Farmer Focus: Talk to a neighbour – it could save a life

What a year it’s been for grass growth. We’ve had a bumper first cut with more than 1,000t in the clamp already – that’s 50% of what we need for the cows.

Although it was bulky, the quality was still good: metabolisable energy of 11.7MJ/kg dry matter and 14.5% crude protein.

See also: Stress, support and survival: A young farmer’s inspiring journey

About the author

David Luxton

David Luxton farms with his partner Sarah Haworth on her family’s 101ha all-grass farm on the north Devon/Cornwall border. They run a 200-cow housed Holstein Friesian herd averaging close to 11,000 litres, milking through three robots on a guided system. A further 28ha are rented for growing grass and maize

Read more articles by David Luxton

Recently, I went to the dispersal sale of one of my former bosses, David Down (Taw Valley Contractors). I drove for David for four years on and off, 20-odd years ago.

It was great to go back and have one last look around the gear and catch up with old friends. It was very much a reunion of old drivers who have become lifelong friends.

Luckily, we didn’t have social media back then, so there’s no photographic evidence of what we got up to. But a lot of stories and memories were shared on the day.

Which leads me on to this: in the local area, we have had several young farmers struggling with their mental health – the stark reality that we are losing three a week nationally to suicide.

I can’t help but think social media has a lot to answer for. It shows everyone’s perfect life through filters, and if you’re struggling, it makes you wonder what’s wrong with your life.

I know I sound old, but back in the day we rang each other and spoke, whereas now they just send messages, which makes it very hard to gauge how someone is doing.

I recently spoke to the Farming Community Network about this, and the main issue seems to be not the people they are seeing and speaking to, but the ones who have become socially isolated and unable to reach out for help.

I am lucky to have a close group of friends who I speak to daily and we discuss anything and everything.

But with the state of British agriculture, there’s never been a more important time to speak to that neighbour or friend you haven’t heard from in a long time; you may just save a life.

In one of my first pieces for Farmers Weekly, I wrote there was more chance of Lewis Hamilton winning a race than the milk price going up.

How wrong was I. We have had two significant increases for June and July. Let’s hope this is the beginning of the recovery.