The AG Show is going all-in on #Farm24 - the 24-hour online celebration of British farming. We’ve even shifted our release date so we can be part of the action!

In this episode, we catch up with organisers Farmers Guardian, campaign ambassador Rebecca Wilson and sponsor RABI FarmersAid to find out what’s planned, why it matters and how you can get involved.

Plus, the hotly contested debate over what to call AG Show listeners shows no sign of ending any time soon...

SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND)

Farmers Guardian | Farming News | Farm24 | 24 Hours In Farming

Wilson and Ashley - YouTube

RABI - the Farmers Charity

EU restrictions on Brazilian beef exports: what could it mean for the UK market? | AHDB

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So, Hannah, Charlotte, we're talking to Farm24 today. It's all about connecting people with where their, their food comes from, which is something that we've done at home.

So my daughters have been connecting with nature. I'm holding up a lovely small orange bucket. What do you think they've grown in said bucket?

Is that thyme?

Cress. It's gotta be cress. That's like the kid favorite. Grow your own.

This does not bode well. They are carrots.

So shall I dig a few? What for you?

Baby carrots.

They're quite stumpy.

God, is it really hard to pull out the soil? Here we go. Three, two. Oh, let's just get the soil off.

And in a moment, you are going to be amazed by the carrots that we have taken about three or four months to grow. Okay, so if I hold this beauty. Blimey. I'm going to need the scales to weigh this one out. It's about as big as a grain of rice.

Hi, I'm Charlotte Forkes-Rees.

And I'm Hannah Clarke. And welcome to The AG Show on Farm 24 Day.

Described by organisers Farmers Guardian as the UK's biggest agricultural digital event. As farmers and supporters share behind the.

Scenes content online, it's about reconnecting the next generation with food and farming in the countryside. Opening the doors to what a genuine day in farming looks like and really showcasing the people, the places, the passion behind British agricult.

Among the guests on this episode, we'll be hearing from Rebecca Wilson, a Farm24ambassador. To find out why she's got involved.

Just need to chat a bit about your day and even if it's a digital campaign, but you might just end up chatting to somebody at the pub or when you go shopping or in the local post office, I think we have a massive opportunity to say it as it is as farmers on the ground.

Farm 24, it's all about giving people a real look at where their food comes from and showcasing the hard work, innovation and passion that drive British farming every day.

Now this week we're switching up timings because of Farm24.

I appreciate we we've released this episode of the Ag show on a Thursday to make sure we're we're hitting the mark with the event, but we normally drop new content on Wednesdays at midday, so set that reminder available wherever you.

Get your podcasts with audio and video versions for every show. Just subscribe to make sure you don't miss an episode.

And as always, we'd Love to hear from you. Please do get in touch with the podcast, comment on any of our social posts or email agshowd.

In case you haven't realized, we're supporting Farm24 today, which brings farmers and the public together for 24 hours of real life farming stories. It's become one of the biggest celebrations of British agriculture online to help paint the picture of what life on farm really looks like.

Now, this year's campaign is aligning with BBC Farm Watch and aims to showcase not just food production, but the wider role farmers play in caring for the countryside, supporting rural communities and connecting people with nature. So joining us to kick things off on this episode is Olivia Midgley, editorial director at Farmers Guardian and part of the team behind Farm24.

Olivia, welcome to the Ag Show. We're so pleased to have you on.

Hi, thanks so much for having me.

For Anyone that's discovering Farm24 for the first time, what's it all about?

Well, I'd be very surprised if someone is discovering it for the first time because we've not done our job properly. But if that is the case, it is Britain's biggest digital farming celebration. It's huge.

We launched it a few weeks ago at FarmFest, and really it's about, you know, reconnecting the next generation with food and farming in the countryside.

It's about, as you say, opening the doors to what a, you know, genuine day in farming looks like and really showcasing the, the places, the passion behind British agriculture. I think we say this every year, but what a year it's been, you know, what two years it's been.

And actually that feeling of togetherness and bringing people together and celebrating is just a really wonderful thing. So it's here, we hope it's a massive success.

And just to understand the sort of, the timings around it, I understand it's been brought forward. Why was it important to do that and align with BBC Farmwatch?

