New blood: what are your views on recruiting young people for agriculture? Reponses

New blood discussion points up to 26th June

Good article about educating youngsters into farming. Having raised three daughters in a farming environment, one went to agricultural college for three years and after eight years struggled to get a good job. Now at 30 she runs a herd of 360 cows which was her life ambition. But it was a struggle. Young, fresh out of college people are very often given the most awful jobs to do on the farm, especially if they are female. I remember when I wanted to work on a farm 40 years ago, living in North London it meant two bus rides and three stations on the underground to get to a secondary school in Buckinghamshire which had a farm unit! These units were rare then, I know of one in Sussex, but are there many more? They are the true inspiration to many to go forward onto the land. 13-16 is the best age to inspire youngsters if they are not lucky enough to be born to the soil. I do agree with Guy Smith and more power to his elbow to voice his opinion. More must be done SOON.

Jayne Mann - 2nd March 2008

From Veronica Retallack

Whilst both Sir Mike Tomlinson and Guy Smith make very valid points throughout their views, I believe there is a much bigger issue that needs to be addressed.

We do have a wealth of enthusiastic well educated young people leaving our land based colleges who would dearly love the opportunity to farm or be involved in a farming associated industry.
Opportunities with in farming its self are few and far between. Council farms historically a starting place for so many into farming are either being sold off or split to make bigger more viable operations for the existing tenants as are Estate farms. There is no longer a natural progression route for new entrants.

I believe we need to encourage the powers that be to look a pension scheme for farmers, and also look at planning regulations within the agricultural sector. People who have lived all their lives on the land can and do feel even more isolated if they are forced to live in an urban environment.

Veronica Retallack works for the RESIS farm support project at Duchy College, Cornwall and lives on a beef and free range chicken farm.

From Helen Bagwell

I know Guy Smith makes the point about attracting young people from outside farming, but I think by far the best thing first and foremost is to prevent the drain of the best of the farming kids - we have a lot to offer if we have a good brain and good training - not least because we know the realities of what we are letting ourselves in for and have the drive and determination that is 'in the blood' so to speak!

Helen says she is frustrated farmers child married to another. She is also the Deputy National Coordinator of the Farm Crisis Network

From Paul Edwards

A Comment from the Outside

One thing that I think may be putting young people off from coming into the industry is that the messages going out about farming are all so negative. They all seem to be about farming being in crisis with low incomes and no future. Young people need to be told and shown that there is a good, healthy, and profitable outdoor life with a long-term future to be had in farming. Most young people are concerned about the environment. They also need to be told that farming can be environmentally beneficial and how this can be done. People with scruples about livestock farming need to be exposed to all the non-livestock possibilities in the industry. Growing organic vegetables is a high-growth sector with good price premiums.

Farming has show itself to be a modern, forward-looking industry, looking at radical, new products for burgeoning markets. Cereals are or should be becoming the big thing with the worldwide shortage and expanding SE Asian markets wanting new and better foods. I was wondering, the other day, with the milder ‘global warming’ climate, if we should not be experimenting with rice growing on the Somerset levels!

Paul Edwards is a Community Projects Officer for the Community Council for Devon

From Kate Russell

I think this is a massively important topic so am delighted that it is getting some publicity.

One thought which occurred to me whilst reading it - there is much talk these days of more involvement in schools from the private sector, with suggestions that charities, faith organisations and even private businesses could be involved in the running and management of schools. Could this be an opportunity for agriculture? A school run with an input from agricultural organisations could bring the farm into the classroom in many different ways; not just in geography, chemistry and biology but also in applied technology and IT, marketing, English literature and even art.

The point about reward and remuneration for jobs in agriculture is also well made. We simply cannot expect to attract the top talent unless we can offer top packages. Housing is frequently an essential part of the package and many farmers have now realised that central heating and good bathrooms are essentials, not luxuries, but I have seen some dire examples in my time. We saw much the same in land agency a few years ago, but an ongoing shortage of suitable people has changed the way employers act at long last - economic reality forced it to happen and better packages are the result.

