Chris Chinn, is a partner at Cobrey Farms in Ross-on-Wye who joined the family business in 2007. The farms are still a family business, where they grow Wye Valley branded asparagus, fine beans, blueberries and rhubarb, as well as potatoes and combinable crops.
What is the biggest challenge about farming in 2026?
Weather - its always about the weather.
How do you think the future of farming will look (over the next decade – or century)?
Reducing risk and improving productivity will drive a desire to manage the soil, sun, heat, rain, wind etc, which will lead to more indoor/poly tunnel production. Labour availability and costs will drive ongoing automation.
What is the one big mistake you have made in your farming career and something you would advise younger farmers to avoid?
Always have a market/customer planned before you plant the crop. Take risks and don’t just grow the simple things that everyone does.
If you weren’t a farmer is there anything else you would rather be?
I've a masters degree in engineering and love cars, so probably running an F1 team!
What is the biggest misconception about farming?
That it is easy.
What is the thing that makes you most angry?
Silly questions!
What is your favourite aspect to farming?
Seasonality, its bloody busy at times but you get to see a growing season through and then have a break before going again.
What is the one thing that keeps you awake at night (about your farm) Increasingly urban focussed governments making sudden and significant changes that undermine our industry.
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