Meet the farmers of the Isle of Wight p4
The importance of supporting one another p30
Tips for talking about the future p37
SYFAP TAKEOVER EDITION
September 2024
“Our regenerative journey benefits from butchery because it allows us to tell each animal’s story in its entirety to the customer”
Ed Harrison p10
Farming takes over the capital p8
PUBLISHED BY:
NFU, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2TZ
EDITOR:
Beth Wright beth.wright@nfu.org.uk
WORDS BY:
Beth Wright, Rhys Felton, Sian Grove, Naomi Williams-Roberts, Jon Watt, Molly Mead, Ed Harrison, Sophia Ashe, Fergus Starkey, Ben Chilman, Magnus Brown, Jessica Stewart, Hannah Benson, and James Scott
DESIGNED BY:
John Cottle
COVER IMAGE BY: Stephen Garnett
TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT: Scott Keyes scott.keyes@nfu.org.uk
We
Jon’s
Past
Molly
Jes
Magnus
The
I always feel like September marks an opportunity for a new start. It must be a hang over from my student days that makes me yearn for a new diary and pencil case - despite the fact the last time I could have realistically been called a ‘student’ was about ten years ago. Marking the start of a new academic year, and, hopefully, the start of a new season post-harvest, September is always one of my favourite months. This September, I’ve had a hand getting the magazine together from our NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors who have each written an article for this edition. We have some great stories spanning rural crime, TB, and social media. There’s also some cracking advice on new business ventures from Jon Watt and Ed Harrison, while our very own legal eagle Jes Stewart spells out some of the issues around succession and o ers some suggestions on how you can attempt to make conversations around the topic easier.
This edition also sees Naomi Williams-Roberts catch up with our old friend and mum-to-be Zoë Colville on what it means to be a woman - and indeed a mother - in the sector, and we pop over to the Isle of Wight to see how farming on the island di ers.
If, as you read these articles, you think ‘I could do that’ or if you’re keen to learn more about the Student & Young Farmer Ambassador programme, have a look at page 34 where we explain more about the programme and what it involves. Who knows, if you like the sound of it, it could be you writing a story for this magazine next time around.
We’re also due to get a brand new shiny Member Development Hub next month so keep your eyes peeled for more on that in the weeks to come!
Beth Wright, Editor, Student Farmer
COVER STORY
Sian Grove, NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador on the Isle of Wight, gives us a tour of the island, explains why farming there is diferent and introduces us to her fellow island farmers and NFU members
Lawrence Looi
I’m a frst-generation farmer – a shepherdess specifcally – and I initially got into farming through my local Young Farmers Club (YFC).
After graduating from the University of Chester with a degree in Bioveterinary Science BSc (Hons) and moving back home to the Isle of Wight, I didn’t have many friends close by, as a lot were still away studying on the mainland, so I joined the club to make some friends.
The connections I’ve made at YFC have been the trigger point to where my life is today.
Not only did I make friends, I also learned a lot about farming, met potential employers, made connections within the industry, and found a support system – the people I rely on to ask for help today as a fully-fedged shepherdess.
Joining in October 2019, I befriended Paige and Kingsley, who had their own fock of sheep. I mentioned in passing that
“In my experience, farmers can always tell when someone is keen and has that genuine enthusiasm and energy to learn. Nine times out of ten, people usually want to help guide and shape that.”
I thought sheep were “really cute” and would love to have my own. Fast-forward to March 2020, and I ended up adopting four orphan lambs and keeping them in my back garden. Lambs in lockdown.
Knowing absolutely nothing, it was daunting but exhilarating to be thrown in at the deep end looking after the lambs. Knowing I could pick up the phone at any point and ask for help, no matter how silly the question may seem, was very reassuring. No surprise that there were a LOT of phone calls!
Something that has always stuck with me is the fact that no question is too silly. A lot of the farmers I’ve met, both old and young, have been incredibly supportive, and if you don’t know something, you never will unless you ask.
In my experience, farmers can always tell when someone is keen and has that genuine enthusiasm and energy to learn. Nine times out of ten, people usually
want to help guide and shape that.
Starting with four orphans in 2020, I now have a fock of 18 breeding ewes, and have done three lambing seasons. I have also set up my own Instagram account to record the ins and outs of my shepherdessing journey, and to help provide any information to someone else new/starting out. I’m paying it back!
The farming community on the island is fantastic, and something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of. The encouragement and support I’ve received has led to me becoming chair of YFC, carrying on that inclusivity, and proving you don’t need to be from a farming background to get into the sector.
While living on an island can be amazing – in summer a beach is 10 minutes away and looks like it should be in Greece – it does have some added stresses.
an additional expense.
Isle of Wight
Our island landscape is forever changing, with the sea and weather causing land slips, making the available farmland that bit smaller. Although everyone is supportive, there is an element of awareness that we only have a certain amount of land available – the UK as a whole is an island, but the Isle of Wight even more so – once you reach the sea, there is literally nowhere else to go. There is also currently no abattoir on the island, meaning all livestock have to go on a boat to the mainland. Not only does it add extra travel time, but it can also be tricky if a boat is cancelled due to poor weather or technical issues. It goes almost without saying that this also adds
For livestock sales, there is only one auction that takes place: the Gilten Market, in late November. So, to sell stock also involves a ferry trip. However, Gilten Market is a key date in the island’s farming calendar; an opportunity for local farmers to showcase their prized fat stock and to get together socially, as is the annual Ploughing Match, which takes place in late September, and provides an opportunity for the farming community to get together. Similarly with showing, not only do we need to pay for the entry fee and petrol like everyone else, we have the added cost of the boat, with the exception being the Royal Isle of Wight County Show, which showcases the very best of the island’s produce and livestock, and is continuously growing both in size and reputation. The event, which I manage in my role as the secretary of the Royal Isle of Wight County Show, also provides the perfect opportunity for the general public to interact with the local farming community, helping to bridge the gap between producer and consumer.
I’m incredibly grateful for the people that have supported me in my journey and I, quite literally, couldn’t have done it without them. My ambition is to continue to be an ambassador for British farming, and to encourage a least one person into believing that they can become a part of the farming industry, because what a fantastic and diverse industry we are.
Follow Sian on Instagram: @sians_woolly_wonder
Based in Newchurch, The Garlic Farm is a third-generation family business producing more than 60 diferent products with garlic from mayonnaise to beer. Led today by directors Natasha and Barnaby Edwards, the farm started when Natasha’s grandparents moved to the Isle of Wight and planted the frst cloves of garlic in their garden more than 60 years ago. Their children – Natasha’s parents – picked up the mantle when they joined the farm in the 1970s and growing garlic has since become something of a specialism.
“I grew up cleaning and plaiting garlic, that was the norm for me,” Natasha says. “I was always doing all kinds of garlicky stuf.”
The business, which is B Corp certifed, has continued to develop and now boasts a shop and restaurant, with all of its farmland now converted to organic.
“We have a herd of Highland and Hereford cows and about 60 goats, which we rotate around our land as part of our soil health programme to help us develop healthier crops and to also boost biodiversity. That’s embedded into our mission statement now.”
Natasha’s husband Barnaby is responsible for the regenerative drive which, as a frst generation farmer, he says has been quite the learning curve.
“I was born on the island but moved to London where I lived and worked for 20 years and then moved back about 10 years ago.”
While it’s been tough going at times, Barnaby and Natasha both credit support from like-minded farmers on the island that have banded together as a community to share ideas and support one another in their regenerative practices.
“The learning I am doing on the island with those who are open to farming in this way is extremely well supported and massively collaborative,” Barnaby says.
Natasha adds: “We are a small community and we have the opportunity to really collaborate together and that is happening more than ever.
“That’s one of the really great things about being on the island.”
Newlyweds Becca and James Osman run Warren Farm in Alum Bay, near the iconic Needles. In addition to being a working farm, it is also home to a number of diversifcation ventures, including a farm and cofee shop, the Wight Horsebox Bar, and more recently, has become something of a wedding venue – hosting seven such events over the past two summers, one of which was James and Becca’s nuptials earlier this summer.
Spanning 380 acres, the farm has been in the family for more than 50 years and James’ mother started its diversifcation journey back in 2000 when she started ofering cream teas from her kitchen window. James’ brother Chris now runs the farm shop and bar, with his partner Isabel.
The couple farm Hereford and Sussex cattle and recently introduced Hebridean and Herdwick sheep – a venture proposed by Becca who hails from a sheep farm in Lancashire.
“It’s a really interesting place to live and farm,” James says. “You feel it on the ferry on the way over; we have a real island culture and there’s a huge emerging food culture where we have some very good restaurants and you see people coming over from London, for instance, to eat at them. That all links to our local food vibe and allows us as farmers to tell our own stories and really push the farm to fork narrative.”
The island comes with its challenges though – namely exactly that, that it is an island.
“Everything we buy or sell has to travel on a ferry, which of course, comes with a higher price,” James explains.
“Potentially the biggest challenge for our business though is that we don’t have an abattoir on the island. That’s a big challenge. We have to factor the costs into the business
and plan ahead as much as we’re able. We have a lorry that goes to the mainland every two weeks and if we can’t get a space, then we just have to wait. We have a good working relationship with the other farmers, and we try and make it all work, but it it’s far from ideal, especially if we lived just across the water we could just load up the trailer and go.”
Supporting on the family sheep farm, independent farm consultant and NFU county chair Robyn wears many hats, including another as the project manager for the Wight Rural Hub. This role sees her deliver interventions for and on behalf of the Hub under the Defra Future Farm Resilience Fund to beneft and support farmers and land managers on the island. Once again, it clearly shows that collaboration and supporting each other within the farming community is the way forward on the island.
“We have run seminars and workshops on topics such as diversifcation, intercropping, soil health and agroforestry. These sessions are delivered by both an expert in the feld and a farmer, so it’s a bit of double act in the sense that it’s peer-to-peer but you also have that knowledge exchange,” she says.
“It’s been a fantastic asset to the island. Not only through knowledge sharing but also the social element because we don’t have markets, we don’t have the same opportunities for farmers to come together like there are on the mainland. That we do these sessions once a month, and they run throughout the winter too, gives people at least one evening where they can get out, share
best practice and also stay and have a chat and something to eat.
“The social side of things is massively important. Our industry is becoming increasingly isolated and the chance for people to come together is hugely important. It can also be benefcial to business. We’ve had some good examples, one of which is where two people sat together over dinner and one of them was selling eggs and doing some bacon. The other had a holiday let and as a result of the meeting, they then collaborated on breakfast hampers. That would never have happened without the meeting.
“The industry is facing challenge after challenge at the moment and it’s isolating. Mental health is identifed again and again as an issue. But if you can go and sit in a room with other people that are facing the same issues, it just makes it a little bit easier. There might be a few positives that come out of the conversation, but actually just knowing that you’re not alone, that helps.”