The comparison with the Forces recruitment strategy is a good one. Whilst agriculture might struggle to match their budget, we could certainly borrow some of their ideas. How about a poster with the slogan "A career in IT?" with a picture of a row of identical workstations in some dreary office block compared to a picture of the inside of one of the latest combine harvesters? We need radical thinking supported by the agricultural colleges, some of the larger employers and maybe even some professional PR advice.

Kate Russell is a Chartered Surveyor and works for JH Walter LLP based in Lincoln ( her views are not necessarily those of her employers)

From Peter Cleasby:

I think Richard Clarke's final point - the need for a professional body - is critical. The same conclusion dawned on me during my time at Defra running the Skills and Rural Enterprise Division, though the government was probably not the best body to drive the issue forward.

When I first started learning something about farming, I was surprised (to put it mildly) by the breadth and depth of skills needed to run a successful farm business. It's doubtful that many outsiders recognise the challenges posed by producing for markets (or creating new markets), coping with an increasingly complex regulatory environment, mastering and keeping up with all the relevant scientific and technical knowledge, and staying profitable. Any other profession faced with similar demands would long ago have had a professional institute with a royal charter. That sort of status at the top, together with the many other initiatives mentioned in this debate, will speak volumes to prospective entrants to what should be called a profession rather than a business.

I don't know enough about the Institute of Ag Management initiative Richard Clarke refers to know whether it has enough legs, but this sort of initiative has been talked about for years, with minimal results. In many ways RASE is well-placed, with its commitment to agricultural development and "science into practice", to act as the honest broker in bringing together the key players. But it really is time to bang heads together and act.

Peter Cleasby was a career civil servant, lately in MAFF/Defra; and now is a director of a Buckinghamshire-based consultancy).
pcleasby@quantera.co.uk

From Anthony Hyde

For far too long now the Food and Farming industries have publicly down played what has and is being achieved in both food production and environmental entrancement to our land. The concentration on the negative aspects and the traditional ways of farming and land occupation have created an air of resignation, which in turn has turned away excellent young (and new to the industry) people from joining in and leading us forward. We have lost a generation of people who could have taken the industries forward.

However, within BIAC (The British Institute of Agricultural Consultants) we have seen strong green shoots of recovery in the consultancy sector and over the last 3 years there has been an upsurge in committed professional and free thinking young people joining BIAC as full members. They want to be part of a developing, wide ranging and professional industry that is based on a land occupation. They see the opportunities and are prepared to take an entrepreneurial attitude (risk) in growing their businesses and or work for themselves or their employers.

BIAC has always stood for standards and raising awareness of professional, independent advice. We have established protocols and systems that not only demonstrate the transparent accountability practices for our members and their clients but also provide opportunities for ongoing professional development as consultants. The active BIAC members regularly attend in-house and shared training opportunities and the networking that exists within the Institute encourages work flow because people know and respect each other.

BIAC believes in working with others and sharing knowledge because there is nothing more wasteful than continually “reinventing the wheel”. New and young people coming into the Rural Consultancy Sector want to be part of making a difference and want our industry to be an exciting environment in which they can practice their skills. BIAC in partnership with Lloyds TSB/Agriculture are running the first “Young Consultant of the Year” Competition in 2008 to provide an outlet for the skills and ideas of the under 35s.

The discussion point I would like to leave readers of the ‘New Blood’ discussion with is as follows:-

“The unprecedented contribution of security challenges to food, fuels, the environment and water provide all land owners, occupiers and users with exciting challenges and significant opportunities. As an industry we need to collaborate much better and we need to encourage fresh minds to be part of what we do. We have the experience to provide the backing to all of this and in BIAC there already exists an Institute that champions the relevant professional standards and provides a structure for advisors of all kinds to improve their competence”.

