“IT’S nice to have friends in high places.”
That was the message from Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) and Teesdale farmers who enjoyed a cup of tea and slice of cake with the Prince of Wales during an official visit to County Durham last week.
Prince Charles was in the area to officially open Darlington Farmers’ Auction Matr (DFAM) on Tuesday, April 5.
He was in good spirits during the visit when he met privately with Utass’ Richard Betton and Bob Danby and Teesdale and Weardale farmers Caroline Collin, William Emmerson, Paul Johnson, Rueben Atkinson and John Walton to discuss the challenges faced in the farming industry.
Mr Betton said: “It was a huge honour to meet the Prince of Wales. I think he gave us more time than we expected.
“I felt very privileged to have a private conversation during a public visit with the heir to the throne.
“He is very familiar with the problems of farming, particularly hill farming.”
The 15-minute meeting in Dot’s Café at DFAM touched on the growing costs of energy, fertiliser, grain and labour as well as the ongoing structural changes in the sector.
Mr Betton added: “He [Prince Charles] can raise awareness and it is nice to have friends in high places.
“It has never been properly acknowledged in the media, but long before the government raised it as a white paper, he was discussing this. He has been ahead of the game and it is good to have him on our side.”
Conversations touched on changes to agricultural payments and the effect they will have on hill and tenant farmers.
Mr Betton said: “There seems to be a knowledge gap between the policy makers and the farming community and the Prince of Wales recognises that. We have a government which is looking at rewilding rather than food production.”
It is not the first time Utass members have had the opportunity to chat with Prince Charles and Mr Danby said the latest meeting was a “pleasure”.
He added: “He has a keen interest in the farming community.
“He wasn’t told anything that he doesn’t know. Over the years we have had several meetings.
“It is an absolute pleasure talking to him and he had a bit of a giggle. It was scheduled to be ten-minute meeting, but he had to be prized away,” he added.
