Menu

Young farmers

See all

YOUNG FARMERS

Is there a problem with young farmer culture?

“Sex, drugs, alcohol.” That is the answer given by a young woman on social media platform TikTok to the question “what happens at Young Farmers?” This is certainly not the…

YOUNG FARMERS

Hannah Reddaway: Women don't have to 'prove themselves'

There’s a pervasive sentiment that women need to prove themselves more so than men to be taken seriously in agriculture. The pressure to demonstrate competence is immense, and the fear…

YOUNG FARMERS

Opinion: Spectre of spud harvest sparks tractor conundrum

We got potato planting wrapped up on 10 May, a week later than average but nearly a fortnight earlier than last year. I need to thank our fantastic planting gang…

COMMUNITY

James Herrick: Clarkson shows the 'harrowing' reality

Unless you have been living under a rock, or engulfed in the one week of summer-like weather we have recently experienced, you will know that Season 3 of Clarkson’s Farm has been…

COMMUNITY

Molly Biddell: Defra should pay for more public engagement

How often have you heard a farmer sigh about the disconnect between the public and the realities of farming? Many times. But it’s also true that our sector has never been…

COMMUNITY

Jack Frater: More farming reality on TV and fewer alpacas

Do accountants head home at the end of the day to watch TV programmes about accountancy? I very much doubt it, because the subject is not seen by producers as…

COMMUNITY

Agriculture student to undertake Edinburgh marathon in wellies

Agriculture student Gillies Boyd, from Argyll in the west of Scotland, is raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support by undertaking the Edinburgh marathon at the end of May, with one…

Britain's Fittest Farmer

See all

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…

Notice board

Young farmers

Keep up to date with all the latest goings on in the young farmers community. Join in on our notice board.
Visit the notice board

Careers

Careers: How time away from farm can improve performance

For those lucky enough to grow up on a farm, it is tempting to go to college or university and then head back home to start work. But people who…

POULTRY

What Lion Training Passport scheme means for poultry staff

Until recently, it has been possible for farms to diversify into free-range egg production as long as the required land area was available. This opportunity has seen a rapid growth…

Careers advice

From getting your first job in agriculture to maintaining your work skills and developing your career, we provide advice and insights.
Visit our careers page

Advice and tips

See all

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

YOUNG FARMERS

10 pieces of advice for young people starting in agriculture

Experienced entrepreneurs had plenty of advice for the next generation at the NFYFC Annual Convention (4-6 May), offering insights into farming’s challenges – and how to overcome them.  We asked…

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…

CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

A beginner's guide to careers in agriculture and farming

Some people find the idea of a career in agriculture hilarious. They think it is all mud, wellies and sticking your arm up the business end of a cow. But…

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”…

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…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Managing expansion and business planning as a young farmer

Preparing years in advance, constantly updating business plans and keeping a handle on gradual expansion all help dairy farmer Sam Bailey move towards his long-term goals. Sam, 24, beat about…

CAREERS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Tips for agriculture students on securing financial help

So you’ve decided what you are going to study and where – next comes the question of how you are going to pay for it. While students can get loans…

Photos and video

See all

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Farming memories - 1965 building a stack

This week’s photo pick is featured in our 90th birthday memories gallery and was sent in by George Williamson. It was taken in 1965 at Dixonfield Farm, Thurso, and features…

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Ready, steady, silage!

This week’s Photo of the Week shows off these magnificent machines proudly lined up ready for grass silaging. It was taken by Tom Simpson who works for Evans Agriculture Contractors…

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Huge single lamb born at 9kg

We've had 440 contributions to our lambing gallery so far this year – thank you to everyone for sharing. Recently, Amy Louise shared a picture of the huge single lamb…

FARMLIFE FRAMED

Photo of the Week: Planting potatoes at sunrise

Despite ongoing wet weather, spring is here and farmers will be hoping that the UK has turned a corner when it comes to the weather. JH Hamilton of West Fortune…