C A Hyde FRICS FBIAC ARAgS is Chief Executive of BIAC, http://www.biac.co.uk/ June 23rd 2008

From Denis Chamberlain

The issue of attracting and – more importantly – developing “new blood” in agriculture is a topic that has been debated by every generation I have witnessed in almost 40 years of happy labour in the farming industry. I believe that, in the Fresh Start initiative, we are at last doing something positive to really encourage the entrepreneurial spirit so important to success in a farming business.

Fresh Start is an all-industry initiative, supported by Defra, which was established in 2004. In addition to working with potential industry new entrants, Fresh Start seeks to help established farmers to think about how they can develop their business, including their exit strategy, in the light of current agricultural policy. It is also actively seeking ways to encourage and support family succession and to develop strategies within farm businesses for continuity in which new entrants can develop through joint venture, share farming or contract operations to build equity.

The most successful part of our strategy has been the Fresh Start Academies. The first was established in Sussex in 2005 and we now have 17 Academies operating across the country. The Fresh Start Academy involves three elements – business skills training, mentoring and the possibility of identifying business opportunities via a matchmaking network.

Fresh Start works nationally with all the major representative farming and agribusiness groups and locally with rural professionals to help develop the careers and the skill base of potential entrants. We now have new website: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/new-entrants. These pages can put you in touch with local Academies, the land-based colleges with which they are working and the coordinators who facilitate them.

To date, the Fresh Start Academies are engaging with around 400 potential entrants. It isn’t the complete answer but it is a good start.

Denis Chamberlain is Chairman of the Fresh Start National Stakeholder Group and Director of Marketing at RASE

A point of view from the supply industry from Rosie Carne

It was the final line of challenges in Alan Spedding’s introduction to the New Blood topic which I want to address:
“We want to know whether we are doing enough to promote agriculture as a desirable career. Are we conveying an accurate image of modern agriculture? Does the message reach the audience it needs to? “

I work for an agricultural supply industry company - and I can see from the adverts in the farming press that we are not alone- currently trying to recruit commercial and technical people to join a well established blue-chip company. We have traditionally looked within the agricultural industry for agriculturally related subject graduates through advertising in the farming press, and for new graduates at universities.

As an example a current advert says:

“We are looking for an enthusiastic, confident and committed person to join our sales team as a Trainee Area Manager. Training and mentoring will be provided. In due course, you will have responsibility for the sale of products in an area of the UK. You will be educated to degree level or equivalent, ideally within agriculture, with some UK agricultural background and/or exposure to the UK agriculture industry, have good inter-personal skills, sound financial awareness, good administrative skills, and be computer literate ideally in Microsoft products. Geographical mobility is essential, as is a valid driving license. A company car will be provided. We will offer a competitive salary & benefits package. Relocation assistance is available”.

The response in both calibre and number of applicants has been hugely disappointing.

It appears the answers to the above challenges could be: “No, no and no?”

Are we conveying an accurate image of modern agriculture?

Previous contributors to the New Blood discussion have made very valid comments about the issue of poor communications meaning conventional farming is misunderstood by the non farming, non rural general public leading to misinformed pressure groups making things worse. Excellent schools information provided by Guy Smith’s booklets, the NFU, FACE, and WFU publications, the proactive LEAF and other farmer run initiatives, and the City and school farms are all chipping away at the misconceptions. Some supermarkets are doing their bit. Recruitment does require focus on schools, the teachers (particularly the teachers) and the children from an early age. History has shown the value of people from non- farming backgrounds coming in to the industry. The media has never been more influential- if only John Humphrys had the same passion for the NFU he has for the Soil Association how better informed everyone would be! So yes we are trying to convey an accurate image of modern agriculture but to achieve success you need open and receptive ears. Do we need a role model for agriculture? Just think what a mainstream media communicator who championed the 97% of British farm practice could achieve.

