Chief Reporter
@farmersguardian
👩🏻🌾 Got a story?✍️Rachael.Brown
@agriconnect
.com Passionate about farming and obsessed with Burnley FC. Previously ITV.
Filming in the Peak District to discuss Right to Roam with farmers and Shadow Environment Minister, Daniel Zeichner. The full video podcast will be out next Friday and a write up of the discussion will be published in next week's
@FarmersGuardian
. Not to be missed.
Ben Mee did more than play football for our club. He cared about the fans and the town. When my dad was having brain surgery he took the time to send my dad a video message. This was just a bit of the message.
#alwaysaclaret
I started my dream job this week. Excited to announce I am
@FarmersGuardian
new chief reporter
Can't wait to get on-farm and start telling the real stories that matter to farmers and those living in our rural communities.
Get in touch rachael.brown
@agriconnect
.com
Farmers Guardian appoints new chief reporter Rachael Brown
Broadcast journalist and farmers’ daughter
@FGRachaelBrown
has been appointed Farmers Guardian’s new chief reporter.
Ellie Cardwell and Natalie Metcalf are an unstoppable combination. Playing together for Manchester thunder, you can really notice it in attack. Come on
@EnglandNetball
🥰
Stepping up to run the family farm at just 20 years old whilst her dad recovers from a stroke.
@ffionhooson0
I have complete admiration for you. Keep strong 💪
Thrilled to have won Best TV News Item at tonight’s
@BJTC_UK
awards for my piece on the dangers of working on a farm. Being able to bring agricultural and rural issues to the forefront of people’s minds is something which I’m incredibly passionate about and will continue to do.
Great to be on-farm today chatting to
@BBCCountryfile
presenter and farmer
@AdamHenson
for
@FarmersGuardian
about how to proactively address the issue of rural mental health and how his podcast ‘Keeping on Track’ hopes to connect with farmers and the general public.
“Don’t try to be perfect just try to be good.” 💫 Incredibly inspiring and brave speech from Nigel last night. The farming industry is very lucky to have
@Nigelrefowens
fighting their corner 👏
Jim finished what will hopefully be his last day of radiotherapy today and I couldn’t be more proud of him. Despite having treatment every day dad refused to give up on the farm and carried on waking up at 5am because the cows always have to come first 😂.
And just like that it’s over. Incredible nine months and excited to start a new adventure at
@ITVWales
. Who knows...maybe one day I will be back. One thing is for sure is I have made a friend for life
@graceth
. Her hilarious antics and effortless whit will always make me smile.🧡
When I was training to be a journalist, I was the only person in my class who was obsessed with covering farming news.
@AbiReader
was the first ever person I interviewed as a trainee journalist. So many years later she is still giving up her time to journalist students 👏 👏
Products imported into the UK “need to be at the same standard as ours” says
@AbiReader
, Deputy President for
@NFUCymru
It comes after the Food Standard Agency reported a rise in food poisoning cases caused by poultry from Poland.
@BroadcastCJS
Super lovely to meet and chat with
@NolanColeen
for ITV London tonight. Talking about her acting debut in Thunder Girls as well as speaking about body positivity and how she gets over her stage fright. Head to our ITV London Facebook page to watch the full live interview.
Meet my dad Jim. He’s a dairy and arable farmer. At 62, he works all hours under the sun, 365 days a year and he’s still smiling. This man taught me the meaning of hard work and to never give up in life, no matter how tough something might seem 💪 👨🌾 👩🏻🌾.
#britishfarmers
What an inspiring, incredible group of women. If you don’t know about
@WOWatfordFC
, tune into
@itvlondon
tonight. Spent the whole time chatting about football, but also the fab work they are doing to tackle sexism in the game. Thank YOU 🙌
Proud to say my piece on Bovine TB and the impact it has on farmers aired on ITV
@GranadaReports
tonight as their third story. My first ever TV report.
I hope by shedding light on this issue, other farmers will realise they aren't alone.
