Ben Prater

Farmers in Wiltshire are diversifying into visitor attractions such as maize mazes and sunflower fields as rising fuel costs, low crop prices and extreme weather make traditional agriculture less profitable. Third-generation farmer Jeremy Stokes says the pressures have forced him to look beyond mainstream food production, while farmers near Chippenham describe visitor activities as critical to their businesses. The National Farmers' Union warns that declining business confidence threatens agricultural resilience and UK food security, despite government calls for farmers to produce more food.