There’s a deep-rooted pride in farming – and rightly so. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the responsibility is huge. It’s no surprise many farmers see independence as a badge of honour.
But in times like these, trying to do everything alone isn’t just exhausting — it can be counterproductive.
What’s becoming increasingly clear is this: collaboration could be the difference between survival and success in the years ahead.
Farming has always had the potential to be a community-driven industry. Yet somewhere along the line, competition crept in — and with it, a kind of quiet isolation. Pride, pressure, and fear of judgement stopped people from asking for help or sharing what’s working (and what’s not).
That has to change.
Because when farming families come together — not just in name, but in action — incredible things can happen:
- Shared resources: From machinery and labour to land and storage, pooling assets cuts costs and reduces waste.
- Local networks: Working with neighbouring farms on marketing, diversification, or supply chains creates scale and resilience.
- Emotional support: Sometimes, just having someone to talk to who gets it is as important as any spreadsheet.
- Collective learning: The more we share experiences — what worked, what failed, what we’d do differently — the quicker we adapt.
We’ve already seen success stories over the years: co-operative grain drying systems, pool of purchasing power through buying collectives, collaboration to create an insurance company (NFU mutual) joint ventures and contract farming arrangements, , peer mentoring groups, and informal WhatsApp chats that end up saving thousands of pounds.
The truth is, none of us are facing these challenges alone — even if it sometimes feels like it. And now more than ever, connection is currency.
Farming isn’t just about the land. It’s about the people who care for it.
And we’re stronger — and smarter — when we work together.
