Ruth Rodgers

Farming Life editor Ruth Rodgers took up the post almost three years ago following the retirement of David McCoy, who had served as editor for 25 years. Farming Life made its first appearance as a supplement in the News Letter in 1953 under the editorship of William Warren. It has grown to become a twice weekly supplement (Wednesday and Saturday) and is now firmly established as Northern Ireland’s favourite farming newspaper.

In brief, what does your working week involve?

Farming Life is published twice a week within the News Letter, so every day is busy. Most of my time is spent dealing with emails and phone calls, organising coverage for the big agricultural stories of the week and liaising with the photographer to get a good coverage from right across the province.

I am sometimes asked to go along to speak at events such as agricultural show launches or AGMs or club dinners and this is a great opportunity to touch base with our readers and hear their views on the paper and the industry as a whole. During the summer months I also like to get along to a few of the local agricultural shows.

You’ve talked about “times of growing opportunity for young people coming into agriculture.” What are the reasons for optimism?

Despite the economic downturn, the agri-industry is probably the only industry that has shown strong resilience and is bucking the trend. And with the world’s population expected to almost double by 2050, there will be a huge demand for produce. The industry also offers a vast range of opportunities for young people interested in product development, science, and research and development.

I think too people from non-farming backgrounds are beginning to get a real interest in where their food comes from and that’s thanks to programmes like ‘Lambing Live’ and ‘Countryfile’.

You could call it the Adam Henson effect.

What is distinct about agricultural journalism?

I started out in my career working in weekly newspapers where you have to have a pretty good knowledge of absolutely everything. Agricultural journalism is a very technical subject; it’s not all about milking cows and lambing sheep, but there is a lot to get your head round in terms of EU directives and policies. 2011 is a big year in terms of the way ahead for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the slice of the budget farmers in Northern Ireland will receive in their single farm payments.

What have been the most memorable stories you have covered in your career?

I think the most memorable stories stand out from my time working for weekly newspapers where I covered just about every possible subject imaginable. I don’t think it’s so much the stories that stand out but the people who were generous enough to share their feelings with me, as a journalist, in difficult or tragic circumstances.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

Without a doubt it’s meeting people within the industry and particularly the farmers themselves who are out there grafting 24/7. Farming is not a job. It’s a way of life and sometimes success or failure can depend on nature itself and a battle against the elements.

What’s the most challenging part?

Just like any job in journalism, there is a degree of pressure involved in meeting deadlines, but it’s a case of dealing with it and doing the best job that you can.

How do you relax in your free time?

What free time? I have two sons, aged 14 and 12, and seem to spend much of my time driving them about. I am a Sunday school teacher at my local church and editor of the church magazine (more deadlines!)

I do enjoy a Sunday afternoon walk with my King Charles spaniel Sophie and I like getting to grips with the weeds in the garden. I live on a small holding and it’s therapeutic to get out in the fresh air to help round up the sheep or the cattle or helping out at lambing time.