Katie Fallon
Livestock specialist, Farmers Guardian

Even with the vast array of alternative milk products available on the market, the demand for traditional dairy products remains strong in the UK and beyond.

Perhaps it is down to a greater understanding of the nutritional value which cow’s milk offers or a greater demand for high quality, British produce.

Either way, figures from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) show that over the last year, consumer spend on cow’s dairy products increased by 4% year on year.

As a result, the dairy industry remains a progressive and innovative sector of British agriculture, with technologies such as robotic milking, precision feeding and data-driven herd management, allowing for greater efficiencies on-farm and a better work life balance for staff.

It is no wonder young people are still keen to enter the industry, but the rising cost of land, infrastructure, feed and fertiliser, coupled with the fluctuations in milk price and changes to government policy, mean that barriers to entry are still a stumbling block for young dairy farmers starting out.

However, initiatives such as share faming, contract farming agreements, apprenticeships and direct sales, are helping to provide opportunities for young farmers to break into the industry.

And for those ready to take on the challenge, embrace new technologies, and drive forward the future of farming, the UK dairy industry remains ripe with opportunity.

All this harvesting is making us peckish - here are some picky bits from our farmers this morning:

• We've been talking to some of England's famous farming faces - from Harriet Cowan to Mike Wilkins and Gabrielle Aplin - you can watch our combine cam live above
• We've heard about 'agfluencing' farmers who open the gates on social media to teach people how the industry works

• We heard about risks on the job from one farmer who lost his arm harvesting potatoes, while another revealed the "toe curling" close calls he's had when drivers tried to pass his farm vehicles on the road
• Speaking of, in our open-question session, we learned that farmers don't like actually holding up traffic (and also that combine harvesting really isn't very different from mowing the lawn)
• One farmer told us about the tough decisions a drought brings, choosing which animals to let go as less hay means less feed to go around

We've already been talking to a group of celebrity farmers - but Clarkson's Farm - which features Harriet in its latest series - is one of the most talked-about farming shows.

From fast cars to tractors, Jeremy Clarkson has turned eyes to the agriculture industry.

But what do farmers make of it?

Hannah Sackville-Bryant went to ask young farmers for their views...

Bake Off star and fourth-generation farmer Mike Wilkins explains the importance of sheep shearing.

He says: "It would be really, really bad for their welfare if you didn't take their fleeces off.

"They'd get flystrike where flies basically lay eggs in their wool and then it can get infected and it's really horrible and painful."

"They absolutely love being sheared," he adds.

Mike speaks with genuine passion about his lifelong connection to farming, describing it as something that’s "in his blood".

Having grown up in agriculture, his love for the land and the work has only deepened over time.

He believes farmers have a vital role to play, not only in feeding the population but also in protecting the environment.

"We get to be custodians of our beautiful countryside," he says.

"So many farmers are doing so many things to become net-zero, and we are improving water quality, air quality and we are working really hard to do as much of it as we can."

Even if he's bottle feeding lambs or grinding barley, Mike Wilkins can always find time to film.

The Wiltshire farmer and star of last year's The Great British Bake Off wants to show people on social media the reality of his trade - and he is here to speak to us.

"People are so interested now in where their food comes from," he explains.

"So it's nice for them to have something direct from the farmer's mouth."

You can read more about him here.

You may not know this, but Harriet used to work as an adult community nurse before she was pulled back into farming.

"We are a small livestock farm and it wasn’t generating enough profits to sustain three salaries," she says.

"But the farming is always in your blood... I met my other half and he’s a farmer as well, there was no getting out of it then.

"We’re in it for life now I think, I don’t think we could switch off from it," Harriet adds.

She says the thing she loves most about farming is the sense of community.

"In my local area, having neighbours and friends - they are my community.

"You can talk to anyone at any time, you pick up the phone and there’s somebody there. It’s nice to feel a sense of pride that you’re part of this community," she says.

More from folk singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin, who is sharing the "funny story" of how she got into farming.

While at a photoshoot for her last album cover, the 32-year-old says it was suggested she posed for a picture holding a lamb - and it was love at first sight.

When she asked the farmer how she could repay them, Ms Aplin says she was told to donate her time and she became a farm volunteer.

"From there it just spiralled," she says.

Harriet explains it's all about looking at the fields.

Live from our combine, she says: "This field, once upon a time, when it was drilled, would’ve come up green... it would’ve grown up green shoots.

"Then, it turns into a golden brown colour and the heads droop.

"The farmer has a moisture tester, and they can then test the moisture - when it gets to 15 or below, it's ready to harvest."

She says today it is coming in at about 15.2, which means the crop will be dried.

And although she's very knowledgeable about the subject, Harriet isn't actually an arable farmer by trade!

She's a third-generation livestock farmer in Derbyshire, where she was born. So it's a nice change for her.

Harriet says: "Robin's showing us around and letting us have an insight into an arable farmer's life, which is really interesting for me... it's a world apart!"

Hear more from her by clicking the Watch live button above.

Gabrielle is telling us about farming as a vegan, which means she does not eat any food or products derived from animals.

"I just love animals," the sheep farmer says. "I feel very calm when I am around them."

