Young Farmers and Careers

The amount of capital required to start up as a new entrant alongside misconceptions swirling about the industry are two of the biggest barriers facing young farmers across the UK.

Ben Lewis, 25, works with his parents on their mixed family farm in Dilwyn, Herefordshire, which is home to the Haven herd of pedigree Hereford cattle.

Peter Duthie, 24, is a third generation mixed farmer from Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, and works as an operation manager at Scottish Pig Producers Ltd.

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.