Young Farmers and Careers

Young farmers are concerned the Covid-19 pandemic will affect their long-term prospects and feel pessimistic about future opportunities to live and work in rural areas, a study has found.

William Lea, 24, is a poultry farmer based at Church Stretton, Shropshire, and works for Lloyds Animal Feeds.

Martha Hayes, 24, is manager of media and communications at Innovation for Agriculture, which she does alongside running her herd of Lincoln Red cattle and helping out with the family farm in Lincolnshire.

The sentiment that it is sometimes easier to talk to a stranger than to relatives or friends is one that struck a chord with dairy farmer Hannah Lawrence, who volunteers on the DPJ charity’s ‘Share The Load’ phone helpline. Hannah Park reports.

A major fundraising effort has been launched in a bid to plug a £1 million black hole in Young Farmers’ Clubs’ coffers.

Connor Tindall-Read is a 24-year-old tractor driver who has worked on the Holkham Estate, North Norfolk, for the past four years.

Having a plan in place for the end of your farming career or for the next generation to come in is often far easier said than done.

Farmers can apply for a share of £25 million as part of round three of the Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme.

Rachel Murdoch, 27, is a shepherd on an estate in Ryedale, North Yorkshire.

New measures have been adopted across the UK’s agricultural universities to ensure student safety amid the Covid-19 pandemic.