Partnering with the Beeb for the last few years has just really kind of supercharged the event. So it's taken us from, you know, a few million impressions to many more.

I think that kind of juggernaut of that BBC operation is something that, you know, not only the campaign can benefit from, but we've seen it spread so much further afield. So last year in particular, you know, our ambassadors were there on regional radio stations.

The lunchtime, I think Becca Wilson, who you're also speaking to, she's one of our ambassadors and she was on the lunchtime BBC1 news, which was huge for the campaign but also, as I say, big for farmers.

Because whenever we talk to farmers, Guardian readers, one of the main things that they want us to do and the impact that they want us to have is to go and talk to the public and amplify farming's message. And I think that tying up with the BBC has really helped us do this to really, you know, really good success.

Yeah, that's great that it's improved the reach. I'm interested in what kind of impact the campaign's had. I suppose pre and post BBC involvement would be quite interesting.

What impact do you think it's had on bridging the gap between farmers and the general public?

Yeah, so we set up the campaign 10 years ago and it was just about showcasing what farmers do in an everyday, you know, a normal day, you know, around harvest time. Plenty going on across different farming businesses. I think over the years it's grown to become more of a movement.

I think that, as I say, it's about getting people together almost with one voice. And I think that feeling of togetherness is really important, but actually more than that, it's about people need some hope and positivity.

And I think that just getting together actually does really help. It's like a.

You know, I always think it's like going to an agricultural show, but on like a mammoth proportions where everyone's kind of on the same, same, you know, doing the same thing at the same time. It's just been a really wonderful thing. I think this year we. We've really tried to look at what more farms actually provide for the nation.

So we always talk about the kind of societal benefits, but I think this year we're really looking about what impact it can have on young people. You know, encouraging children and families to step away from screens, get outdoors and really reconnect with nature.

It is the summer holidays, you know, the kids are off and parents might be struggling to think of what to do with the kids.

And actually going into the countryside, going out and onto a farm, or open farm, Sunday visit or whatever that might be, that is usually an option for many families. So why not use the opportunity to try and educate parents and children about what actually happens on a farm and why that's important.

Yeah, it's really well timed, isn't it? It's a great opportunity to get the kids involved in learning about what's over the hedge.

Yeah. And also I think because you. We know that children are spending so much less time outside than ever before.

I know we literally lived outside when we were younger, but now, that's not the case for many kids and I think that's one of the reasons why we've teamed up with Farms for City Children, which is all about trying to use agriculture, food production and nature to really kind of ease those mental wellbeing concerns which we know are rising. Looking at the stats, it's pretty horrific.

So actually highlighting the important role that farming can play in the countryside in supporting healthier and happier communities. If we can join all those dots together, then I think we've done, you know, we've done a really good job and that's what this is all about.

And actually then going back to the power of the BBC and other media organizations, national media organizations, is that, you know, if they can get that real story, that human story, the truth, because we know there's so many mistruths about the industry floating around and washing over everything, then, you know, that's really important and we should do whatever we can as a farming industry to provide that information, that correct information to those people so that they can go and amplify those messages for us in effect.

Now, Livy, you mentioned ambassadors. Do you mind talking to us about what is a Farm24ambassador and how do you go about finding them?

Yep.

So we have some brilliant ambassadors which span real breadth, actually, from, you know, celebrity chefs like Matt Tebbutt, who's got, you know, a huge profile on Saturday Kitchen, which gets millions of. So it's great to have Matt's input and others. We've got Sammy Kinghorn who is just got the most incredible story of resilience.

We've got Charlotte Ashley and Becca Wilson who are just. They've been there with us from the start, really.

So we're very fortunate in that we've got some brilliant ambassadors with huge social media presences which, as we know, this is a digital campaign.

It's, you know, we really do lean on those ambassadors and their followings because we know that, yes, they a large following within farming, but the reach that these guys have got outside of farming, that is incredibly important and something that we really want to capitalize on with the campaign. So they've been massively helpful to us and our reach.

And it's not just about raising awareness either, is it? Because I believe you've raised some money for charity too. And there's been 24 hour walks across the Cotswolds.

