Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Farmers Guardian Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How 25-year-old Harry Davies landed a 900-acre Duchy tenancy | For Flock’s Sake Ep. 8 | 10 Nov 2026 | 00:50:27 | |
At just 25 years old, Harry Davies has taken on a 900-acre farm in Herefordshire, secured a 25-year tenancy with the Duchy of Cornwall and now counts Prince William as his landlord. | |||
| The Budget wrap-up: What real impact does this budget have on your farm? | 03 Nov 2026 | 00:58:59 | |
Chief reporter Rachael Brown chats to tax experts, industry representatives and farmers to examine the Chancellor’s Budget and highlight what measures will impact your agricultural business and how best to respond. | |||
| Is your soil ready for winter? How to assess your soil health this season | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast | 30 Oct 2026 | 00:25:28 | |
With harvest behind us and winter approaching, now is the time for arable growers to assess what is happening beneath the soil surface. From compaction and drainage to rooting, earthworm activity and residue breakdown, the condition of soils can reveal important clues about how fields will perform next season. In this episode of the Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast, head of arable Ash Ellwood speaks with Dr Paul O'Hora of Soilworx about assessing soil health, understanding the legacy of harvest, and spotting potential problems before spring. The discussion explores practical steps to identify what growers should look for and to aid decisions where intervention may be necessary. Speakers: Ash Ellwood - Farmers Guardian head of arable Dr Paul O'Hora - Sales director at Soilworx | |||
| The future of rural policing and what it takes to tackle rural crime | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:45:00 | |
Farmers Guardian's chief reporter Rachael Brown is joined by two guest hosts this week – former Liberal Democrat leader and Cumbrian MP Tim Farron, and NFU livestock chair and farmer Clare Wise – for a frank discussion of the realities of rural crime. | |||
| The British Farming Awards 2026 - celebrating the best in UK agriculture | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:19:37 | |
Farmers Guardian deputy editor Alex Black takes you behind the scenes of last week’s event to hear from Jeremy Clarkson - and why he had to make a quick getaway, Kaleb Cooper and also members of the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir who share their journey from lager commercial to being named this year’s Farming Heroes. | |||
| Party lines: what are political parties really offering farmers? | 13 Oct 2026 | 00:36:16 | |
Which political party can win the farmers vote at the next General Election? | |||
| Boomer and Millie Birch: What does it take to breed great cattle? | For Flock’s Sake Ep. 7 | 06 Oct 2026 | 01:03:04 | |
Boomer and Millie Birch join Farmers Guardian’s Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder for the latest episode of For Flock’s Sake | |||
| How losing £12,000 on a potato contract sparked a rethink on one Yorkshire farm | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast | 02 Oct 2026 | 00:36:02 | |
What do you do when a £12,000 loss on a potato contract forces you to rethink the farm's future? Yorkshire arable farmer Callum Stark has transformed a 3,000-tonne potato store into a padel facility, creating a completely new income stream for the business in just three months. In this episode, Callum explains what prompted the diversification, how much the project cost, the planning and practical challenges involved, and whether the numbers are stacking up. We also discuss the wider financial pressures facing the family farm, including planning for a potential multi-million-pound inheritance tax liability. If this podcast has sparked some ideas, be sure to head to the Farm Business Innovation show taking place on November 4th and 5th 2026. It is the UK’s only event dedicated entirely to farm diversification, helping farmers and landowners turn land, assets, and ideas into sustainable new income streams. https://www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk/ | |||
| ‘No farmer is an island’ - Nuffield scholar shares her findings from her research into mental health within farming | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:26:44 | |
Our chief reporter Rachael Brown speaks to farmer, psychologist and one of this year’s Nuffield scholars, Sharon May to discusses her research into mental health within the farming community, the importance of relationships and what can be learnt from other countries around the world | |||
| SFI fiasco: farmers miss out on funding | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:29:36 | |
After Window 2 of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 closed after just six hours, Farmers Guardian's news team discuss what happened, farmer reaction and what needs to happen now | |||
| UK Dairy Day: Milk prices and the Sustainable Dairy Pathway | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:31:11 | |
Recorded at UK Dairy Day, this episode tackles the big questions facing dairy farmers today - from milk prices to the new Sustainable Dairy Pathway. | |||
| China’s pork power: trade, disease and what it means for the UK | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:21:42 | |
China is the world’s biggest pork producer and consumer — but what does that mean for UK pig farmers? | |||
| Prime Minister faces farming questions as Parliament returns and Reform unveils farming policy | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:26:34 | |
Actions speak louder than words. Despite new PM Andy Burnham telling MPs he will focus on farming, and Reform members pledging to ‘back farmers to the hilt’, deputy editor Alex Black, head of news and business Jane Thynne and chief reporter Rachael Brown discuss whether all these warm words will bring a positive change for farming. | |||
| “You think it's never going to happen to somebody you know”: The Mental Health Crisis in Farming | For Flock’s Sake Ep6 | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:52:06 | |
Sam Stables and Louise Layton join us for an honest conversation about the tougher side of farming. Why in some cases, we are still not always very good at talking about mental health, the importance of opening up when things get difficult, and why simply telling a mate you are struggling can make all the difference. Mental health is not always the easiest subject to talk about in farming, but Sam Stables and Louise Layton know first hand why those conversations matter. In this September episode of For Flock's Sake, the Farmers Guardian podcast, hosts Tom Ryder and Ellie Layton are in Herefordshire to hear from farmer and co-founder of We Are Farming Minds, Sam Stables, and charity volunteer Louise Layton. Sam talks openly about his farming system, mental health struggles and what led him to set up the charity, while Louise shares her experience of supporting her husband Richard through his mental health struggles before his death by suicide. There is plenty of farming in the conversation, from Sam's route into farming and his Duchy tenancy while Louise shares how as a family they have raised over £100,000 in Richard's memory. Together, they explore the realities of mental health in agriculture, the impact it can have on individuals and families, and what can be done to ensure people do not feel they have to face their struggles alone. Mental health and suicide support If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available. PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 Samaritans Mind CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) We Are Farming Minds RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) The DPJ Foundation | |||
