The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2017 - Issue 53 | Page 4

From The Editor We are pleased to announce that Farmers Mart is now going back from a quarterly to a bi-monthly publication again, as from this issue. It means we can include much more content, especially “people” features and news which, we are delighted to say, our readers enjoy. » » OTHER CHANGES IN THE New Year include the appointment of a new editor – Jason Hubbard who will take up the reins from January 2018. You can contact Jason via email on Jason@cvgroup. co.uk or call 01226 321 450. My own involvement with Farmers Mart has been both ‘the whole of agriculture is constantly and rapidly evolving’ educational and enjoyable – I have learned so much about the UK’s largest industry and how it works at so many different levels – but the most interesting aspect has been the people, the individuals, who make it happen, day after day. Farming and indeed the whole of agriculture is constantly and rapidly evolving with, for example, much more emphasis on technology to increase efficiency and maximise production. But people working in this sector remain among the hardest-working of all, working long hours, often in challenging and unpleasant conditions throughout the year. They make huge commitments and big sacrifices because – as I have been told in interviews many times – they simply would not want to do anything else. Although, as we said in our last issue, the public does not entirely understand how agriculture works thankfully, more people are appreciating how high our standards are compared with some other countries. Many of the old traditions remain: everyone loves the shows for instance – because ‘Farming has never been just a job - it is a way of life’ despite the hard graft, farmers and their families know how to have fun and enjoy the rural life – you only have to look at the success of the NFYFC to see that! Farming has never been just a job – it is a way of life. Let us hope that the changes to come via Brexit can be of real and lasting benefit to this industry which is so vital to all of us. Patricia. SA ‘MATCHMAKERS’ FOR PERFECT LAMBING TEAM Quickly becoming the ‘go to’ for farmers and students alike looking for assistance and experience at lambing time, the National Sheep Association (NSA) Lambing List 2017/18 is now open for business. » » F