Well, luckily I escaped this, but the team set off from my village and they returned to my vil pretty broken. I have to say. It was an incredible, incredible effort. They walked 70km in 24 hours. But it was in the ridiculous heat that we had a few weeks ago.

And where we are sort of just on the edge of the Cotswolds, it's so inland and so hot and humid there. It's like it's a microclimate. It was, yeah. When I say that they came back broken, I am not overestimating that.

And they did then have to travel up to our offices in Preston the day after, and it was just like walking into the newsroom and they were. They didn't have the shoes on, they were kind of, you know, hobbling around. But, yeah, they raised over £4,000.

But we really hope that we can keep adding to that pot because it's for a really great cause.

And if anyone does feel like showing pity on them, you know, supporting a great cause at the same time, then just head to the Farm24 page, which is farmersguardian.com farm24.

Loads of information about how you and get involved in the campaign, but also how you can donate to the charity effort, because, my goodness, did they put a shift in.

So is there anything that you'd really like members of the public to take away from Farm24 this year?

Yeah, I think the campaign central message is really clear. British farming is far more than producing food.

It's about nurturing landscapes and supporting wellbeing and building communities and giving the next generation a reason to step outside and explore the countryside around them. When we go out on farm, when we speak to Farmer's Guardian readers, you know, they really want to connect with people.

In fact, I was on a brilliant farm last week in Buckinghamshire and the farmer there was saying, my kind of phrase is, get on my land. Come on, get on my land. Come and have a look around. And I just thought that was brilliant. And there's so many brilliant examples of that around.

But a lot of farmers similarly, are quite put off by inviting people onto the farm. Maybe they don't have the infrastructure, the setup, you know, toilets, really boring, stuff like that.

But actually, by taking part in Farm24 online, it just makes it so much more accessible.

You can connect with, you know, millions of people and, you know, and kind of have your own mini open farm visit, you know, without even seeing anyone in person. Which I think for a lot of people, you know, they do really see the benefits of that.

So we just hope as many farmers, many HDB podcast listeners can get involved. Cause we really value your support. It's so important.

I really like the idea of it being a digital farm show. I'd never thought of it like that.

Olivia, thank you so much. We'll be talking more about Farm24 shortly, but do look out for the hashtag Farm24 on social media to discover more about what's being talked about.

Right, Charlotte, I think it's time for a little bit of news. What have you been reading about?

So, in Farmers Weekly, it's all about a GP surgery in Shropshire that secured funding to explore how healthcare services can better support farming communities. Portcullis Surgery in Ludlow is piloting a farmer friendly healthcare accreditation inspired by the military veterans scheme already used nationwide.

Now, the veteran accreditation recognises the specific needs of former service personnel and can help with speeding up referrals in secondary care. Portcullis Surgery has said that they believe a similar system could benefit farming communities.

As farmers face some of the UK's biggest health inequalities. And breaking down barriers to improving access to healthcare and support is going to be incredibly important.

The team has launched a national survey asking farmers what. What actually helps them and then equally, what stops them from seeking support as well.

Now, we always say this on this show, but more data means better results and the more responses that come through to this survey, it definitely means that there would be a stronger case for rolling out a full Royal College of GPS Backed accreditation. Now, I've had a quick look at this survey. It's 16 questions long.

Most of them are clickable options, so it should just take a matter of minutes to fill out. And I think it would be incredibly valuable time spent because more responses means a better case for getting better support for our farmers.

Hannah, what you've been reading.

So this is a little bit market specific, if I may. Putting on my analyst hat for a moment.

Our colleague Sarah Baker has written a piece relating to the beef sector, in particular exports from Brazil into the European Union. Now, you might think, well, we're not in either of those countries. Why does it matter?

Well, Europe Union is our largest beef market, as it is for most of our ag commodities, largest trading partner.

And the European Union has recently confirmed it will restrict Brazilian beef imports from September 26, which is a decision that's been linked to antimicrobial use in livestock production. Brazil is a large supplier to Europe for beef. It's one of the world's largest beef exporters.

