#
#FARM24 is the biggest digital event within the agricultural industry dedicated to showcasing the incredible role of British farmers as trusted food producers and guardians of the countryside. As farmers and industry organisations unite to share their stories and insight into what a typical day in farming can look like, get ready to discover the remarkable journey from field to fork. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with the heart of our food production and gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication and hard work of our farming community.
GET INVOLVED TODAY
Join us for an extraordinary day as we celebrate the nation’s farmers and the fantastic work they do.
at home
Best of British recipes: Nothing can beat the joy of a chocolate cake
Eleanor Durdy
2022 highlights
Farmers and industry professionals took to social media to share their day with the British public - we dare you not to smile and feel proud of the incredible work they do!
12 farming influencers to follow if you want a slice of countryside heaven
Championing the idyllic yet realistic life in rural Britain, these farmers show their day-to-day life as they navigate farming, fun and the odd fail.
FARMING ON SOCIAL
9 ways to get more bees in your garden or farm
Now that bees are currently busy foraging during the summer season, here are nine things that you can do to help encourage the growth of the honey bee population.
farming AT HOME
5 city farms to visit
City farms are popping up around the country, offering families who don't have easy access to get onto a farm and enjoy being outdoors and connecting with farm and nature.
View article >
FAMILY FUN
Award-winning cookbook author Jenny Jefferies shares her favourite chocolate cake recipe.
meet our #Farm24 ambassadors!
August 3 - 4, 2023
Arable farmer
Yorkshire
Location
TikTok
Find her on
@farmer.ejd
Social handle
Find him on
@agrispec_tom
Gloucester
Agricultural advisor
Tom Turner
@that.farmer.dude
Kent
Contractor and sheep farmer
Dylan Muriam
Instagram
@louisepennagronomy_
Oxfordshire
Agronomist
Louise Penn
Facebook
Wales
Sheep and beef farmer
Gareth Wyn Jones
#Farm24 on SOCIAL mEDIA
FARM24
PLEDGE
Once you've let us know that you'd be proud to take part in #farm24, we'll send you a pledge pack with all the tips about how you can get involved.
First Name
Surname
County
Job Title
Email
Lancashire
Submit
CLOSE X
@forcesfarming
Berkshire
Farmer and veteran supporter
Jeremy Gibbs
@keepingcowsmoovin
Cornwall
Hoof trimmer
Anthony Thomas
@maria_warne
Beef and sheep farmer
Maria Warne
@mikewheelchairfarming
Northamptonshire
Wheelchair farmer
Mike Nixon
Inspiring others across the industry
Adam Cusick on his passion to promote opportunity and diversity within the agricultural industry is at the heart of a piece of work others can learn from and be inspired by.
Future of Farming
Dylan was born into farming on a family-owned 15,000-acre beef farm in Namibia, South Africa, before moving to the UK to attend Brinsbury College in West Sussex. Alongside contracting work and managing livestock, he is tractor driving for harvest and is busier than ever after amassing 180,000+ followers. His hilarious and informative content has proven to be a hit with his audiences and is most definitely a new face in agriculture to follow.
Louise is a farmer’s daughter from Northamptonshire, on a mixed farm with arable, sheep and cattle. She works as a farm consultant and agronomist at Ceres Rural with an interest in regenerative agriculture and soil health. She enjoys helping growers build resilient, sustainable and profitable farm business, sharing this on social media to educate the general public about agriculture as well as sharing information with her peers. Louise wants to make a positive and lasting impact on the agriculture industry, and is currently an NFU ambassador.
Gareth has become one of the most well-known faces and voices of Welsh farming. Born in the beautiful Carneddau mountains in North Wales, he has lived all his life at Ty’n Llwyfan, where his family have farmed for 350 years. Today, he runs the sheep and beef farm, complete with Carneddau ponies, his wife, Rhian, and three children. He has appeared on a number of television programmes promoting the virtues and false negatives around the industry and farming’s role in the supply chain.
With a BSc (Hons) in agricultural management and an MSc in sustainable agricultural technologies, Tom is passionate about developing agricultural projects and working alongside farmers to develop sustainable farming practices across a range of farming enterprises. He is a keen advocate of raising awareness of the prevalent issue of mental health in the agricultural sector and is committed to marketing the agricultural sector to the British public, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the food production system and what the agricultural sector provide to the country.
