Farming can be quite lonely when you're out ploughing the fields in the dark of winter, so it's really important to build a network.

I joined the Young Farmers Club in 1992 and it helped me achieve meaningful industry connections, form friendships with other farmers in similar situations and build a community around a profession that is struggling at the moment.

It has opened lots of doors and I've been able to make a real impact through encouraging better decisions that benefit the agriculture society by leveraging my platforms and now I'm recognised from appearing on Clarkson's Farm and my YouTube videos.

 

It's certainly not your average 9-5 job and people don't get into it for the money. I started farming through working on family farms, where I learned the day-to-day operations and slowly grew my skills working for only £2.80-per-hour or working for free to gain experience.

I can work up to 100-hour weeks during harvest season and have grown the farm from 180 acres to more than 1,500 acres. 

It's really rewarding when you see the fruits of your labour reflected in a healthy harvest and see the people around you happy with your work.

 

A successful farm relies on more than great crops and hard work. From keeping machinery running during busy periods to preparing for winter conditions, having the right fuel strategy is essential. Working with suppliers such as Certas Energy can help farmers manage fuel supplies, protect equipment and reduce costly downtime.

Farming can be a real rollercoaster from poor harvests because of climate change to equipment damage, each day has something different to throw at us famers and we just must be ready to deal with that. 

Recently we had one of our fields set on fire while on a live broadcast with the BBC, but then to see the amazing wave of support from not only fellow farmers but the public, it has been so encouraging. 

Because farming is seasonal, when you start to get fed up with one job you start the next. There's no time to feel sorry for yourself.

Most farmers had a really tough harvest because of the heatwave and drought but we've now got to focus on planning for the next season and making the most of the opportunities that are in front of us.

My current project is to expand my business. For example, we have recently just set up padel courts, which will help us invest more into the agricultural side of the business.

 

The weather dictates so much of our job - when we can sow crops, harvest and how we carry out day to day work. It can be frustrating because it's completely out of our hands.

This summer's harvest was the worst in living memory because of the drought and extreme temperatures. It's been a challenging year, and it's meant that crop yields have been significantly lower and we've had to make some really difficult decisions.

Although it has been difficult it's taught me how we must be adaptable and the importance of planning for the worst scenarios.