Tom Lowe is involved in the family farm and successful farm shop at Shanty Farm, Byley near Middlewich. Tom is the current Chairman of Cheshire Young Farmers.
Q) Why did you choose a future in agriculture?
A) It was an easy decision. I come from a farming background I didn’t really consider another career because I knew what I wanted to do from a very young age.
Q) What do you enjoy the most about what you do?
A) For me, at home, I love the variety of the work we do. As we have a few different entities there’s always something different to do. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy spending hours sat on my tractor!
Q) If you had a magic wand, what is the one thing you would change in the farming industry to benefit the generation of young farmers?
A) If I could change one thing it would probably be the general public perception of how they think their food is produced. I think the education of the general public could be a massive benefit to the next generation of young farmers.
Q) What do you believe is the biggest threat to the industry?
A) Brexit is the biggest threat to the farming industry at present in my opinion. It’s an area of uncertainty in an already volatile industry so fingers crossed we will benefit from Brexit but it could be a long process.
Q) What are your other interests away from the farm?
A) My interests away from the farm start with young farmers. I’m currently the County Chairman of Cheshire Young Farmers and it’s a role I find very rewarding but it keeps me busy. I also enjoy clay pigeon shooting which is a hobby I’ve recently got into.
Q) What would be your main advice to someone considering a future in farming?
A) My main advice to someone considering a future in farming is that it is a very rewarding industry despite the volatility. I’d also say that diversification is a must on the modern farm. From my experience at home, it is better to have a few different entities and to not have all your eggs in one basket.