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| Young Herefordshire farmer took over family business after death of her father | Young Herefordshire farmer took over family business after death of her father |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Jo Lawrence became one of the UK's youngest ever farmers after the death of her father | Jo Lawrence became one of the UK's youngest ever farmers after the death of her father |
| "I was working on my placement year, a normal day. And then I got a phone call [to say] my dad had passed away. And, from that day on I just ended up farming." | "I was working on my placement year, a normal day. And then I got a phone call [to say] my dad had passed away. And, from that day on I just ended up farming." |
| Aged 17, Jo Lawrence became one of the UK's youngest ever farmers following the death of her father Bob, 50, in 2017. | Aged 17, Jo Lawrence became one of the UK's youngest ever farmers following the death of her father Bob, 50, in 2017. |
| She was thrown into a new world of 18-hour days, along with her younger brother Fred, looking after sheep and cattle and harvesting fodder on the fourth-generation family farm in Allensmore, Herefordshire. | She was thrown into a new world of 18-hour days, along with her younger brother Fred, looking after sheep and cattle and harvesting fodder on the fourth-generation family farm in Allensmore, Herefordshire. |
| Both Jo and her brother had different ideas for the farm, but the plan was for them to run it together in the aftermath of their loss. | Both Jo and her brother had different ideas for the farm, but the plan was for them to run it together in the aftermath of their loss. |
| Jo Lawrence's father died, leaving her and her brother to take over the family farm | Jo Lawrence's father died, leaving her and her brother to take over the family farm |
| "He liked tractors, I liked stock. He wanted more arable I wanted more stock," Ms Lawrence said. | "He liked tractors, I liked stock. He wanted more arable I wanted more stock," Ms Lawrence said. |
| And then, in September 2022, 20-year-old Fred was tragically killed in a car accident. | And then, in September 2022, 20-year-old Fred was tragically killed in a car accident. |
| "Now it's just me. Carrying on for them," she said. | "Now it's just me. Carrying on for them," she said. |
| The 25-year-old now single-handedly runs the 200-acre beef and sheep farm, standing in tribute to her father and younger brother. | The 25-year-old now single-handedly runs the 200-acre beef and sheep farm, standing in tribute to her father and younger brother. |
| Jo and Fred Lawrence were going to run the family farm together, before Fred died in a car accident | Jo and Fred Lawrence were going to run the family farm together, before Fred died in a car accident |
| The last year has been a particular challenge for Ms Lawrence, with the farm currently enduring an extended dry spell. | The last year has been a particular challenge for Ms Lawrence, with the farm currently enduring an extended dry spell. |
| The amount of fodder needed for the animals is significantly down and the grass in the fields is dry and lacking nutrition. | The amount of fodder needed for the animals is significantly down and the grass in the fields is dry and lacking nutrition. |
| There is less than a quarter of the usual harvest, all due to the dry weather, and Ms Lawrence knows getting through the next few months and the winter is going to be a challenge. | There is less than a quarter of the usual harvest, all due to the dry weather, and Ms Lawrence knows getting through the next few months and the winter is going to be a challenge. |
| "But all farmers are in the same boat. We'll have to find fodder from somewhere and buy it in," she said. | "But all farmers are in the same boat. We'll have to find fodder from somewhere and buy it in," she said. |
| Listen on BBC Sounds for more: Ms Lawrence runs a beef and sheep farm in Herefordshire | |
| As a young female farmer, Ms Lawrence is still unique in the world of agriculture. | As a young female farmer, Ms Lawrence is still unique in the world of agriculture. |
| More than 40% of farmers are over the age of 65 and just 16% are women, according to government data. | More than 40% of farmers are over the age of 65 and just 16% are women, according to government data. |
| She is also mum to three-year-old daughter, Pippa, and six months pregnant with her second child. | She is also mum to three-year-old daughter, Pippa, and six months pregnant with her second child. |
| When asked if she would want her children to carry on farming and become the fifth generation to do so, she said: "She can do whatever she wants to do. She currently wants to be a ballerina." | When asked if she would want her children to carry on farming and become the fifth generation to do so, she said: "She can do whatever she wants to do. She currently wants to be a ballerina." |
| "To grow up on a farm is really special. I was really lucky I had so much time with my dad before we lost him. | "To grow up on a farm is really special. I was really lucky I had so much time with my dad before we lost him. |
| "I was with him every day. But it's a hard industry and getting harder". | "I was with him every day. But it's a hard industry and getting harder". |
| Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |