Neurodiversity in agriculture

For this episode host Iory Hughes is joined by dairy farmer Liz Haines, who works with Farmers Weekly on the Level Field campaign. Liz undertook a Nuffield Scholarship to help the industry better understand the needs of those in agriculture who are neurodivergent, and how they can be better supported in their work. Prior to farming Liz worked in publishing, specialising in autism and special educational needs. She moved on to take up a contract farming opportunity in Shropshire. Now having moved to Staffordshire, Liz is a tenant dairy farmer, milking 375 spring calving cattle. Liz is also a non-executive director of Mole Valley Farmers. The episode is all about what neurodiversity means, how conditions may impact someone at work and how we can improve interaction with people who are neurodivergent. For more information about recruiting, training and retaining great people and developing farming teams, find the Teams bitesize guide on the reports page of the Royal Agricultural Society of England website.