"PROGRESSIVE and innovative" young professionals in the Herefordshire agriculture industry are the key to its future success, according to new research.

A report commissioned by agricultural legal specialists, Lanyon Bowdler, has said that despite tough challenges, the future for farming could still be bright thanks to a new generation of farmers who are pushing the boundaries of traditional agriculture.

The report takes a detailed look at the current state of the industry in Herefordshire and highlights goat meat and hops to be two of the success stories in recent years.

But it’s the next generation of professionals who are giving the industry the biggest reason to be cheerful, with two individuals picked out as being particularly exciting.

The exploits of 17-year-old David Stoakes, who rebuilds agricultural machinery, and young horticultural expert, Daniel Smith, from S&A Produce in Marden, who won a national award for his work innovating irrigation practices, mean the future of agriculture is in safe hands, says the report.

Jon Clifford, head of Lanyon Bowdler’s agriculture law team in Hereford, said the report was a useful snapshot of the current state of the industry.

He said: “Agriculture is hugely important in Herefordshire, accounting for 10 per cent of the total value of the economy compared to the national average of just one per cent.

“We have all read the headlines recently about the dairy farming crisis, and clearly there are big challenges facing all farming types, but this report paints a positive picture on the whole.

“Certainly the achievements of young farming professionals like David Stoakes and Daniel Smith give real encouragement about the future.

“However, the report also highlights the difficulties facing farmers and it is clear that many will have to diversify into tourism activities or producing renewable power to survive.

“Renewable energy is certainly a hot topic at the moment, and we are working with an increasing number of farmers and landowners across the county who are looking to invest in solar power.

“It’s a growing industry with clear financial benefits, but there can be legal restrictions and planning matters to consider when proposing solar installations, which is why we have recently expanded our planning department to meet the increasing demand.”

To read the report, visit Lanyon Bowdler’s blog at http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/agriculture-in-herefordshire-and-shropshire-successes-challenges-and-the-future-landscape/