3 years of tireless campaigning Emma, Rob, Sebastian and Lizzie have won. The emotional toll this battle has had on the family should not be underestimated. As
@georgewdunn
said today shows that
#tenantfarmers
will not be treated as 'merely collateral damage'.
@tenantfarmers
Today is a good day for
@tenantfarmers
as the
@northyorksc
overwhelmingly refused the solar application on our farm. The application was recommended approval but the committee fully recognised the impact this development would have on our livelihood.
Had the absolute pleasure of chatting with international rugby referee legend
@Nigelrefowens
. Could have chatted for hours about his farming venture so far. We also chatted about future of Welsh farming,bTB policy, public perception of farming right now.
Farming as a 'way of life' is unsustainable
Farmers must change their mindset and focus on the economics of the farm, or risk an ‘unsustainable and unviable future', a consultant warns
Interested in hearing
#farmers
thoughts. Drop your comments below.
.
@sarajcox
#farm24
starts tomorrow. Thank you for pledging your support. Please can you give our campaign a shout on
@BBCRadio2
tomorrow and Friday. We want this year to be even bigger. Celebrating our farmers and an industry that we know you are very proud of.
'Privilege of my life-time'
@Minette_Batters
bids farewell to
@NFUtweets
council. She said whilst she had no regrets, she was 'saddened' by what she referred to as ‘splintering' in the sector, driven by farm assurance and people's views on Red Tractor👇👇
What is it like for farmers with bTB on the Welsh border?
I spoke to three farmers who warn we need to get ‘basics right’ or risk losing farms altogether.
Read more in this week’s
@FarmersGuardian
Thank you 🙏 to those farmers who shared their story. Never easy 👩🏻🌾 🧑🏼🌾
My mum’s 62. She’s a nurse and worked a night shift last night. She’s been cooking all day to make sure all my family had the best Christmas dinner ever. And she’s still smiling. What a hero 🦸♀️.
#christmas
"bTB battle is one which is beyond our farm gate. It is in Cardiff. True collaboration comes from a Government which understands its farming communities, who are spending time on their local farms speaking and listening to their farmers."
@FitasFarmrswife
Incredibly important story to tell. Thank you to Rita and Matthew for sharing something so deeply personal in their hope for change. They want to see a complete overhaul on farm inspections Read more about Rocky’s story and reaction from
@Ruralpay
boss and
@Mark_Spencer
👇👇
Farmer Rocky Poulson ended his life 4 days after a farm inspection which found 18 sheep had been tagged with incorrect-coloured ear tags. Rocky had never had a previous offence. His family are now calling for an overhaul of farm inspections.
Read more 👉
Hearing
#tenants
being served 'notices to quit' with landlords/estates wanting to change land use in favour for
#environmental
schemes. Farmers are too fearful to speak out, which is so wrong. I can help share your story and ensure your comments are anonymous. Direct message me.
Excellent piece
@cvfarming
. Unfortunately history has shown governments continually jump from one extreme to the other which has no long term benefit to either food production or the environment.
I know I keep tweeting about
#farm24
but genuinely this is exactly what the industry needs right now. For 24 hours from 5am tomorrow let’s flood the whole of Twitter with positive, inspiring, motivational stories about the community. Time to share the very best of farming!
Exclusive: a survey which went out to over 400 tenant farmers, found more than a third felt bullied by either their landlord or landlord’s agent. 70% only saw their landlord’s agent when they wanted something. 90% were in favour of a Tenant Farming Commissioner, like in Scotland
Industry reaction to the new environment module introduced by Red Tractor for April 2024. Farmers and unions frustrated by lack of consultation.
@the_brc
said they spoke to NFU. Union said they did not. No mention of NFU in official
#Redtractor
statement
If you are coming in from milking or just finished your farm jobs, why don’t you give our latest podcast a listen. Equally if you are a
#rugby
fan and love
@Nigelrefowens
you will want to give this a listen. Ask for The Farmers Guardian
#podcast
via smart speaker.Available now 🎧
'Farming has always been in the blood' -
@Nigelrefowens
fondly talks about his time on his aunty and uncle's farm growing up and going milking at a nearby farm once he left school. He said his passion has always been farming.
