The Farmer Network was originally developed in Cumbria following the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001. Funding for 3 years from the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) supported coordinators to work with groups of farmers across the County. When this funding ended, the Cumbria Farmer Network was born in October 2005 as a not-for-profit Company owned by farmers, for the benefit of farmers.

Cumbria is the third largest county in England and farming is central to the rural economy. It is England’s most important sheep farming area and the 2nd largest milk field in England.