THE NFU is to undergo the biggest structural changes in its 95-year history.

The changes are expected to save the NFU £2.3m in the next financial year.

They include moving its headquarters from London to Warwickshire and major changes to committee and staffing structures.

The national annual meeting approved a radical and comprehensive review, the details of which have now been approved by council.

The main changes involve replacing all current committees with national commodity boards for the dairy, crops, livestock, horticulture, sugar and poultry sectors.

There will be major changes to staffing within policy, finance and internal services, and business and regions' directorates; the public affairs department will become the communications directorate and a director of communications being appointed.

A new composition for the NFU Council - the governing body - will include county chairmen, and the post of treasurer will be discontinued.

A new policy board will manage the NFU's policy work and priorities, and the NFU board will be redesignated as the NFU governance board, overseeing financial strategy and budget, and a new audit committee.

Sir Ben Gill, NFU president, said the world in which farming operated was changing rapidly, not least through the major reforms of the CAP.

"The NFU itself has not stood still," he said, "but too many of our structures and practices were designed for a past that no longer exists."

The membership had asked for radical reforms.

"We believe these are the biggest set of reforms in the NFU's history," said Sir Ben. "We are convinced they will ensure it is effective, relevant and affordable and will set the NFU on course for continued success in the next century."

A new HQ will be built in Warwickshire, making any move from London unlikely before the end of 2004. Potential sites are being examined.

Jobs will go, although the NFU could not say how many. Wherever possible, affected staff will be re-deployed.

Other changes agreed by council included the payment of an honorarium to leading members and the establishment of a formal regional board in each of the NFU's English regions.

Following outside advice, council will continue to elect national officeholders.