Listen to the full
#podcast
➡️
I will be reporting from today’s protest outside the Senedd for
@FarmersGuardian
with my colleague
@FGEllieLayton
on what is a historic day for Welsh agriculture and rural Wales.
Loved every minute of my chat with
@Jodiealicia27
this morning at the athletics track where it all started for her. Talked about her CWG🥉, Paris 2024 and of course if you know Jodie lots of chat about coffee. She recommends east London as the best spot for coffee shops ☕️
My 'Leader' in this week's
@FarmersGuardian
reflecting on
@nfucymru
conference. Going green is an inevitable baseline, but if the market is unwilling to deliver a premium then robust support schemes are the only way 👇👇
Update from
@NFUtweets
on
@RedTractorFood
The NFU Council today unanimously agreed to the creation of two critical reviews into how farm assurance schemes operate in England and Wales, and whether they provide value for producers. Keep reading 👇
“It’s not sustainable.”
Farmers are having to produce food at a loss. They say it can’t carry on for much longer. If it does, more farmers will be forced to leave the industry.
Where will that leave us?
'Do the farmers there feel like they're getting a good deal?' -
@susannareid100
@KatyRickittITV
reports from Manor Farm where she speaks to farmer Charles Goadby about whether the summit will help and what needs to be done.
Completely agree with Flavian on his point around
#mentalhealth
. There is no point every year saying mental health is an issue in the farming industry, if you choose to ignore the issue at its core. Huge stress for farmers is caused by finance and farmers not being paid enough.
On-farm this morning filming with these Hereford beauties. Any guesses which well known farmer I was chatting to?
Feature will be in next week’s
@FarmersGuardian
. Full interview will be available to listen to on our ‘Over the Farm Gate Podcast’.
#farming
#guessthefarmer
NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy gives his reaction to the news that the herbicide Asulox cannot be used for bracken control in Scotland.
@NFUStweets
@FarmersGuardian
Can’t help but think about all those farmers across Wales who were busy block calving and lambing, who were there in spirit yesterday. Imagine the numbers if they were there. Really nice gesture from the chair at yesterday’s protest to recognise those farmers.
Thank you
@BrendaDeocampo
and Ralph for sharing your story. More than 30 years between you working for the NHS. So glad to hear Ralph is feeling better.
Thanks
@ImperialNHS
@itvnews
for sharing our fight against Covid-19. As frontline staff you care for patients all the time, as a patient you see the worth of each healthcare worker from a different perspective. Learning through experience is definitely a life changing process.
Tenant farmers and industry leaders have highlighted the ‘bullying' in the sector, with many landlord-tenant relationships 'far from ideal'. In a Christmas card to
@tenantfarmers
one farmer thanked the organisation for all they do to ‘stop the bullying'
On Red Tractor she stressed the point that this second review into farm assurance would go out to all farming organisations, adding she wanted to 'do this together as British agriculture and horticulture.'
First time reporting at the
@royalwelshshow
. Two full on days of back to back interviews and debates and I loved every minute of it. Reporting about an industry that I am incredibly passionate about at a time where there are huge amount of unknowns and challenges for the future
On the protests by Welsh farmers
@Minette_Batters
said: "They are fighting for their livelihoods and families. She said 'our red line' is we are not downsizing livestock and dairy. "This is about investment in climate smart agriculture. Not about taxing us out of existence."
Watch my full interview with
@Minette_Batters
🎧. We talk about the highs and lows of her presidency, what she plans to do next, her views on
@RedTractorFood
and if she has any regrets, as well as her thoughts on farmers calling for Chief Executive, Jim Moseley to stand down 👇👇
After trying to speak to Boris all day, waiting at various doorsteps, it was nice to at least get a wave from him and to hear my question being shouted out in the ITV
#newsatten
report tonight.
