Our search has begun for new face of farming

The 2014 Spring Fling, held at the Royal Norfolk Showground. Children with their reeds, from left, Will Ewin, 8; Rosie Ewin, 6; Austin Cane, 4; and George Cane, 2. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Archant)

Tributes have been pouring in for our long-serving agricultural editor Michael Pollitt, pictured, who this week handed over the baton after nearly 30 years in post.

And for those who have been wondering what is happening next, we are actively searching for the person to step into Michael's shoes and take our agricultural food and farming coverage into a new era.

Rural life is at the heart of our community and we are looking for a writer who can tell the stories of agriculture, food and farming both in the newspaper as well as online and also on screen through Mustard TV.

To that end we are casting our net far and wide to find our new Agricultural, food and farming editor who will report on all that is happening, whether it is policy from Brussels, the work of the NFU or our own Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, through to the young people looking to work in the industry or those enjoying a day out at the spring fling or the ever popular Open Farm Sunday days.

Agricultural editor Mike Pollitt retires from Archant with his own front page and a personal cartoon by Tony Hall.Photo by Simon Finlay.

We want someone to tell the story of farming from the high-tech world of agritech, to those at the heart of livestock and cereal farming, right through to the adventures of our young farmers.

An expert in the subject, our new editor will have a detailed knowledge and understanding of rural and countryside issues, the business of farming, and related industries such as food science and agri-tech, as well as policy and industry issues affecting the sector at a local, national and EU level.

But that person will not be the only fresh voice featured in our coverage.

We want our coverage to be as authoritative and engaging as it always has, but we also want to hear from you about what you want to see.

But there is now an unique opportunity for you all to join us and be part of the shared voice of farming across our region.

What are your stories? What is it you like about what we are currently doing - what don't you like and what do you want to see?

Our plans our to expand and enhance our coverage of the whole field to fork journey, but we want you to help shape our coverage and be a big part of it.

This is an exciting time for us as we move into a new era - we want to keep the best of what has gone before but also introduce new ideas and elements to our coverage.

Why not join us and be a part of that journey?

? Tell us what you would like to see in our Farm and Country coverage. Contact Shaun Lowthorpe on 01603 772471 or email shaun.lowthorpe@archant.co.uk.