Heather Wildman Helps UK Farmers Secure Their Future
In the vast, rolling fields of the United Kingdom, farmers face multiple challenges — from economic pressures and unpredictable weather to increasingly complex regulations. These obstacles require resilience, innovative solutions, and dedicated support. Among those providing this crucial assistance is Heather Wildman, whose unique role in farm succession planning and management has become indispensable for many farming families. For her, this work is not a job but rather a mission to ensure the sustainability and continuity of family farms across the UK.
This story of impact by EOS Data Analytics focuses on Heather Wildman, a remarkable woman making significant strides in the challenging field of UK agriculture. Her practical and empathetic approach helps farming families navigate the intricacies of succession planning while advocating for the vital role of women in agriculture. Join us as we explore Heather’s journey, the transformative stories of those she has helped, and the potential of modern technologies to further empower farmers worldwide.
The Evolving Landscape Of UK Agriculture
Imagine you’re an average farmer in the UK. That means you are 59 years old and own around 80 hectares of land. The surrounding view is one of beautiful rolling hills, green pastures, and a patchwork of fields.
However, the challenges you face with it are as vast as your land.
Economic pressures are ever-present. You juggle fluctuating commodity prices, high input costs, and stiff competition from imports. These financial strains push many farmers like you to think about diversifying their businesses. Perhaps you’ve considered agritourism, renewable energy, or direct sales to consumers, but at your age, such shifts can be daunting. Diversification often requires significant investment and a steep learning curve, especially when you’ve spent decades mastering traditional farming techniques .
The regulatory environment adds another layer of complexity. Post-Brexit, the transition to the UK’s domestic policies has introduced new schemes and regulations. You’re now navigating the Sustainable Farming Incentive and other environmental programs designed to encourage sustainable practices while phasing out direct payments under the Basic Payment Scheme. Keeping up with these changes means more paperwork, new compliance standards, and continuous adaptation .
On top of these economic and regulatory challenges, you must also think about the health of your soil and the biodiversity of your farm. The shift towards sustainable farming practices is crucial, but it demands knowledge and resources that can be hard to come by. Precision farming techniques, drones, and satellite imagery are tools that can help, yet integrating such technologies into your daily routine is no small feat.
It’s no wonder many farmers express feelings of frustration and uncertainty, especially about the future of their farms. Recent sentiment surveys reveal a mixed emotional landscape. The support for the Conservative Party, historically a strong advocate for rural communities, among farmers has also waned, reflecting broader political and economic dissatisfaction within the sector .
However, this is the UK — one of the most advanced countries in the world, a model of resilience and innovation. Despite the difficulties, there remains a core of farmers and people passionate about agriculture who are optimistic about its future. These are the enthusiasts, the pioneers ready to adapt, innovate, and lead the way forward.
One such pioneer is Heather Wildman.
From Fields To Families With Heather Wildman
Heather Wildman is a well-known figure in the UK agricultural sector, gaining quite an exposure after being featured in a Guardian piece titled “Farming is a dirty word now: the woman helping farmers navigate a grim, uncertain future" .
Her story caught our attention at EOS Data Analytics, prompting us to reach out for a conversation to learn more about her inspiring work.
Heather joins the video call from her motorhome on her father’s birthday. The sunlight streams through the curtains and adds a warm, joyful glow to her already positive mood and openness.
We start with recapping Heather’s journey into farm succession planning and management.
It was serendipitous. Having been involved in agriculture her entire career, she started her consultancy, Saviour Associates, in 2014. Initially focused on staff management and recruitment, she soon realized the pressing need for succession and inheritance planning among farming families.
Heather’s own family had experienced painful fallouts over inheritance issues, which had stalled progress and caused significant financial strain. Witnessing similar struggles in other families, Heather decided to dedicate herself to helping them navigate these complex and often emotional processes.