Eleanor isn't just a woman in agriculture but a woman in law too. While working on her family’s 3,000-acre arable farm, she is also a criminal barrister. She credits her time as a member of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs as the place she learnt the skills in public speaking. Eleanor regularly takes to social media to educate children and non-farmers about what it is like to be in agriculture, with the aim to help correct misconceptions and stereotypes and encouraging younger people to consider it as a career.
After taking to a shed to clean the guttering, farmer Mike lost his balance and fell 28ft, landing on a concrete scrape passage and sustaining a severe spinal cord injury. Paralysed from the waist down and after months of recovery, Mike refused to let his injuries stop him farming and instead has found new ways to continue, working on his friend's 600-acre arable farm. Sharing his story, he is keen to show you can do most things if you put your mind to it.
With more than 900,000 followers on TikTok there is huge interest in young farmer Maria. Although her videos showcase life on her family’s Cornish, mixed farm with clips of her beloved grandfather, known as ‘Granfer’, and his strong, unfathomable accent, she also shares more serious messages including the importance of farm safety and looking after your mental health – a cause particularly close to her heart after a car accident left Maria in permanent physical pain. She recently graduated as a Veterinary Nurse, specialising in large animals.
The fact cows get pedicures is something most people are surprised by, says hoof trimmer Ant. Having built his business from scratch, he now travels across Cornwall and works with farmers to make sure their cows feet are as healthy as they can be. Hoofs are carefully filed down to make the cow comfortable but sometimes, like humans, they can pick up a range of ailments which can cause lameness that Ant will successfully treat. The public cannot get enough of his stories, with one video alone gaining 15m views.
Jeremy co-founded Forces Farming, which supports the transition and resettlement of service personnel and veterans into agriculture, engineering and other areas of the farming industry. Having worked for John Deere for nine years, he began farming in his own right and in 2019 took his passion for agriculture further after hearing of a friend's plight following their exit from the British army. Partially acting as recruitment support for employers, he helps officers identify training opportunities, gain experience and connect them to farmers with a view to secuing future employment.
Herefordshire
Former marketing expert Ben, who has grown up on his family's mixed farm, tried city lve for 18 months before swapping its hustle in favour of returning back to his farming life, launching an Instagram page to show people where their food comes from after he realised how disconnected the general public are with food productions. Married to husband, John, Ben also raises awareness of Agrispect, the global LGBTQ+ farmers network encouraging and supporting diversity in the countryside.
Ben Theo Andrews
@MudchuteParkFarm
London
Open farmer
Tom Davis
Farm manager Tom runs Mudchute Farm, a London city farm set in 32 acres, just 15 minutes’ walk from Canary Wharf. A huge supporter of rare breeds, he has driven the growth and quality of the rare breeds at Mudchute, and is paving the way for greater conservation grazing in cities - including famously putting sheep outside Buckingham Palace. Tom is also a livestock judge, a trustee for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and passionate about educating people about eating seasonally, locally and supporting British growers.
@bentheoandrews
Find it on
@Canonhallfarm
Barnsley
The hugely popular Nicholson family run the award-winning farm attraction, welcoming more than 68,000 visitors to their farm each year. The working farm is home to hundreds of animals and features one of the biggest and best adventure playgrounds in the north of England and the largest tube maze in Europe. Daily milking demonstrations, ferret racing and sheep racing are part of a diverse mix of activites and shared on social media which has helped secure an international following.
Farm
Canon Hall Farm
@Kelvin Fletcher
Midlands
Strictly Come Dancing winner, racing driver and soap star Kelvin has spent most of his working life playing a farmer on ITV’s Emmerdale, and is now doing it for real. Leaving his urban roots, he and wife Liz moved to the country to start a new life. Together with their four young children, they run a 120-acre farm in the Peak District and are bringing back to life and sharing their journey with millions as they front Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure on BBC.
Actor
Kelvin Fletcher
Twitter
@JBGill
N/A
With 10million record sales under his belt, former pop-star phenomenon JB swapped music to set-up a farm in the Kent countryside where he lives with wife, Chloe, and two children. His love of farming goes back to when he was growing up in Antigua where self-sufficiency and food provenance was aligned with island nations, and today his smallholding produces Kellybronze turkeys, free-range Tamworth pork and apples. He has gone on to carve out a successful TV career presenting the CBeebies favourite Down on the Farm.
