The agricultural labour force

 

Choosing to work in agriculture starts with young people at school and continues through to the farm with responsibilities for both employers and employees according to those involved in its many facets.

From surviving to thriving

A succession of traumas led farmer Eddie Rixon to transform his life and farm in ways he would never have considered previously. Discover the importance of embracing nature, shifting your mindset and seeking support. 

Read more here
Jason & Amelia Greenway Springwater Farm

Building a resilient farm business in 2025

Find out how to build and maintain farm resilience, and explore profitability and family values. 

Read more here

Does my farm have a future?

Discover what farmers can do to put themselves and their farms in the best possible place to face what lies ahead.

Read more here

What will farming look like in 2050?

Acknowledging the current uncertainty and lack of cohesive food and farming strategy, explore the need to try and plan five to 10 years ahead to achieve any kind of business resilience and stability. 

Read more here

Embracing challenges and adapting to change

Farming has always demanded resilience and adaptability, but for Graham Eggins and Chris Berry, these qualities have taken on new dimensions. 

Read more here

The morning everything went wrong

Accidents and injuries in farming remain stubbornly widespread. Find out how one farmer's attitude changed towards health and safety. 

Read more here

Opportunities from growth

Taking responsibility for your own personal development and growth is critical according to agri-businessman Ian Tremain. We find out more.

Read more here
Hugh Pocock Agri Recruiter

Attracting and retaining good staff

Specialist recruitment expert Hugh Pocock gives farm businesses his tips on how to attract and retain good people and explains why it isn’t all about the money.

Read more here
Carl Edwards

Young people’s perceptions of the agri-food industry

Many believe young people don’t know or care where their food comes from. But a new report from LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) challenges this idea following a large-scale survey.

Read more here

Significant challenge posed to UK agricultural and horticultural labour force

Challenges to the labour market within the agricultural and horticultural sectors have been identified, but there are opportunities too and support available from a newly created national industry body.

Read more here

'The biggest obstacle is ourselves'

Dealing with change is a normal part of running a farm business, but today’s farmers have more to contend with than ever before. The Farming Community Network’s (FCN) Stephen Dennis shares his thoughts on how farmers can increase their capacity to cope.

Read more here

'Don't be scared of change'

Richard and Fionagh Harding have had to deal with enormous changes since buying their Cornish farm 17 years ago. Here, Richard advises farmers to be positive and look for sources of support.

Read more here

How to prepare for change and embrace opportunities

With numerous changes ahead, farmers must be open-minded and look at how they can adapt their businesses. Somerset-based consultant Gemma Sparks advises on how to turn these challenges into opportunities.

Read more here

New direction secures family business

A farming family in Cornwall has made the radical decision to move out of beef and sheep and into dairy production. We find out why, and what this change of farming and mindset means for the business.

Read more here
Professor Nicola Shadbolt profile image

Are you resilient enough to change?

It’s hard to know if you are resilient until your resilience is tested. We talk to industry expert, Professor Nicola Shadbolt, about five characteristics she’s identified in resilient farmers who adapt to change well.

Read more here

Developing a deeper understanding of resilience

Building on her observations of resilient farmers in our previous interview, Professor Nicola Shadbolt describes what she believes is required for a farming business to withstand external changes.

Read more here

Full scale change is needed for small farms to survive

Economist Sean Rickard shares his insight into how farmers can survive the removal of direct payments and why a change of mindset is required.

Read more here

The five fibres of resilience

As one of the UK’s most successful business coaches, Marcus Child explains why resilience is a fundamental quality required to thrive in business.

Read more here
Rebecca Tonks St Ewe Farm

Forty years of adaptation builds company resilience

St Ewe Eggs began life as a dairy farm, bought by Christine and Richard Tonks in the late 1960s. Now run by their daughter, Rebecca, we find out from Head of Marketing, Nikki Owen, how the company has changed to become the award-winning egg business it is today.

Read more here

Resilience through diversity

For Oak Park Dairy, resilience through diversity has been the cornerstone of building a successful and sustainable family dairy enterprise.

Read more here

Explore Future Farming Programme