Weather, cost of living and climate make life tough for young farmers
Farming can be a rewarding life, but it can also be hard. And young farmers today say they face more challenges than ever. The biggest one right now is rain. Parts of England had the wettest July on record, leaving some farmers struggling to sustain their cattle. For Izzi Rainey, the poor weather has meant she hasn't been able to make the hay that her cattle need. The 31-year-old usually makes her own cattle feed but says she may be forced to buy it this year - a worry because of the potential costs. "I don't know what I'll do if it comes to that," she says, speaking to BBC Newsbeat from her farm in Norfolk on a day when weather warnings are in place for rain. Experts say with climate change causing more changeable weather, farming will have to adapt or risk further losses. "It's so unpredictable," says Izzi. "Your whole life becomes based around the weather." The cost-of-living crisis has also hit farming, and as her costs go up Izzi's been balancing multiple jobs to supplement her income. "The financial side of it causes a lot of stress," she says. "It gets really tiring constantly adapting, every plan you make goes to pot." Mike Wilkins is the young farmers' ambassador for the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and says Izzi is far from alone. The 28-year-old says he "would do anything" to control the weather, and too much rain could have a "really, really dramatic" impact. "It will ruin crops to the point that we can no longer harvest them and then you lose all of the value of the crops," says Mike, who farms on the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire. But it's not just the rain, as last year farmers had to face the opposite problem - drought. It meant a lot of the produce hitting supermarket shelves was smaller than usual . Although it's not clear how much of the rain is due to climate change, scientists say extreme weather events will be more severe in a warmer world and farmers need to consider their resilience. "I think it's a hard time to be in the sector with the climatic conditions we're experiencing at the moment," says Prof Nicola Cannon from the Royal Agricultural University. The university has a course which includes learning from farmers around the world about cultivating land in different climates and weathers. Nicola believes technology will play a greater role in the future, with things like "learning to use weather forecasting systems better or probes you can put in bales to check the moisture". "It's about managing and understanding the risks with the tools that are available," she says. One of the keys is to embrace flexibility, Nicola says. She suggests "making hay while the sun shines". But like many others, Izzi is restricted by agreements to improve biodiversity. Farmers can sign up to receive grants in return for not harvesting before July to allow for plants to flower and set seed. Izzi says she supports such schemes but thinks they should be more flexible in the future, adding if she'd been able to cut the hay in June she "wouldn't be in this situation now". "We're going to have to become more adaptable," she says. Mike says farmers everywhere are feeling the impact of unpredictable weather but, despite the challenges, he feels it's an "incredibly exciting" time to be in the job. "Young people really understand the importance of having a positive impact on our climate and our environment, while also producing really great high quality food," he adds. Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube . Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here . Where has the UK summer gone? Wet weather hitting critical harvest time - farmers Climate adaptation scheme to protect Britain's food A tale of two farmers as industry faces crossroads Why we need to get used to wonky vegetables 'If the rain doesn't come we're really in trouble' NFUonline Royal Agricultural University Race against time to save Morocco quake survivors US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake. Video At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake Inside the horror of Europe's biggest wildfire Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.