“Our industry is becoming increasingly isolated and the chance for people to come together is hugely important”
As we went to press, the NFU had just held Back British Farming Day – a celebration that underlines the true value of farming to rural communities
On 11 September more than 180 MPs, Peers and NFU members came together to mark the ninth Back British Farming Day, to celebrate Britain’s farmers and growers and to hear the NFU make the case for a greater budget for agriculture ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.
“This is a pivotal moment for us,” sad NFU President Tom Bradshaw, who noted that the event marked the first Back British Farming Day with a new government in place.
“We look forward to working with you to deliver on the Labour manifesto commitments, including a trade strategy that promotes the highest standards when it comes to food production.
“The recognition that food security is national security is very welcome. It’s long overdue, but it must move beyond words and turn into practical policy that really enables the industry to thrive.”
Tom called for science and evidencebased policy making, Defra schemes that deliver for farming and the environment, wherever you farm, and a workable planning system for farming.
“But the immediate priority is to secure the investment required to enable our members to deliver the government’s
economic and environmental missions all while feeding the nation,” he said.
is fundamental to all of the government’s missions and that he was aware confidence was at near record lows.
“There is an awful lot to deal with, but I am determined this is a government that will be on your side in finding solutions to these challenges.”
Mr Reed referenced Defra’s ‘new deal for farmers’ which includes plans:
• to protect farmers in trade deals
• to make supply chains fairer ‘and stop farmers and food producers being unfairly squeezed at the bottom of the supply chain’
• for a veterinary agreement with the EU to ‘get food exports moving’
• to speed up the building of flood defences and planning decisions
• For a cross-government strategy to tackle rural crime
• For rural mental health hubs in every community
Responding to NFU calls for action on the budget, Mr Reed said this will form part of the spending review, but he said he was “making the case to the Treasury to maximise support for farmers – I will fight your corner in this process and I’ll confirm plans for the schemes and our wider approach as soon as possible”.
“Key to achieving this is that multi-year budget that gives the confidence to invest in the future,” he added, announcing the NFU’s call to action for farmers to write to their MPs, outlining the need for a greater budget for farming.
“Agriculture is a multi-generational industry, we don’t work in months or years, we work in decades and we need that ability to invest for the future.
“In opposition, the new government consistently made clear its commitment to agriculture as a key driver of growth and they must roll over the underspend of over £350 million which was announced yesterday.”
Defra Secretary Steve Reed said farming
He committed to working with farmers on all decisions that affect the industry.
The reception, kindly sponsored by Dr Caroline Johnson MP, saw NFU members from across the regions and Wales engage with MPs and explain both the challenges the industry faces and the solutions that the government could implement.
Tom invited MPs in the room to come out on farm and find out how farming shapes their constituency.
“There’s no better way to understand farming than seeing it first-hand and the NFU are here to help,” he said.
Go to NFUonline.com/ag-budget/ to use our tool to write to your MP today.
w ith key stakeholders and support ing the UK agr icult ural indust ry.
Ambassador Ed Harrison explains how he got into the ancient art of butchery and shares his top tips on knowing your sirloin from your rump
Stephen Garnett
Growing up on my parents’ farm (mainly dairy, but with beef and sheep) and working there full time until I was 24, I had no idea that this would be the route I would take. The dairy farm was good, but I felt I had reached the end of my ability there and yearned for something new. We were considering trying to get a farm tenancy somewhere to try to regeneratively farm with a suckler herd and sheep.
However, we started thinking that we have this opportunity where we have the time and fnances to take things slow and really explore what we want to do before jumping head-frst into the next big project. As we were contemplating which direction to start looking, an opportunity came up at a local on-farm butchery to learn the skill. It was something diferent and would increase my knowledge, so I thought I would have a go. Although it
“Being able to butcher is one of the most ancient and valuable skills. When it comes to cutting and crushing meat, we have come a long way since our early human ancestors used stone tools!”
wasn’t a path I had anticipated taking, going into butchery has been a fantastic way for me to increase my opportunities, knowledge, and skills. The knowledge I gained beforehand from the farm, of the Simmental/Fleckvieh X cows and Easycare sheep meant that I had a wide base to increase from.
Anything I can learn that may provide another string to my bow is much appreciated. I have always and will always want to farm, but now with my experience from the butchery side under my belt I hope to become an even better farmer.
My experience as a butcher has improved my ability to farm and raise livestock. We now have a small farm where we run all our cows and sheep regeneratively and are getting a larger farm tenancy soon. Observing the carcasses and animals as they pass through the
butchery, representing various breeds, systems, and degrees of fnish, as well as conversing with the farmers, has improved my understanding of animal fnishing and provided me with ideas for utilising various systems.
Being able to butcher is one of the most ancient and valuable skills. When it comes to cutting and crushing meat, we have come a long way since our early human ancestors used stone tools! It’s also fascinating to observe how other countries prepare their carcasses and experiment with various styles and cuts as there are so many distinct methods and styles used throughout the world.
Our regenerative journey benefts from butchery because it allows us to tell each animal’s story in its entirety to the customer. Farming in a way that improves natural biological diversity and improves livestock health and welfare includes what happens to the animals after they have left the farm. This includes the journey to the abattoir and to the butchery and then to the end consumer. We need to be looking at the entire journey not just the farm to wagon. When I was only on the farm, I had a general understanding of the diferences in
meat quality between grass-fed and grainfed cattle, as well as how some breeds afect quality. However, all of the information I had was from advertisements, so it was biased. I had seen too few comparisons between breeds to be able to reliably give an opinion. However, now that I have worked with a wide range of carcass breeds I am able to say that it most certainly depends on the breed, but equally the management and what the animal is fed. It takes all of the above to be correct to have the best quality meat. You can have a massive carcass from a grain-fed continental breed that will produce hundreds of kilos worth of meat, but will it have the favour? Probably not. You can have a small native British breed being grass fed all its life that will produce an amazing favour of meat, but will there be enough to feed the village? Probably not. It is entirely up to the farmer which one he wants to aim for: is it the quality or is it the quantity? And likewise it’s entirely up to the consumer which one they want to buy.
For me, I’m aiming to go down the middle with regenerative farming, moving native cows onto new, mixed-species pasture every day means they can get the most densely nutrient packed grasses and
1 KNOW YOUR HEAT SOURCE; GAS/ CHARCOAL. Go for gas for ease and a more predictable cook, while charcoal gives more favour and fexibility.
2 GOOD QUALITY MEAT. Talk to a butcher as they’ll always be happy to help. BBQs don’t need to just be burgers and sausages.
3 CONSIDER LARGER CUTS. Spatchcock chicken, pork shoulder, lamb leg; all can work well on a BBQ given the right time and planning.
4 RUBS AND MARINADES. The right seasoning during cooking can completely change a food you’re familiar with into something much more interesting.
5 DON’T FORGET THE SIDES. Sometimes BBQs can be too focused on meat. A light side dish such as a coleslaw or a smashed cucumber salad can enhance the favours of the meat.
legumes and also be getting the necessary quantity of forage to be able to put on the weight and have a bigger carcass at the end.
The Wagyu breeds are known for the fat marbling in their meat, which has led to its rapid rise in popularity; however, most native British breeds do as well, and these may be less well known to the public due to the reputation and advertisement of Wagyu overshadowing these traditional native breeds such as the Galloway, Hereford and Shorthorn. However, as above, it doesn’t just take the breed to make the meat. A mismanaged Wagyu could have less marbling than a wellmanaged continental breed.
When going to a restaurant now, how often is it seen that it states ‘Wagyu steak’ on the menu while other meat is just ‘beef’ or ‘lamb’. Personally, I feel like the breed of all the meat in a restaurant
should be labelled as such, to increase the traceability and provide the customers with the correct information to make informed decisions next time they are in a shop. If they had an absolutely amazing meat dish that’s labelled with the breed, maybe next time they are shopping they might buy that same breed of meat.
I am very lucky in the fact that I can now make informed decisions on how to create the meat that I want. Anyone wanting to get into butchery should approach their local butcher and ask if they could do any work experience. Farmers may also be able to help you with a connection, and your local farm shop is also a good point to start. Even if it’s not a career path you fancy, I strongly believe all farmers should go to a butcher’s workshop day and see it for themselves, and then decide what they want to get from their cows or sheep. This may mean changing breed, management or feed. Who knows, it may even relight their passion for livestock farming! P
GrowyourcareerwithMDS!
Developyourskillsandfast-trackyourcareer withpracticalleadership traininginFood, FreshProduce,Horticulture,andAgriculture
Atleast 3experiencesinpositions throughoutthesector
Startingsalaryfrom£26,000
ExposuretotheTraineesnetwork andover65 Member companies
Ambassador Jon Watt shares an update on his burgeoning beef box business and breaks down the cost implications for anyone looking to diversify
Farm diversifcation is a topic that gets discussed a lot. With the decline in farm incomes from the removal of the Basic Payment Scheme coupled with feelings that the farmer is not getting a fair price for the goods they produce from the supply chain, the idea of selling direct becomes more attractive.
In a previous article I mentioned how a few years ago we started a small herd of cattle, and I was going to be selling beef boxes. Our small herd now numbers approximately 20 Redpoll and Hereford pedigree suckler cattle. The frst part of this plan is going well, they are happily munching away on herbal leys.
We have now done two rounds of beef boxes and have sold out both times. We have also sold a few animals wholesale. They graded R4L which paid me £4.80 per kg deadweight, with a carcass weight of approximately 300-330kg, making each beast have a sale value of around £1,500.
Once carefully costed, it became clear profts in this are marginal as my cost of production came out to around £1,375 a head, giving a proft of £125 proft a head. If I were able to fnish 500 cattle a year this would be a viable business, but my goal is a herd of around 50 as I am limited by the land and buildings we have available.
While selling 50 a year at £125 leads to a proft of £6,250, a nice additional income, it is hardly a viable business or justifes the capital investment.
As such, I hope my beef boxes will capture a large share of the value from the supply chain and can turn my love of cattle into something proftable.
My initial fear of being left with a freezer full of beef has so far not come to pass. Maybe it’s the Clarkson’s Farm efect, but people seem desperately keen to buy local and support the farm. Sales have been mainly through word of mouth with orders also through Instagram and a recently-launched website.
Our local abattoir is Blakes which is only 37 miles away and the butchers in Bramfeld is just 8.2 miles away – both of which make a huge diference in being able to sell a ‘low food miles product’ with a local story.
Bramfeld carries out the butchery and vacuum packing for us, with the kill and cut cost standing at around £450 but varying a little on carcass weight.
One of the important calculations I’ve had to learn is the diference between carcass weight and saleable beef.
When selling wholesale, I’m getting paid on a 300kg deadweight carcass. When selling direct, I’m receiving back in saleable beef around 200kg, or roughly
two-thirds. So, at £5 deadweight your beef has cost you £7.50kg before kill and cut, packing, delivery etc.
We decided we wanted the product to look as good as possible and spent quite a bit on packaging.
Boxes cost £243 per 100, or £2.43 per box, while wool for the insulation is £65, which does approximately 50 boxes for a cost of £1.30 per box. Tissue paper is at £121 per 1,000 sheets, so £0.121 per box, and ice packs are £107.12 for 200 packs, so one ice pack per box costs £0.53. This gives a cost in packaging of £4.38 per beef box sold.
