FCN welcomes opportunities to work with research teams and collaborate on reports and papers to provide insights into the experiences of farmers and farming families.
We have access to a wide network of farmers and have in-house specialist research communications knowledge to help promote and publicise research and findings. We can also sit on advisory boards or steering groups as part of research projects.
Please contact Alex Phillimore, Head of Communications and Development, on alex@fcn.org.uk if you are involved in research or planning any studies and may like to work with FCN.
As part of our organisational strategy, we hope to inform future policy decisions by being a champion for the farming community.
Study seeks UK farmers’ feedback on impacts of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) (2023)
New research by FCN seeks to better understand the impact of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) on UK farmers’ health and wellbeing. The study is exploring the emotional, financial and physical impacts of bTB and the long-term ramifications these may have had on the farmer, farm family or farm business. Read more about this research via our press release here
This research builds upon a 2009 report produced by FCN into stress and loss associated with bTB. Download this here:
Supporting UK farmers towards net-zero agriculture (2023)
FCN has worked with researchers from the University of Leeds on an article about the increasing legislative and societal pressures for agriculture to meet net-zero ambitions and the importance of ensuring farmers are not ‘left behind’. FCN is collaborating with the research team to further understand the complexities of adopting Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs) and to better support farmers in navigating these changes. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/evdmfGUA
FCN contributes to House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report into Rural Mental Health (2023)
Evidence provided by FCN has contributed to a House of Commons report published by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee into rural mental health: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/39991/documents/195139/default/
This includes research conducted by FCN and the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research into loneliness and isolation in rural communities (details below), and information regarding support provided by our volunteer network to the farming community.
Survey into what farmers are most proud of about UK agriculture (2023)
The Farming Help charities (FCN and Addington Fund) ran a survey of more than 500 farmers and agricultural professionals during LAMMA 2023, Birmingham NEC, which revealed a wide range of reasons why they feel passionate and optimistic about farming and food production. The survey also asked if respondents would personally speak to a farming charity if they felt they needed support, with over 70% saying they would. Access the findings here.
Loneliness and Social Isolation in Farming Communities (2022)
Long hours, working alone and a feeling of being undervalued and disconnected from the wider public are among the key factors which cause loneliness within the farming community, a major study has shown. The research by FCN and the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy Research (CRPR) has identified reasons why farmers and farming families can feel isolated and lonely – at the same time laying bare many of the challenges and pressures farmers regularly face in their occupation. Loneliness was found in the study to be linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Paper published in the journal Sociologia Ruralis (2022)
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/soru.12399
Summary report (2021):
Hampshire Farmers Wellbeing Survey (2022)
Hampshire Trading Standards worked with FCN on research designed to better understand challenges and difficulties faced by farmers within Hampshire.
Evidence submitted to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee on rural mental health (2022)
Dr Jude McCann, FCN’s Chief Executive Officer, gave evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee on 26/04/22 on the subject of rural mental health. Further information is available here: https://lnkd.in/e8M7vFfQ
Watch the video below: