Kate Gascoyne

The Farmer Network

Kate has a background in mixed farming and livestock production in the north of England. She works as a project manager and farmer co-ordinator for The Farmer Network, which is a not-for-profit farmer-led organisation supporting farmers in Cumbria, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland, whose ONLY aim is to support farmers – not to sell anything to them or implement a Minister’s policy with them. She has no specialisms but has worked closely with a wide-range of farmers and specialists, (arable, hill, dairy and beef, sheep and organic farms) sharing their experience with other farmers – mainly reducing inputs, managing soils and diverse swards, marketing and business planning, carbon accounting and agri-environment schemes. She has also managed programmes to support the next generation and recently has been involved in bringing farming and environmental organisation people together in her local area to try to improve understanding and learning both ways. She lives on a smallholding on the East Fellside in Cumbria, with a tiny herd of beef cattle and growing fruit and veg.