Our Yorkshire Farm, featuring the Owen family, was an immediate success with TV viewers. Looking into the Owen family's life with nine children on one of the most remote hill farms in the country enthralled the nation, and now, six years later, one member, Reuben Owen, is carving out his own path. His latest TV series, Life In The Dales, has been a hit, and he is making his own mark on the Yorkshire Dales with his new business. But farming, of course, is never far from his mind. 

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On the podcast this week, we learn about the value of agritourism and diversification in Scotland with Dundee farmer Caroline Millar. Escaping from the world to a farm's tranquil surroundings in the Angus countryside could be the ideal answer for any couple seeking a romantic weekend getaway, with the diversification working hand-in-hand alongside the farm. The Hideaway Experience at Balkello Farm, run by Scottish farmers Caroline and Ross Millar alongside their two children Finlay and Sophie, is a collection of self-catering holiday lodges in Dundee offering bespoke luxury features including saunas and hot tubs. Guests can also enjoy the food which is produced on-farm during their stay. Rated five-stars by Scotland's national tourist organisation VisitScotland, guests can also relish the comforting surroundings of a log burning fire during winter, grill delicious red meat on a gas BBQ during summer and enjoy the wildlife surroundings of the Angus countryside in holiday lodges. The farm has two units across the 263-hectare mixed arable business, with around 120 breeding cows including Aberdeen-Angus and Herefords, and growing cereals. Branching into the world of agritourism, an agricultural operation which attracts tourists to a farm, in 2005, Caroline said her farming background has played a valuable role in her strong work ethic. Enjoy the pod!

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As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode shares helpful on-farm tips to improve water and waste management, whilst looking at some of the practical challenges including infrastructure and investment. Livestock farmers Lizzie Halton-Harrop and Rob Havard, LEAF technical co-ordinate Megan Whatty and Berkshire arable farmer and former winner of BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion Eleanor Gilbert look at how to balance production, profit and ecological gain across the land, and how nurturing our ecosystems can help improve water and waste management. 

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Alex Black spoke to Farming Minister Mark Spencer about the latest changes to the Environmental Land Management scheme and his role being the voice of the farmer within Defra

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Hannah Park and Emily Ashworth shine a light on some of the fantastic support networks and initiatives in the rural sector which are available to people should they need it with. Join them as they welcome guests Alex Phillimore at the Farming Community Network, a charity at the heart of the rural community providing support in many forms and Sheena Horna, one of the founders of #Run1000 – an initiative set up three years ago to inspire people to get moving and experience the benefits this can have on mental wellbeing in January while raising money for worthy rural charities.

Farming Community Network

https://fcn.org.uk/

#Run1000

https://www.run1000.org/

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Alex Black remembers the key events of 2022 with NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw and takes a look at the farmland market and the trends for the year ahead with Savills' Charlie Paton.

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The next episode in our 'At Home With' series is all about art, country life, women and business with Lucy Gray AKA Doodling Lucy. With over 15,000 followers on Instagram, Lucy has seen her rural based art business blossom, especially after deciding to dedicate herself to it throughout Lockdown. But this is much more than just art, because Lucy is using her platform to highlight mental health, sustainability and champion farming and the rural community.

You can see what Lucy gets up to on her instagram @doodlinglucy5 or visit her website to find out more https://doodlinglucy.com/

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FG editor Ben Briggs reflects on November’s Nuffield Farming Conference, which FG was media partners for. He speaks to former Nuffield scholars, current scholars and organisers of the amazing event in Cardiff and ask them what Nuffield means to them, why people should apply and what makes a good presentation.

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For some children, the chance to run wild and free in a big grassy field, is a far-off dream they might never experience. Disadvantaged urban living is leaving many children around the UK with a poverty of experience, particularly when it comes to nature. One charity and its farmers are trying to change that though. Jez Fredenburgh speaks to Mary Hext at The Country Trust, which takes thousands of children a year to visit farms, and Michael Gent, a host farmer in Northamptonshire, about why sharing the countryside with the children is so rewarding.