Heather describes her work as both a privilege and a challenge. She is deeply honored to be invited into people’s businesses, where she gets to see the warts and all of their operations. Her approach is practical and motivational, focusing on fostering open communication and building trust among family members. This sometimes involves delivering hard truths and supporting families through difficult decisions, such as splitting up the business when necessary for long-term harmony and success.
Heather’s methods are rooted in empathy and understanding. She emphasizes the importance of active listening and creating a safe space for honest discussions. She also leverages her extensive network and knowledge from her scholarship on change management to influence and motivate change within the farming community. Her passion for people and concern for their morale and well-being in rural areas drive her to ensure that the changes she facilitates are sustainable and beneficial for all involved.
Through our conversation, it becomes clear that Heather’s impact goes beyond just business consultancy. She has a genuine passion for improving the lives of farming families. Her work not only addresses the practical aspects of succession planning but also aims to heal and strengthen relationships, ensuring that farms can be passed down smoothly and continue to thrive for generations to come.
But what does it look like, to be a facilitator and solicitor for farmers?
Heather Wildman’s Stories Of Transformation
To find out the answer, I ask Heather to tell me about the most memorable and transformative stories in which her help was most rewarding.
She immediately recalls a case involving two brothers on a large beef and sheep farm in Scotland. Each brother had different plans for the farm — one wanted to retire and had no family interested in farming, while the other was passionate about continuing the family legacy with his eager daughters. The situation was fraught with tension, as the daughters felt the retiring uncle should simply give them his shares. Heather facilitated a series of meetings, ensuring fair valuations and open communication.
Heather’s approach was to help each party see the other’s perspective. Through her guidance, the family reached a fair and amicable resolution. The daughters took over the farm, ensuring it remained in the family and continued to thrive.
Another poignant story involved a father-daughter conflict over farm succession. The daughter, highly driven and passionate about farming, faced her father’s reluctance to let her take over, primarily because she was over 40, unmarried, and childless. The father’s resistance stemmed from traditional views and a fear of being outshone by his daughter.
Heather helped the daughter develop an impressive business plan, highlighting her capability and vision for the farm. She also worked to address the father’s pride and fears, promoting understanding and respect between them.
I saw too much pain and too many businesses stalling because of a lack of progression.
Her intervention not only facilitated the daughter’s takeover but also preserved the family’s legacy and harmony.
Heather shared another case involving two brothers on a family farm. One brother was highly practical and excellent at farming, while the other was articulate and business-savvy but less involved in the day-to-day farming operations. The practical brother struggled to express his vision for the farm, often feeling overshadowed by his more eloquent sibling.
Heather encouraged the practical brother to create a PowerPoint presentation to articulate his plans and needs effectively. This helped him gain confidence and clearly communicate his vision to the family.
Heather notes that as a facilitator, all she does is facilitate the discussion and create a safe environment for it, as if her job were as simple as that.
In reality, this approach helped the family reach a consensus that respected both brothers’ strengths and aspirations, ensuring the farm’s continued success and harmony.
Heather Wildman’s Perspective On Modern Technology
Heather Wildman is not just a champion for farm succession planning but also an advocate for adopting modern technologies in agriculture. During our conversation, Heather shared her position on the role of technology in transforming farming practices and how tools like satellite imagery can play an important role in this transformation.
Heather recognizes the immense potential of technology to address some of the pressing challenges in agriculture. From precision farming to advanced data analytics, these innovations can help farmers optimize their operations, improve yields, and make more informed decisions.
We have this amazing world of technology that can bring communities together and provide real-time support
Satellite technologies, in particular, offer significant benefits for farmers. They provide detailed, up-to-date data on various aspects of farm management, such as soil health, crop conditions, and weather patterns. This information can help farmers like Heather’s clients make proactive decisions to enhance productivity and sustainability. For instance, satellite imagery can monitor soil moisture levels, identify areas that need irrigation, and detect early signs of crop stress, allowing timely interventions.