It currently ships more than 83,000 tons of beef a year to the EU. And if, if you compare that to shipments to the UK, that's around 12,000. So quite a bit more goes into the EU.

The key question is what happens to that product currently destined for the eu. If that access is restricted, it could be quite a large shake up to global beef flows.

So Sarah's analysis is showing that if that access to the EU from Brazil is restricted, some product could be diverted elsewhere. The UK is a potential option. However, Brazil supplies much larger markets, China being one of them, the Middle east trading bloc and Southeast Asia.

So we are one potential market for this product and even a relatively small amount of displaced exports from Brazil could present a meaningful increase in pressure for our domestic market and our import levels.

It does, however, depend on how much product is diverted and whether the UK decides or chooses to align with the EU's restrictions because there is indication that the UK may follow suit. We are currently going through the SPS sanitary and phytosanitary alignment and so there is a decision to be made on the direction that the UK goes.

But there's a lot more detail on the tariffs and the quotas and competitiveness, et cetera, in the article online, which we'll put a link to in the show notes. So please do go and have a read, but I thought I'd flag that because it's quite an important development for the beef sector.

Now let's get back to Farm24, which today is shining a spotlight on the people behind British food production, with farmers opening a window into daily life on farm through social media posts, photos and videos across a 24 hour period.

The campaign also highlights the wider contribution farming makes to society, which is why organisations such as RABI are supporting the initiative and helping put farmers wellbeing firmly in the conversation.

Joining us now are Rebecca Rebecca Wilson, co host of the Wilson and Ashley podcast and another of the Farm24ambassadors, plus Karen Whaley, director of services at Rabi, the farmer's charity. Rebecca, now why do you think campaigns like Farm24 matter so much for British farming?

Well, I'm really pleased to be a part of it for I think the second or third year. The fact that it's the sort of thing that you want to say yes to, I think sums it up that as farmers we are really, really keen to be a part.

So for me, and I'm sure you've heard that it's the biggest digital campaign across farming.

So for me, actually the fact that we're reaching so many people online, it's something that I do a lot of ordinarily posting on Instagram to reach people online who perhaps haven't set foot on a farm. Maybe a kind of going down. A learning process about where food comes from is really important.

And we've seen lots of things in the media over the last few years, social media, farming programs like Clarkson's Farm, they've really piqued people's interest as to what actually goes on, you know, every day on a farm and show that 24 hours is really important. And of course, it crosses all sectors as well. So we're sheep and arable on the farm here in North Yorkshire.

But, you know, if people followed me but they didn't know maybe what went on on a pig farm, or perhaps if you're dairy, they can see the full breadth of farming, which is amazing.

I guess, actually, if farmers are listening to this who haven't maybe got involved in Farm24 before, it is really easy to do and you don't need loads of followers, just need to chat a bit about your day. And even if it's.

It's a digital campaign, but you might just end up chatting to somebody at the pub or when you go shopping or in the local post office. I think we have a massive opportunity to say it as it is, as farmers on the ground.

Definitely. I think, Karen, if we could bring you in at this point, Obviously, Rabi, supporting Farm24, why was it important for you guys to be involved?

I think two reasons, really. This year I know that we are sponsoring this from Farmers Aid, which is our critical care app, and we can talk a little bit more about that.

But also, secondly, obviously, we're really keen for farming people to know who we are and that we're here to support farming people. I just come back off an intense show season.

We just got back from Wales yesterday and it's been fantastic talking to farmers in the flesh, but also really interesting to see lots of farming people don't know that we exist. And it's really key for us that they understand that this support is here really at every aspect of their journey.

We're really keen on preventative work with farming people, not just waiting until people get into crisis.

So I think for us it's the awareness piece that, hey, of course we're going to support this, we support farming people, but that we're here also to support farming people.

I mean, I'd quite like to ask, how do you think a greater public understanding of farming helps support those farming families and rural communities?

And we know that one of the big pieces of stress for farming people is the perception of them, like Rebecca's just said, is the perception of them in the wider community because they're all out there trying to do a really great job, feed our nation, stewards of the land. We know that that's always been a big stressor for farming people.

Is that perception piece that you know, oh, they're okay because they've got X or they're okay because of this and not really valuing what they bring to our community in the United Kingdom.

