community.

John Newton has been appointed as the Norfolk county adviser for the National Farmers' Union (NFU), replacing Alex Dinsdale, who recently departed the job to take on a new role with Ursula Agriculture.

Mr Newton's return to the county comes almost 30 years after he first joined the NFU as assistant county secretary, working with county secretary Ken Leggett in the office in Ber Street, Norwich.

After the regionalisation of the union, Mr Newton became livestock specialist for East Anglia before working as national egg specialist, and then as national poultry adviser. He left in 2003 to become a senior poultry consultant with ADAS. 'Much has changed in farming in Norfolk in the last 30 years, but one thing that has not changed is the need for Norfolk farmers to have a powerful voice to represent their interests,' he said. 'I believe that they need the NFU more today than ever before

'Working with Ken Leggett taught me the importance of going that extra mile to help NFU farming members. Norfolk has been blessed with excellent county secretaries and advisers in the past and I aim to maintain this tradition.

'I look forward to meeting and working with new members and renewing my relationships with those farmers that I knew during my last spell in Norfolk.'

Pamela Forbes, the NFU's regional director for East Anglia, said: 'Our county adviser positions are all about listening to, and working with, members in the heart of their community and striving to make a difference on their behalf.

'John's extensive knowledge and experience, as well as his passion for agriculture, will prove invaluable and he will be a real asset to this team.'