Academy brings a 'fresh start' to farmers in East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire

Between 20 and 25 applicants will complete 12 evening training sessions at the College in the next 15 months, covering topics as diverse as finance, tenancy issues, business planning and succession.

Brothers Charles and Edward Rook, with their father and uncle, run the mixed 1400 acre family farm at Market Weighton. Edward and Charles are on the Wolds Freshstart Academy steering group. The brothers are the fourth generation of the family to run the family farm.

Edward said:

"Farming is in our blood - our farm has been in the family since just after the first world war. I think the Academy is an excellent initiaitve, especially for young farmers like myself and my brother.

There is definitely a future in farming for us, and for families like ours.

"I think we all need to do everything we can to look out how we can make our faming business viable for the future - not just for us, but for the next generation, like my two-year old nephew Oliver.

" Change is not necessarily negative. I think successful farmers of the future will look at doing some things differently, sharing advice and expertise, and working together as farmers, instead of struggling with the same problems in isolation. That way we'll all have a successful future in the industry."