Former popstar and TV presenter
JB Gill
@emmagrayshepherdess
Isle of Bute
Shepherdess Emma has been training and breeding sheepdogs since she was given her first one at the age of 13, with her pedigree sales breaking world records. In partnership with former firefighter Ewan, who has joined her full-time, they now run the Isle of Bute's first organic farm. During Covid-19, the couple launched the Sheepdog School which offers sheepdog training in the form of video tutorials to more than 650 subscribers around the world.
Shepherdess
Emma Gray and Ewan Irvine
@Adamhenson
Cotswolds
Adam is perhaps the best-known farmer in the UK, presenting his own section on BBC’s Countryfile to millions of viewers each Sunday evening often from the farm where he grew up. When the camera stops rolling, Adam runs the Cotswolds Farm Park which welcomes more than 70,000 visitors a year. He is a passionate advocate of rare, animal breeds and conservation.
TV personality
Adam Henson
@that_welsh_farmer
Chicken and sheep farmer
Ioan Humphreys
When Ioan's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he took over the family farm and hasn’t looked back. In fact, such is his love for the industry he has taken to social media to document the realities of farming in Wales and uses his platform to simply – tell how it is. Ioan farms cattle, sheep and chickens regularly shares the topical issues around the sectors with his followers, explaining more as he goes along – not to mention the other star of the show, his sheepdog Queenie.
@williammurray93
Scotland
Scottish farmer William focuses on sharing content which seems to adhere to be about honesty is the best policy. Whether it's not sowing a field properly or not knowing how his own Fendt tractor works, William is the first to show if and when he makes mistakes in and around the farm to the public and instead prefers to learn from them while showing mistakes are a massive part of any journey to becoming a better farmer. With a huge following William is quite the celebrity at the shows and definitely one to follow.
Beef and arable
William Murray
@ProHorizon
National
Chris is a highly accomplished content creator who has found his niche in the agricultural industry. After a career spanning more than two decades in IT and e-commerce, he quit the corporate world to look after his one-year-old son. Together they embarked on outings to local farms in Nottinghamshire, capturing photographs and videos and sharing on social media platforms. Now, after seven years, Simply Agri by Pro Horizon recently celebrating a remarkable milestone of surpassing one billion video views. Chris takes great pride actively promoting and supporting the industry that has captured his heart.
Agricultural content creator
Chris Myers
YouTube
@TomPembertonFarmLife
Lytham St Annes
Dairy farmer
Tom Pemberton
Young dairy farmer and YouTube sensation, Tom shares life on his family’s farm and has captured the attention of millions across the globe. Thanks to his endearing honesty and passion to promote the industry to the wider public, his big personality has proved to be a runaway success and he is part of a new wave of stereotype-smashing young farmers enjoying a public profile. Tom has gone on to front BBC3’s new tractor-racing series The Fast and the Farmer-ish after his YouTube channel was scouted by producers.
@bizza.walters
Warwickshire
Rural planning assistant
Bizza Walters
Bizza is from a 500-acre mixed family farm, with her own pedigree sheep flock of Greyface Dartmoor. A graduate from the Royal Agricultural University, she works a rural planning assistant and is a contract shepherdess for farms across the UK. Bizza is heavily involved in the National Federation of Young Farmers' Club (NFYFC) movement and is an NFU Young Farmer Ambassador. She is passionate about agriculture, especially topics surrounding buying locally and seasonally, and educating young people about the ever-changing industry and the opportunities it offer.
@dr_dowhittle
Merseyside
Vet
Claire Whittle
Claire is a farm veterinary surgeon offering consultancy to regenerative farming businesses. She completed a postgraduate in conservation medicine which sparked a passion about helping farmers use the principles of ecosystem health on farms to rear healthy livestock.
@amygingewilkinson
Beef farmer
Amy Wilkinson
Amy farms with her father growing 285 hectares of arable crops and cattle near the coastal town of Southport. Their cattle graze on the nearby salt marshes and their meat is then sold to their local community. A recent article, as a Farmers Guardian’s columnist, tells of ‘how a ginger kid ended up on a supermarket advert’ and it’s this humour which has helped secure a loyal following across social media. She also shares her journey as a young female in farming with refreshing candour.
@1Garethwynjones
@rebeccawilson722
Becca Wilson
Describing her job as ‘being a privilege to help feed the nation, farmer and podcaster Becca is the fifth generation of her family to work on their family’s mixed arable and sheep farm. After graduating with an MSc in Rural Estate Manageent at the Royal Agricultural University, she worked in the industry before returning to the farm full-time. Through her social media and podcast, Becca aims to help the public learn about food production and aims to bridge the gap with the public.
