I requested myself the query just lately: Have we reached saturation level for farming TV programmes?
Shortly after this, nevertheless, I used to be chatting to a woman and talked about I stay on a working farm. “I’ve at all times wished to stay on a farm,” she mentioned. “What animals do you’ve gotten?”
I then watched her smile get replaced by a glance of horror, shortly adopted by a confused expression, as I instructed her that we didn’t have any animals.
“What do you imply your farm doesn’t have any animals?” she mentioned. “What do you do?”
See additionally: Lucy Nott – diversify, however provided that it’s best for you
Concerning the writer
Lucy Nott
Farmlife opinion author
Lucy lives along with her husband, a sixth-generation farmer, and their two youngsters on a 100ha (250 acre) arable farm in Worcestershire. On the farm they’ve a ardour for regenerative agriculture and aspire to transition to a regenerative system. They’re additionally a part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot and are trialling plenty of new issues on the farm. They hosted their first LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) this yr and Lucy is now the LOFS Ambassador for the West Midlands.
I glanced down on the crisps and meal deal sandwich poking out of her bag, took a deep breath and instructed my internal sarcasm to behave.
“Properly,” I replied, “we’re an arable farm, which implies we develop issues like wheat, which makes bread.”
I may see the cogs turning as she glanced down at her lunch, so I took one other calming breath and smiled.
“Farmers throughout the nation develop an entire number of produce from potatoes to strawberries and even uncommon grains like quinoa.” The dialog continued…
So, again to my query about TV programmes. Clearly, as this dialog confirmed, the reply is not any.
We have to maintain seizing each alternative to get British meals manufacturing on screens in folks’s houses.
Cute animals make good TV, however we’d like the programmes that present the total spectrum of agriculture and don’t sugarcoat the realities of contemporary farming.
We want fewer programmes exhibiting cute lambs skipping round (and healthful wives baking truffles) and extra that truly give the vary of British farmers a voice.
Mainstream TV has the ability to achieve audiences we in any other case won’t interact with.
Whether or not or not it’s one-off experiences or devoted programmes, TV additionally has the power to span the generations, which different mediums, akin to social media, don’t.
I’m certain there are a lot of dad and mom who may even study a factor or two from Tractor Ted…
