Farming matters: Martin Lines - "The economic model has been skewed against us"

Farmers can no longer turn a blind eye to a business’ impact on local water quality, says Martin Lines

clock • 3 min read
Martin Lines - Nature Friendly Farming Network chief executive
Image:

Martin Lines - Nature Friendly Farming Network chief executive

As a farmer who is out in the fields every day, I know the challenges we face. One of the toughest issues staring us down today is water pollution – a problem where agriculture unfortunately plays a...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Register for free Join Now

 

More on In your field

In your field: James Wright – "Bovine TB re-tests are a truly depressing reminder of how hard farming can be sometimes"
In your field

In your field: James Wright – "Bovine TB re-tests are a truly depressing reminder of how hard farming can be sometimes"

James, along with his wife Isobel and their two young children, recently bought their first farm, and plan to run beef and sheep over 13.8 hectares (34 acres), renting a further 44.5ha (110 acres). James works for tech firm Breedr as UK country manager. You can follow them on Twitter @jpbwfarm

James and Isobel Wright
clock 08 March 2026 • 2 min read
In your field: Helen Stanier – "I would like to see farmers given greater opportunity to use knowledge of their land to work with the weather, not battle against it"
In your field

In your field: Helen Stanier – "I would like to see farmers given greater opportunity to use knowledge of their land to work with the weather, not battle against it"

Helen is a fifth-generation farmer who farms with her parents, David and Anne Shaw, husband, Craig, and their children, Alfred and Hattie, at Grey Leys Farm in the Vale of York. The farm comprises 162 hectares (400 acres) of grass, maize and wholecrop for the herd of 240 pedigree Jersey cows and more than 200 followers

Helen Stanier
clock 02 March 2026 • 2 min read
In your field: James Robinson – "A generational farming baton has been passed down to me: Dad has retired from mole catching"
In your field

In your field: James Robinson – "A generational farming baton has been passed down to me: Dad has retired from mole catching"

James farms Dairy Shorthorns east of Kendal, Cumbria, with his parents Kathleen and Henry, wife Michelle and sons Robert and Chris. The fifth generation to farm at Strickley, he is also vice-chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network

James Robinson
James Robinson
clock 01 March 2026 • 3 min read