Royal Bath and West Show: Farmers share their concerns

“Its been a strange year because we’ve had two dry months again this spring after a wet winter,” said David Cotton, chairman of the Dairy Show and trustee for the Bath and West Society.

“A lot of farmers are feeling it’s a repeat this year and everything is so early — we’re making hay in May and you shouldn’t make hay in May, it’s not right.

“You never know whats coming and that’s one of the things with farming is you don’t know what’s coming and you’ve got to be prepared for it.

“You start thinking what crops you should grow instead, and should I change my cropping management? Should I do more spring crops? Should I actually think about doing these environmental schemes and not do a crop at all but grow flowers and get the soil back in good heart because you can’t risk growing a crop that might not germinate?”

Mental health

Maureen Trott is a farmer and chief livestock steward at the Bath and West Society and works on the helpline for the charity, Farming Community Network, which works to support farmers and their families.