THE farming world is indeed a small one and on holiday in the Yorkshire Dales I was reminded of this.

We stopped to help a man on his own load some small bales when he realised he’d met one of us before – his neighbour was Cornish and was a college and rugby mate of one of our group.

This chance encounter led to a farm walk and we three lowland, Cornish farming couples headed across the moors on quad bikes!

On the train home, we chatted to some campers and suggested they could ask local farmers to camp on a field.

Having this network and letting people in is a huge privilege and hopefully improves the knowledge and respect for our industry.

Cornwall is gearing up for ‘silly season’ and it can be difficult to appreciate what we have when it is inundated with tourists.

With a new government adding to the uncertainties, tourists are a certainty which many of us will take advantage of.

But the challenges of balancing tourism with running a farming business and navigating red tape is demanding and different for all.

Before the election, prospective candidates just agreed we need to get that balance right but we learnt nothing. Perhaps it gives us the opportunity for a bespoke balance?

Those of us ‘regenerative farming’ are hoping that the education is supported alongside the activity, but there is very muddy water that needs to be cleaned up, in all senses.

So, while we juggle different ideas of farming with nature, let’s get out and engage with our politicians, invite them on farm and use them to help in times of trouble; the more they understand, the more they will be shouting for us in Parliament.

The NFU is very good at that - be part of it!