No pubs, buses or Just Eat - but young farmers are positive about the future

Today's young farmers are grappling with the challenges of making a living as land and production costs become more expensive and profit margins fall - all while trying to enjoy a social life in isolated rural areas.

Agriculture is an ageing sector, with only 5% of farm owners or tenants in the UK under the age of 35, according to government data.

Yet at the Great Yorkshire Show this week, there was optimism among the next generation as they staffed the Yorkshire Young Farmers stand or represented agricultural universities and colleges.

Many young farmers come from families who have worked the same land for generations - but teenagers Archie Clavin and Jacob Griffiths are trying to break into the industry for the first time.

Archie, 18, is visiting with the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, which has 23,000 members in England.

The Yorkshire federation represents the 42 Young Farmers' Club branches across the region, which act as both a social hub and a support network for those living and working in the countryside.

The butcher lives in the Worth Valley near Keighley, and is also rearing 60 sheep.

Asked about his social life, he agrees it looks a bit different to a "normal friend group" and activities are often based around helping each other with farm jobs.

"We don't go walking around the streets or anything like that," he explains.

"We'll go building dry stone walls together or have a barbecue in the field, it's not the sort of thing that most people would do."

His rural location means online deliveries are limited.

"I struggle to get anything delivered with Just Eat or anything like that.

"You're sat there and you're thinking, I'm a bit hungry. I don't want to drive all the way down to Keighley, so I'd rather get a delivery, but it just doesn't happen."

Yet Archie is firmly rooted in the countryside and loves working for Barnes of Keighley, and himself.

"It's a brilliant trade to have and to be a part of because everyone is just so closely knit together."

What are some of the challenges he thinks the sector faces?

"Costs, that's the main problem at the minute," he says.

"Farmers buy at a retail price and have to sell at a wholesale price.

"They buy the feed, the machinery, everything like that at a retail price and then sell it for a cheaper price."

His friend Jacob, also 18, lives in the Worth Valley and is trying to establish himself in sheep farming.

His parents aren't farmers - they worked in trades and teaching - and it was a neighbour who was a gamekeeper introduced him to country pursuits.

Like Archie, Jacob has a butchery apprenticeship at Ellison's in Cullingworth and also works at a farm supplying the dairy Arla.

Being a farmer means "seeing the whole process", which particularly appeals to him.

"You're learning from your mistakes, but eventually you get to see your lambs grow, and you get to say: 'I've bred that, I've done this and that to create that'.

"That's my favourite part."

Both he and Archie agree another problem they face, especially as young farmers starting out without an established family business, is buying land.

"You've got these big housing estates going up which, if they're going to buy 50 acres of land for a certain price compared to someone starting out like myself and Archie, we're not going to have the money that a big developer is going to have.

"It's always getting pulled away from farmers and from the countryside.

"It might just look like grass in a field, but realistically it's feed for your cattle or it's your grazing for your sheep. It's someone's livelihood, really."

Also at the Showground in Harrogate were a contingent of students from Harper Adams University in Shropshire, which specialises in land-based courses.

Annabel Lea, 23, has just finished a Masters in rural estate and land management, and enjoyed a rural childhood centred around the Young Farmers' Club.

"I think a common misconception about growing up in the countryside is that it's really boring," she says.

"There's so much you can get involved with that I think people aren't exposed to otherwise.

"Young Farmers opened up a whole lot of opportunities as well, from public speaking to livestock judging, volunteering work - just having fun and making many more friends."

The decline in rural pubs as a place for everyone, regardless of age, to socialise is an issue Annabel thinks needs addressing.

"It's frustrating," she says.

"The pubs are still there, but they're just not in use or they're being converted into housing and it's such a shame to see.

"Especially with the abundance of local produce that we've got available back home and I'm sure around here, it could be being put to good use."

TV programmes like Clarkson's Farm are helpful in showing the importance of supporting the local rural economy, she adds.

As a young woman in agriculture, she thinks representation is "so much better", but more awareness is needed that the sector isn't as male-dominated as it once was.

"Although we've managed to get rid of that idea in quite a few aspects of different agricultural sectors, it is still apparent, which is a little bit difficult," she says.

"That's partly our job as well, to be able to spread that that's not the case."

Grace Williams, 21, is a local attendee who grew up in Wetherby before going to study at the Harper and Keele Veterinary School.

The aspiring vet says: "People assume that the agricultural industry is quite tight-knit, like a clique.

"I've really not struggled to get in with local farmers for placements.

"They're genuinely happy to have you on the farm, helping out. I've really managed to get lots of connections in the industry through that."

She says the biggest challenge around life in the countryside is dependency on cars and the lack of public transport.

"If you're in the middle of nowhere, general transport is not ideal.

"It might be that there's one bus out in the morning and one that comes back on a night.

"If you don't drive, you might not have the option to go to the local cities or towns."

Grace says collaboration between those working across different roles in the agricultural industry is vital.

"We work closely with farmers, and they will talk to us about what they're struggling with," she explains.

"Hopefully, being part of the future of vets, we can help as much as we can."

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