Essex farmers will be raising a glass to 100 years of farming history as the county National Farmers’ Union (NFU) branch marks its centenary on Thursday.
They will be joining current county chairman Patrick Wreathall in a toast to the NFU at a location that has also played an important role in farming – Case New Holland’s Basildon tractor plant.
The factory, formerly the Ford tractor plant, is celebrating its 50 year anniversary this year and farmers will tour the site before NFU director general Andy Robertson leads the toasts. Other guests at the event include NFU vice president and Essex farmer Guy Smith, NFU regional director Pamela Forbes and former county chairmen.
Patrick, who runs an arable and turkey farming business near Chelmsford, said: “I’m proud to be county chairman in this centenary year and delighted that so many former chairmen are attending on Thursday.
“This is a chance to celebrate everything the NFU has achieved during a century of extraordinary change for agriculture – but also to look at the challenges ahead.
“It’s also fitting that the celebration is taking place in a location that has made such a major contribution to British agriculture over the past 50 years.”
The factory has seen 1.6 million tractors roll off the production line since 1964 and currently has two kilometres of production line within its 40 hectares.
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