Young Farmers share AGRI Ambition Paper for the future of farming

A new paper launched ahead of National Young Farmers’ Week 2026 warns that too many young people are being prevented from working in agriculture due to longstanding barriers to entering and progressing in the industry.

The AGRI Ambition paper Proud to Farm, produced by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ (NFYFC) YFC AGRI group, raises urgent questions about the future of farming.

At a time when policymakers and industry leaders are focused on food security, climate resilience and the future of domestic food production, the paper argues that a critical question remains unanswered: who will farm the land in the decades ahead?

The average farmer in England is now over 59 years old, more than a third are aged over 65, and just 5% are under the age of 35. In Wales the average age is 60, with only around 3% aged under 25. Without targeted action to attract, support and retain the next generation, the report warns that British agriculture risks facing a significant demographic cliff edge.

YFC AGRI Chair Nathan Greenwood said:

“Young Farmers across England and Wales have the ambition, skills and determination needed to drive innovation, strengthen food production and care for our countryside. However, many face significant challenges, from accessing land and capital to securing business opportunities, housing and high-quality land-based training.

“Without action to address these obstacles, the sector risks losing a generation of talent at the very moment it is needed most.”

Drawing on the experiences of Young Farmers from across the country, the paper sets out the practical steps needed for a generational renewal for our countryside and the agricultural sector.

NFYFC is calling on government and industry to work together to tackle these barriers and unlock the potential of the next generation, with an ambition of tripling the proportion of under-35s working in agriculture to 15% by 2036.

Key calls to action include:

• Young Farmers and new entrants should not be disadvantaged in accessing support via ELMs schemes or in situations such as grant schemes that offer partial funding for the purchase of capital items.
• Young Farmers need greater support to access farm tenancies, including through the preservation of existing council farms and the development of measures to encourage landlords to offer tenancies to the next generation as historic AHA tenancies expire.
• People working in agriculture should be officially designated as key workers, enabling them to access support when applying for rural housing.
• Young Farmers should be active participants in shaping the future of the agricultural policy that will impact their farming businesses, regardless of whether those decisions are made at a national, UK, or EU level.
• To improve access to and funding for high quality land-based education to equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need for a future career in agriculture.

NFYFC Chair Jessica Rose said the Proud to Farm paper puts a stake in the ground for Young Farmers who want to fight for their future.

"YFC AGRI’s Ambition Paper: Proud to Farm is about more than the future of farming. It is about the future of our countryside, our food security and our rural economy.

“The next generation are eager to succeed, but they need the right opportunities and support to fulfil their potential. The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs is proud to support the next generation of farmers and during National Young Farmers’ Week we’ll be celebrating our work developing rural young people.”

The AGRI Ambition paper Proud to Farm is available to download here.

National Young Farmers’ Week runs from 5-9 October 2026 and this year will celebrate how YFC helps young people belong to their clubs, local communities and the industry.