Opinion and blogs

McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer: Emma Cooney - "I grew up on a family-run dairy farm, but never planned on getting into ag"

McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer: Emma Cooney - "I grew up on a family-run dairy farm, but never planned on getting into ag"

In the first of an exclusive 12-month blog for Farmers Guardian, the new cohort of youngsters on the McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer programme talk about their hopes for the future and the impact they can make. First up is Emma Cooney, a young dairy farmer from Ireland

Young Farmers and Careers
Farmers Guardian
clock 05 January 2026 • 4 min read
Politics

OPINION: Farming's future is with the family farm

clock 05 January 2026 • 1 min read
In your field

In your field: Dan Hawes – "We're farmers, things change, supermarkets buy imported apples in peak season, but we adapt, we have to"

clock 05 January 2026 • 2 min read
In your field

In your field: Alan Carter – "You can plan as much as you want, but the weather has the biggest effect on the farming year"

clock 04 January 2026 • 3 min read
Conferences

Farming Matters: Graham Harvey - "Driven by the belief there was a better way to farm"

clock 03 January 2026 • 3 min read
Farm Life

NFU President Tom Bradshaw: 'I am proud to see farmers standing together'

clock 31 December 2025 • 4 min read
Farm Life

Letters: "A poetical look back at the farming year"

clock 30 December 2025 • 2 min read
In your field: Dan Jones – "Farming can take up so much space in your mind you forget what else you're capable of"

In your field

In your field: Dan Jones – "Farming can take up so much space in your mind you forget what else you're capable of"

Dan Jones farms 650 ewes at the National Trust-owned Parc Farm, which sits on the Great Orme, a limestone headland which rises up 208 metres (682 feet) on the North Wales coast near Llandudno. His Farm Business Tenancy covers the 58 hectares (143 acres) at Parc Farm, plus 364ha (900 acres) of grazing rights on the hill

clock 29 December 2025 • 3 min read
In your field: James and Isobel Wright – "Our farm has been clear of bovine TB for 23 years. Just after Christmas, we've got our annual bTB test"

In your field

In your field: James and Isobel Wright – "Our farm has been clear of bovine TB for 23 years. Just after Christmas, we've got our annual bTB test"

James and Isobel, with their two young children, recently bought their first farm, and plan to run beef and sheep over 13.8 hectares (34 acres), renting a further 44.5ha (110 acres). James works for tech firm Breedr as UK country manager. You can follow them on Twitter @jpbwfarm

clock 28 December 2025 • 2 min read
Farming Matters: Brian Richardson – "Let's hope there are good returns for farmers in 2026"

Farm Business

Farming Matters: Brian Richardson – "Let's hope there are good returns for farmers in 2026"

This week's opinion from throughout the world of agriculture: Brian Richardson, head of agriculture, Virgin Money

clock 27 December 2025 • 3 min read