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Farming industry targets the next generation | Farming industry targets the next generation |
(about 9 hours later) | |
By Lucy Burton Business reporter, BBC News | By Lucy Burton Business reporter, BBC News |
Noisy groups of teenagers wearing a strict uniform of hot pants, aviator sunglasses and wellies stream past security into a music tent. | Noisy groups of teenagers wearing a strict uniform of hot pants, aviator sunglasses and wellies stream past security into a music tent. |
They could be at any one of the summer's music festivals. | They could be at any one of the summer's music festivals. |
But this is the young farmers' area at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, in Powys, Mid-Wales. | But this is the young farmers' area at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, in Powys, Mid-Wales. |
Despite the huge numbers of enthusiastic young people here, the average age of a farmer is 58. | Despite the huge numbers of enthusiastic young people here, the average age of a farmer is 58. |
Image problem | Image problem |
More than 60,000 new farmers will be needed over the next decade in order to provide enough food for the rest of us. | More than 60,000 new farmers will be needed over the next decade in order to provide enough food for the rest of us. |
Despite unemployment among 16-24-year-olds standing at just over one million, few consider a career in farming where a good one might earn up to £60,000 a year. | |
This is partly because farming has an image problem. | This is partly because farming has an image problem. |
A survey of young children carried out by Careers in Farming and Food Supply showed the industry was perceived as "boring, repetitive and low-paid". | A survey of young children carried out by Careers in Farming and Food Supply showed the industry was perceived as "boring, repetitive and low-paid". |
Technical job | Technical job |
In just one row of stands here at the Royal Welsh, fluttering banners advertise animal micro-nutrients and heavy machinery and offer a multitude of financial plans. | In just one row of stands here at the Royal Welsh, fluttering banners advertise animal micro-nutrients and heavy machinery and offer a multitude of financial plans. |
This tiny area of the show demonstrates that agriculture has become an increasingly technical, complex and challenging industry. | This tiny area of the show demonstrates that agriculture has become an increasingly technical, complex and challenging industry. |
"You can use all sorts of skills as a farmer these days," says Christine Tacon, Chairman of UK Farming plc. | "You can use all sorts of skills as a farmer these days," says Christine Tacon, Chairman of UK Farming plc. |
Beyond an obvious passion for the outdoors, farmers also need to excel at logistics and planning as well nurturing "softer" skills, like people management. | Beyond an obvious passion for the outdoors, farmers also need to excel at logistics and planning as well nurturing "softer" skills, like people management. |
"Imagine you've hired 2,000 workers from various countries in eastern Europe. Getting them to work harmoniously together is going to be a challenge," explains Ms Tacon. | "Imagine you've hired 2,000 workers from various countries in eastern Europe. Getting them to work harmoniously together is going to be a challenge," explains Ms Tacon. |
McFarmer | McFarmer |
The shortage of young farmers is also starting to worry big businesses. | The shortage of young farmers is also starting to worry big businesses. |
Fast-food chain McDonalds has also just launched a programme aiming to help young people into the industry. | Fast-food chain McDonalds has also just launched a programme aiming to help young people into the industry. |
With an initial first-year investment of £1m, Farm Forward offers agricultural students a placement year working in every part of the supply chain. | With an initial first-year investment of £1m, Farm Forward offers agricultural students a placement year working in every part of the supply chain. |
"We will help them develop the blend of skills and experience that progressive, modern farmers want and need," says Brian Mullens, senior vice president of McDonalds UK. | "We will help them develop the blend of skills and experience that progressive, modern farmers want and need," says Brian Mullens, senior vice president of McDonalds UK. |
Family business? | Family business? |
Many young people are also put off farming because they think you have to come from an agricultural family to succeed. | Many young people are also put off farming because they think you have to come from an agricultural family to succeed. |
"This absolutely isn't true," says Rachel Jones, from Farmers Weekly magazine. | "This absolutely isn't true," says Rachel Jones, from Farmers Weekly magazine. |
"People don't realise how much of a business farming is, you have to have an eye on margins and costs every step of the way. | "People don't realise how much of a business farming is, you have to have an eye on margins and costs every step of the way. |
