HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS

After working with Next Generation Farmer Groups across the North of England this last 18 months, I just have to say how heartened I’ve been to see how much enthusiasm there is out there for their futures in farming.  The changes that have been happening since 2021 have resulted in many of the younger generation being given the chance to make differences to the family business and they have been grasping that opportunity with both hands.

• They are looking at management accounts to ensure they have their fingers on the button. They may not have the ability to determine prices but at least they will know where the business stands at any one point in time.

• They want that life/work balance and are looking at opportunities to ensure that even if it means changing their farming practices.

• Despite changes to IHT, that’s all part of the planning.  Where some will have difficulties due to the short notice of change, I have seen instances where future planning WAS changing anyway.  This next generation were keen to move into a new style of earlier succession.

• Teamwork has always been important within family farm businesses but its really coming into its own now.  Perhaps one partner has skills from work outside the farm that they can now bring into running this particular business.  Or, as I’ve said many times, they don’t want to see hard earnings from other work be put into a black hole of farming.

• More outstanding to me is the willingness to work alongside other farming businesses.  Sharing ideas, comparing true figures rather than those involved in exaggerated “pub talk” is more prevalent than ever. They’re loving that networking and its doing wonders for their own personal wellbeing.

English farming businesses knew that we had between 2021 and 2027 to run through this massive agricultural transition plan.  That timescale is needed within farming as, due to the long-term nature, we can’t swap enterprises and practices year on year.  Minimum needed is 10 years.  Everyone was starting to adjust their systems to adapt to the new style of farming without subsidies.

However, in recent weeks:

The reduction of the timescale mentioned and subsequent early elimination of the delinked payments and now a temporary halt in any scheme application process that was supposed to go part way to replacing that income has absolutely floored everyone. Cashflow will take a tremendous hit and although we are assured that schemes will re-open, we have no guarantee when, for whom they will apply and rates involved.

Make no mistake – those farmers I have worked with WILL fight on and they WILL start to think even further outside that box if only they can keep going in the meantime.  They deserve the support of everyone involved in the industry and indeed the consumers of their produce. So lets do it in whichever way we can!