The UK's Premier Agricultural Machinery and Technology Show

20–21 January 2027, NEC, Birmingham

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EXCLUSIVE - Martin Lines: "What does it mean to be a farmer today?"

Nature Friendly Farming Network's Martin Lines writes on how farmers can solve some of the most pressing issues society faces, from food security to climate breakdown, but they are being undermined by warm words and a lack of support from Government

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Martin Lines, chief executive at the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: "The 21st century farm needs to be seen as a landscape which produces a range of goods and services that society wants. Food is certainly one of those, but so are nature-based flooding solutions, timber, carbon sequestration, biodiversity habitat, renewable energy, tourism, education and access to nature."
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Martin Lines, chief executive at the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: "The 21st century farm needs to be seen as a landscape which produces a range of goods and services that society wants. Food is certainly one of those, but so are nature-based flooding solutions, timber, carbon sequestration, biodiversity habitat, renewable energy, tourism, education and access to nature."

With the dust settling on a Budget that barely mentioned farming, there can be little doubt our industry is in a difficult position. Farmers, particularly arable ones, are not being paid enough for...

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