Surviving or Thriving? Farms
Summary
Moneybox investigates the severe impact of rising costs on UK farms, meeting two families adapting to these pressures. Kevin and Sian transformed their mixed farm with diversified ventures like farm shops and milk vending, significantly boosting profits. In contrast, Abi focuses on enhancing efficiency and adopting new technologies on her traditional mixed farm, facing different challenges while aiming for long-term resilience and affordable food production for all.Episode description
Rising costs are having an impact on almost everyone, but that impact is very different for different sections of the economy. Rising food production costs are pushing up everyone’s grocery bills, and squeezing farmers’ profit margins. How are farms adapting to survive difficult times? Are any of them finding new ways to thrive?
Felicity Hannah travels to South Wales to meet two farmers, both running family businesses. Kevin and Sian, who, since covid, have diversified their 200 acre mixed farm into a profit making business. And Abi who works alongside her parents and uncle on a 700 acres mixed farm of dairy, sheep, arable, and beef has seen costs spiral but has long term financial solutions for her family business to thrive again.
The programme also talks to Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers’ Union which represents 47,000 farming businesses across England and Wales, to ask what does the future look like for farmers.
Series Producer Smita Patel Editor Clare Fordham Studio Engineer Rod Farquhar