Farm Life

Be careful what you wish for. After weeks of dry weather and wishing we could have just a bit of rain after first cut, the weather broke with a vengeance and we seemed to be instantly transported into autumn.

I don’t know what it is about writing these articles, but it seems to make time fly at an even greater rate than usual.

Since I wrote my last article back in April things have changed considerably.

Diversification allowed Ian Steele the opportunity to return to the family farm in North Shropshire, where a range of diversification projects have boosted the smaller scale farming operation. Amy Stinton reports.

Nathan Rogers, 26, from Hayscastle, Pembrokeshire, is club chairman of Fishguard YFC and manages a herd of 140 British Friesian and Shorthorn cross cows.

Although only in their fifth year of showing pedigree Herefords, the Bowen family are making a name for themselves on the show circuit, and in 2019 they took the breed championship at the Royal Welsh Show.

"When lockdown began, I found myself working in my living room and relying on virtual meetings to communicate with colleagues and farmers."

Virtual home-working has been a learning curve for many agricultural employees, so what lessons can be learned from the journey so far? Danusia Osiowy speaks to three young professionals who have adapted to new working days.

After relocating from Canada to the UK in pursuit of the sheepdog trialling scene in 2007, Angie Driscoll and partner Kelvin Broad have been busy making their mark in the trialling community. Hannah Binns finds out more.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to my MP asking why he chose to vote down the Agriculture Bill when, in the constituency that he represents, the largest sector of employment is agriculture. Do you know what he said?