Can I just add to what Karen says there in that I completely echo it in terms of the contribution that farmers make beyond the farm gate. Of course we're here to provide food. That's why farms exist, that's why I get up every morning.

But actually a lot of the work that we do tends to be quite under the radar. Not that we're doing it for recognition, but I even look to say young farmers for example, as a movement which I was very proud to be part of.

Too old now but you know, they still do great work and for them there's a real charity element. But there's, there's also things like our local young farmers do a Christmas tree collection for example.

I know this is slightly out of time considering it's you know, well, July, summer, end of summer. But something like that is charity orientated but it helps the local community.

For people who maybe don't drive, don't have a car to put their Christmas tree in, it's a tiny thing like that which actually does help also put farmers on the radar, but for good. Sometimes. You know, as Karen said, perceptions around farmers, they are sometimes a bit negative.

Albeit I said we're trusted people think that maybe we're sometimes something we're not. But for us to be on the radar doing something really positive is important.

Definitely having personally been involved in some young farmers Christmas tree collections, they definitely have a positive impact on the local community. I wonder, we talk a lot about perception. I wonder what your guys views on how that's changed over time with your interactions with the public.

I think the main thing for me is that people are more interested. It doesn't always translate to them being experts.

You know, they're not gonna know the ins and outs of everything that we're doing on farms, nor should we expect them to know everything. But I think they just have more questions than they ever, ever have. Done before.

I think there is more of a consciousness in terms of when they go to the shops, what they're buying. We do have different demographics and of course, we're always going to have that.

In terms of people who can't necessarily afford to choose the organic E down to, you know, if we have barn eggs, for example, people can't always afford to choose. But I think there's a lot more people who are wanting to try and make the right decisions.

And that comes from this interest that has been built through social media. Campaigns like this. Absolutely. Reach people who perhaps didn't consider what they were buying and now they do.

So it's definitely changed, I think, I think for the better on the whole, not to get political. It's a shame that it hasn't. That positive perception hasn't translated more into people making the decisions.

But actually, if the public get on board with farmers, then they're the ones who put pressure on further up the tree.

Yeah.

And I think one of the things that's been really interesting while we've been launching Farmers Aid is obviously speaking to people at the ag shows and saying, are you in farming? And lots of people who are there are not in farming.

So that's one thing I've really noticed is there's quite a lot of people at the shows who are not in farming. And then when we're talking to them about having the app, they're like, well, I'm not in farming.

I'm like, but you live in the countryside, you walk your dog, you are in the environment that farmers are the stewards of. If they weren't, you wouldn't be walking your dog because you wouldn't be able to get through the brambles or whatever it might be.

So I think that understanding that not only are they producing food that goes on the table, but they are maintaining a large proportion of this country that is. Is in agriculture. And you only need. And we. We've said this the last couple of months, is how can people not be aware of farming?

Because if you drive around this country, pretty much outside of the city centers, everywhere is farmland. So I think there's an awareness. I think, you know, Clarkson's Farms, Farm Fest, again, there's a big audience there that was not farming people.

It's starting to really get that traction of understanding what farming is, why it's relevant for them. I think, as Rebecca said, the provenance of their food is really starting to be key for people.

And also food security, we know that that's high on the agenda Food security have known that we've actually got food in this country that can feed people and that being accessible, whether that's in the countryside or within a city centre, I think is also really key.

Really interesting discussion there, but I think we'll just pause for a quick break. We'll come back with Karen and Rebecca afterwards.

You're listening to the Ag show and we are back with Karen and Rebecca talking all about Farm24 this year. What sort of challenges are you seeing that are coming through, particularly around well being for farmers that people might not be aware of?

So people who thought they had five stressors or more has increased quite significantly in that specific cohort. And I think often that perception of the wider population of farming people is not something that the general population would think is a thing.

But we often see that coming through what the general public think of farming people impact.

So I think that's a really key one, especially when people are out there working really hard and you know, wellbeing can be challenged when you're tired, when you're stressed, all of those things. So yeah, I think that's often a surprise for people that the perception of what you think of a farming person actually matters to them.

