Politics, the weather, livestock disease and market volatility are all part of the territory for those involved in agriculture. And they add up to quite a
A Northumberland agronomist has taken on one of the country’s toughest endurance races in support of national charity the Farming Community Network (FCN).
Young farmer, Lucy Story, has had a challenging year. At the age of 29 she took on the tenancy of the beef, sheep and arable farm in Northumberland farmed by her parents – one of few female farm tenants and probably among the youngest in the country – and in January, 2021, she became a mum. Now, with help from her husband, Tom, an auctioneer with Harrison and Hetherington, as well as two full-time members of staff, Lucy is running the 1000 acre Rugley Farm, near Alnwick – the third generation of the family to farm it in almost 50 years. Lucy and Tom are evolving the farming policy of beef, sheep and arable crops, which optimise production on heavy soils that limit arable production, to ease management now that she is running the Northumberland Estates’ holding on her own.