Preheat your oven to 180c or 160c fan. Grate the cooked beetroot into a bowl and put to one side. Grease an 18cm (7 inch) round cake tin with a little Farringtons Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil and line with greaseproof paper. Sift the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl and stir in the sugar. Add the grated beetroot, Farringtons Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil, vanilla extract, eggs and dark chocolate and mix well. Pour your cake batter into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a skewer comes out clean. It will be fairly moist and fudgy in the middle. Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes in the tin once baked and then turn out onto a wire rack to fully cool. Enjoy with a cup of tea and good company.
200g plain cooked beetroot, well drained 30g cocoa powder 115g plain flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt 150g caster sugar 240ml Farringtons Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 eggs, beaten 150g dark chocolate, chopped
This is one of our favourite cake recipes made with Farringtons Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil and takes inspiration from the wartime tradition of using beetroot in cakes when cocoa was rationed. The combination of chocolate and beetroot creates an incredibly rich and indulgent cake that always goes down well, says Duncan Farrington of Farringtons Mellow Yellow.
January 27, 2023, is National Chocolate Cake Day and it is believed that the world's first chocolate cake was baked around the late 1800s after Bostonian Dr. James Baker discovered that one could grind cocoa using a water powered mill. Since then, chocolate cake has rightfully become its own category of cake, with many different styles of chocolate cakes baked and consumed around the world. There is an extensive list of different chocolate cakes, but my personal favourite, is this beetroot and chocolate cake shared and contributed by Duncan Farrington, who runs Farrington's Mellow Yellow, in for the Love of the Land. The combination of beetroot and chocolate is deliciously regal, and satisfies the old adage conflict of sweet verses savoury!
Best of British recipes:
Nothing can beat the joy of a chocolate cake
Method
Ingredients
Chocolate beetroot cake
PREPARATION TIME: 15 MINUTES | COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR | SERVES 8
Recipes include Blackbrook Beef Bolognese from a traditional lowland farm in Leicestershire, Reestit Mutton Soup by two sisters who run their family farm on Shetland and pheasant and asparagus bake from a family run game shoot in Cambridgeshire, as well as Kentish Lavender Shortbread from Castle Farm and a cocktail featuring fresh edible flowers from Greens of Devon. Whether you’re country born and bred or have never donned a pair of wellies, discover the food and stories in this book to help to put British farming back on the map and at the centre of your table.
for the Love of the Land is a collection of recipes from farming families from across the UK.
Order your copy
As well as being places to learn about rearing livestock and growing crops, they offer a chance to learn more about where food comes and what a typical day on a farm can look like. All of these projects are free for visitors to attend and rely on volunteers and donations. Here are just five situated in the UK:
Set in the heart of Nottingham, Stonebridge, keeps a varied mix of animals, including cows, sheep, pigs and goats, as well as smaller species which visitors are able to see outside in paddocks or in the barn area. On-site gardens also grow seasonal plants and produce and herbs, some of which can be bought from the shop on site. The farm offers a safe place for visitors and volunteers to see and learn about the day-to-day care of the different animals. Multiple volunteering opportunities are offered, with the farm able to accommodate 150 volunteers on-site each week, with many having experienced mental health challenges or a learning disability. Follow Stonebridge City Farm on social media at @stonebridgecityfarm
Stonebridge City Farm, Nottingham
From pigs, sheep and goats to ducks and chickens, Hackney City Farm has been offering children and grown-ups the chance to get close to a range of farmyard animals, as well as plant vegetables and other garden produce for more than 35 years. The site receives up to three school visits per week, with specific workshops designed to promote learning in the areas above. The programme is also home to a unique school for up to 10 young people (aged 13-17), who require a tailor-made approach to their education. Follow Hackney City Farm on social at @hackneycityfarm_official
Hackney City Farm, London
Set in the urban heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, this registered charity gives some 36,000 visitors a year the opportunity to learn about food, nature and farm life. The project is also a care farm, offering placement programmes for adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. Visitors can see grazing animals in fields, farmyard animals such as pigs, chickens and ducks, as well as smaller species and reptiles. There is also a well-stocked garden and orchard to explore. Follow Ouseburn Farm on social at @ouseburnfarmnewcastle
Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
St Werburghs City Farm, Bristol
With a vision is to create a space for all, Spitalfield aims to be a vibrant and multi-cultural community which provides educational opportunities for children and adults. The site was set up by volunteers in 1978 and stills relies on volunteers today to help maintain the farm and gardens, look after the animals and assist in delivering projects. From members of the public to corporate team days, the site welcomes a wide range of visitors every year. Follow Spitalfields City Farm on social at @spitalfieldscityfarm
Spitalfields City Farm, London