We also needed somewhere to store the beef ahead of collection and/or delivery which led to the purchase of both a commercial fridge and freezer at almost £2,000 each new.
Fortunately, my friend Facebook marketplace came to the rescue with a pair purchased secondhand from a hippie commune (lovely people) that did catering for Glastonbury (if you want to make a fortune, try festival catering). These cost me £500 each.
The previous owner of our farm ran three butchers’ shops and kept sheep, cattle and pigs mostly for his own shops. He told us the secret to his success was selling the whole animal as anyone could sell steak and it doesn’t matter how much you get for the steak if you get left with the rest.
I think this has been helped with cuts like brisket and shin, for example, being more in demand as they are seen as cheaper, and celebrity chefs helping to get people to be more adventurous with their cooking. The Sunday roast, however, has fallen by the wayside, so roasting joints have become harder to sell.
Product-wise, burgers cost us extra to produce but people love them, and they are the easiest thing to sell but
have the lowest proft margin.
We sell two box sizes; 3kg for £40 (£13.33/kg) and 6kg for £75 (£12.50/kg). A 3kg box contains 1kg of mince, 1kg roasting joint (topside, etc. ) 0.5kg steak (sirloin, ribeye, etc.) and 0.5kg burgers and that seems to split quite nicely what you get from the carcass.
Costed out, the beef boxes start with a 300kg carcass – giving you 200kg of beef to sell or approximately 67 3kg beef boxes. This has a gross sales value of £2,680. When the cost of packaging (£219.05), the kill and cut and the sale value (£1,500) of the beast wholesale (£500 including burgers) the beef boxes add around £380.95 proft per head in addition to the £125 over cost of production, for a total proft per head of £505.95.
However, the two additional days of work to collect, package and deliver the beef must be considered and you have to be able to pay yourself a wage out of the additional proft generated.
Going forward, I’d like to work on reducing my cost of production. Hopefully, the hardier native breeds will achieve this by reducing concentrate uses and utilising more forage and increasing my sale price.
I’d also like to increase the sale price of the boxes now I have built up a good list of customers. An increase of £5 a box would bring the 3kg option to £45 and 6kg to £80 – increasing proftability by approximately £250 per beast.
Another opportunity the beef boxes bring will be to add value to cull cow sales, traditionally not something you are paid well for, by being able to sell them as burgers and steaks directly. Elsewhere, building up a list of customers to scale the business will also be a challenge as it’s one thing to have enough customers to sell fve beasts a year, but quite another to be able to sell 50.
Sustainability is very important to me and to be able to be part of a local, ‘low food miles food chain’ is amazing. As such, in the future I’d be interested in exploring biodegrable polystyrene trays to package our burgers and mince. This would also be a good opportunity to increase the price due to the expected cost increase such sustainable packaging would bring.
Reading this, it’s fairly apparentthat it’s a lot of work for a small amount of extra proft. While this is true, when I frst started working for a neighbour to learn more about keeping cattle back in 2016, I seem to remember the deadweight price being just over £3/kg. Wholesale prices fuctuate a lot, and I hope we don’t return to these sorts of prices but if we did, I think an alternative outlet for my beef would be more valuable than ever. P
Elveden Estate farms
2,960ha of arable land
The Student & Young Farmer Ambassadors got to experience sustainable and efcient agriculture on a huge scale at Elveden Estate in Norfolk this summer
NFU members Elveden Estate played host to the SYFAP summer trip this year, with assistant farm manager and former SYFAP ambassador Anna Hunt on farm to welcome the group. Owned by the Guinness family (yes, that Guinness) since 1894, Elveden Estate is one of the largest single farm units in lowland Britain, comprising 9,100 hectares. That land is used by Elveden
Assistant farm manager and former SYFAP ambassador
Anna Hunt
Farms Ltd for a combination of farming, conservation and forestry. The estate boasts some 2,960ha of total arable land and specialises in vegetables, particularly potatoes, onions, carrots and parsnips. Cereals such as rye, barley and wheat are grown to balance the rotation, ensuring the estate’s soils remain fertile and productive for generations to come.
In addition, three third-party graziers make use of 2,400ha of grass and heathland, while more intensive tenanted units include a 500-head beef fnishing yard and two pig fnishing units (9,000 pigs).
The estate is within the Breckland Farmland SSSI (Site of Special Scientifc Interest), with 1,400ha of the farm being natural Breckland heath, hosting rare plants and bird species, with the site home to a signifcant proportion of the UK’s Stone-curlew breeding population. The estate recently entered the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and converted 350 ha of arable land into environmental habitats. Having stayed on site overnight, where
they got to meet Elveden Farms Ltd. Managing Director Andrew Blenkiron, and experience the full farm-to-fork experience while dining at diversifcation venture pub and boutique hotel, The Guinness Arms, the SYFAP arrived in time to see Anna and Senior Farms Manager Nick Scantlebury overseeing the onion harvest. Around 6% of the UK’s onions are grown at Elveden.
Having joined Nick’s team as trainee assistant farm manager in February 2021, Anna was promoted two years later and today helps mentor a new trainee, George, in addition to her own duties.
“The summer trip to the Elveden Estate was a huge eye-opener to us all. Despite being actively involved in farming, the sheer vastness and grandeur of the scale was jaw dropping. An incredible example of large scale, sustainable, and efficient agriculture to produce high quality food for British people.”
Sophia Ashe
case we start at 6am, and then I’ll be out in the felds with the team just checking everything is okay,” she explains.
6% of the UK's onions are grown at Elveden
“I get started in the yard in the morning where I set everyone of with their tasks and run the team through what the day needs to look like and what targets we are working to. We review any problems from the day before, which can sometimes take a bit of forward planning, and then it’s really about getting out on farm and helping with whatever I can. That might be a breakdown and I’m going to collect parts from the workshop, crop walking or getting down and dirty in something a bit more hands-on.”
“Typically, my working day starts at 7am, unless we’re harvesting in which
Anna, who studied Biological Sciences at Durham University, says every day at Elveden is diferent with about 80% of her time spent out on the estate and
How did you get into farming, and your current job at Elveden?
I’m from a farming background with my family farming around 700ha in Essex, growing your normal cereal crops.
I fnished my degree in Agriculture and Mechanisation at Harper Adams University in 2013, and then spent fve months in Australia driving a combine for a large contract combine outft and travelling the east coast.
I started with Elveden Farms Ltd in March 2014 and spent my frst three years as assistant farm manager before moving to Lincolnshire where I spent fve years as farm manager for two of Elveden’s external farms, Park Farm and Coldham. In total, I oversaw around 2,500ha producing cereals, potatoes and onions.
Finally, in November 2022 I moved back to the main estate to take up the Senior Farms Manager role. In March of this year, I hit the 10-year milestone with the business.
What does a typical day at Elveden look like for you?
Normally early morning I’m out and about on the farm catching up with farm operations and/or walking a selection of felds checking on crop growth, quality etc.
Mid-morning into the afternoon tends to be ofce based,
dealing with all the challenges of running a modern farming business. In the late afternoon, I catch up with my farm management team to hear how the day’s operations have gone and the plans for the coming days.
What is your favourite thing about working at the estate?
No two days are the same, due to the business being so diverse — not only in the farms department but also across the other business enterprises across the estate.
What challenges are you dealing with?
The increasing unpredictability of the weather/climate is increasing the risk of farming.
We're also facing increasing costs; energy, inputs, labour and machinery, and competing with cheap produce from around the world that is not grown or produced to the same standards as required in the UK.
What would you say to any young aspiring farm managers?
Don’t underestimate the importance of planning and always be prepared to adapt. Poor planning equals poor performance. To be a successful farming business you need a successful team, so work closely with and communicate clearly to your colleagues.
“Having the opportunity to tour around Elveden Estates was incredible. The diversifications they have set up to achieve a sustainable farm was very interesting and inspiring. I particularly enjoyed learning about their instant hedging business and management that goes into producing the best products while maximising on efficiency and keeping costs low – something I think we can forget about when working on our own farms. I hope to apply all I have learned on a smaller scale back home!”
Hannah Benson
the remainder in the ofce. While from a mixed farming background, rearing seasonal turkeys, sheep, Red Poll cattle, and about 1,000 acres of arable, Anna says she sometimes struggles to explain to her family what her day-to-day can be like on an estate of Elveden’s scale.
“I’m from a real mixed farming background and would always be helping my Dad out at weekends or in the holidays. Farming is in my blood, I always knew I wanted to do it as a career, it was just taking the time to fgure out my passion within agriculture, but it seems to be in the practical side of the sector, being on the ground.
“I’m a very organised person and I love the logistics element of working here, on an estate of this size. There is so much going on and everything needs a lot of coordination and planning, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs as it should. I really enjoy that sense of planning but trying to explain that to Mum and Dad
or my partner, it can be difcult as I oftentimes don’t know where to start – it’s such a variety. I really enjoy that I get to go out and about and see and speak to diferent people all the time.”
And there’s certainly a lot of people to see, with the estate employing about 200 staf across the farm and its various diversifcations. The frst of which, growing Christmas trees, began more than 40 years ago and in 2023, saw Elveden supply 250 corporate/council trees and 4,000 household trees. It also operates an ‘Instant Hedge’ business across 60ha of nurseries, comprising a range of 17 species from 1.2-1.8m in height. Currently grown across
Elveden Estate Managing Director Andrew Blenkiron said:
“It was amazing to be able to host the SYFAP at Elveden; their energy and enthusiasm for farming was infectious and with them involved I am certain that the industry will be in good hands well into the future. Hopefully, what we were able to show them here will assist in their future careers and help them to better represent the industry.
“Being Managing Director of a farming business such as Elveden is a fantastic privilege, the diversity of what we achieve here is not limited to food production, it involves hospitality, retail, leisure, renewable energy and massive support for the environment. The unique Breckland soil and climate that we operate in bring many challenges, but also an immense number of opportunities to produce good wholesome food at afordable prices in harmony with our surroundings. Our industry is a vibrant and exciting one, with endless opportunities for young and aspiring individuals to make their mark and join the fun.”
eight nurseries with 100,000 linear metres of hedges, the system allows for hedges to be transplanted at any time of year from the nursery to customers’ business or homes. Elveden plans to expand stock levels to 130,000 metres over the next three years to support business demand.
The business also operates a farm café, shop and two pubs, The Elveden Inn and The Guinness Arms.
In addition to the onion harvest, Christmas tree and Instant Hedge nurseries, the SYFAP group also got to see a combine in action as it harvested barley, visit one of the estate’s two reservoirs, and admire the natural Breckland heath as they toured the estate in a trailer.
Anna, who aspires to be a farm manager herself in the future, says anyone wanting to take the next step out of university or in their career should throw themselves into any opportunity that presents itself.