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Christmas is coming and in this Over the Farm Gate episode, Farmers Guardian's features editor, Emily Ashworth, gets a whole rounded look at the festivities going on in the rural community this season. First up is Matt Slack, a fifth-generation butcher from Doncaster. He has taken the business into a new, modern world by taking to Tik Tok and has over 100,000 followers. But what are people buying this Christmas? And what is the best way to cook a turkey? We also hear from farming and family blogger Beth Withers. She has three young children, so what is Christmas on farm like for them?

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Suffolk arable farmer, Andrew Maddever and his family, have been running a pretty conventional system until fairly recently, through their 2,000ha operation and contracting business. But a trip to a regenerative farm in Argentina a few years ago got Andrew thinking. Since then he's been using parts of his land to experiment with no till, catch crops, and cover crops, as he edges his way to a more regenerative/ agro-ecological way of farming. Key for him is doing this gradually, to protect his and his clients' finances. He talks candidly to Jez Fredenburgh about the challenges and wins, what his neighbours think, not being a typically 'neat' farmer anymore, and the buzz of seeing his soils come back to life.

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Dairy analyst Chris Walkland and dairy farmer and NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes discuss the latest moves in the farm gate milk price and where prices might go in the new year.

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As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at some practical on-farm examples of improving biodiversity whilst building resilience into farm businesses. Oxfordshire arable farmer and consultant Ben Adams, McDonalds Progressive Young Farmer at Moy Park Darcy Johnson and Wiltshire mixed farmer and former NFU student and young farm ambassador Mike Wilkins explore the benefits of enhanced biodiversity on-farm, looking at both the environmental and financial gains.

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Does 'farming green' mean your business will be in the red or black financially? Jez Fredenburgh catches up with Gary Markham, director of Land Family Business, for a whistlestop chat about this. Gary has been advising farming families on their finances for decades, and has most recently run a 4-year benchmarking exercise comparing thousands of acres of conventional v regenerative farmland. Listen in as Gary covers everything from consistency of profitability, to family wellbeing, yields, and collaboration opportunities.

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In the second episode of At Home With, Farmers Guardian's features editor Emily Ashworth speaks with Richard Nicholson and his dad Roger about their family farm Cannon Hall. Cannon Hall is one of the most well-known farms in the country, especially after appearing on channel 5's highly popular 'On The Farm' series. Her we talk all things family, farming, food and, of course, Christmas. 

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Alex Black discusses the latest moves in the livestock and fertiliser markets and how we got here with Scott Donaldson at H&H and Jo Gilbertson at AIC

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How do carve out a career for yourself in farming? How can the industry attract more talent? How do you get your foot on the farming ladder? New entrant Paul White from Lancashire talks to Features Editor Emily Ashworth about his successful journey into agriculture, and roping in his sidekick, Conor Walsh, who is from a non-farming background, in to help him.

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In this special edition of Over the Farm Gate, Farmers Guardian editor Ben Briggs reports from the Farm Business Innovation event at the NEC, Birmingham. Speaking to exhibitors and speakers, he finds out why interest in on-farm diversification is booming at a time of wider energy market and financial turmoil.

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This week's Over The Farm Gate focuses on the industry's rich history, and Emily Ashworth speaks with two incredible women. First you will hear part of Marjorie Walker's story, from her time in the Women's Land Army in Lancashire. And lastly, the story of farming photographer Amy Bateman who has recently released her brand-new photography book, Forty Farms, based on farms in Cumbria. What is the importance of farms in this historic area? How will life change for these farms going forwards? Do people know how integral farmers are the preservation of this iconic area? Amy met some incredible people on her journey and only fell more in love with where she lives in the process.

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In this episode, one year on, we look back on the damage and devastation caused by Storm Arwen in the North East of England, how repairs are going and advice about the best ways to prepare for any future storms.