Yeah, I completely get that. You end up thinking, oh, even in your own day to day life, you're always a little bit worried about what people are thinking about.

And particularly when life has been incredibly stressful in a number of ways, farmers are going through the same as a lot of consumers or a lot of the general public and yet they then have this added pressure on top, which is I guess why Farm24, when it is talking about all these real life stories and you know, that authentic this is what it's like being a farmer is so important.

Have you got any advice for, you know, how farmers can help with really conveying that in perhaps the stories that they're telling during this farm 24?

I, I think it's, you know, it's what Rebecca said is people telling stories from their own experience is really key. That's really powerful. It is a challenging environment to be in farming because it is your home life and it is your work life.

So you don't get to pack up from a job that's maybe challenging and go home. You know, it's all intertwined So I think people understanding that when comments are made that are not favorable to farming people, it's not.

They can't just leave that at work because home is their work and vice versa. And I think that's a really key one.

But, yeah, yeah, I think people talking from the heart about what farming means to them and why they're in it, and I think Rebecca was really key on that before, is why they're in farming and things like animal welfare and taking care of the countryside and all those things that they're incredibly passionate about.

I grew up as a farmer's daughter, so, you know, I'm aware of the fact that looking after your animals and making sure that they are in the best of circumstances is really key. Again, that can often be a massive misconception perception in the wider population around farming.

We see it with some of our so Return to school campaign, for instance, where it can be, well, why are you helping that family? They live in a big house on a hill and they've got lots of machinery, including. They're okay.

So the idea that you just don't know what's going on behind someone's front door and making assumptions from the fact that they live on a farm or live in a farmhouse and drive a land or whatever it might be, you know, I would always kind of caution people to not make assumptions when you don't actually know what are some of the challenges that are going on for that family, like every family.

Keeping on the topic of wellbeing, Rebecca, it'd be good to maybe touch on your podcasting experience and how that kind of feeds into sharing the love.

Do you know what?

It's a really good point because actually, for us personally, we've built up a kind of community, you could say, of people who follow along and listen. And what's really interesting is we haven't. We're on a bit of a break at the moment. I've had a busy summer. I got married, my sister got married.

So it's been a hectic few months. So we're on a bit of a break at the moment. Thank you.

A bit of a break at the moment, but we have people messaging us saying, oh, when's the next episode out? And for me, that's really amazing because people are looking forward to that.

Of course, we do go across the breadth of farmers and non farmers, a kind of real diversity of listeners. But I know what it's like. You know, you're sitting in the tractor.

You've been in that tractor for hours on End the only person you speak to is maybe someone in the morning, but you might not cross over, and then you probably don't cross over with anyone in the evening. So to feel like you've got someone in the cab with you is something that I really value and I know that our listeners do too.

The other thing for me as well is that when Charlotte and I record. So Charlotte's a dairy farmer up in Cumbrian. We've converted a podcast, well, a show trailer really, into a podcast studio.

For me, it's actually a good excuse to get off the farm. So to go and record, we go to each other's farms or sometimes we go to events or whatever.

And that's really good to make sure that you do leave for a day. That change of scenery is really, really important. It's a change of company.

And I know that myself and Charlotte and her husband Roy as well, we chat about all sorts. On those recording days, we don't record for a full day. So to actually get that break's really. Yeah, it's really good for you.

And, yeah, absolutely love doing it. I'm very lucky to be allowed that flexibility because actually that is one thing that we don't always have in farming, flexibility.

So if you can work that any way into your day, it's really, really vital.

Before we move on, if I can just jump in, it's producer Martin here. You talk about that community. Rebecca, do you have a name for people who listen to the Wilson and Ashley podcast?

Cause it's an ongoing theme on this show as to what we call people who consume the ag show. We've had Aggers. Agmob, Dear Listener. We've had Bragger.

I think that's just basically because they're bragging about listening to a really good show or potentially because it's British agriculture.

That we're talking about now we don't have one, but you're making me feel like we need one. I don't know where we'd go with it because it's just our names, Wilson and Ashley. So there's. How do we weave that in? I'm gonna have to do.

I have to do some thinking.

Are you a wa. A waa.

