I'm writing an article looking at the reasons people choose or reject a career in farming.

I'm looking for people from a non-farming background who choose to embark on a career in agriculture.

I'm also looking for farmers’ sons and daughters who decide that a career in farming is NOT for them.

I am especially interested in speaking with people who have been in farming (or one of the ancillary industries) for a number of years - has  your career panned out as you expected? Better or worse?

If you can help, please give me a bell on 07967 634971, post a message here or email me on johann.tasker@rbi.co.uk

Thanks,

 Johann

 hi

 i have raisied 5 children and now at the age of 41 have decided to go into farming, it is only on the small scale, i have raised a cade lamb since march of this year and then fell in love with him he is still living in our garden and has a great dane as his friend.I have just rented a 5 acre field and am in the process of fencing it, I am having 10 pregnant ewe`s delivered at the end of november and am currently weaning a 16day old bull calf in my back garden that i brought from market. I will be getting pigs, free roaming ones in a few weeks to put down my field, as well as some turkeys,ducks,geese and i hope another calf. I have found it very stressful as i`m learning all the time about different things, but the local farmers near where i live and the local enviromental health and defra have been absolutly amazing with help and advice. I thought about going into farming for a good year and did lots of research before i decided to go into it. But i still know i have made the right desicion. I only wish i had done it years ago. My friends are amazed, ane are all getting stuck in and helping me with the field.

if you want to contact me please do so. It would be nice to talk

Jules Smith
 

Jules. I can understand your desire to, as you put it. "go into farming," albeit on an acknowledged small scale.

Your interests are those of many holders of small acreages and, as a small holder, you will much in common with the bigger farmers and to a lesser extent you have some common interests with the farmers who grow crops on thousands of acreas. This forum has found a place for those who earn all their living from farming, those who, like me, earn part of their income from farming, and those who farm in order to be able to eat well or enjoy a lifestyle.

Sometimes these three groups have different perspectives and needs and so do not always agree, however we all recognise that the business of Farmers Weekly is to meet the needs of those who get all their living from working the land in one form or another. That being the case, those of us who are not 'big boys' can learn a lot from the others as well as contributing our own expertise and ideas.

 Welcome to the forum and we look forward to other postings from you