One of the most exciting applications of satellite technology is in tracking land use changes and promoting sustainable farming practices. Heather mentions the increasing pressure on UK farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly methods, such as regenerative agriculture. Satellite data can play a pivotal role in this transition by offering insights into soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Heather also emphasized the importance of integrating technology into daily farming operations. There’s a need for farmers to stay updated with the latest advancements and be open to adopting new tools.
She’s also concerned about acting on the data to drive positive change. As she puts it, the real gem of it is the actions that follow through.
However, there are challenges associated with technological adoption, especially for older farmers who may be less familiar with modern tools, although Heather believes that with the right support and training, these barriers can be overcome.
This is where we can’t help but inject a little bit of self-promotion and say that by working with organizations like EOS Data Analytics, farmers can gain access to satellite technologies and expertise that can help them make the most of their lands.
The screenshots above of EOSDA Crop Monitoring, an online satellite-based precision agriculture platform for field monitoring, reveal how farmers can use the platform to analyze the effect of weather on things like soil moisture levels, track the performance of their crop management practices, and review historical data to see the long-term consequences of their decisions.
The Power Of Women In Agriculture
At EOS Data Analytics, we do our best to create stories of impact that serve multiple purposes.
Firstly, they discover the importance of people like Heather Wildman, who help farming families manage the growing complexities of regulations and challenges. The emergence of such roles is a direct response to the increasing pressures faced by farmers, from economic and environmental issues to stringent regulatory requirements. Heather’s work shows how facilitators can guide families through these challenges, ensuring that farms remain viable and family relationships are preserved.
Secondly, EOSDA’s stories of impact highlight that transformative changes in agriculture can be driven by both men and women. Heather Wildman is not only a shining example of this idea, but she also agrees with it by noting the unique strengths of women in communication and problem-solving:
Women have a great business mind and are very good at negotiating and engaging.
She also believes that women are often more prepared to tackle difficult conversations head-on, a crucial skill in farm succession planning and management.
And her own career is an example of the impact women can have. Her practical and motivational approach, combined with her deep understanding of the emotional and relational aspects of farming, has made her an invaluable asset to the agricultural community.
And Heather is not alone in her mission. The growing presence of women in UK agriculture is a positive trend that reflects broad changes in societal attitudes and opportunities. Women like Heather are proving that they can lead and innovate in this demanding field, providing hope and inspiration for future generations of female farmers and agricultural professionals.
I am very proud to be a woman in agriculture. We need more good stories, and there are so many women doing amazing things that need to be highlighted and celebrated.
At EOS Data Analytics, we also notice the growing number of female users of our platform. Because there should be no prejudice or barriers preventing anyone from contributing to the industry’s evolution. The agricultural sector deserves a more inclusive and supportive environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can contribute to its growth and success.
A Message Of Hope To Agrarians Worldwide
Heather Wildman’s example shows that no matter how challenging the current situation in your country’s agriculture might be, there is always hope as long as there are passionate people in the industry striving for positive change.
Her job reveals how dedication, innovation, and a willingness to tackle difficult conversations can lead to meaningful improvements in farming practices and family dynamics. It also shows that with the right support and guidance, even the most complex issues can be resolved, leading to a more sustainable and prosperous future for agriculture.
Usually, we end such stories of impact with the reminder that they serve EOSDA’s vision to make space tech a global driver of sustainability on Earth. But before that, we must state that no tech will be of help without people believing in their ability to make a difference and staying open to new practices. As long as we all remember that the future of agriculture is shaped by our beliefs and commitment, everything’s possible.
This Story of Impact was created following EOSDA’s vision to make space tech a global driver of sustainability on Earth. If you wish to share a story that relates to this idea and believe our solutions can help develop it, please contact us via pr@eosda.com.
About the author:
Maksym Sushchuk is at the forefront of realizing EOSDA's vision to make space tech a global driver of sustainability on Earth. He has over 15 years of experience in journalism and content creation for prominent Ukrainian startups, charitable funds and ESG businesses. As Head and Co-founder of PR Army Maxim brings attention to the human and social tolls of the aggression against Ukraine.
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