A waha?

I'm gonna. Look, I'm gonna. I'm gonna go away. I'm gonna have a think and I wanna report back to you with some ideas.

Good to hear. I'll pipe down now.

Caron, did you wanna come in on any of that?

Yeah, look, you know, wellbeing is a huge piece that we Support with.

And I think I would encourage farming people who are struggling, whether that's mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, social isolation, financial, financial concerns, to reach out to relevant organizations that can offer that support. We have a support team across England and Wales and Northern Ireland and it's really key for us to be able to provide that access to people.

And we have got people on the ground who can come and speak to you face to face, sit down with you and help you understand what some of your options are. And I think also going to Rebecca's piece as well, we've got digital options.

So we've got a digital platform for under 18s and a digital platform for over 18s that is a wellbeing platform where you can go and have it's farming focused. So there's only farming people in there where you can go and have chats with your peers about the things that you are maybe concerned about.

You can access professional mental health support there, you can journal on there. So there's a lot of options on those platforms that are safe and anonymous and safeguarded. So there's no concerns from that perspective.

But sometimes having an opportunity to talk to someone and you might not want to necessarily for them to know who you are if you're really concerned about things.

And so there are platforms out there and we have one of those where people can Access that wellbeing support 24, 7 Social isolation, we know is a huge concern for farming people regardless of their age.

You know, we often think about that being a more older demographic, but actually we know that women in farming, young women in farming, often experience high levels of social isolation and that's a real struggle as a consequence of that. So where does that support come from?

And I think it's really key that people start to understand there are organizations, not just Rabi, that are out there to offer that wellbeing support and to reach out for it.

And one of the biggest things that we see is that resistance to asking for help is a real key one in the farming community because it's an incredibly resilient, robust community. So really encouraging people have that conversation. If you see someone who you think is not doing a okay, ask them if they're okay.

You might be the only person that asks them that question.

You might be the difference between them having that conversation with you and maybe going off down an avenue that none of us want to really consider.

So I think it's really key if you see someone from a mental health training perspective, have the conversation and say how Are you going how are you doing? And open up that conversation. Start to normalize this conversation around our wellbeing I think is a really key piece of.

Yeah, some really good resources there. Karen, thank you very much for flagging those and we can include some notes and links in the show, notes for our listeners.

I think a final question just for the both of you. What message would you like to leave with people following the Farm24 campaign this year? Rebecca, maybe I'll start with you.

I'd like to leave people with the message that we really do care.

We care about our animals, we care about the environment, we care about how we can help the local community, charity work and also, also we care about each other as farmers. Don't feel like you're a farmer on your own because of course the campaign is linking up with consumers and bridging that gap.

But it brings farmers together.

Karen, what would you say to our listeners?

Yeah, I think Rebecca's given me the perfect segue about caring about each other there. So I am going to mention Farmers Aid, which is our critical care app. And I would say to everybody, get that on your phone.

You may just save a life and you don't need. This is not about just a farming person. This is everybody in the rural community.

You might be a first responder, responder on the scene of an on farm accident. And Farmers Aid takes people through step by step.

The top 10 most common on farm accidents of what to do and absolutely this is about caring for each other is get that on your phone. You never know, you just might save a life. We've only launched five weeks ago. We've already had two people use it in very serious on farm accidents.

So that would be my kind of ask to people is care for your farming community. Community. Get that app on your phone.

Yeah, some great messages there guys. Thank you very much. I think we've just about run out of time. So Karen, Rebecca, thank you so much for joining us on the ag show.

Really interesting discussion and hopefully we'll see you soon. I think that's all we've got time for this week.

Charlotte, don't forget listeners look out for that farm24, hashtag get involved in all the activities going on on social. There is a huge amount of out to look at and engage with. It's a great cause as we've heard about today. So please do get involved and get out there.

Don't forget we love to hear from you.

We want your suggestions for any content you want us to cover, any people you want us to speak to or anything you want us to change about the podcast, please do let us know. AgShowDB.org UK is the email you need to get in touch and nor service.

Will resume next week. We will be back on Wednesday. Chat to you then.

See you next week. Bye.

I'm off to eat some carrots.