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 cluster groups of farmers across the County. When the funding ended, the farmers wanted to continue working together and the Cumbria Farmer Network was created in October 2005, proudly run by farmers, for the benefit of farmers.

Cumbria is the second largest red meat and milk producing county in England, with the farmed environment playing an integral role across the iconic landscapes of The Lake District and the Pennine Fells.