September 2023
Timeline
Project Inception
Witnessing British farmers struggling with extreme weather, higher input costs, lower subsidy payments, and pressure from the supermarkets it was clear that we needed to do more to help. Animal Rising organised a team to start looking into a project dedicated to supporting the farming community.
October 2023
Farmer Protests
Seeing the farmers take part in the Proud to Farm supermarket blockades the very next month confirmed to us that this was the right time to do everything we can to help. We went along in solidarity to show our support and speak with farmers facing the most challenging period in their memory.
November 2023
Project Launch
At VegFest London we launched the project and our Young Farmer Mental Health Fundraiser with a talk, panel discussion and stall across the two day event.
December 2023
Pink Wellies Rally at Westminster
We displayed 133 pairs of pink wellies at Westminster Square to represent the number of agricultural workers that took their own lives during the most recent year of data available at the time (2019-2020). We did this to raise public awareness of the crisis facing farmers and the impact on their lives and the lives of those around them.
January 2024
Oxford Farming Conference
The three of us attended the Oxford Farming Conference where the main focus was looking into if the UK food supply chain is broken. A clear picture was painted that the risk vs reward for growers is heavily out of balance. Audits are heavily eating into profits and a carbon tax at the border was discussed as a way to level the playing field with imports. Long-term contracts are desperately wanted by farmers in this current period of volatility.
February 2024
Wonky Veg Supermarket Survey
Dressed as fruit and veg, the three of us hit the supermarkets of Manchester to ask the public - what is more important; fairness for British Farmers or perfect looking fruit and veg? The results of our survey was completely one-sided in backing our farmers. However, supermarkets are still rejecting up to 40% of produce purely for aesthetic reasons. We have to work with farmers to help force the supermarkets to stop this madness.
March 2024
Low Carbon Agriculture Show
Sarah and Tom attended the show at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), in Stoneleigh, to find out what the future of farming currently looks like in the context of the climate and nature emergencies.
Great Welsh Half Marathon
The team completed their first half marathon running along the sunny south coast of Wales, starting and finishing at Pembrey Country Park. A huge thank you to our many generous sponsors for adding to our Young Farmer Mental Health Fundraiser.
Save British Farming Rally
Vegans Support the Farmers joined Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers on their tractor rally from Embankment to Parliament Square. The tractor rally was held with three key asks; that the Government acts to block substandard imports, puts an end to ‘dishonest' food labelling and takes more action to address food security
April 2024
Vegan and Animal Rights Conference (VARC)
We attended this inaugural conference to make sure that farmers and farming were given the thought and consideration they deserved by the many other important organisations attending the event. Kerri gave a brilliant talk on why we need to work effectively with the farming community as we navigate through this extremely challenging period in time.
May 2024
FG Live Conference
Sarah and Tom went to this Farmers Guardian event, with captivating talks on mental health and resilience from Georgina Lamb of FCN, the financial uplifts available through the Sustainable Farming Incentive from Heather Whalley, and finally Paul Harris from REAL Success talked about the challenges faced by farming and how to inspire the next generation, particularly around work-life balance and avoiding a 60-hour working week.
Edinburgh Half Marathon
The team completed their second half marathon running from the centre of Edinburgh out to Musselburgh on a very wet day that was much more challenging than the first. Special shout out to Sarah’s partner for joining us on the run and making us feel slow by finishing quicker than us all!
June 2024
Supermarket Branding Redecorated
Tescos, Sainsburys, and Morrisons stores around Derbyshire were redecorated by Vegans Support the Farmers with posters calling out the mistreatment of farmers. According to a report from Sustain, farmers are often left with less than 1p of profits for their produce when they supply supermarkets.
Derbyshire County Show Cancelled
We were excited to run our first stall at a farming event at this year's Derbyshire County show, but due to the extreme wet weather we’ve been seeing this year the organisers were, in yet another blow to the mental health of farmers, forced to cancel at the last minute.