14 May 2021
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Positive uptake of Big Farming Survey will define future support
THE largest ever research project into the health and wellbeing of farming people throughout England and Wales has closed its first stage.
Growers responding to RABI's Big Farming Survey have delivered a range of data whih, once analysed, will inform the development of RABI and other organisations in the sector, working with others to provide future support and service strategies for farming people.
“Working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the sector has been integral to achieving such a high response rate. To ensure we gathered responses from the widest possible range of farming people, we had to be ambitious on behalf of our community,” said Alicia Chivers, CEO of RABI.
“The results have exceeded our expectations and astounded many, including one research centre who advised us a response rate of over a couple of thousand was unattainable. We are hugely grateful to every organisation and individual who has supported the Big Farming Survey."
Working in partnership with the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter, the findings from the Big Farming Survey will be published at a live launch event in the autumn.
As the University of Exeter now begins to analyse the responses, RABI continues to lead discussions about the provision of services to support farmer wellbeing.
“During this next stage of data analysis, we will be working closely with other sector stakeholders to consider how to apply the findings to develop a targeted and thorough approach to the provision of future services for farming people,” Alicia said.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has completed, shared and supported the Big Farming Survey. Through our combined efforts, we can develop the best possible tools to enhance farmer and business resilience now and for years to come.”