In this weeks
@FarmersGuardian
my review of the first of three bTB meetings in Wales hosted by
@NFUCymru
. An example of how farmers, vets, charities and industry voices are coming together to try and make change. Frustration at the absence of Welsh Government.
Love and trust shattered by secrets and lies.
Another chance to see the drama series everyone is talking about.
#KeepingFaith
continues Thursday 9pm
@BBCOne
.
Looking for a full time herdsman on a 350 cow dairy farm near Stafford. Herd is milked through a 50-point rotary. Opportunity for a managerial role if the right candidate. Possible accommodation close by. Drop me a message if you know of anyone.
#farmingjobs
ITV presenter
@Ruth_ITV
bravely shares her experience of domestic abuse and coercive control. Her ex-husband was convicted. She said “If it can happen to me it can happen to absolutely anybody. But there is a life after domestic abuse. It does not define me.”
Excited to see my story idea come to fruition on
@itvlondon
this evening. A piece about bringing the WW1 rationing mentality forward into today’s wasteful society.
“I felt really down and couldn’t see any way out. I found it difficult to speak about what I was feeling. Those who aren’t from a farming type of world can struggle to relate, as they don’t know the same types of stresses.” So important to share these stories
@FarmersGuardian
👏
Farm vet and rep
@TB_Advisory
reacts to Labour Party's pledge to ban badger cull: "TB control shouldn’t be part of the political debate to win votes. TB is an infectious disease which we have for the last 10 years been beating because we have used a combination of tools."
Today is
#Farm24
. British farmers work tirelessly around-the-clock to produce the nation’s food. My old man is one of them and I couldn’t be more proud of him. 👨🌾
This was an incredibly difficult and emotional watch. Urge anyone effected by watching this to reach out to DPJ Foundation and other farming charities. How brave of this farming family to let cameras in to share the utter devastation TB brings on-farm.
Os ydych chi wedi cael i'ch effeithio gan ein heitem ar TB, mae cymorth ar gael wrth The DPJ Foundation a Tir Dewi
If you have been effected by our item on TB, both the DPJ Foundation and Tir Dewi offer support.
Ffermio is available to watch on
@S4C
Clic and
@BBCiPlayer
I asked Shadow Defra Secretary two questions in our media huddle afterwards
- Would a Labour Government commit to annual reporting of food target? Yes
-England have the lowest levels of bTB in 15 years would a Labour Government commit to the badger cull? Yes, for the short term
Important topic that impacts so many farmers and their families that I am committed to covering more of within my role.
Keep across
@FarmersGuardian
over the next couple of weeks for more stories ✍️ 👩🏻🌾
Bovine TB to blame for farm vets leaving the job
Seeing the devastating impact of bovine TB week in, week out, is driving farm vets out of the profession.
Please share this slide with farmers and people in their rural community.
Suicide in our industry continues to be a worrying statistic. There is a network of organisations here to provide support.
@NFUCymru
annual conference today. NFU Cymru President
@AledNfu
first up to speak. Farmers across Wales listening in the audience as well as
@WGRural
. He starts by saying “We all need food. It should be the motto for all policy frameworks for the future.”
In an emotional closing statement for her final NFU council meeting
@Minette_Batters
made a brief reference to
@RedTractorFood
. She said 'we absolutely have to get this right', adding she wanted all farmers and member organisations to be represented.
Reaction from
@NFUCymru
deputy President to Joyce Watson’s comment in Senedd this afternoon. Abi has spoken previously about her personal experience of bTB and the emotional and financial toll of the disease.
@JoyceWatsonmsas
you show a total lack of empathy & respect for those vulnerable farmers struggling to live with bTB. I couldn’t be more disappointed in this statement from a member of our Senedd
#WeAreWelshFarming
🏴
Environment schemes want 'tenant farmers gone' with land being taken back in hand by landlords.
