Farm Life

A-Plan Insurance sat down with India Bradshaw (@thecurlyfarmher) who left her career in hairdressing to start her journey into farming during the first Covid-10 lockdown.

The life of Samantha Kinghorn MBE changed in an instant when she was crushed by a forklift at the age of 14, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. With her incredible spirit and determination, she has climbed the sporting ladder and is now Britain’s fastest-ever female wheelchair racer. Farmers Guide spoke to Sammi about triumph over adversity in the context of Farm Safety Week.

The new discovery+ docuseries Vinnie Jones: The Wild Life (w/t) will follow the footballer turned TV personality’s venture transforming his run-down West Sussex farm into a thriving enterprise championing regenerative principles.

Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper will be judging an exciting new video competition launched by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) to showcase the opportunities available in the sector and spread positive messages about food and farming.

Farmers and growers around the world are increasingly having to adapt to the peculiarities of climate change, whether that means shifting drilling and harvest dates, ramping up disease control or moving to more regenerative practices. The non-profit organisation Just Farmers reached out to its farmer network this week to find out what climate change looks like from the field.

After lengthy and well-publicized rows with West Oxfordshire District Council, Jeremy Clarkson has finally been granted permission to extend the temporary car park at Diddly Squat Farm, but plans to open a restaurant at the site have been rejected.

The NFU’s latest Digital Technology Survey has revealed that poor mobile and broadband connectivity in rural areas is still preventing many farming businesses from operating efficiently and has called for accelerated investment in the country’s digital infrastructure.

As part of A-Plan Insurance’s mission to support the rural community, they’ve partnered with Becca & Lizzie to support their new farming podcast venture.

As part of A-Plan Insurance’s Rural Community blog they spoke to Polly Reid, a sustainable fashion designer who produces her clothing using the wool from her flock of sheep.

At the recent Farm to Fork Summit at No10 Downing Street, attended by Clarkson’s Farm stars Kaleb Cooper and ‘Cheerful’ Charlie Ireland, the Prime Minister set out ambitions to cut down red tape and make it easier for UK farmers to diversify their incomes, such as by converting farm buildings into shops or restaurants.

To help address concerns around creating a health and safety policy, the Farm Safety Foundation (also known as Yellow Wellies) have launched a new online ‘Build Your Own Health & Safety Policy’ tool to help farmers create a tailored policy that meets HSE requirements and standards set out by farm assurance schemes.

As part of A-Plan Insurance’s Rural Community blog they spoke to Shirley McNiven about her family farm based in Fyvie, Scotland.