Around 30 members of the farming and business community attended a discussion panel at Soulton Hall last week.

The informal event was an opportunity to network with peers as well as listen to the views of agricultural experts about the challenges facing farming in North Shropshire and nationally.

Helen Morgan MP put together the panel of expert representatives to listen to and directly address the concerns of farming constituents across North Shropshire.

She said, “Farming is essential to the rural economy and is the backbone of North Shropshire, nobody can better understand the challenges facing agriculture than those directly involved in the industry.”

Topics raised and discussed at the event included how to ensure that children get a healthy meal in school, how urban Britain and the national food supply relies on rural areas and how concerns over farming such as the Australian trade deal are existential.

Following the event Mrs Morgan added, “It was a real privilege to host former NFU leader Stuart Roberts and Professors Ken Sloan and Michael Lee from Harper Adams University who made it a really interesting evening. I’ll be taking their ideas forward locally, regionally and in Parliament”

Roger Ashton who farms at Brockhurst Farm near Wem attended the event and said,“I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to the views of the guest speakers and other farmers across North Shropshire and for our opinions to be taken seriously.

"It is reassuring to know that Helen Morgan will be raising our concerns in Parliament.”