Advertised as a green oasis in Bristols heart, St Werburgh has been aiming to strengthen connections between land, animals and people for more than 40 years. The farm is open to the public seven days per week and has a range of adult engagement opportunities, including English classes for asylum seekers and refugees experiencing poor mental health, run by Bristol Mind, volunteering and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. Follow St Werburghs City Farm on social at @stwerburghcityfarm
Following the success of BBC 2’s This Farming Life, Emma has grown an impressive name for herself as the youngest solo shepherdess in England. Now married to husband Ewan and with their son Len, Emma shares her life on the Isle of Bute, as she battles the Scottish conditions whilst simultaneously growing her business training sheep dogs with her own website and online video tutorials. More recently, she was awarded not one, but two British Farming Awards, for her contribution to social media and also for the success she has following the launch of the Sheepdog School. Follow Emma
Championing the idyllic yet realistic life in rural Britain, here are 12 farmers showing their day-to-day life as they navigate farming, fun and the odd fail.
Emma Gray
Instagram’s @farmer_in_training is the 2021’s recipient of the Dairy Industry Woman of the Year award, and from a quick look at her page it’s not hard to see why. She is a first generation organic farmer, and proud member of Arla dairy’s organic team. Her page is filled with information about her journey as an organic farm using regenerative principles, as well being involved with mental health and offering daily mindfulness podcasts on her story. As a prominent advocate for the dairy industry, Sophie is a great example of how social media can connect and promote agriculture with the community. Follow Sophie
Sophie Gregory
Luke produces a variety of educational videos and content, all in order to help spread a positive farming message. Based in Cambridgeshire, he works with schools explainging how farmers do what they do, why they do and what they do it with. From wheat to combine harvesters, Farmer Luke has it covered. Follow Luke
Farmer Luke
With a following of 21,000 on instagram, Amy, more commonly known as @thedairydaughter, is a keen advocate of British dairy farming on her family farm in Leicestershire. Amy provides educational Instagram stories daily, showing her work with the grazing system side of the farm, alongside social events and various meetings she attends to educate both herself and the public about agriculture. Follow Amy
Amy Eggleston
Under the handle @countrygirls_andlabradors, Tania is a keen shooter and arable farmer in the North East of England, focusing on shooting sustainable wild meat that produces zero packing, zero waste and zero carbon footprint. More importantly, she knows where it’s from- the epitome of British farming. Founder of @thecountrygirls, Tania has created a women’s shooting community, introducing women of all ages into country and fieldsports. Follow Tania
Tania Coxon
Breaking down the stereotypes, Justine, aka @rack_of_glam, is the apprentice female butcher showing the world that a bit of makeup doesn’t define your worth in the industry. Her page offers a new perspective into the world of butchery, feeling no need to sacrifice the false eyelashes as she shows her work at The Lambing Shed Farm Shop. Follow Justine
Justine the Butcher
British champion and BBC’s One Man and His Dog winner, Erin is a keen NFU and YF ambassador showcasing her work both on and off the farm. Her success in training and trialling sheepdogs is evident, but she also looks to the future when thinking about the effects of climate change and the question of sustainability in this challenging industry. As one of the key speakers at NFU Cymru conference, she provides an educational and forward thinking perspective into rural life. Follow Erin
Erin McNaught
Karl is a great ambassador for our industry, and through his Instagram showcases the highs, lows and everything in between. He has previously been one of Farmers Guardian's #Farm24 ambassadors, and is also a Yellow Wellies ambassador. Follow Karl
Karl Franklin
Alongside being a blogger for a national, farming magazine, Farmers Guardian, Amy helps run her family’s mixed farm up in Lancashire. Recently, she has started the page @southportsaltmarshbeef, showcasing her cattle conservation grazing the salt marshes of Southport. After a demo with chef Brian Mellor, Amy’s beef has grown from strength to strength and they deliver boxes to the local area. Impressively, the restaurant Mustard & Co was recently awarded the home of the 4th best roast dinner in Britain, with Amy’s beef at the centre of the plate. Follow Amy
Dairy farmer and mother, Lucy offers a great insight into everyday life running a farm and a family. Based in Shropshire, Lucy posts daily instagram stories about her life as she balances everyday chores with raising her daughter Sadie, without compromising her involvement on the farm. Alongside her husband Marcus, they calve approximately 250 cows and also harvest maize annually to keep the herd fed and producing good quality British milk. Follow Lucy
Lucy Pye
Offering a more medical perspective into agriculture, @life_of_a_farm_vet‘s Laura shares her story as a farm vet, helping animals across Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. Her page is filled with the challenges she tackles on a daily basis, talking us through the problems and then the solutions. She highlights the trials and tribulations of her diverse job, showing how no day is ever the same. Follow Laura
Laura Donovan
Dylan found farming following a part time job through a friend and he has not looked back. Working as a contractor, he also manages sheep and beef. Dylan is busier than ever after amassing 180,000+ followers under his handle - That Farmer Dude - with hilarious and informative content and is most definitely a new face in agriculture to follow. Follow Dylan
Plant more species of flower, in particular the ones that attract bees and other pollinating insects - the brighter the better.
