Down on the Farm

The stressed-filled lives of Britain’s small farmers is a subject rarely spoken of outside the confines of the farming community (and Farming Today). Up before dawn, often not in bed until the small hours. The multiple pressures of livestock, spiralling costs and bad weather can conspire to drive farmers to the edge of suicide.

With at least one farmer in the UK taking their own life each week, Down On The Farm explores the struggles within the agricultural industry - through poetry (Border Country by Owen Sheers), music and verbatim voice. One farmer recounts the impact it’s had on his community, and on his own mental health.

New Storytellers presents the work of new radio and audio producers, and this series features the winners of this year’s Charles Parker Prize 2022 for the Best Student Radio Feature.

Down on the Farm was made by University of Sunderland MA student Megan Hayward, and the judges were impressed with its "impressive storytelling – frank and raw and honest," and a mixture of poetry and song which was "beautiful and well delivered’.

Producer: Megan Hayward
A Soundscape production for BBC Radio 4