Gabrielle adds she has a "soft spot" for farm animals - especially sheep and donkeys, saying "they are so underrated".

We've got a number of guests taking your questions at the moment.

English singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin - who is also a farmer - is speaking to BBC News live from the farm in Wiltshire.

The sheep farmer says it is important for her to be in the community.

"I am very interested in rural life. I've learnt everything I know from farmers. I just love it," she says.

Click 'Watch live' above to check out our live stream.

Harriet Cowan, from Derbyshire, has hopped in our combine.

She recently joined the popular show Clarkson's Farm for several episodes.

Alongside giving Jeremy Clarkson's sidekick Kaleb Cooper a run for his money, the 24-year-old wants to be a voice for young farmers.

Read more about her here.

Our reporters in the east of England have been busy this morning, but their subjects were arguably busier.

Tending to a farm is no easy job, but inspecting its grounds, admiring its hay and being asked multiple questions by journalists takes its toll too. Here's what some farm residents in Norfolk and Wimpole were up to.

Image source, BBC/ Sam Burton

Image source, BBC/ Sam Burton

Image source, BBC/ Annie Fowler

Mia Willemsen
Reporter, Farmers Guardian

People are on the hunt for the truth, and the number of farmers becoming agricultural influencers or '"agfluencers" is rising.

Facts and figures are not enough, people want an authentic, knowledgeable voice to inform them about what goes on in agriculture and these agfluencers can bridge that gap.

Agfluencing is, however, not as easy as it may seem - farming is still the day job, rising early, going to bed late, seven days a week, all year round. This is alongside the time and effort it takes to film and upload to social media.

But - at a time when food security is high on the agenda and how farming is funded is under the spotlight - it is vital that the industry and the way it works is understood. Support can then trickle its way down the supply chain and hopefully result in more conscious buying at the checkouts.

And agfluencing creates a community for those in the sector, allowing them to stand up together against the issues within agriculture.

Long hours a day spent farming an also feel isolating, but within this online community, farming becomes that little bit less lonely.

Image source, Getty Images

One of the less expected crops being harvested this year is kohlrabi - and Cathy Case grows the vegetable with quite a view.

But she says coastal locations bring more than just a nice vista, as her organic farm near picturesque Bigbury-on-Sea in south Devon is not as susceptible to frost.

“As soon as it is really cold it will just cause the heads to rot. By growing near the coast we are minimising that risk,” she tells BBC Radio Devon.

However, the location also has its challenges.

The narrow lanes near the 1,000-acre property can make it difficult to get the vegetables to market.

“It comes with living in a beautiful area - people want to visit it and the roads are busy," Cathy says.

Getting stuck in traffic can be frustrating, but farmers in Lincolnshire are asking for patience after seeing “scary moments” during the harvest season.

Henry Moreton, who farms near Woodhall Spa, says he has had “toe-curling” incidents of drivers trying to pass his tractor and combine harvester when it's not safe.

“You're better getting home two minutes later than not getting home at all. There are too many accidents, head-on collisions with tractors and machinery,” he says.

Insurance firm NFU Mutual says collisions involving agricultural vehicles are 65% more likely between May and September, compared to other times of the year.

• Listen to the full story: Farmers warn of harvest road dangers

Image source, BBC/Simon Thake

Following on from our last post, health and safety is incredibly important in farming.

James Bannister has spent much of the past two decades raising awareness about safety in the industry after losing his left arm in an agricultural accident in 1998.

According to the Health & Safety Executive, despite making up just 1% of the working population, farm workers account for nearly 20% of all workplace deaths in the UK.

James says: "I used to be blasé about safety but not now.

"When I do safety talks it's all about the visual impact. They look at me without my arm and they listen."

• Read the full story here: 'I lost an arm - complacency can kill in farming'

And one final question for now - Laurence Rayleigh from Essex wants to know if anyone can have a go at driving a combine harvester.

But farmer Robin Aird says it is not that simple.

“The straight answer is no, not really, because of the health and safety issues,” he explains.

Robin's advice?

"There is always a possibility to get in contact with your local farmer to see if there is a time that suits them when you could come and have a look at them driving and sit in the side and watch how it goes."

More questions coming in for our combine cam now.

Coral, from Sussex, asks farmer Robin Aird what is one thing people often misunderstand about farming.

"I don't know," he jokes. "That we like holding people up on roads?

"We don't. I hate holding people up on roads. I hate creating smells and annoying anyone," he says.

On a more serious note, Mr Airds says the "biggest misconception" is that all farmers are rich.

"There is a lot of very expensive equipment and a lot of high-value land, but physical cash - there is none," he answers.

Penny Stevens wants to know if using a combine harvester is like mowing the lawn.

"I am a self-employed gardener. It looks like you combine like I would mow - round the edge and then up and down. Is that so?" he asked our combine cam.

And the answer is... yes!

Farmer Robin Aird says: "We work the headland off first on the outsides to give us enough space to turn - also so we don't run the crop down.

"Then we go up and down."

Depending on the shape of the field, Robin says they either put the GPS on a "straight line and it steers itself. Or if it is on a bit of a bend, we use an adaptive curve."

Simple!