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In the past farming was a relatively simple operation.听You cultivated your land, looked after your stock, took your produce to market and the whole cycle started again.

It's very different today.听To be a successful farmer you have to be a whizz on the computer and an expert on form-filling - and that's before you put on your wellies and head out into the farmyard.

Cattle in west Cornwall

You've also got to be prepared to diversify and run other businesses alongside the farm.听Russell farms near St Ives - he's already turned some of his sheds into holiday cottages - now he's developing a new business selling his beef direct to shoppers and restaurants.

He's hoping the consumers' new found enthusiasm to source food locally and to reduce food miles will help his business听 St Ives Beef听 take off - and guarantee a future for his family farm into a fourth generation.