Older UK farmers to get $140,000 for retiring
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Farming - Level 0
The UK wants to change farming. It will pay older farmers to retire. It wants more young farmers. Older farmers could get $140,000 if they retire. The UK wants to protect the environment. Older farmers use farming methods that are not so environmentally friendly. The UK thinks younger farmers will use greener methods.
The average age of a UK farmer is 59. Around 40 per cent are over 65. The UK wants to help older farmers to retire. Its plan is popular with older farmers. Around 75 per cent of older farmers like it. A farmers' group wants a fair plan for older farmers. It wants them to have enough time and information to make life-changing decisions.
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Farming - Level 1
The UK wants to change its farming industry. It will pay older farmers to retire. It wants more young farmers. Some older farmers could get $140,000 if they retire. The government wants to protect the environment. Older farmers use traditional methods to farm their land. These are not so environmentally friendly. The UK thinks younger farmers will use greener methods. It said older farmers were "standing in the way of change".
The average age of a UK farmer is 59. Around 40 per cent are over 65. The UK wants to help new farmers to reach their dream of farming land and help older farmers to retire. The plan is popular with older farmers. One farmers' group said 75 per cent of its farmers liked the plan. Another group said it wants to see a fair way for older farmers to retire. It wants older farmers to have enough time and information to make big life-changing decisions.
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Farming - Level 2
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The UK government wants to change its farming industry. It has a plan to pay older farmers to retire. It wants younger farmers to replace them. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 in cash if they retire. The government wants to protect the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land. These are not so environmentally friendly. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers will use greener methods. He said: "A fresh perspective can make a world of difference." He said older farmers were "standing in the way of change".
The average age of a UK farmer is 59. Around 40 per cent are over 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the...challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream of gaining access to land, while also helping an older generation to retire." The plan is popular with veteran farmers. A farmers' group said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested in the plan. Another group welcomed the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who are [retiring] to have sufficient time and information to make those life-changing decisions."
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Farming - Level 3
The government in the United Kingdom wants to change its farming industry. It wants younger people to enter the profession. It has a new plan to pay older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 in cash if they retire. One of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire is to protect the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land. These methods are not as environmentally friendly as they should be. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers are more open to "green" methods. He said: "A fresh perspective can make a world of difference." He added that older farmers were "standing in the way of change".
The average age of farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are above the age of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the twin challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream of gaining access to land, while also helping an older generation to retire with dignity." The scheme is popular with many veteran farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested in the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who are considering leaving the industry to have sufficient time and information to make those life-changing decisions."
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25 online activities | 27-page printable | 2-page mini-lesson