There is no “quick-fix”, but we are at a very important moment. We are an increasingly high-tec highly regulated industry with a window of opportunity to attract attention. Since about February, when the Government at last realised and was prepared to recognise the importance of UK produced food, farming is in the headlines for the right reasons. High energy prices and other global mega trends mean the likely end of cheap food and increasing interest in individuals and industry behaviour. Farming has a good story to tell. It does ‘practice with science’. We mustn’t allow the loony views that cows are greater polluters than aeroplanes to have credence. If fossil fuels are in short supply there is a case to accelerate the development of hydrogen for transport in able to devote more towards making nitrogen fertilizer- to feed our children and grandchildren in the world of 2050. You might say I would say that wouldn’t I, but think about it…

We want to know whether we are doing enough to promote agriculture as a desirable career.
Guy Smith made the point that British farming has its own recruiting sergeants- the farmers themselves. Well for very understandable reasons those recruiting sergeants have been actively not just taking leave from this role but canvassing against it. I remember hearing a well- known farming correspondent back in the late 1990’s say, “that encouraging your child to go in to farming was tantamount to child abuse”! I met the said farming correspondent at “Cereals 2008” with that ‘abused child ‘who are now both enjoying the current fruits of a successful farming business. A recent applicant explained his degree was in geography, rather than agriculture, because four years ago his father persuaded him his employment chances would be greater. Luckily daddy isn’t always right and luckily not all sons take any notice of what dad says…

But seriously, hereby we have the current recruitment problem. There has been no enthusiasm, confidence or commitment (see the words in my advert) to join the farming industry but with good reason. Since the mid 1990’s farming industry incomes have gone down. All have had to cut costs and while farmers have tightened their belts and addressed their fixed costs, shareholders of plc’s demanded plant closures, cost cutting -which means people- and redundancies. We have had a decade of only essential recruitment. A decade with a declining graduate output (David Leaver says only 1300/annum), which by the time you take out the home- returning farmers leaves very few for the supply industry.

Filling the professional vacuum caused by agriculture not having a “Professional Body” would appeal to those moving successfully through the industry, but is its absence a barrier to recruitment? I wonder. I personally hope the Institute of Agricultural Management’s vision of a Professional Body for Agriculture is realised but we do have the Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies, do we need to reinvent the wheel when we could update the vehicle?

Recruitment also needs pride. How can we make a proud parent say, “My child is going to go in to farming, let alone the agricultural supply industry…”
You do only attract good people if you can offer an attractive career. I believe sectors of the agricultural supply industry can do that now but it is a recent phenomenon. Practical farming does have a bright future for the innovative and entrepreneurial operators- and other contributors have identified some necessary routes to open up access to farming. Wonderful projects like that at Kirkley Hall, mentioned by Mike Keeble, and other institutions provide training and leadership by example. Leadership and management courses like those organised by the Worshipful Company of Farmers provide mid career development opportunities. But labour on farm is declining and it seems we don’t want to do the more mundane tasks now being filled by migrant labour. In a world where demand is outstripping supply, variable costs including input prices will continue to be high but the advice about their use to give maximum return from investment will become even more valuable to the user. This brings me to Alan’s third point:

Does the message reach the audience it needs to?
We have Awards recognising individuals and businesses and celebrating excellence but it is all very “in-house”. Being part of a small industry though it punches well above its weight has disadvantages. It is largely speaking to itself. The agricultural industry has so many disparate groups, too often working on common themes but scared their particular ‘lobby issue’ will be lost in the general noise. Joined -up thinking as well as convergence of organisations would lead to a more efficient industry. The brand “UK farming plc” is what we should all be building, promoting and living up to, but let’s get back to recruitment. To rephrase my advert:

“We are looking to give the opportunity to an enthusiastic, confident and committed person to represent the company and have the privilege of working directly with the CEO’s of a large number of British businesses, helping them add value and achieve success whilst meeting societies needs.” (For CEO read farmer).
That could be the description for a job in the supply industry. Perhaps we should look beyond advertising in the Farmers Weekly?

Rosie Carne, BSc MBPR FRAgS is Marketing Manager for Yara UK Limited & Vice President of Public Affairs for Yara International ASA. These are her personal views and not necessarily those of Yara.
26 June 2008