“Make sure to grab things with both hands and just never say no to everything. Just make sure to lap up all the experience that you can.” P
DERBYSHIRELANDSKILLS
(INCORPORATINGDERBYSHIRELAND-BASEDTRAININGAND ASSESSMENTCOMMITTEE &OCKBROOKTRAININGSERVICES) RegisteredCharityNo505745 NPTCCity &GuildsCentreNo741174
Telephoneor Text01623812641/07970415211
Emailjackie.twilley@btinternet.com Websitewww.ockbrooktraining.net &www.derbyshirelandskills.org.uk
PROVIDEROFQUALITYLANDBASEDTRAININGSINCE1975
CITY &GUILDSNPTCCERTIFICATESOFCOMPETENCE AND LANTRA AWARDS
SAFEUSEOFPESTICIDES SAFEUSEOFCHAINSAWS TRANSPORTOFANIMALS
TRACTORDRIVING,SHEEPDIPS,VETERINARYMEDICINES,FORKLIFTTRUCK& TELESCOPICHANDLER, ATV’S.BRUSHCUTTERS/TRIMMERS,BRUSHWOODCHIPPERS, MOWERS,MOLECONTROLANDMANYMORE
AGRICULTURAL &BUSINESSMANAGEMENT CONSERVATION
LEGISLATIONANDTECHNICALSUBJECTS
EnterpriseGroupsforArableCropsand Vegetablesalsoavailable
FORFURTHERINFORMATIONCONTACT
JACKIETWILLEY
REGISTEREDWITHLANTRA,CITY &GUILDS,UKRURALSKILLS, andMEMBERSOFC.D.S.TRAINING
Ifyou’releavingsixth formorcollege,takea lookatthe Foundation and HonoursDegrees availableat University Centre Myerscough. There’s agreatchoiceofsubjects, excellentteachingandamazingfacilities! Plussuperbregionaltransportlinksandgreat on-site accommodation.
Hedgerows across England are now subject to new regulations governing how they are managed. NFU Support Schemes Adviser Fergus Starkey explains.
The Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 came into force on 23 May 2024. The legislation focuses on two big aspects of hedgerow management. These cover a no-cutting period and the presence and management of bufer strips alongside hedges.
It is important that you understand the new rules and, while they appear similar to those that were present under Cross Compliance in the past, they are now not linked to support payments and so bring more land into scope.
In May, the RPA circulated information highlighting these regulations to farmers and explained how they will work.
These rules apply to a hedge which is more than 20m long, and this includes any gaps up to 20m in length within the hedge, or a hedge which is less than 20m long but meets another hedgerow at each end.
The rules apply to those hedges if they are growing on, or next to land which is used for agriculture. This is defned as horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming and the breeding and keeping of livestock (including horses, ponies and any animal kept for its use in farming, or for the production of food, wool or skins).
These rules also apply to grazing land, meadowland, osier land, market gardens, nursery grounds and allotments. They also apply to woodlands where
agricultural activity takes place.
If these two criteria are met, then the hedge is subject to these regulations.
The no-cutting period covers 1 March to 31 August (inclusive) during which time a hedge cannot be trimmed or cut. To do so, or to allow someone to do so, is a criminal ofence. This means that not only can a contractor be liable for trimming a hedge, but so can the farmer who allows him to do so. It is important to understand that liability goes beyond simply the one who actually trims the hedge.
The no-cutting period is subject to certain exemptions, please read the full rules to understand these.
The other major focus of the new regulations is on bufer strips. All eligible hedges must have a 2m bufer strip measured from the centre of the hedge. It must have a green cover maintained on it and cannot have fertilisers or pesticides applied to it. Again there are a number of exemptions that could apply or be applied for. Please read the full rules to understand these.
Bufer strip rules came into efect on 23 May 2024, however diferent dates will apply depending on an individual farm’s circumstances. For farms with land currently in crop production then the bufer strip rules apply from the end of the frst harvest after 1 July 2024. On all other land
these rules applied from 1 July 2024, this includes permanent and temporary pasture.
As before, these apply to any person responsible for the hedgerow, meaning liability will not stop simply with the individual who commits the regulatory breach, it can extend to owners and tenants as well as employees or contractors.
Any work on a hedgerow should only be done once a thorough assessment of any relevant regulations has been carried out, including a wildlife assessment to avoid any possible regulatory infringements. NFU CallFirst remains a useful resource for those unsure of what regulations may afect their hedges and can be contacted by members looking for further resources.
This article is not intended to be relied upon as guidance on hedgerow management, it is simply to highlight the changes to the regulation. Any hedgerow work being undertaken should consider fully the existing regulations before being engaged in to avoid any potential violation. P
For more on bufer strips go to: gov.uk/guidance/hedgerowmanagement-rules-bufer-strips
For more on trimming rules go to: gov.uk/guidance/hedgerowmanagement-rules-cutting-andtrimming
Student & Young Farmer Ambassdor Naomi Williams-Roberts explores the role of women in agriculture and chats to Instagram queen Zöe Coville about what it means to be a wife and mother in the sector today
ecoming a parent is a life-changing experience, bringing a whirlwind of emotions – joy, excitement, anxiety and uncertainty. It’s a journey full of ups and downs, even under the best circumstances. And when you add farming into the equation, this transition becomes even more complex, introducing unique challenges that can intensify the emotional and physical demands of parenthood.
“I always thought [being pregnant] would only affect my farming life physically,” Zöe Colville, better known by her Instagram handle @thechiefshepherdess, begins. “I wouldn’t be able to lift and carry as much, not go
in pens with cows, and that kind of thing. But the hardest part has been the feeling of being ‘useless’.”
I relate to this deeply, just as many other women in farming do. Women have made significant strides in the agricultural industry. We are out in the fields, driving tractors, milking cows, and assisting with calving – working side by side with our male counterparts. Yet when pregnancy enters the picture, the scales of equality often begin to tip. In the UK, the average age for a first pregnancy has steadily increased each year, likely driven by women prioritising their careers before starting a family. When I had my daughter at 25, I found myself five years ahead of this national average.
According to the government, women
and her daughter Isla
“I had convinced myself that once our daughter was born, I’d finally be able to catch up on all the farming I’d missed out on during those nine long months. I couldn’t have been more wrong”
make up 12% of the agricultural workforce, a fgure that is steadily rising, particularly among younger generations. However, for self-employed women in farming, the lack of signifcant employment law protections poses unique challenges compared to those who are employed by others.
If you’ve spent years covering night lambing, pregnancy would prevent you from entering the lambing shed due to the risk of contracting infections from ewes, which could lead to complications like miscarriage. An employer might reposition you elsewhere on the farm – or they might not, leaving you to seek employment elsewhere. Alternatively, if you run your own farm, you may need to hire someone to take your place during that year, requiring the farm to cover the costs.
“We don’t have any kind of stability, which is scary when you think of having a child. No long-term tenancy, no control over livestock prices, no control over the weather, it’s all just so fragile and can come crashing down at the drop of a hat. This past year, we’ve been putting things into place to add a little stability, but we’re still terrifed,” ZÖe confessed.
Finances are always a challenge in farming, with so many variables at play. Pregnancy requires time of the farm to attend appointments and scans. The government provides a basic maternity allowance for up to 39 weeks, which can range anywhere from £27 to £184.03 a week if you’re self-employed. The fgure depends
on how many Class 2 National Insurance contributions you’ve made in the 66 weeks before your baby is due. Employed individuals are entitled to receive £184.03 a week or 90% of their average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for up to 39 weeks. The full terms and conditions are available on the government website under ‘Maternity Allowance.’
Something I didn’t consider was the depression related to pregnancy. I sufered severely from pre and post-natal depression and still fnd it difcult to talk about today. The only reason I bring it up now is to ofer comfort and hope to anyone who is in the thick of the darkness associated with depression.
“In my head, I’ve always imagined just strapping a baby to one of us and carrying on as normal,” ZÖe continues. “But having realised how diferent work looks while carrying a baby in my belly, I’m now wondering how diferent it will be when she’s earthside.”
Much like ZÖe, I had convinced myself that once our daughter was born, I’d fnally be able to catch up on all the farming I’d missed out on during those nine long months. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only was I grappling with the overwhelming fear and uncertainty of being a new mum, but I was also battling postpartum depression. To top it of, I developed mastitis – a miserable experience that, at the time, felt unbearable. Yet, in hindsight, it has deepened my empathy for any animals in my care sufering from similar conditions. Honestly, if I were livestock, I’d have been a cull ewe!
As the months passed, I began to fnd my stride. I had a wrap in which I’d carry her, a large Betacraft feece I’d pull over the top of both of us, and we’d head to market every Wednesday to watch the sheep sell and enjoy a full English breakfast. It became a ritual I looked forward to. When I returned to full-time work after six months, my husband took over lambing with our daughter strapped
Sarah Stephens, NFU Farm Safety & Transport Adviser, said: “Interaction with pregnant ewes, or any bodily fuids of a pregnant ewe, carries a high risk of miscarriage. Other infections contracted from livestock and farm pets can cause malformation, premature births, low birth rates etc. Good hygiene practices are vital to help prevent transmission of zoonotic diseases.
“Interaction with agrochemicals should be avoided, as some may impact the development of the foetus.
“As livestock is unpredictable, those who are pregnant should keep a suitable distance when handling livestock, as if the animal kicks or headbutts, this could afect the foetus.
“Lone working should be avoided as much as possible. If not, then measures should be taken to minimise the risk, in case something occurs to the foetus. Extra care should also be taken with manual handling.”
Zöe Colville, who is known as @thechiefshepherdess on Instagram, is a UK farmer who shares her experiences managing sheep and cattle. She’s known for her candid insights on farming, motherhood, and mental health, ofering an honest portrayal of the challenges and rewards of rural life, especially for women in agriculture. Zöe's book, The Chief Shepherdess, chronicles her journey from fashion to farming, sharing lessons on life and love.
to him in a carrier or tucked safely in a pram within a hurdle fort. Between the two of us, he managed to balance parenthood and farming more smoothly. When I asked ZÖe what she was most excited about when thinking ahead to raising her baby on the farm, her response was “watching the wonder on her face when seeing things for the frst time, and the upbringing I would have only dreamed of”.
Our little girl is now fve, and this year, she was able to take an interest in lambing, passing the lube and holding the next band when ringing lambs. She’s completely worth all the sacrifces, but during those early baby years, I struggled to understand how other women do it and the number of unseen challenges they face to “have it all”.
I believe having a strong support network and a compassionate, understanding employer – whether you’re self-employed or not – makes the biggest diference. Life is full of balancing acts, and employers who recognise this are more likely to retain happy, motivated employees.