The native honeybee went into steep decline a few years ago, and now people and various industries are working hard to recover those numbers, by actively encouraging bees to their gardens and place of work. And now that bees are currently busy foraging during the summer season, here are nine things that you can do to encourage more honey bees in your garden or farm and help the bee population.
9 ways to get more bees in your garden
Now that bees are currently busy foraging during the summer season, here are nine things that you can do to encourage more honey bees in your garden or farm and help the bee population.
1. Plant more flowers
Section off a small area of land and let it grow wild, without mowing the grass or killing weeds. This will benefit insects, birds and small mammals and will act as a small ecosystem, not to mention encourage more bees to forage for food.
2. Create a wild area
Attracting birds to your garden or farm is a great way to then encourage insects and bees. Place a bird feeder or next box in an undisturbed place and watch as rare species will start to land there. It does not need to be in a garden, it can be in a porch or even on a large windowsill.
3. Put up bird feeders
This is specifically designed for insects to use over winter and creates a nice home for insects that need somewhere warm to live during the cold months. You could even put a bat box or hedgehog house out for creates to be safe in.
4. Create a bug hotel
If you have a driveway for your cars, maybe consider making it a green driveway without the concrete so that bugs and bees have more food and space to explore. This is a great way of helping the environment and creating more green spaces where you live without it costing money.
5. Have a green driveway
One of the best ways to help increase the bee population in this country is to stop using pesticides or herbicides that could potentially kill the already endangered honey bee, and instead swap them for organic, bee-friendly products.
6. Stop using pesticides
Another way to encourage bees and beetles is to leave a pile of logs in a spacious area. This encourages stag beetles and potentially honey bees to house in.
7. Have a pile of logs
If you see a bee struggling, either it is on the floor and not moving or seems a bit sleepy, mix a little bit of sugar and water and place the solution in front of the bee. The chances are it will have run out of energy on its journey and needs a rest and refuel. Also, to make sure no one steps on the bee, with a piece of paper, gently move the bee out of harms way whilst it recovers.
8. Help a tired bee
It is natural for us as humans to see the black and yellow bodies of bees and think danger or accidentally mistake them for wasps, but honey bees do not plan on stinging people, they are attracted the scent of sweet things. It is a sad fact that when a honey bee does sting someone, they will die. Therefore to teach children from a young age that we rely on pollinating bees will help them understand the significance of looking after them. So make sure to get your children involved in the activities to inspire future generations to love and respect wildlife.
9. Get children involved
By his own admission, 21-year-old Adam Cusick was entirely unaware of the vast opportunities available to everyone within the agricultural sector. Having spent time on his uncle’s beef and sheep farm, he always had a great interest in farming, but was unsure of which career path to follow. However, a work placement opportunity seen at a careers event saw him successfully secure a place on the McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmer Scheme, and opened his eyes to new options to pursue. Having left school after completing his GCSEs, Adam started studying engineering at the Northern Regional College( NRC) in Ballymena, Co Antrim. He says: “I decided to make this move as I have a love for machines and automation. I really enjoyed my time there, but I knew engineering was not the correct industry for me.” So taking the skills and knowledge gained in his two years at NRC, Adam started a degree in business management at Queens University Belfast.
