Have your say on the challenges facing our farming industry

FROM lowland dairy farms to upland sheep pastures, arable fields to cider orchards, pick-your-own crops to vineyards, free-range poultry operations to organic vegetable plots, farming is the lifeblood of the Westcountry, the industry that has shaped our landscape and the livelihoods and culture of our region.

Those that till the soil, harvest the crops and raise livestock are also the bedrock of a vast array of food and drink enterprises spanning Devon and Cornwall and supplying our celebrated hospitality businesses.

Farming is a way of life that has always endured change, from the weather upon which harvests depend to the fickle tastes of consumers.

However, Westcountry farmers are facing significant challenges ahead, as EU subsidies are phased out and new markets emerge post-Brexit, as a new emphasis on climate change and biodiversity shapes policy and public expectations, as the divide between major producers and smallscale businesses widens.

There are opportunities for the taking, but also threats to income that may push struggling farms under.

It is against this backdrop that the Western Morning News launches a new series of articles exploring the realities of modern agricultural life and the road ahead.

The first of the Future of Farming features is published today in the Farming section – and we want to hear from readers about their thoughts on the upheavals facing the industry and how they should be addressed.

As the cornerstone of the region’s economy, farming is fundamental to the Westcountry’s future prosperity. But the issues facing the industry are varied and complex. Farmers must prepare for life outside the European Union and the subsidies it provided, adapt to the impacts of more extreme weather, tackle shortages of fruit and veg pickers and navigate competition with new overseas markets and cheap imports, among other things.

As a whole our national food and farming sector is worth over £122 billion – the UK’s largest manufacturing sector – and employs upwards of four million people. It should have plenty of clout, and yet the voices of farmers can be drowned out at a time when the forum of debate has shifted to social media. Concerns about rural life and food production may be dismissed as ‘old fashioned’ or ‘out of step’ with modern priorities and lifestyles.

Farming may also seem an idyllic way of life to those unfamiliar with the mud, sweat and toil, the uncertain income and stress of running a business. Poor mental health is considered one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers today – another key issue which will be examined in our series of weekly features.

So, turn to pages 4-5 of Farming and then let us know your thoughts, with details of how to get in touch given on page 5. We want to hear from farmers and food producers, consumers and conservationists.

As Farming Editor Athwenna Irons writes: “There’s never been a more critical time to make sure we’re ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”