If you have really acute business and entrepreneurial skills there are opportunities out there. " | If you have really acute business and entrepreneurial skills there are opportunities out there. " |
In a bid to tempt some fresh meat into the industry, Farmers Weekly has launched Farmers Apprentice - a competition in which 10 people aged between 18 and 25 will battle it out in a farming "boot camp" for a week, carrying out some of the toughest tasks. | In a bid to tempt some fresh meat into the industry, Farmers Weekly has launched Farmers Apprentice - a competition in which 10 people aged between 18 and 25 will battle it out in a farming "boot camp" for a week, carrying out some of the toughest tasks. |
Resisting peer pressure | Resisting peer pressure |
Gareth Barlow grew up in Reading, and when his non-farming friends and family found out that his dream was to become a farmer, they tried to put him off. | Gareth Barlow grew up in Reading, and when his non-farming friends and family found out that his dream was to become a farmer, they tried to put him off. |
"They said there was no future in it and I'd never make any money. I guess I wanted to prove them wrong," he said. | "They said there was no future in it and I'd never make any money. I guess I wanted to prove them wrong," he said. |
He has continued to add to the small flock of sheep he bought as a 17-year-old, and now has more than 500. | He has continued to add to the small flock of sheep he bought as a 17-year-old, and now has more than 500. |
Gareth also trained as butcher and has sold his meat to Michelin-starred chefs, like Marcus Wareing. | Gareth also trained as butcher and has sold his meat to Michelin-starred chefs, like Marcus Wareing. |
"Farming has to be a business," he says. "You're a businessman first, then a farmer". | "Farming has to be a business," he says. "You're a businessman first, then a farmer". |
He acknowledges that farming is not always the most glamorous of jobs, and can be very hard work. | He acknowledges that farming is not always the most glamorous of jobs, and can be very hard work. |
"You're working with and against nature," he says. "You have to be prepared to do anything, so if a ewe's having trouble birthing, you do have to get stuck in." | "You're working with and against nature," he says. "You have to be prepared to do anything, so if a ewe's having trouble birthing, you do have to get stuck in." |
'Don't be deterred' | 'Don't be deterred' |
The recent dairy protests highlight the challenges faced by small farmers in today's volatile markets. | The recent dairy protests highlight the challenges faced by small farmers in today's volatile markets. |
They also show how necessary it is to display good business acumen when negotiating prices with supermarkets. | They also show how necessary it is to display good business acumen when negotiating prices with supermarkets. |
The National Farmers Union says cuts in the price paid to suppliers, combined with rising feed costs, could force hundreds of farmers out of business. | The National Farmers Union says cuts in the price paid to suppliers, combined with rising feed costs, could force hundreds of farmers out of business. |
However, Christine Tacon does not think that should put anyone off the industry. | However, Christine Tacon does not think that should put anyone off the industry. |
She says in the bigger agricultural companies, graduate trainees are paid upwards of £20,000, are given a vehicle and often a house. | She says in the bigger agricultural companies, graduate trainees are paid upwards of £20,000, are given a vehicle and often a house. |
Next generation | Next generation |
Alongside schemes like the Farmers Apprentice and Farm Forward, the industry is trying to do more to change the public perception of farming. | Alongside schemes like the Farmers Apprentice and Farm Forward, the industry is trying to do more to change the public perception of farming. |
Kevin Thomas, national director of Lantra, the sector-skills council for land-based and environmental industries, says: "A lot of career information is gained online, but we need to increase the opportunity for 13-14-year-olds to get a taster of working on the land. | Kevin Thomas, national director of Lantra, the sector-skills council for land-based and environmental industries, says: "A lot of career information is gained online, but we need to increase the opportunity for 13-14-year-olds to get a taster of working on the land. |
"It's about informing careers advisers and individuals to show that there is a career opportunity at all levels." | "It's about informing careers advisers and individuals to show that there is a career opportunity at all levels." |
If that does not persuade young people to think about career in farming, perhaps the industry could point to a new ONS survey which shows those who live and work in the countryside are happier than the rest of us. | If that does not persuade young people to think about career in farming, perhaps the industry could point to a new ONS survey which shows those who live and work in the countryside are happier than the rest of us. |
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