New online publication to help next generation of farmers

The 24-page booklet, titled Young People and Succession Planning – Overcoming Barriers for Next Generation Farmers: A Bitesize Guide, is the result of a collaboration between Nuffield Farming Scholarships and the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE).

The guide, which is free to access, is supported by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.

It identifies the key findings from seven Nuffield Farming Scholar reports, addressing the challenges young farmers face in succession planning.

Stephen Briggs, Nuffield Scholar and RASE head of technical development, said: "Succession is a subject which is often thought about, but can be challenging to discuss and difficult to put into practice.

"The guide tackles different areas as eleven 'Talking points', looking at the processes, thoughts, and practicalities of succession and bringing in the next generation of farmers."

Every year, 20 scholars under 45 are selected and sponsored by the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust to travel and conduct research in their areas of passion, contributing to the advancement of farming, food, horticulture, and rural industries.

Mr Briggs added: "The scholars who have contributed to this guide have each spent more than eight weeks travelling across the world looking at this issue, and their reports are thought-provoking, full of great case studies, and practical recommendations.

"This new Bitesize Guide pulls together their key thoughts, and makes it very easy to access their reports for more information."

The guide has been endorsed by the AHDB, which will include it as a resource in their forthcoming farming succession meetings.

Young people and succession planning – Overcoming barriers for next generation farmers: A Bitesize Guide can be freely downloaded can be downloaded from the RASE website. 

Another Bitesize Guide is in production, scheduled for release around the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust annual conference in Belfast next month.