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In this brand-new monthly podcast, Farmers Guardian's Features Editor, Emily Ashworth, brings you the At Home With series. This month she chats to one of the country's most well-loved shepherdesses, Amanda Owen AKA The Yorkshire Shepherdess, about her latest book, Celebrating the Seasons, and talks all things food motherhood.

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In this episode the Farmers Guardian news and business team give their analysis of what farming can expect from the new Labour Government and the priorities of the new Defra Secretary Steve Reed and his Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner. The team reflects on Labour’s manifesto and the calls from the industry for more clarity on farming policies, budget and the future direction of British agriculture under Sir Keir Starmer’s new Government 

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From educational farming organisations to teachers in schools, as a sector we continually find new ways to inspire those outside the industry. In this episode, we speak to a secondary school teacher who is passionate about widening the conversation in her food science lessons to cover where food comes from and how it is produced. We also find out what it is children most asked of farmers from the Country Trust's Jill Attenborough, an organisation committed to getting children outside, into the countryside and onto farms.

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This week Jez Fredenburgh talks to two more farmers about their regenerative journey and how they have gradually developed more mixed farm businesses based around natural processes – family farmer George Ford from North Somerset and farm manager Jake Freestone from Gloucestershire. George has transitioned his family’s intensive pig unit to a much more mixed business including a beef suckler herd, pasture-reared chickens, and soon-to-be pasture-reared Xmas turkeys. As manager of Overbury estates, Jake first started practicing min till over a decade ago, and has become well known for his work on soil health including long rotations, and companion cropping. He has more recently re-introduced livestock to the estate. They talk about what started their transition to more nature-based farming, how their businesses have changed as a result, and what they wished they’d known when they started. The chat also veers onto what Jake and George make of the current political climate in Westminster and what they’d like to see if PM Liz Truss ever had an epiphany about the need to support a transition to more agro-ecological farming practices.

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In this week’s episode of Over The Farmgate, head of news Abi Kay reports on the highlights of Conservative Party conference, and talks to Farming Minister Mark Spencer about the direction Defra is taking now it is under new management.

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If you’ve been listening to our Farming With Nature series (or reading about it in the mag) you’ll have heard us talk about seeing the farm as an ecosystem. In this episode we dig deeper into this concept and how to manage the complexity and diversity that this brings. Jez Fredenburgh talks to Caroline Grindrod, a former conservationist and previous tenant farmer in the Dales and Lakes, who has spent years exploring how to integrate farming and nature through systems. Caroline has trained in holistic management with the Savory Institute and is the founder of Roots of Nature, where she works with farmers as a regenerative farming consultant and coach. 

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In this week's episode of Over The Farmgate, we are looking at agricultural shows. After two pandemic years, some smaller shows have folded, and others are in a precarious financial position. Those which remain have the daunting task of having to appeal to their traditional rural audience and an urban population, increasingly disconnected from farming. We explore what the future for shows is in the modern world.

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In this special episode of Over The Farmgate, features editor Emily Ashworth and livestock reporter Hannah Park reflect on how The Queen supported agriculture during her 70 years on the throne. We also hear from members of the farming community who were lucky enough to meet her.

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In this week’s episode of Over The Farmgate, we hand back over to Jez Fredenburgh to explore whether farmers struggling in volatile times can turn to native breeds to lower their costs and improve the environment, while preserving a vital piece of the UK’s cultural heritage.

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It is once again one that time of year to support one of the industry’s most loved campaigns, #LoveLambWeek. Emily Ashworth speaks to Olivia Shave about her farm to fork enterprise, and the importance of connecting to the consumer.

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In today’s regenerative farming toolbox episode, we're getting our proverbial spades out to dig into soils. Jez Fredenburgh delves into the basics of soil health, looking at what needs to be unlearned and the principles of good management practices that will enable you to harness nature’s power and reduce costly inputs. She does this with Anthony Ellis, of South West Farm Consultants and Groundswell Agronomy, a family farmer and agro-ecological farm advisor, who moved away from a career as a commercial agronomist after becoming disillusioned with the industry and working in Australia. In the second part of the podcast, Jez speaks to Neils Corfield, an independent advisor and trainer specialising in regenerative farming, about how to read your soils and make sense of what weeds are telling you. Get your notebooks out!