I will forever be grateful for the perspective the farm has ofered our little girl. She’s compassionate yet realistic. She understands where her food comes from and that not all things last forever. If she falls, she’ll dust herself of without a tear and tries again. She’s confdent and truly herself in every sense, which is more than I could have ever hoped for. P
Everybusinesshasits highsandlowsandthat particularlytrueintheLand Basedsector,butthesecan beminimisedwithgood planningandpreparation. Partofthispreparation shouldbetoensurethatthe peoplecarryingoutwork foryouarecorrectlytrained andhavetheappropriate qualifcations. Trainingis liketheoilinanengine,it justmakesthingsoperate moresmoothly.Astheperson employing/engagingothers youhavethe responsibilityto ensurethattheyarecorrectly andadequatelytrainedand certifcated.Thiscanbea mine feld,asthereisso manycertifcatingbodies associatedwiththelandbasedsector.Howeverifyou askyouremployee,contractor, sub-contractororfriends, iftheyhavetheappropriate qualifcationstheyshouldbe abletosupplyyouwithcopies
oftheircertifcates,youcan thengoonlineandcheck thatthecertifcatingbody is recognised .Thecommon certifcateswillbeissuedby Lanta,CITB,NPORS,City& Guilds,tonamebut afew.All theapprovedorganisations willdelivertrainingwhichis to astandardrecognisedby theindustriesaswellas HS E andeducationalorganisations. Thereisnorequirement fortrainingtobedelivered underanyoneorganisation butitmustmeetapproved standards.
Vale TrainingServices,were founded39years agoand offer awiderangeofdifferent qualifcations registeredwith nationalorganisationsand isbasedandfocusedonthe client’s needs.It’sdeliveredto alowinstructortraineeratio. Thesecoursescanbedelivered tosuittheclientsneeds. Formoreinformationgoto www.valetraining.co.uk
Ambassador Ben Chilman updates on life on the farm and shares how his move to a multi-tier system is going
While my favourite time of year is upon us, I feel lost without an old companion. If like me you work in a tractor of a certain age, fnding a radio signal takes a certain skill level comparable with brain surgery. While FM is desired, mainly for the comedy value of local radio adverts, unfortunately LW is often the most reliable signal. Options are indeed more limited, with a straight choice between classical music and the cricket.
For years I have appreciated the slow meandering commentary of cricket, an ever-present through the long days of harvest until this year when the BBC, in its infnite London-centric wisdom, decided to move all coverage to a purely digital DAB output, suiting a Tesla rather than a tractor.
Change is ever present, from climate to more recently politics, and the fast-paced nature of modern society sees no industry stand still for long. As I write, we harvest another disappointing oilseed rape feld. I struggle to see a future for the high-risk crop with far more guaranteed options available through SFI schemes. While I would miss the vibrant yellow colours dotted around the countryside in the spring, and frmly disagree with the systemic move away from UK food production, fnances will dictate the crop’s future.
I watch with interest to see our new government’s commitment to UK food production, something that along with defence spending seemed an obvious omission from the election blurb from
any main party; ironic, when both are intrinsically linked. I certainly hope that this Labour government provides more clarity on agriculture than the token 83 words their manifesto ofered, and certainly do not move down the mandatory tree planting and habitat creation route seen from the same party in Wales.
Through my day-to-day farming role, I am involved with free-range egg production, an industry that has seen signifcant growth in the past two decades.
We’re currently moving to a multi-tier system. This will provide overall efciency from an improved feed-to-egg ratio, a better working environment and a more natural habitat for the birds. The move will also remove the year-round build up of muck in the shed, creating less ammonia and better storage and management options to tie in with reducing our phosphate pollution.
I’m from a mixed family farm and so have always been involved with and interested in poultry, but I’ve become really passionate about it of late – it’s so much more data-driven and structured than working with say, the sheep or cows, and I quite like the fact that you’ve got a
much better idea of exactly what is going on from that data that you necessarily have with other livestock.
While the move to a multi-tier system is still in the early days, and is probably going to be a heck of a fnancial headache, I’m excited to see what comes of it.
I’m young and naïve to this farming game, still wet behind the ears – a nasty infection I really should get seen to – but it does seem that every year, greater risk and reward is levelled into farming through numerous challenges that we all face. The sheer outlay of fnances and risk is a barrier to young entrants, and a persistent worry to family farms. Indeed one reason why Clarkson’s Farm should be celebrated and has been such a success is the presenter’s freedom to voice any concerns or opinions, however radical they may be; a refreshing presence in modern-day society. It’s also somewhat refreshing that Jezza and Kaleb have alerted the wider audience that even farming on that scale can still return sod all.
While change, in many aspects, has reached home, a reliable phone signal has not, so I go on without the cricket. P
Looking for something to do for the remainder of the year?
NFU Graduate Rhys Felton shares his pick of the top events.
19 September-17 October
Max Fosh
Tickets: From £26 ticketmaster.co.uk/max-fosh-tickets/ artist/5457903
20-29 September
York Food and Drink Festival
Parliament Street, York
Tickets: Free entry yorkfoodfestival.com
24 September – 9 November
The Libertines
Tickets: From £42 ticketmaster.co.uk/the-libertinestickets/artist/945319
27 September – 9 November
The Other Place
Lyttleon Theatre, London
Tickets: From £20 nationaltheatre.org.uk
28 September – 31 October
Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival
Farmer Copleys, Pontefract
3 October
Hiverfest: Oktoberfest
Hiver Taproom, Bermondsey Tickets: £12 hiverbeers.com
7-11 October
National Young Farmers Week Nationwide nfyfc.org.uk
8 October
Pre Conference event for Vet Tech and ATT Conference Hartpury University, 6pm www.vettechs.org.uk/
28 Sept - 31 Oct
Farmer Copleys Pumkin Festival
Tickets: £6 farmercopleys.co.uk/pumpkin-festival/
8-10 Nov Your Horse Live
8-10 Jan Oxford Farming Conference
9 October
Vet Tech and ATT Conference Sixways Stadium, Worcester www.vettechs.org.uk/
9-13 October
Horse of the Year Show
NEC Birmingham
Tickets: From £15 hoys.co.uk
13 October
World Conker Championships
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Tickets: £7 worldconkerchampionships.com
21 October
Harper Adams Scholarship Fair
Harper Adams University Sports Hall harper-adams.ac.uk/events/6601/ scholarship-fair-2024
7-14 November
Still Woozy
Tickets: From £26.95 ticketmaster.co.uk/still-woozy-tickets/ artist/5289654
8-10 November
Your Horse Live
Stoneleigh Park
Tickets: From £25 yourhorse.co.uk
9 November
National Farm Management Conference
QEII Centre in London
Tickets: Free to students
Apply via email to events@iagrm.com
9 November
Abingdon Bonfre and Fireworks
Abingdon Airfeld
Tickets: From £13.20 abingdonfreworks.co.uk
20 November – 25 January
The Importance of Being Earnest Lyttleon Theatre, London
Tickets: From £20 nationaltheatre.org.uk
21-24 November
Kendal Mountain Festival
Venues across Kendal
Tickets: From £10 per event kendalmountainfestival.com
23 November – 1 December
World Snooker Championship
York Barbican
Tickets: From £15 wst.tv/tickets/british-open-2024-tickets
25-26 November
Royal Welsh Winter Fair
Royal Welsh Showground
Tickets: £30 rwas.wales/winter-fair/
15-16 Jan LAMMA
1-11 December
Vampire Weekend
3 Oct Hiverfest: Oktoberfest
Tickets: From £40 ticketmaster.co.uk/vampire-weekendtickets/artist/1166577
1-14 December
In concert: A Muppets Christmas Carol Tickets: From £35 ticketmaster.co.uk/the-muppetchristmas-carol-in-concert-tickets/ artist/5345757
12 December
Christmas at the Races
Warwick Racecourse
Tickets: From £18 thejockeyclub.co.uk
17 December
Young Farmers Club Pub Quiz Online nfyfc.org.uk
19 December
Massaoke Christmas Live
The Old Woollen, Leeds
Tickets: From £18 oldwoollen.seetickets.com
8-10 January
Oxford Farming Conference
Oxford Examination Schools and Online Tickets: TBC ofc.org.uk
15-16 January
LAMMA
NEC Birmingham Tickets: TBA lammashow.com
Student & Young Farmer
Ambassador Sophia Ashe shares her experience with rural crime and why it is so important as an industry to support one another
John Cottle
It’s mid-April. Lambing on the farm is in full swing and working hours are all over the place – they have been for two months already and will continue to be so until the middle of May. Working around these hours I am also tending to my own lambing fock. Thankfully, they lambed in March so by now the lambs are a few weeks old and loving life in the (slightly) improving weather.
Lambing my own ewes alongside the 400 ewes at the farm I work on was tough. It meant giving them all the attention they needed frst thing in the morning and then again at night/early hours after my shift at work. The rest of the day, all I could do was go to work in the knowledge that I had left
them safe and well and hope that no issues would arise while I was away. Thankfully, my lambing had gone fairly smoothly and one morning I was joyfully watching all my new lambs skipping about the feld when I noticed something strange.
‘Oh, an arrow. How odd’. I went to pick it up out of the grass but stopped when I noticed another nearby.
‘That’s very strange. These weren’t here yesterday and they’re both facing the same direction. Hang on...’
As the penny dropped, I spotted a third arrow. It suddenly became clear that while I had been away the day before, someone – or a group of people, perhaps – thought it would be fun to try and shoot my sheep, Robin Hood style. As I examined the weapons it made perfect sense: the arrows had been shot over the wall into the feld. The felds backed onto a housing estate, which meant they were easily accessible for anyone wishing to cause trouble. In a moment of sheer panic I took photos of the arrows in the ground and rushed back around my fock. Had I missed a ewe with an arrow sticking out of her? Thankfully not. I was lucky that none of the animals had been harmed.
I called 999 and within the hour, two policemen showed up. While scanning my feld, one of them found a fourth arrow. I must say, they were brilliant. Very reassuring and two weeks later my local rural crime ofcer called me to ask how I was getting on and whether I had had any more problems.
This reassurance did not, however, distract from the thoughts going through my head. How could my mind be at rest while at work knowing that my stock could be in danger again? Only the month before I had paid a year’s rental on that feld, which I took on in order to keep my ewes and lambs separate from the rest of the fock. This was money wasted, as there was no way I was going to risk keeping the sheep there anymore. How could I forgive myself if next time the ofender wasn’t such a lousy shot? My frst call was to an old boss-and-friend, asking if he had some land spare I could rent of him. Without
hesitation, he said yes. Not only that, but he didn’t want any money from me and when I dumped my electric fencing equipment there to put up during my next, brief spare moment, he put it up for me himself – ‘because I know you’re fat out at work’. Unfortunately, he knows all too well the stress and fear of being afected by rural crime: within the timeframe I was working for him, the farm was targeted four times over a few months. With each robbery, the farm was almost entirely cleared out. Every padlock and chain was cut and the fence was shattered to smithereens when the tractor was driven through it. No amount of police patrols or private security guards kept the robberies at bay until the main man was eventually arrested after a vast spate of thefts.
