The NFU’s agricultural publications editor, Ben Pike, is one of the Guild’s newest members. He took up the reins of British Farmer & Grower when colleague and fellow Guild member Martin Stanhope moved across to edit Countryside magazine.
Based at the NFU’s headquarters in Warwickshire, Ben has a background in news and digital publishing, having worked for the organisation for more than four years in communication and marketing roles. But he also has plenty of farming experience to draw on.
“Although my family never had a farm, agriculture was the only regular source of employment for my brother and me when we grew up in Somerset,” he explains. “From a young age I spent quite a lot of time in the fields employed as seasonal labour. But I was always keen on journalism.
“Becoming editor of British Farmer & Grower combines my practical farming knowledge with my communications experience from newspapers and websites.
“I see the magazine’s future as being a practical, business accessory for the NFU’s members, as well as a vital tool for communicating the organisation’s work,” Ben adds. I look forward to meeting and working with members of the Guild I’ve yet to meet.”