As the industry gears up to unite for #FARM24, we speak to new entrant Adam Cusick, whose passion to promote opportunity and diversity within the agricultural industry is at the heart of a piece of work others can learn from and be inspired by.
Focusing on the opportunities for everyone sparked the idea for a dissertation project Adam is completing throughout the year, which concentrates on the area of diversity. “I was fortunate to attend the Oxford Farming Conference earlier this year where there was a lot of talk about diversity and inclusion,” he says. “One of the areas which was not talked about as much was around how to become involved in agriculture and the food supply chain if you experience a disability, whether that be physical or mental.” Adam has begun work on his dissertation, which focuses on this question and is currently researching the subject with peers well-suited to advise on the challenges, opportunities and language needed to help reinforce a positive message. “A disability may not only be physical, but a person is considered to have a disability if they have a self-reported, long-standing illness, condition or impairment, which causes difficulty with day-to-day activities. “So, throughout the year, my aim is to highlight both employment opportunities in the sector along with the rehabilitation benefits available within the industry.” With a strong desire to understand more, Adam is currently in the process of organising a diversity and inclusion afternoon at Newford Farm, a demonstration beef suckler farm located in Athenry, Co Galway.
“I will be heading back to Newford before the breeding season starts, where all the cows will be artificially inseminated to easy calving beef bulls. Both farms are part of the Signpost Programme, which aims to achieve progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Irish agriculture. “It also aims to improve water quality, maintain and improve biodiversity and create rounded sustainable farming enterprises.” Following completion of his placement, Adam will return for his final year at university and remains open-minded as to what his next career move will be. He says: “My experience with the Progressive Young Farmer Scheme has opened my eyes to how exciting the supply chain is. I have met some young, creative and progressive people who are looking to safeguard the future. There are constant changes happening and we need to make sure our processes and the industry are future-proofed to ensure our supply chain is continually the best it can be.”
Adam Cuisick
“When most of us think of a farmer, there are certain stereotypes which come into our heads, but as the industry evolves to keep up with changing trends and consumer requirements, so should our mindset towards the entire sector”
He says: “Throughout my school years I never wanted to go to university, but with some guidance and persuasion from my parents, I applied and it was a great decision, as it has widened my horizons and opened my eyes to the world of industry.” With an informed understanding of what agriculture offers, Adam advocates there are opportunities for all people from every walk of life. He says: “When most of us think of a farmer, there are certain stereotypes which come into our heads, but as the industry evolves to keep up with changing trends and consumer requirements, so should our mindset towards the entire sector. “Food is how we all survive and no matter whether you are eating a steak or an avocado, it is reliant on a farmer’s hard work.”
Adam says: “The main purpose of the afternoon will be to bring children to the farm to showcase what agriculture has to offer. My hope is that there will be a realisation agriculture is a viable option for future employment, no matter the physical or mental disability an individual may have. There will be limits as to what this project can bring to the table, but using these limits, we will be able to create a framework for inclusive cultures for the industry. “Those conversations around how food is produced, the effort it takes, the fantastic health and welfare standards and subsequent quality we have, really need to take place from a young age. Then children have a chance to decide whether to be involved, because they have that key understanding.“ Back in his day-to-day job, Adam has spent time both in factory and on-farm. After beginning his time at Dawn Meats’ head office in Grannagh, Waterford, he worked in the boning hall, dispatch, lairage and technical departments.
Purpose
Breeding season
“Those conversations around how food is produced, the effort it takes, the fantastic health and welfare standards and subsequent quality we have, really need to take place from a young age”
During his four-month period spent with the team, he was able to appreciate the extensive work which goes into creating a quality product for the customer, with a key focus on animal health and welfare, and food safety. Continuing his journey, he went to the Dawn Meats site where the McDonald’s burger patties are produced. He says: “I was amazed by the automation and lean production techniques in place here. I was lucky enough to work within every department here, from the raw material coming into the factory, through to production, and right to where the burgers are dispatched. Even spending some time behind the grill in the test kitchen.” Adam is now working on the newly developed dairy to beef farm in Tipperary, which comprises a share-farm agreement between Dawn Meats and Shinagh Estates, with Teagasc signing a 15-year lease for the farm. He says: “The main focus on the farm is understanding how we can develop a robust, profitable system for dairy calf to beef production. I have also spent time at Newford Farm, a beef demonstration farm in Athenry, Co Galway. I was here during the calving season, which gave me a great insight into the workings of a compressed calving programme.”
