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Young farmers

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YOUNG FARMERS

Lucy Nott: It's been a year of rebuilding myself

When I was 15 I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour on my pituitary gland. This meant my teenage years were spent in and out of hospital, very unwell,…

YOUNG FARMERS

Chris Bennett: Where has all the BPS money gone?

It won't have surprised many people when Defra announced delays to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).  It was a move that has rightly angered farmers. The only way, as I…

YOUNG FARMERS

Former NFU ambassadors on their experiences in the role

As the NFU opens up entries for its 2024 “student and young farmer ambassadors” programme, some of the current crop have been reflecting on their experiences. Now in its fifth…

COMMUNITY

Hannah Reddaway: Diversification demands time and patience

Whether it is agritourism, value-added products or renewable energy, diversification is a lifesaver for some who are facing the loss of BPS revenue. It offers a promising avenue for more…

COMMUNITY

NFU seeks 2023 Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors

Seeking young farmers with a passion for British food and agriculture, the NFU has announced that applications for its Student and Young Farmer Ambassador programme are now open for 2024.…

YOUNG FARMERS

James Herrick: Exercise gives me mental clarity

Do you ever find yourself wondering where you’re making for next? What the markets are going to do? How you’re going to pay the bills? What that means for your…

COMMUNITY

Young farmer finds niche as a small-scale contractor

Starting out on your own after college or university can be a daunting prospect, but for 19-year-old young farmer Henri Gooch, from Framlingham, Suffolk, the key has been finding his…

Britain's Fittest Farmer

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COMMUNITY

BFF judge attempts 8,848m Everest rope climb

Britain’s Fittest Farmer judge and Farm Fitness founder Tom Kemp is taking on a Guinness World Record challenge to raise money for the Farming Community Network (FCN), by attempting the…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Britain's Fittest Farmer: Get stuck into regional qualifiers

Three host farms for the second stage of Farmers Weekly's Britain's Fittest Farmer competition have been revealed – and you might notice some familiar faces. Wiltshire farmer and long-standing arable…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Britain's Fittest Farmer finalists to compete at YFF19

Important announcement: The Young Farmers Festival is postponed until 2020, the new date will be announced soon. The Britain's Fittest Farmer live final will go ahead on 4 May as planned…

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Young farmers

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Careers

JOB PROFILES

Job profile: What's it like to work in crop nutrition?

Working for a major fertiliser company can offer plenty of variety, as you are likely to be working with every sector of the farming industry. The role of an area…

YOUNG FARMERS

Placement-year student 'follows her ag dream'

Maisie Wildgoose is testimony to the fact that you don’t need to come from an agricultural background to forge a successful path in farming. Having initially secured a place to…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

How farmers can bust 4 common myths about working in ag

The post-Brexit era and the impact of Covid-19 have had many people across the country questioning careers and work-life balance. Some have chosen to continue to work from home, turning…

Careers advice

From getting your first job in agriculture to maintaining your work skills and developing your career, we provide advice and insights.
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Advice and tips

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CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

How to find help to fund agricultural career development

Agriculture may be the fastest growing subject at UK universities, but studying is expensive, with most universities charging tuition fees of £9,000/year – and then there are living expenses to…

COMMUNITY

Is an agricultural degree worth doing?

Over the past three years, figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency have shown a gradual climb in the number of students enrolling to study land-based and agricultural degrees. In…

BUSINESS

Podcast: Fertile Minds on finding and managing finance

New entrants to farming who turn to the bank of mum and dad for funding should always agree the terms in writing. This was the advice from John Hartwright of…

YOUNG FARMERS

Young sheep farmers share tips on year-round lamb marketing

Britain’s next generation of sheep farmers are taking the lead in promoting home-grown lamb as a healthy and sustainable choice for shoppers. These young industry representatives – aptly named “lambassadors”…

Why you should consider a land-based apprenticeship

The opportunity to earn while you learn will be an appealing prospect for many young people. So what’s involved in a land-based apprenticeship and could one be right for you?…

What's next? Options for farmers' children leaving school

A new year brings new beginnings - and for school leavers, this means considering what will happen after exams are finally over. What’s the best choice - home to the…

Top tips for young farmer business success

Who better to pick up tips about farming than other young people who have “made it” in the industry? Packed into Europe’s largest underground building last week were more than…

MACHINERY

Top tips for starting a new farm contracting business

Starting out in contracting can be daunting and financially terrifying but it can equally create a lifestyle driven by a true love of the outdoors and machinery. Farmers Weekly speaks…

8 secrets to progressing up the ag careers ladder

Getting your first job in the agricultural sector is a real milestone, but what does it take to get the next one and the one after that? If you’ve got…

YOUNG FARMERS

Tips for young farmers on making media appearances

Ben Chilman has received a raft of requests to appear on TV and radio since he won the coveted Farmers Weekly Ag Student Award last autumn. The most recent was…

BUSINESS

Podcast: Fertile Minds on planning your diversification

Farmers should look beyond sources of agricultural funding when seeking finance for diversification, the fourth Fertile Minds Roadshow in York heard last week. Young farmers at the roadshow, heard from…

BUSINESS

4 young farmers on setting up successful joint dairy ventures

Young farmers are successfully using joint ventures in the dairy sector as a way of developing their careers while increasing their net worth. Tony Evans, partner with consultant The Andersons…

Photos and video

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FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Sheep shearer's suntan

This gave us all a laugh at Farmers Weekly this week. Kathryn Cross captured Norfolk shepherd David Cross at the beach showing off his sheep shearer’s suntan - she commented:…

COMMUNITY

Photo of the Week: Not so traditional harvest supper

Schools may be back after the summer holidays (just as the hot weather returns, too) but that didn't stop this family putting harvest on pause for a picnic. Instead of…

COMMUNITY

Photo of the Week: Snoopy the dog rests from baling straw

This week, the Farmers Weekly Harvest gallery has been inundated with dog-themed photos as you shared your canines' adventures during harvest this year. It seemed only fair to highlight this…

COMMUNITY

Photo of the Day: Harvest paddling along nicely

Farming-mad Thomas, aged 9, is pictured following every minute of the harvest at his family farm in Norfolk on board a paddle board. Thomas is a fourth-generation farmer in the…