Times of trouble make you especially grateful for the good people around you. My old boss providing me with land at a moment’s notice, the neighbouring farmer poised and ready to report any suspicious behaviour, and the ongoing support from my boyfriend. I’m sure everyone would say it’s a given he should have been there to lend a hand, but any farmer would know all too well how difcult it can be leaving the farm for a few hours during
Martin Beck, Livestock Theft Coordinator with the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU), said: “Sophia’s experience of rural crime and rural anti-social behaviour will be familiar to many. We do need to work together, not only by letting the police know when something has happened or passing the registration number of a suspicious vehicle on, but making sure the farming community can look out for one another. As individuals (including the police) we cannot be everywhere all the time but updating each other in real time it can make it harder for criminals to fnd the free space they need to commit their crime in rural areas. Building farm social media groups or phoning neighbours to create an observant inquisitive network and working together to be seen around your farm, creates a visible presence thieves don’t like.”
critical times of year. Not only was it a case of turning his back on his own lambing fock to relocate my sheep for me, but my plans for starting up a pedigree fock of Wiltshire Horns seemed to slip away as the little farm I’d been so kindly ofered doesn’t really have the infrastructure to split groups of sheep. Perfect for some store lambs and a few commercial ewes, but difcult for splitting rams, ewe lambs and all the rest of it. He had stepped up here too, ofering what was at the time very precious grass due to the flthy spring, saying there were a couple of felds I could use to keep my Wiltshire Horns as a completely independent fock, away from the rest of my sheep and his.
This may not sound like much, but the thought of having your plans halted – or at least paused – by some foolish, illintentioned individuals is very demoralising. I am eternally grateful for all the help I received and it goes to show that in times of trouble, farmers have a special, unique ability to come together and lend a hand.
Based of the NFU Mutual claims statistic, rural crime cost a staggering £49.5 million in 2022 and in the Cotswolds, where I am based, rural crime rates are rising. It is, however, unclear exactly how much by, as many crimes go unreported. You often hear farmers say they haven’t reported the more minor incidents as they feel the police are usually unhelpful, uninterested and never provide an outcome, but it’s crucial to report all incidents of crime, however small, as this increases police presence and helps with the wider picture of deciphering links and fnding culprits.
Above all, it’s important to stay safe and be assured that there will always be a helping hand there for you when you need it. Farmers are very lucky to form a very special community – so look out for one another. P
Molly Mead takes us behind the scenes of her role as a vet tech and ATT (Approved Tuberculin Tester) at Hampden Farm Vets, a VetPartners practice
John Cottle
If I had a pound for every time someone asked me, ‘Why would you want to do that job?’, I’d be a very rich woman. Being in a role with the power to shut down someone’s herd and place them under movement restrictions isn’t a job I ever thought I’d be mentally strong enough to handle. However, there are many positives to my job, despite the bad days.
• Have a good crush and handling system.
• Have enough people to help (if this is a struggle, ask your veterinary practice if they can send a vet tech for an extra pair of hands, or speak to your local young farmers club).
• If you have someone to do paperwork, it’s always greatly appreciated.
• Handle your cattle as calmly as possible. Stressed handlers = stressed animals!
• O er your tester a cup of tea!
Growing up, I always wanted to be a farm vet. In the end, I dropped out of doing A-levels, but after completing an apprenticeship and working in various jobs for seven years, I finally had the opportunity to do the closest thing – become a vet tech and ATT (Approved Tuberculin Tester). For those that don’t know, bovine TB testing is a two-day process, referred to as an SICCT test (single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test). On day one, two areas of the cows’ necks are clipped and the skin thickness is measured with callipers. On the top clip area avian tuberculin is injected, and on the bottom clipped area bovine tuberculin is injected. Some 72 hours (+/- four hours) later, the skin is palpated
test (single intradermal
On On area and clipped skin is
Training consists of online training followed by an exam. In addition to this you must test a certain number of cows on a certain number of farms under veterinary supervision. You must provide a case log of evidence of the testing you perform under veterinary supervision, before an external assessor will come on farm with you and assess you performing a TB test. Once qualified, you will be continuously reviewed to ensure you’re performing testing to a high standard.
You must:
• Be 18 years of age at the application date.
• Pass identification and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks.
• Have six months of experience working with livestock.
• Meet the qualification criteria; 3 GCSEs in English, Science or Food Production or three years’ experience in a government regulatory role.
• Complete an employer declaration supporting eligibility.
for any reaction to the injection (lumps/ swelling). The lumps are measured, and these measurements are then compared to those taken on the first day. The difference between measurements taken on both days will determine whether the animal passes the test, is an IR (inconclusive reactor) or R (a reactor).
APHA is notified of all test results. When IRs or Reactors are found the herd is placed under movement restrictions. Reactors have a DNA tag applied to their ear and are collected on behalf of APHA for slaughter within 7-10 days. IRs must be isolated from the herd and re-tested in 60 days unless moving to slaughter under an APHA licence. If clear at re-test the animal is a ‘resolved IR’ and may re-join the herd and generally restricted for life. IRs that are not negative are classed as a reactor and compulsory slaughtered. The length of time the whole herd remains under restrictions when IRs are found in TB-free herds is informed by an APHA Veterinary risk assessment, learn more at: tbhub.co.uk/ resources/frequently-asked-questions/ inconclusive-reactor-cattle-irs/.
If a herd is placed under restriction or additional IRs/Rs are found the whole herd is tested every 60 days until two clear tests
a
have been passed, resulting in a herd regaining its TB-free status.
I’ve been at my job for nearly two years now, and in that time, I’ve been fortunate to meet a variety of farmers and livestock owners from different backgrounds, many of whom I’d now consider to be friends.
• Contact your local farm veterinary practice to see if they have any vacancies.
backgrounds, many of whom I’d
farmers and veterinary trust. Farmers must trust and
• Contact BIVTA (British and Irish Veterinary Technician Association) for advice on the vet tech role.
• Contact UK Farmcare who assist in managing TB testing in the UK.
The relationships between farmers and veterinary professionals are built on trust. Farmers must trust that we, as vets and TB testers, are doing our job properly. I’m always very open with farmers about the training process to become a TB tester and that we are routinely audited to ensure we perform testing accurately.
• You can message me on Instagram with any questions (the.neurodivergent.farmer).
I think the most significant quality you need to be a TB tester or farmbased veterinary professional is being able to read farmers and understand their communication style. If you can establish someone’s personality, you can respond to this accordingly. In some places, I’ll chat with the farmer the whole time and maybe have a cup of tea at the end, whereas in others, I’ll turn up, do the job, say what needs to be said, and be on my way.
always very open with farmers about the and that we are routinely audited to you need to be a TB tester or farmrespond to this accordingly. In some whole time and maybe have a cup of tea and be on my way.
TB testing is probably the number one worry of all cattle farmers, so being the one carrying out a test when farmers are at their most stressed requires a certain level of confidence and the ability to communicate effectively with different personalities.
The fact that I live on my family farm and have faced the consequences of being shut down with TB helps farmers relate to me more than they possibly would someone with no personal links to farming. However, this is definitely not a requirement to becoming a vet tech or TB tester. In the current climate where the farm and veterinary sector are facing labour struggles, it’s imperative we can encourage and welcome people from all backgrounds to get involved.
The best part of my job is driving around the countryside and meeting lots of different people. I’m fortunate enough to see a variety of systems ranging from 500-animal dairy herds (though these are sadly few and far between in Hertfordshire) to a couple of pet cows in someone’s back garden. Coming from a farm with only Aberdeen Angus cross steers, I’ve now seen an expanse of different breeds and built a pretty good picture of their varying temperaments.
enough to see a variety of systems ranging
I have a few breeds that always ring alarm bells when I know I’ve got to go and test them – Belted Galloways being the worst of them, in my experience!
Unfortunately, this job does have bad days. Shutting farms down with TB is not easy. I don’t want to compare the stress of breaking the bad news to the stress of being on the receiving end because they are in no way comparable. I will, however, say that making those difficult decisions does take its toll and it’s all too easy to take home some negative thoughts.
In circumstances where a farm is shut down, it’s really important we discuss how we can help the farmer move forward, whether we need to make contact with APHA on their behalf or offer them a free TBAS (TB Advisory Service) visit, for example. The NFU-dedicated TB team is also on hand to offer support and guidance and can be contacted via CallFirst.
Other challenging parts of the job are obviously when the weather is cold and wet, it’s not fun for anyone and your paperwork gets soggy! You need to be able to navigate difficult situations and respond appropriately when farmers react badly. You may also have to take control of situations where there are any health and safety concerns.
It’s essential the role of paraprofessionals within the veterinary sector such as vet technicians and ATTs are recognised and utilised as much as possible.
With both the farming and veterinary sector facing labour shortages, as well as contending with threats such as avian influenza and bluetongue, we must take advantage of the highly trained personnel we have access to. Veterinary paraprofessionals can be utilised to tackle these challenges efficiently, whether that’s rolling out vaccines on a large scale across the country or assisting with testing for public health threats.
Looking to the future, I hope we can find a solution to better controlling bovine TB in this country.
I expect my job role will evolve in the coming years to include vaccination and subsequent testing. Who knows, perhaps in ten years’ time my job role might not be needed!
Are you 30 or under with an interest in agriculture? If so, the NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador Programme could be for you
This year-long initiative ofers young farmers and students a platform to represent the next generation of British agriculture. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to engage with key industry fgures, attend high-profle agricultural and political events and contribute to the NFU’s eforts in shaping the future of farming in the UK.
The programme has been designed to give participants a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry, ofering insights into various sectors, providing opportunities to directly engage with political processes and to develop valuable skills in media engagement, public speaking and writing.
“Being part of the NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador Programme is an incredible experience. It opens doors I never imagined and allows me to connect with like-minded individuals from all walks of life, all of us passionate about progressing the agricultural sector for the next generation.
“This programme isn’t just an opportunity – it’s a platform that can make a real impact on the future of British agriculture.”
Jes Stewart Student & Young Farmer Ambassador
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN WINTER 2024
Keep an eye on our social media feeds for details
Ambassador Programme is an incredible opportunity for young people who are passionate about British food and farming. It runs alongside our other programmes, including the Poultry Industry Programme, Cereals Development Programme and Sugar Industry Programme to support the next generation.
both within and beyond farming. Each year, they bring fresh perspectives, passion and a commitment to agriculture that inspires not only their peers but the entire industry.
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: “The Student & Young Farmer
“Over the years we have seen our ambassadors make signifcant contributions to the sector, with many going on to achieve remarkable things
“I am incredibly proud of our ambassadors and the diference they make in promoting the importance of UK farming on a national stage, as well as the vital role this programme plays in nurturing the next generation of leaders in British agriculture. I wholeheartedly would encourage anyone thinking about applying to take up this excellent opportunity.”
• Be an NFU Student & Young Farmer member (it’s free – sign up at NFUonline.com/student)
• Aged between 18 and 30 on 1 January 2025
• Be located in England or Wales
• Have a vested interest in farming and rural afairs
• Have an interest in speaking to the media and writing for NFU publications
• Be committed to promoting the values of inclusivity and kindness in the industry.
• This is an opportunity to represent the younger generation of farmers within the UK’s biggest farming membership organisation
• Create long-standing relationships with like-minded people from all farming sectors around the country
• Experience new aspects of the agricultural industry
• Be at the heart of political change as it unfolds
• Help the farming industry become more progressive and break boundaries
• Hone communication, presentation and networking skills to further professional development
• Increase your knowledge of the inner workings of the NFU
• Receive training to enable you to write for national publications, present to schools, speak to the media and to engage with MPs.
