The Route to Success survey, conducted by The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) and supported by Defra and Lantra, is NFYFC’s third community-wide survey in the last three years.
The survey provided young people studying or working in land-based industries or those who would like to work in a rural or growing environment a chance to share their views on agricultural policy and to help guide future training opportunities. The results will help determine next generation understanding of emerging policy, but most importantly what future skills and training will be key for career and business success.
The findings highlight continued anxiety around the future of farming and a need for more training and business support.
In terms of current career profile there were three distinctively high areas of response: Interested in a land-based career; Next generation farmer working within a family business; Next generation farmer wanting to start your own enterprise (with farming/business experience).
Only 10% of respondents felt they had a good understanding of emerging Defra land management schemes.
Soil health, water management and food production (all features of farm productivity) were identified as the most important areas to influence agriculture and land management, they scored much higher than the other options in this question.
Grants were identified as the most important aspect of support required, business support, encouragement of new entrants and training were all also identified as important.
Two thirds of respondents do not understand what the current agri-environment policy changes and the work that is underway mean for them. Written comment showed developing rather than established levels of knowledge about current agri-environment policy.
Soil health and business management are the two areas, followed by financial management where respondents feel the greatest need for development. The most commonly rated areas where skills gaps are identified are: environmental, regulation, business management, land management, health and safety, finance and soil health.
Livestock was distinctively the highest area of enterprise interest (91%) followed by Arable (58%), diversification was low on the list at 21%.
Animal health and welfare, soil testing and then health and safety were the three most important areas of training interest.
There are universally low levels of awareness about green finance services.
72% of respondents think it will be difficult or impossible for new entrants to move into farming.
Finance and land opportunities were identified as the main barriers facing new entrants with the time taken to establish a farm business cited as also important.
These were referenced as business viability, animal welfare and land availability followed closely by health and safety.
Finance and access to land continue to top the barriers facing new entrants with 72% of respondents thinking it will be difficult or impossible to move into farming.