The message of one tenant farmer who has lost land and worried it will happen again. Speaking anonymously out of fear of backlash from the landlord
Holy cow! 🐮
Could this be the UK's biggest ever calf? He's just been born near Lockerbie weighing a whopping 14 stone.
@LewisJWarner
went along to meet him.
Still can’t stop smiling.I met England legend
@ellsbells89
. Incredible footballer and super lovely to interview. One of the best moments in the job so far.
Important topic that needs more people talking about it in our industry.
If we look around within our own farming and rural community how many of us genuinely know what poor mental health looks like.
Cost of living hits farmers mental health
Political and economic conditions are taking a toll on farmers mental health and making situations even more difficult for victims of domestic violence.
Tenant family farms are the backbone of British
#agriculture
. I chatted with the Sturdy family, who are doing all they can to save their farm from a solar panel development. A decision on their farm's future will be made tomorrow 👇
@saveoldmaltonc1
Farmers frustrated not to be included in
@RedTractorFood
governance stakeholder survey. TFA told me they would still be 'sat here waiting to be invited', if they had not messaged Campbell and Tickell directly, asking to take part in the governance survey
@FarmersGuardian
Rachel and Richard's full story in this week's
@FarmersGuardian
. Exactly the sort of farming stories we should be shouting about. Young family making the most of every opportunity on a council dairy farm in Staffordshire and loving every moment of it
I spoke to Cornock family in this week's
@FarmersGuardian
. Another devastating TB story. Thank you to Nia, James and Dafydd for speaking so openly about such a personal issue impacting their family farm. Grab your copy of the Farmers Guardian today.
🚨 Rhybudd: Mae'r fideo canlynol yn dangos delweddau all beri gofid.
💔 'Mae fe jyst yn torri calon pobl.'
Fel sawl fferm yng Nghymru, mae achosion o'r diciâu mewn gwartheg wedi taflu cysgod dros Cefn y Dre.
@iwan_griff
fu'n gohebu o fferm deuluol ger Abergwaun.
Excited to share that in my first six months at
@FarmersGuardian
my journalism has been recognised at the
@GAJinfo
awards. It was for the
@LEAF_Farming
public engagement award for my piece with
@Nigelrefowens
on bTB,threat to food security, farming policies and much much more!
"We must continue to work as a team, trust in the science, and have difficult conversations to enable us to build an armoury that can truly defeat bTB once and for all."
Thank you Susie for sharing your thoughts after last night's
@NFUCymru
bTB meeting.
"It was clear as you listened to farmers voices breaking with emotion as they shared the impact of bTB on their farms and families that the mental health impact on every farmer sat in that room was huge."
@FitasFarmrswife
I hosted a TB roundtable on the Welsh border for the
@FarmersGuardian
which Susie and Mark offered to kindly host on their farm to discuss their worries and frustrations of TB policy in Wales. You can read the full report here
Interviewed
@Minette_Batters
at
@oxfordfarming
today regarding
@RedTractorFood
governance review. I raised the point about farmers that are Red Tractor members and not NFU members who feel excluded from the review. She said: "The governance review for us was really clear...
Watch my full interview with
@Minette_Batters
🎧. We talk about the highs and lows of her presidency, what she plans to do next, her views on
@RedTractorFood
and if she has any regrets, as well as her thoughts on farmers calling for Chief Executive, Jim Moseley to stand down 👇👇
Farmer and former international referee
@Nigelrefowens
urges farmers to raise their voice and 'demand politicians to do more' when it comes to tackling bTB.
This is so sad. There is so much that can be done to prevent this and yet so little is being done by the powers to be. I urge all of you to raise your voice and demand our politicians do more and start listening.
I am hearing West Yorkshire MP Robbie Moore is Defra’s new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. He comes from a farming background so should bring more industry expertise to
@SteveBarclay
’s team
@FarmersGuardian
#Defra