All reasonable travel expenses will be covered. The NFU will ensure that the programme is free for participants, and that ambassadors are not left out of pocket.
We believe the more diversity there is within agriculture, the more innovative and exciting the future of farming will be. In line with the NFU’s value of inclusivity, the Student & Young Farmer Ambassador Programme has always welcomed applicants from diferent cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. We especially welcome applications from people who feel their community has, so far, been underrepresented in the agriculture industry or in the SYFAP group, be that in relation to (but not limited to) their race, colour, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression.
Fromits unmistakable Buckboot z‘Hard As Nails’ profle to itsrugged good lookingdealerbootstyling B1180 carriesits Buckbootz heritage andbrandingwith pride.Withitsextendedwhole cutvampand beef y heelcounterthisisawaterproofsafet ybootwithgravitasand real substance
Using constructionandcomponentsdesignedtowithstandthe roughest treatment, B1180 combines strength with lightweight thankstoan aluminiumtoecap, kevlarmidsole andthenewBuckbootz K11dual densit ysole. K11letsusretainall thelegendary Buckboot zrubber outsoledurability andfeatureswhich nowincludeladder grips, at a weight saving whichwillwin overanew generation of Goodyear arers. With Buckbootz characteristic e lock stitch the toeplate andbeef bberdepthatthe criticalheel/ground
B1180 als
welted safet y boot we w u o f at tention to detail up the outer sole r contact area
• Light weight Dealer boot
brings threedimensionalBuck fex t ting withthree fex-stretch areasat the bootcollar. Thismakes ftting andremovalastrollinthe park and enablesthecollar to retain itsneat look andsnug ftatall times.
•DarkBrownCrazy HorseLeather
• Waterproof
• EN/UKCAsafet ycodes SB PS HROFOLGWR/WPA
•Aluminium safet ytoecap
•Non-metallicantipenetrationNAILSTOPmidsole
•Slipresistant
•Heat(300ºC/60secs)and OilResistant Rubber
OutsolewithLadderGrips
•K11 dual density weight saving sole
•Widerfit tingat toearea
•Buckflexthreeway fex-stretch collar
•Sizes 6/40 to 13/47
Go to ww w.buckbootz.com.
To find your nearestAgricultural Merchant stockist call 013828282 00 or email info@buckbootz.com
Ambassador Jessica Stewart explains
As a recently qualified solicitor working in a rural area, I’ve already encountered more than enough issues with the breakdown of inheritance when it comes to farming families.
Within the farming sector, the issues that arrive on death could be avoided by having some down-to-earth conversations at an earlier stage. Many will be familiar with the term ‘proprietary estoppel’, essentially where you rely upon the fact that you are promised something. This could cover a range of examples, however, a typical situation is one between a farming father and son where the father is the legal owner of the land, machinery, stock, etc, and the son relies upon this to his detriment. There is a legal safeguard in place. However, it can so often cause disputes.
No one likes talking about the future –especially farmers, but it is vitally important.
A further consideration is to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). There are two types: LPA for Health & Welfare and LPA for Property & Finance. There is so much to say about LPAs, but in
essence, they allow someone you trust to make a decision on your behalf, in your best interests, should you become mentally incapable. Arguably, these are more important than a Will, as they allow decisions to be made for you that you are unable to make during your lifetime. You may think you are too young to consider making a Will and LPAs, however they are both hugely important at any age.
If you have assets that you want to leave to a certain person, make a Will, or if you have children, a Will is important to confirm their guardian. I always use the example that anyone could go outside and get hit by a bus and be unable to make any decisions.
We all know the danger of working within farming. I know a girl who got kicked by a horse and suffered a brain injury and now struggles with basic tasks. Another friend had a skiing accident that resulted in brain damage. If they had both had LPAs, it would have made it a lot easier for their families to make decisions on their behalf.
One of the biggest actions we can take is to ensure that our family members have them in place, and to look at the bigger picture with an inheritance plan, involving us, the younger generation.
1 Have a family discussion
Inevitably, farming families are complicated, with some involved in the farm and some less so. Having a conversation with your loved ones, while daunting, can ensure that everyone feels heard and you can start to form a plan for the future.
2 Sort out agreements now
Whether it’s a partnership agreement, living arrangements, ownership of assets or a retirement plan, it is worth getting all parties involved in management decisions at an early stage. Not only does this help to create a focus and ensure everyone is on the same page, but, in the instance that there is a sudden illness or death, it can prevent a huge mess being left behind.
3 Make a Will
Something simple and relatively cheap, this can save thousands of pounds of legal costs in the future. A professional can help make the best tax-e cient decision for your farm. Quite often, it is usual for there to be a ‘farming’ child and a ‘nonfarming’ child; figuring out which assets to leave to each child can prevent dispute, and create a fairer balance. Of course, discussing this with the family will make it so much easier to decide what is best for everyone. Ideally, a Will should sit alongside and complement the farm business plans made throughout a lifetime.
Encourage conversations with 1) your family, and 2) your friends. A problem shared is a problem halved: talk with your family while you can about the day-to-day running of the farm, the direction for the farming business, and the structure of any inheritance. Talk to your friends and peers about it – succession is typically a fraught topic, and one that we don’t like to bring up with older generations. But your friends may have ideas or have already implemented plans with their families and can give you some insight.
Having spoken to Rachel Hallos at the Great Yorkshire Show with some other young farmers, I realised finding a place for everyone on the farm can be challenging, and having di cult conversations with your family is not always welcome. But, listening to how others have grappled with issues such as getting a mortgage when there is no set wage, or convincing your parents to let you set up a diversification, or having a discussion about potential inheritance with your sibling, gives you ideas on how to tackle this yourself.
For anyone in the North East and Yorkshire, I am setting up a meeting (well, a chit chat really) for young farmers to discuss common issues, and di erent ways to resolve them. Contact me on Instagram at @jesstewart9 if you want to come along! If you are from another area, I would encourage a group of you to get together and break down the barrier of talking about the farming future on your farm. Farmers are very good at gossip and knowing sheep prices, but we need to get better at talking about things that a ect our future.
Dairy farmer and NFU Student & Young Farmer Ambassador Magnus Brown explores the reality of trying to make your mark in the farming world
Being a young farmer is far from easy in the current economic climate, let alone becoming one. A difcult concoction of high land prices, expensive machinery and volatile global markets all result in a challenging environment for young people to enter the industry and excel. But the ability of young people to come into farming and make their mark is crucial for the long-term prosperity of an agricultural industry looking ever older in complexion and ever more pressured by a shortage of labour.
Even at 21, it is common to be underestimated because of your age, despite the great responsibility and risk placed on young farmers’ shoulders. Responsibility that is further complicated oftentimes by a difculty in fnding the time for things that ‘fll up your cup’.
I am hugely fortunate to have grown up working in a farming business and to be given that head start in what some may look at as a largely inaccessible industry.
The family farm is where the heart of
UK agriculture lies and I am incredibly lucky to have grown up in what can only be described as a lifestyle, not a job. And yet, among all the scenic views and animals lies an undercover story of sacrifce, hard work and extreme multi-tasking. As a young person growing up immersed in the industry, it is a constant quest to live up to the highest of standards set by your elders while navigating the ever-increasing challenges thrown our way in modern agriculture. I am sure my story is replicated across the country.
From a personal perspective, my dad grew up as one of three brothers on a tenanted farm. Now not a tenant, these humble origins motivate me every day in general life to constantly build on what has gone before me and make those that have given me such opportunity proud. I am sure many who have been or are in my situation can agree that these expectations can weigh
“As a young person growing up immersed in the industry, it is a constant quest to live up to the highest of standards set by your elders”
heavy and mix with external pressures into what amounts to an undesirable cocktail at times.
Consequentially, young farmers are an incredibly resilient and remarkable group of people. There will be many in similar positions to myself working in what wider society would consider to be full-time jobs on farms, while studying for university degrees, playing sport or being members of young farmers’ clubs and applying for future jobs all at the same time. For me, throughout my childhood and up to now, I have worked on the family dairy farm heavily reliant on family labour, while now studying for a law degree and seeking to become a solicitor. This, while trying to maintain a varied social life. My friends and peers will agree there are many times where I cannot attend certain events due to other priorities at play.
From my own perspective, dairy farming is particularly intense and all-consuming. Perhaps, we were not conscious of this in installing milking robots two years ago, but the constant fow of milk is the same, however you milk your cows. It is 24/7, 365 days a year and no matter what may be happening in your personal life, the cows need to get milked. This, on top of
“My siblings and I hope to continue the legacy built by those before us by producing high-quality, sustainable British produce”
the routine yard and feldwork. We do the vast majority of feldwork, cart our own silage and plant all bar maize ourselves. Complementing the core dairy business is a beef enterprise, rearing primarily Aberdeen Angus beef cattle to store age for market. Genomic testing of heifers is key for the constant genetic progress of our pedigree Holstein herd.
We are what many consider to be a stereotypical family business, with three generations living on farm on a relatively modest acreage. I hope that keeping some skin in the farming game while being a solicitor keeps the legal advice I will give accurate and grounded, in addition to increasing the resilience of my family farming business and home.
I am constantly told by other farmers of the need for those they rely upon, such as solicitors, to have a grasp on their individual farming business, as all are so autonomous in their own way.
Farming businesses are like no other in the wider economy.
Government support must keep farming families on the land, including those such as tenants and new entrants.
My siblings and I hope to continue the legacy built by those before us and to keep producing high-quality and environmentally sustainable British produce. But we must all look beyond the farm gate to opportunities and challenges coming our way. Education, inclusion and hunger for progress is needed for the prosperity of the industry we love. P
There comes a time when every farming business meets a crossroad and must decide which direction to take for the long-term. Two years ago, we decided to invest in milking robots and to take advantage of the opportunity presented to futureproof the business.
The cows always come frst on any dairy farm in the UK. For us, we run a pedigree herd of Holstein cows and rear all replacements, with none bought in or sold.
One thing we learned from a ‘cow point of view' is the need to get the cows right frst before any investment and installation. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the herd was not young enough nor big enough to fully utilise and adapt to the robots, and so we were fetching more cows in than we perhaps should have been for the frst year or so. Some cows get to grips with a new way of operating straight away and others do not. Often, the cows who did not like the parlour at frst now enjoy the freedom and independence of robotic milking.
Robot cows are hugely diferent to those on a parlour; more active, clever and determined to get past you if they want to get somewhere.
We extended a pre-existing shed with a central feed fence, lending itself to the brand of robots we purchased. It is important to engage in objective market research, abstaining from simply going with trends or what is generally perceived to be the leading make of robot. We looked carefully at all the major milking robot brands and all, including the ones we have installed, have their positives and drawbacks.
Talking to farmers and dealers from an array of brands is important, but nothing more so than asking difcult questions and not just taking ‘yes' for an answer.
