Video: 90 and Counting – James Harris, future farmer, Shropshire

Future farmer James Harris, four, is the fifth generation on his family’s beef farm in Shropshire, where he lives with mum Katie, dad Robert and sister Florence, nine.

About a mile down the road, his granddad, Gareth Poole, and uncle, Chris, run a 160ha arable holding and keep some sheep.

We spoke to James and his family about farming, riding, joining the London protests and their hopes for the future.

See also: Farm futures at risk: Why succession talks can’t wait

On the family farm…

James We are on our farm today, Townsend Farm. We do straw chopping. And riding – my pony is called Nettie.

Robert We all ride – myself, my wife, and the children. The addiction was passed on from my dad – he used to ride with his dad, and we all used to go out as a family.

James Our tractors, they do straw chopping. Daddy has John Deeres. My favourites are Fendts; Uncle Chris has a Fendt tractor. John Deeres are quite fast, but Fendts go supersonic.

I help feeding the beef cows with the ladle bucket and a shovel. I have nine chickens. I feed them and muck them out. We sell their eggs; I get nine a day from my hens.

Katie I have to buy his eggs!

James I like having chickens because they’re fun. When I grow up I want to be a fireman and drive around on the farm feeding them.

We have some pigs; the Gloucester Old Spots are very spotty. One’s called Donald, one’s called Peppa and one’s Georgina.

On joining the London protests…

James I went to the march and saw a bus and a policeman. There were lots of people.

Florence I made a sign that said: “When I grow up I wanted to be a farmer” because I can’t if the government doesn’t change its mind. And then there wouldn’t be much food.

Florence with her protest sign at the London march in November 2024 © Phil Weedon

Katie What’s happening in the government at the moment is really important for the kids to try and understand. So we decided we would take them with us to the march.

On hopes for the future…

Robert The whole of agriculture needs a massive shake-up to stay viable because we haven’t got the subsidies like we used to.

You can argue whether they were good or bad, but we still need to be profitable and the costs are outweighing what we can ever earn.

Gareth Our hopes would be that the grandchildren would take over the family farms. We’re very concerned Rachel from Accounts is making a mess of it.

Robert I hope they get a chance to take it forward for the next 40, 50 years, and they can pass it on again.

Katie The children are the next generation. If they want it, then they need the opportunity. n