NFU backs poultry planning applications in Shropshire

The NFU believes larger broiler businesses, alongside other more traditional poultry farms, are vital to expand the chicken industry to meet rising demand from shoppers.

Yesterday it was announced that two major Shropshire poultry firms were planning to expand their businesses.

Hundreds of jobs are set to be created at Faccenda's Hortonwood plant in Telford, as it announced it is set to increase the number of chickens it handles by 30 per cent to 1.3 million. It will make the company one of the town's biggest employers.

Meanwhile, Manor Farm in Felton Butler, near Shrewsbury, has put forward £1 million plans to house up to another 84,000 chickens on site.

Pryce and Son Ltd, which runs Manor Farm, wants to add two poultry sheds to the seven already on site and another three feed bins.

Helen Cork, NFU Shropshire adviser, said: "The production of British poultry meat in the UK is rising year on year to meet this demand and reached record levels last year.

"Poultry meat is the most popular meat consumed in the UK and its market share has risen from just under 24 per cent in 1985 to 41 per cent in 2012.

"Growth in the market is forecast to continue and new sheds in Shropshire enable farmers to expand the production of fresh poultry meat for the UK market and benefit the rural economy.

"In terms of local benefits such sites create local employment and contribute to retaining jobs in areas where employment and opportunities are vitally important.

"In addition local agricultural businesses will benefit as a percentage of the wheat that will be fed to the birds will be sourced from local farms.

"Local suppliers of machinery and equipment and agricultural contractors will also benefit from orders.

"In addition the manure, which is a valuable source of organic matter and plant nutrients, will be made available to local farmers thus reducing their reliance on imported fertilisers."

Miss Cork said much was often made of the impact that poultry units have on the environment but larger chicken farms were regulated by the Environment Agency.

She said: "Newly built sites are able to implement the latest technology in terms of heating, ventilation, insulation, controls and feeding all of which make poultry farming a truly modern and efficient industry operating to high standards and all with a low carbon foot print.

"County farmers across all sectors produce great tasting food and ingredients for us to eat and these are produced to world beating standards.

"I would urge the public and councillors to continue to support county farmers and growers and back these types of application."

The pressure to source British is coming from consumers in part in response to the horsemeat food scandal and a wish to support British produce and businesses.

A survey of consumers carried out by the NFU in 2013 found that 86 per cent of shoppers are as likely or more likely to want to buy more food that has been produced on British farms.

A further 78 per cent agree or strongly agree that supermarkets should sell more food from British farms.