Recently I met a group of young farmers. “I am concerned” After getting to know the individuals, it became quickly apparent that the majority of them have absolutely no idea what it takes to run a business. After all that is exactly what farming is… The most common question throughout the day was “how many acres do you have”? as though the acreage matters. When I dug a little deeper into their minds, immediately apparent was the fact that your place in society was judged solely on your acreage and how large your combine was!!! They might as well just cock their legs and pee on each other like a pack of dogs. These people are the future of British Farming, but they do not have a clue what it really takes to manage and run an enterprise. Its not about who has the best yields or the smartest fields, its about your Nett Profit per acre… I asked one young chap in his moleskin trousers looking down his nose at a smallholder, “what is your nett profit per acre”? in return all I got was a shrug of the shoulders! Need I say more?
My point is, the agricultural industry is littered with offspring that has been born into a rural enterprise. Very rarely will they learn the basic virtues that are required to survive in Agriculture. The industry has an opportunity to turn this tide. With the recent shift in media interest, Agriculture has had the opportunity to showcase all its glory, resulting in a huge surge of interest from the youth of today. But make no mistake, it isnt about cuddling animals, or dragging steel through the ground with 200 horse power. Its about business flexibility and being dynamically diverse as an individual… On occasions I do meet individuals that have seriously impressed me. You can soon see when an individual has a different thought path and an enterprising manner. Tackling problems with style that forces results is key to survival.
I have always related Agriculture to the Fashion industry… They are very similar. After all, Food is a fashion itself… The changeable consumer demands have to be met at all times for the business to survive. Could you meet the demands ??? This is what future farmers need to ask themselves…