Farm Life

This year marks the 25th anniversary of George Dunn’s time as chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association. Abi Kay spoke to him to discuss the past, present and his hopes for the future.

More women and girls living and working in Scottish agriculture are to be able to apply for funding for courses to help develop their skills.

Every industry is experiencing a shortage of available talent. This has been seen in the dairy industry for the last few years, especially on dairy farms.

I hope you have all had a happy and peaceful festive season. It is mid-January and the hustle and bustle of the Christmas turkey rush seems like a long and distant memory.

A glance at the Farmers Guardian website’s ‘most read’ section provided an interesting snapshot of what was capturing the attention of readers this week.

I am writing this on January 1, so Blwyddyn Newydd Dda pawb (happy new year all). May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. Lang may yer lum reek (long may your chimney smoke).

Benjamin Middlewood, 24, works on his family’s 182-hectare (450-acre) arable farm in Driffield, Yorkshire Wolds. They grow a typical range of combinable crops, as well as vining peas for a local group, and sugar beet for the Newark factory.

Concerns have been raised that the new Local Nature Recovery (LNR) scheme will not initially include funding for educational or other kinds of access to farms.

Winter might have been a bit late in coming this year – here in the Scottish Borders the grass was still growing in November – but when it did it definitely came with a bang, or should I say storm.

I was brought up on the family farm which was run as a partnership with my parents and uncle.