Apparently one in four British adults likes the idea of giving up the day job to work on a farm. But a new report from the rural charity the Prince's Countryside Fund highlights a chasm between between the positive perception and the tougher realities of the profession.
For example, when asked to estimate the annual incomes of UK farmers, the public’s guess averaged £46,801, with 9% of people estimating farmers’ salaries to be over £75,000. In reality, DEFRA reported in 2015 that average farm incomes had fallen below £20,000, the lowest point since 2007. The Prince's Countryside Fund estimates that 50% of farmers no longer make a living from farming alone.
Interestingly, only 32% of respondents said their knowledge of the countryside and farming was either poor or very poor, while 95% of farmers surveyed said they don’t think the British public understands the everyday challenges that farmers face.
Published Monday 31 July 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