For us, the machine and technologies were crucial, but dealer support even more so as, just like tractors, all robots have their issues from time to time, no matter the colour.
Do not be fooled by the general perception that robotic milking is hands-of and fully automated. In the parlour, problems tended to come to us when the cows passed us twice a day. Now, we must be more alert and look out for problems ourselves.
Indeed, if you think your robots will mean fewer working hours – you're wrong. While there is greater fexibility and arguably less physical demand than a parlour, we're still in the main shed at least twice a day sorting cows out, cleaning and maintaining. You also end up doing more jobs than you otherwise would have done when tied up in the parlour, which is hugely benefcial to the farm as a whole. Everyone must decide what they would prefer.
When making such signifcant investment, it's important to try and best predict future developments at a micro and macro level. What will the industry look like in fve to ten years‘ time?
The initial costs of such signifcant infrastructure projects are predictably signifcant. But, what is not so predictable is associated costs further down the line. With the warmer summers and an increased disease risk from Schmallenberg, we chose to install fans keep air moving to reduce heat stress, which is a key performance prohibitor. Automatic footbaths, a robotic scraper and solar panels were all necessary later investments to increase cows’ welfare but did indeed come at a fnancial cost. Nevertheless, the shed is now a fantastic environment which the cows really enjoy with the weather outside no longer having such an impact on their welfare.
Producing milk on robots is not cheap, but potentially proftable in all systems if implemented correctly.
While we are only two years in, and still fne-tuning both the cows, system and us, I hope this honest account can help anyone considering a similar venture because, all too often perhaps, honesty is not the most common policy.
Ambassadors Hannah Benson and James Scott explore the pros and cons of social media sites and how they’ve impacted their farming business
Social media plays a pivotal part in running a successful business these days. According to Statisica data, more than 80% of the UK population were active social media users as of January 2024.
Whether scrolling on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, wherever you look somebody always has a phone to hand.
For me, back in 2020, the use of my social media accounts is the living proof of how I rescued my small business and ensured its security for the following years.
Based out of Spilsby, Lincolnshire, Hannah’s Flowers ofers freshly-cut, seasonal British blooms between March and late October.
The business is a diversifcation from my family’s small vegetable farm and I cut, pack and supply wholesale markets, forists and the general public.
Pre-Covid, I sold solely wholesale, but when the pandemic saw the country go into lockdown, I spotted an opportunity to up my game and began using my social media pages to sell directly to the public.
When lockdown hit, I found myself with a crop of fowers in the polytunnel, ready to cut but with no home to go to. Wholesale markets shut down overnight, the wedding trade disappeared completely and the only form of trade left was direct to customer. I had my social media accounts set up for my business but it wasn’t until March 2020, when my hand was forced by lockdown, that I began to make real use of my channels by uploading my fowers for sale on both Instagram and Facebook.
Fast forward to 2024 and I now see about 70% of my business sales come through social media.
Follow Hannah on Instagram: @hannahsfowerslincs
Social media in the agriculture sector is a hot topic that is constantly growing and evolving as years go on, but this comes with a lot of positives and negatives.
It’s always been a passion of mine and something that I have wanted to build on, to learn skills myself and, hopefully, then use them to inspire and teach the younger generation around the hidden world of the agriculture industry, or allow older followers to reminisce on their time as a farmer and bring back some good memories when they did similar jobs or activities.
Since starting my career as a dairy farmer, social media has, overall, provided a great platform. It’s helped me to gain confdence in what I’m doing, meet new people within the industry, share my experiences on the job and document my journey along the way – whether that be positives or negatives.
I make eforts to take every opportunity I am given with open arms to help enhance my social following and take care to listen to those more experienced around me and hear about their experiences of life as a farmer.
I believe social media is a great way of providing insight into what it really looks like to work within agriculture, as sometimes I feel the negatives can be overlooked. Social media has also become a
diversifcation income stream for many farmers and has allowed many who may be more remote to reach a wider audience and sell direct.
This can be through sponsorship or brand deals spanning agricultural clothing to machinery. It can also be a driver to online shops and the perfect vehicle to promote home-grown local products such as beef boxes or unique products made from British produce such as wool.
However, we need to make sure we use social media in a safe and supportive manner within our community.
I myself have seen many cases of racism and misogyny and bullying towards innocent individuals, which are simply not acceptable. We need to work together to support individuals who receive hate online and remember that agriculture is an industry for everyone to share their personal experiences online.
Social media is an extremely benefcial platform within agriculture, and I feel strongly about sharing the positives and negatives with the younger generation within an industry that can be very isolating.
I encourage everyone hesitating to share their experiences to do so, as I've learned an awful lot online and wouldn’t have been where I am now without the help of those around me, both online and in person. It's a great way to educate the public around the importance of supporting local businesses and backing British farmers.
Follow James on Instagram: @scottysfarm
While it goes without saying that constantly trying to fgure out the algorithm is a nightmare, here are some tips to be to be successful online:
• Post when people are most active. Early morning before work or during evenings.
• Share your business page in the local village/ town groups to attract more customers locally.
• Interact with your comments from your customers on your posts.
• Make your posts engaging, start of your captions with a bold title and use paragraphs to break up the post and make it easier to read.
• Post when most people are active. Early morning before work or during evenings.
• When creating videos use viral sounds and hashtags.
• Create “how to” videos or videos with information relevant to your line of work. You’re more likely to build a following if you have a niche as opposed to lifestyle or dancing videos.
• Set up a TikTok shop. This is another fab way for you to be able to sell your products.
• Post when people are most active. Early morning before work or during evenings.
• Create fun and catchy reels. You need to grip them within the frst three seconds.
• Use Instagram stories to connect with your customers. Updates about your day, use them to tease customers about new projects.
• When making reels use viral sounds to get more reach.
• Don’t forget your hashtags. Limit it to about three to fve tags.
• Connect with people in your industry. It’s not what you know but who.
• Share your achievements of your business or even personal achievements to build that brand and connections.
• Advertise jobs for your business or even post if you’re looking for freelancers.
• Use ftting hashtags that go with your posts.
• Keep your profle up to date, whether it be new roles, titles, achievements.
Unlock yourfuture with one of ourindustry leading 2-year graduate schemes
Agricultural Policy Scheme - Workwitha Policy team that takesanactive roleindevelopingandinfluencing thepolicies that shape farmingacross theUK. You’llfind yourselfdivingintopressingagriculturalandhor ticultural issues,engagingwithgovernment,advisingNFUmembersandimplementingpolicy change.
CommunicationsandExternalAfairs Scheme -Gain rare experienceinpoliticallobbying,media management, event coordination,andmulti-channel communicationswithanaward-winning team. Learnfrom exper ts,impactpolitical campaigns, championBritish farming,andprotect its reputation. These rolesarebasedin Warwickshireand Westminster, so willingness to relocate is essential.
Don’tmiss outon this extraordinary chance to bepart of somethingbigger,with thepotential of a rewardingand fulfilling career.
Applicationsareopenfrom1December 2023 –14 January 2024
ExploreNFUonline.com/careers for more detailsand to apply
Each year, the NFU Food Business Unit sponsors one university student’s dissertation. With the application window now open for 2024/25, we talk to last year’s winner, Niamh McGrath.
This year, NFU expertise helped Harper Adams University student Niamh McGrath investigate the use of social media as a recruitment tool for UK farm-level recruitment.
Niamh grew up on a dairy farm in Cheshire and studies agri-food marketing with business. While on her Harper Adams university placement, she began to take an interest in farm-level recruitment when her business was struggling to fnd new employees.
The main objective of her research was to ask why people are using social media as a recruitment tool and the impact it is having in UK agriculture.
By winning the NFU dissertation sponsorship, Niamh had access to the vast array of stakeholder contacts the NFU holds from across the agri-food supply chain.
This proved instrumental by providing Niamh with all the key information she needed for her dissertation.
When asked about the opportunity, Niamh said: “I am grateful to the NFU for their sponsorship due to the industry insight they could provide and the interesting conversations that were able to be generated.
“This helped to build my research approach and reach a wide range of agricultural audiences.
“My aim for my dissertation was to give industry
recommendations that were able to be implemented across the industry. I am proud to say I have achieved my goal for the dissertation along with receiving a frst class honours degree.
“I am thankful to all the participants of my research for their time and invaluable knowledge. I would recommend this opportunity to any future students.”
How can you apply for the NFU’s dissertation sponsorship award?
If successful, you will receive £150, and gain access to a range of industry contacts
The NFU would like to sponsor you if your dissertation is linked to any of the following topics:
• British food retailers
• hospitality and public sector supply chain
• UK food brands, manufacturers, or processors
• the sustainable supply chain, or
• supply chain collaboration or engagement.
Go to NFUonline.com/dissertation-sponsorship to read more on the application process and who can apply. You can also email FoodBusinessUnit@ nfu.org.uk for more information.
Closes Friday 10 November.
Sign up
NFU Student & Young Farmer membership is free to students and young farmers. It allows you to have a say and to contribute towards the future of agriculture, and you will benefit from access to experts in food and farming policy, plus bonus perks.
Join the largest and most influential farming association and receive:
• Student Farmer magazine and British Farmer & Grower or Farming Wales magazine delivered to your door
• The latest news and briefings from our policy experts in NFU Bulletin and sector-specific and regional e-newsletters
• Be the first to find out and register for our online NFU live events and don't miss your opportunity to watch our conference stream
• Welfare of Animals in Transport test for £42 (+VAT)
• Up to 15% o airport parking and hotels with APH
• Save an exclusive 20% online with Sophie Allport
• Access Lantra’s agricultural health and safety e-learning for FREE
• Huge savings on Merlin Entertainment (Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and more)
• 25% o ATV helmets and safety clothing from Spada
• Free debt advice from PayPlan.
Warw ickshire Collegeand Universit yC entre( WCUC)specialises in degree -level ,technicaland profes sionalcourses aimedat prepar ingyou foryourfuture career.Weoffer aw idecur riculum acros sourgroupofcolleges includingBachelor’sdegrees, Foundationdegrees, with higherand degree apprenticeships.
Stud ying with WCUCprovides anumberofbenefit s, including:
• Smallgroup sizessoyou will receivelot sofindividual at tentionand suppor t
• Expert lecturer sw ho arenot only highly qualified but have exper ienceworkinginindustr y
• Innov ativeteachingapproachesthatblend theory andpractice
• High-quality physical resourcesincluding specialistequipmentfor each technical andprofessionalarea
Subject sonoffer for2025-26:
• MoretonMor rell College
- Animal &C anine
- Equine
- Veterinary Nursing
- Veterinary Physiotherapy
• PershoreC ollege
- Sustainable Horticultural Technology (Agr itech)
- Veterinary NursingFdS c
Bookontoanopenevent to find outmore:
• MoretonMorrell College // Saturday12October 2024,10am–1pm
• PershoreCollege // Saturday19October 2024 ,10am–1pm
To book your pl ace, visit: wc uc .ac .u k/de gr ee op en ev en ts
