Young Farmers and Careers

A young farmer has paid his own personal tribute to the NHS and key workers through a series of tractor runs.

William Kinston, 17, is a dairy farmer’s son from Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, and is currently studying an agriculture level three diploma at Reaseheath College, Cheshire.

Gemma Duguid, 27, from Caithness, is an office supervisor with Aberdeen and Northern Marts and enjoys helping out on the family farm when possible.

Isla Soutter, 19, from Leicestershire, is a National Hereford and English Winter Fair young handlers champion and recently competed in the World Hereford Conference in New Zealand.

Agriculture is a highly versatile industry and the adaptations and innovations taking place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic only reinforces its ability to change at short notice. We catch up with two young professionals whose roles have changed as their sectors face the reality of Covid-19.

Jessica Armitage, 25, from Oakham, Rutland, is a herdswoman at Keythorpe Organic Farms and is the owner and founder of PrOganic, a milk processing business.

The coronavirus outbreak has hit us all, affected each of us in an individual and unprecedented way. In the midst of all the heartache and chaos we find ourselves in, the selflessness and sacrifice of our key workers must remain a beacon of positivity.

Chris Newbrook, 26, is a third generation farmer from Glyn Ceirog, North Wales, and farms 210 hectares (520 acres) alongside his parents and grandparents.

Harriet Lyon, 19, from North Yorkshire, has recently moved from the farm in Malton, North Yorkshire, to attend the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. We will follow her over the course of the year to see what life as an agricultural student is like.

Are you overlooking the passive improvement you could gain in your herds’ fertility? In combination with good management practices, a consistent focus on breeding for better fertility plays a critical role in improving your bottom line.