Farm Life

Alison Warne, 16, lives in Wadebridge, Cornwall. She works on her family’s beef sheep and arable farm alongside studying for an agricultural diploma.

With major farming policy changes in Wales set for next year there was one clear message emerging from this week’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair – sustainability.

The devastation left in the wake of Storm Arwen has proven, if proof was needed, just how much power lies behind an 80mph gale.

Just recently, Dad wandered into our yard with a look on his face that meant he had some bad news.

Recent cuts to police budgets have left rural communities feeling anxious, but where funding is allowing dedicated rural crime teams to operate, forces are seeing positive results. Lucy Baxter spent the day with the South Lancashire Rural Task Force.

Rural communities have been some of the hardest hit by Storm Arwen, with fallen trees, debris and snow making roads impassable and freezing temperatures adding to treacherous conditions.

I was incredibly lucky recently to be asked to attend the British Farming Awards as the ’plus one’ of my good friend Sheena Horner who was being recognised as the Farmers Guardian Farming Hero for 2021 (she had invited her husband first but he unfortunately couldn’t make it).

Handling livestock, particularly cattle, always involves the risk of injury, but putting certain measures in place and always adhering to strict protocols can reduce that risk to yourself, your employees and visitors.

Farmers have been urged to be vigilant as rising fertiliser prices could lead to increased thefts.

Increasing cattle-related fatalities in the last five years have led to industry calls for livestock to be handled and treated with caution.