05/09/2025
As a young farmer myself, I cannot overstate how disappointing and short-sighted the Government’s decision is to end 30 years of financial support for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
Young Farmers Clubs are not just “clubs.” They are the heartbeat of rural youth communities, a place where we learn vital skills for farming, food production, and life itself. From teamwork, leadership, and business sense, to presentation skills, resilience, and confidence — these are lessons no textbook or classroom can teach in the same way.
That modest level of Government support helped ensure that rural young people had a voice in policy-making, access to training, safe spaces for wellbeing, and opportunities to contribute positively to their communities. Removing it risks silencing us, at a time when the future of farming is already uncertain.
In Cumbria alone, i believe there is 22 clubs support nearly 1,500 members. That’s not just numbers — it’s young people who care deeply about farming, food production, and the future of rural Britain. Taking this support away sends the wrong message: that the voices of rural young people matter less than others.
If this were an inner-city youth organisation, I have no doubt the outcry would be immediate. Rural young people deserve the same recognition and investment. Farming communities already face immense pressures — from changing policy to rising costs — and removing support for the very people who are meant to carry farming forward into the next generation is a step backwards.
We need Government to listen, to rethink, and to recognise that supporting Young Farmers is supporting the future of British food, farming, and rural life.
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