Farm Life

The farming community came together in their hundreds last night as 18 winners of the British Farming Awards were announced.

Accusation that there is a lack of clarity in agricultural policy direction in England may come as little surprise, but that does not make them any less concerning, especially at a time when the industry is seeking to define its future outside of Europe and the Common Agricultural Policy.

The winner of this year’s Farmers Guardian Farming Hero is Scottish chilli farmer, Sheena Horner, who spearheaded a running campaign to improve mental health in throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, galvanising the farming community to achieve it with her.

Farmers had been concerned about the impact of birds on livestock in the area

It has a while since I last wrote an article and there has been a lot going on, having taken on another farm and unfortunately suffering from Covid-19 along the way.

A major new survey of the agricultural community carried out by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has revealed that more than one-third (36 per cent) of farmers are probably or possibly depressed.

It can certainly feel as though some farming sectors are facing an uphill battle at the present time, and that is putting it lightly.

With the continued good weather, it has been easy to forget that the clocks will soon be changing, and winter will be upon us.

Maria Warne, 19, lives in Wadebridge, Cornwall and recently won the NFYFC’s Farm Safety Award. She currently works on her family’s farm and is in her final year of a veterinary nursing degree.

September finally saw the return of sunshine and warmer days which allowed us to finish the cereal harvest with some of the driest combining we had all season, which was a relief.