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Young farmers

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YOUNG FARMERS

Georgina Mitchell-Jones: YFCs are rural communities' backbone

As I sat through the speeches at the recent Lutterworth YFC annual dinner dance, before the wine and music carried the night off in its usual direction, I found myself…

YOUNG FARMERS

Alice Littlewood: Young adults need to know 'real food' facts

Walk around a supermarket and, chances are, you’ll see more plastic wrap than actual food in most people’s trolleys. Boxes and boxes of frozen, beige, processed foods, or plastic-wrapped strawberries…

YOUNG FARMERS

Young farmers head to Westminster to debate regen farming

Dozens of young farmers descended on Parliament to take part in a debate on whether regenerative farming can feed the nation. Committee Room 14 in the House of Commons served…

YOUNG FARMERS

Emily Lees: Calving success isn’t always measured by survival

After nearly three years on farm, I finally faced my first very premature calf. We run a spring-calving herd, starting in March, ready to turn mother and baby out onto…

YOUNG FARMERS

Daisy Wood: Seeing how others farm is a great investment

I visited Madeira recently to escape the perpetual rain. I spent time walking their unique network of irrigation channels, known as levadas, that weave through the mountains. Next to the…

YOUNG FARMERS

Peter Gittins: You can’t regulate what you don’t understand

“Clueless civil servants sent to farms to learn how they work,” was the headline in the national media. It refers to Defra’s new Baseline Agricultural Training programme – a four-year…

COMMUNITY

Four young UK shepherds to contest European finals

Four young sheep farmers from across the UK will represent their nations at the European Shepherd of the Year competition in Paris, following regional victories. Selected by the National Sheep…

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: Working for a poultry breeding company

Agriculture is a global industry, where feeding the world is the key aim of those working in the sector. If you would like to feel part of that global picture,…

JOB PROFILES

Job profile: What it's like to be an agronomist

There's strong demand for agronomists to guide farmers on their crop management decisions. But what does the job involve? Name Rob Daniel Job title Agronomist Company Agrii Age 26 Sum…

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?…

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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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?…

PARTNERSHIPS

Share farming: How it works and why it could reshape farming

If a quarter of farmers in England aged over 65 entered into a share farming agreement we could have nearly 8,000 new entrants working the land, according to Christopher Price,…

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…

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…

TRACTORS

Taking your tractor test – all you need to know

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) tractor test gives budding farmers the chance to drive machines on the road at the age of 16, but it shouldn't be taken lightly. The…

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

Business Clinic: Share farming v contract farming

Whether you have a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Georgina Sweeting of Savills advises on the pros and cons of…

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…

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…

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…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

How to become a county council farm tenant

County council farms provide a great opportunity for people looking to reach the first rung in the farming ladder and many holdings are designed specifically with new entrants in mind.…

Photos and video

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FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Stunning shot captures newborn calf

This week’s Photo of the Week is an absolute stunner of a shot, sent in by Amy Cropper. It shows a freshly born Blackmount Luing calf on the privately owned…

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Spring smiles brighten March weather

After one of the wettest beginning to the year on record, the sun is beginning to break through in many places across the country. And what better way to tempt…

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Belgian Blue stands out from the crowd

This week’s photo of a 12-day-old Belgian Blue-sired calf was sent in by Aisling Cooney in County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland. The family farm has a herd of Friesian,…

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: New Greyface Dartmoor lamb gets piggyback

This week's photo of a Greyface Dartmoor lamb and ewe is right up there in the cuteness premiere league. The photo was sent in by Amy Griffith, who is livestock…