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As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at how healthy soils underpin resilient and sustainable farming systems. Arable agronomist and farm consultant with Ceres Rural, Louise Penn, beef and sheep farmer and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds representative Izzy Eames and regenerative farmer, coach and consultant at Grassfed Farmer Silas Hedley-Lawrence dig deeper into the role of soil in tackling climate change, improving nature and health, whilst looking at how adopting a more regenerative farming approach can help restore, enhance soil health, ecosystems and communities. 

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In this week's episode of Over the Farm Gate, we delve into the topic of diversity in farming as part of this month's #FarmingCAN. Join us as we speak to Liz Tree who is carving a path for herself in farming after growing up in Croydon. Wilfred Emmanuel Jones AKA the Black Farmer also tells us about his new campaign to bring fresh faces into the sector

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It's time for our once-monthly catch up with farmers on the regenerative path. This week Jez Fredenburgh talks to two farmers at different stages – Rich Thomas, from Herefordshire, is a sheep and pedigree beef farmer with apple orchards and arable crops, and who has been introducing mob grazing and agroforestry over the last 5-6 years, and has more recently eliminated nitrogen fertiliser.

John Pawsey, from Suffolk, is in Rich’s words, an organic farming ’rock star’, who has been organic and following a systems approach for around 20 odd years. Most of John's farm is under a six-year rotation, including varieties of wheat, oats and spelt for milling, barley for malting, beans, and some novel and speciality crops, including chia, lentils. He introduced sheep into the rotation a few years back.

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In this week's episode of Over the Farm Gate we take a look back at this year’s 24 Hours in Farming with the people who made it happen #Farm24

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In this week’s episode of Over The Farmgate, head of news Abi Kay explores whether cultured meat spells the end for livestock farming as we know it. Across the world, billions of pounds of venture capital investment are being pumped into its development – but do farmers have anything to fear?

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Gabe Brown, regenerative farming legend and pioneer, speaks to Jez Fredenburgh about the power of regenerative farming to heal your soil and your soul. After hail and drought destroyed his crops four years in a row, Gabe decided to farm differently. He went on a huge learning curve, changing his mindset entirely, and getting to know his farm in a way he never had before – as an ecosystem reliant on fundamental, universal ecological principles, rather than a "chemistry set". He says he's happier as a result, produces more food, and turns a better profit.

Gabe's book, Dirt to Soil, about his journey to regenerative farming, has become a staple for anyone wanting to move in this direction. He now travels the world advising on regen farming, and has been named one of the 25 most influential agricultural leaders in the United States. He farms at Brown’s Ranch, a diversified 5,000 acre farm in North Dakota, with his wife Shelly and son Paul.

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In this week’s episode of Over The Farm Gate, news and business reporter Hannah Binns asks three farm safety champions what needs to be done to tackle the industry's poor safety record. It comes as new data from the Health and Safety Executive found 25 people killed on farms in Great Britain in 2021/22, including three members of the public. We also discuss the 'pester power' of children and how they can play a pivotal role in helping improve safety on farms.

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Cumbrian sheep farmer Alistair Mackintosh sits down with Farmers Guardian chief reporter Rachael Brown to chat about his new role as Red Tractor interim chair. He talks about how he looks to rebuild farmer confidence in Red Tractor after frustration across the industry following its handling of the Greener Farms Commit module. He said effective communication of the value of Red Tractor for farming business was critical, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility across the supply chain.
He said he was confident there would not be a vote of no confidence and any disquiet will be put to rest', reiterating they were listening to farmers and making changes to audit process to offer a 'leaner' approach. He recognised there was challenges when it came to Red Tractor membership in both the beef and lamb sector, but he was confident he could bring them back on board. 

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