Young farmers in England and Wales are calling for action on access to land, finance and housing, warning that agriculture risks losing a generation of new entrants, Farmers Weekly reports. A paper from the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) YFC Agri group, Proud to Farm, was published for National Young Farmers Week (5-9 October).
The paper sets the goal of tripling the share of under-35s working in agriculture to 15% by 2036. It points to an ageing workforce: the average farmer in England is over 59, more than a third are over 65 and just 5% are under 35. In Wales the average age is 60 and about 3% are under 25.
"Many face significant challenges, from accessing land and capital to securing business opportunities, housing and high-quality land-based training," said YFC Agri chair Nathan Greenwood. "Without action to address these obstacles, the sector risks losing a generation of talent at the very moment it is needed most."
NFYFC asks government and industry to improve access to farm tenancies, including keeping council farms and encouraging landlords to offer openings to new entrants as old Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies expire. It wants fair access for young farmers to environmental land management and capital grant schemes, and for agricultural workers to be designated key workers so they can secure rural housing.
The paper also calls for young farmers to be more involved in agricultural policymaking and for better access to land-based education and training. "The next generation are eager to succeed, but they need the right opportunities and support to fulfil their potential," said NFYFC chair Jessica Rose.
Photo: Geoff Charles / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Farmers Weekly
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