Dairy farmer Jessica Ellwood said she wants to play an important role in encouraging more women into the industry
Farming is in my blood: I grew up on Brough Castle Farm and remember helping my mum and dad in the fields from a young age. Since then, it is all I have ever wanted to do.
I am now working full-time alongside my dad and taking on more responsibilities for different parts of the farm, which is really exciting. I have always loved working with animals too, particularly cows and sheep; they have their own personalities and I feel like I know them all. Because I have grown up with them since I was very little, I see all the animals as part of our family.
I believe women play a crucial role on farms. Sometimes, young girls can be put off going into farming, so I think it is important that they can see people like them who are succeeding and enjoying themselves on the farm. I would love to play a part in encouraging more young women to think about a career in farming.
There are so many great role models for young women in agriculture. My mum, Sarah, was always my inspiration, and there will be lots more women like her who do an amazing job but do not always get the credit they deserve.
My mum is part of the Women in Agriculture initiative, supported by Nestle, who the farm supplies with milk, which brings women in the industry together and gives them a chance to share their experiences. It is great to have this community space because it is an opportunity to hear more about the different roles women have on the farm.
We have been working with Nestle to improve soil health and increase biodiversity, cultivating spaces across the farm which enhance the nature on the land, including planting hedgerows and woodlands to create new habitats. As a result, there has been more wildlife on the farm, mainly birds and insects, which is really good for the land.
The land we farm has been supporting livestock for thousands of years, so it is important for us to keep that going and protect the space we have. I would definitely encourage others to plant trees and hedges on their land because you see the benefits very quickly.
As farmers, we have such an important role to play in securing a greener future for the planet. Sometimes, negative things are said about the impact of dairy farming on the environment when, in fact, there are so many good things to talk about. It is not just about the dairy that cows produce; it is also about the way they nourish the earth and create the nutrient-rich soil that we need to grow quality crops. It is all cyclical, and cows have their role to play, like all animals do.
We want to be as sustainable as possible in everything we do.
Sharing knowledge in the farming community is really important to me. As an industry, we all need to be pulling in the same direction.
