This week from Farmers Guardian editor Olivia Midgley
This week's opinion from throughout the world of agriculture: East Yorkshire pig farmer Anna Longthorp
"Coupled with rising mental health challenges, the future of family farming in the UK is at a critical juncture"
As I write this at the beginning of November, we are currently in the midst of doing our maize in Cheshire.
Cambridgeshire farmer, Jamie Stokes manages his family's 1,000 hectare arable farm for his 96 year old grandfather. Years of succession planning had set a route for a fairly painless transition down two generations in one step. However, now if his grandfather survives until April 2026, at least 200 hectares of the farm must be sold to pay the tax bill, he says. And having just adjusted the business to survive the loss of subsidies, the maths on losing a fifth of the farm's land poses another major challenge.
This week from Farmers Guardian editor Olivia Midgley
Another year, another calving block comes to an end, filled with a few surprises and challenges but mainly positive memories
"If I was to provide advice to any farmer, it would be this: always tell people where you are, tell them what you are doing and always keep a phone with you at all times"
"There will be a need for a rapid and concerted effort from the leaders in the rural and farming sectors to hold the Government to account on ensuring that the gulf between urban and rural support does not become even wider"
Director at Rostons Tony Rimmer says 'now is the time for unity' in our industry