| Half the land, 80% of the yield: does relay cropping really stack up? | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast | 28 Aug 2026 | 00:20:42 | |
What if you could grow a second crop on half the area and still produce 80% of the yield of a conventional crop? That is the intriguing result from arable farmer Ben Adams’ first year of his relay cropping trial, where winter barley grown on just 50% of the area produced 80% of his average yield. | |||
| The bluetongue surge: Immediate action now and lessons for the future | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:28:38 | |
Deputy editor Alex Black and chief reporter Rachael Brown sit down with farmers and NFU representatives Clare Wise and Ian Harvey, as well as NFU Scotland vice president Robert Neill to discuss the latest situation in the rise in Bluetongue across the UK, where we are with vaccine supply, why an emergency fund for fallen stock is needed urgently by Government, as well as an honest discussion on what lessons can be learnt from across the sector including government agencies to ensure we do not have a repeat of the scale of this disease next year. | |||
| When an ambulance is two hours away, what do you do? | 17 Aug 2026 | 00:24:42 | |
In this episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast, in partnership with RABI's FarmersAid, Olivia Skeoch sits down with Ben Aveling at Radmore Farm, Northamptonshire, to talk about the day his mother-in-law was seriously injured during tupping — and the two-hour wait for an ambulance that followed. Ben talks candidly about the panic of those first moments, the decision to move her against advice, and how the experience has changed the way his family works around livestock. This episode explores what RABI calls the "platinum ten minutes" and why having the right guidance in that window can make all the difference. Download the free FarmersAid app on the App Store and Google Play - https://farmersaid.org.uk/ | |||
| Bluetongue surge and what farmers need to know | 10 Aug 2026 | 00:24:58 | |
Chief reporter Rachael Brown and head of news and business Jane Thynne analyse the ongoing surge of bluetongue in the South-West, vaccine availability and testing capacity, as well as the growing threat of the disease elsewhere in the UK. They hear from a farmer in Cornwall who has been impacted by the virus, and a local farm vet who shares some of the signs and symptoms of what to look out for and highlights the misinformation circulating about the vaccine and the virus itself. | |||
| Paul and Claire Slater: The Business of Breeding 500 Commercial Tups | For Flock's Sake Ep. 5 | 03 Aug 2026 | 01:10:43 | |
| Is Yield Still King? Rethinking Variety Choice Ahead of Autumn Drilling | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast | 31 Jul 2026 | 00:55:23 | |
Choosing the right cereal variety has never been more important. As growers prepare for autumn drilling following an unusual Harvest 2026, should yield still be the deciding factor, or do disease resistance, resilience and market opportunities now matter more? In this episode of the Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast, host Ash Ellwood is joined by Clare Leaman of NIAB and Ted Williams of Agrovista to explore how farmers can make informed variety decisions using independent trial data, practical agronomy and lessons from this season. | |||
| The Royal Welsh Show - farmers bring the feel-good factor back | 27 Jul 2026 | 00:22:22 | |
This week the FG team looks back on the Royal Welsh Show, Jane Thynne is joined by Paul Williams, NFU Cymru Deputy President to talk about how a new government has brought a boost for farmer confidence and Ellie Layton, Farmers Guardian Livestock Specialist to discuss some of the key show results | |||
| Burnham becomes Prime Minister: What does it mean for farming? | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:24:57 | |
As Andy Burnham is handed the keys to Number 10 Downing Street, the Farmers Guardian news and business team discuss what his Government may mean for farming and the latest announcements from Defra. | |||
| Regenerative Farming: Who pays for nature and how farmers can capture more value: Groundswell 2026 | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:31:13 | |
Who should pay for nature, and are farmers receiving a fair share of the value created by regenerative farming? | |||
| Are Contract Farming Agreements The Future For Young Farmers? Will Riddington and Katie Andrews | For Flock's Sake Ep4 | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:54:14 | |
Getting your foot on the farming ladder in the modern day can be a tricky business. However, one young couple turned their life upside down to make it work. In this episode of For Flock’s Sake, the Farmers Guardian podcast championing young voices in farming, hosts Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder sit down with Will Riddington and Katie Andrews, who relocated from southern England to Northumberland after securing a Contract Farming Agreement (CFA) at Halton Red House Farm, near Hexham, to turn their dream of farming into a reality. From balancing the books and getting to grips with farming in a new area to establishing a pedigree Beef Shorthorn herd, Will and Katie share how a CFA gave them the opportunity to farm without the burden of a mortgage and a limited amount of capital. Got a question, topic or guest suggestion? Get in touch at FGsocials@agriconnect.com | |||
| Groundswell 2026: Reflections, Research and the Future of Regen | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:22:12 | |
Join three Farmers Guardian journalists: Jane Thynne, Toby Whatley and Ash Ellwood as they reflect on their time at Groundswell, discussing the ideas, research and conversations that stood out most. | |||
| Is the future bright for Scottish farming? | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:18:58 | |
With Scottish agriculture at a pivotal point, farmers John McCulloch, David Barron and Kirsten Williams discussed the challenges and opportunities for Scotland's farming sector with Farmers Guardian at the Royal Highland Show. | |||
| What do the latest SFI actions mean for Arable farmers? Funding changes, opportunities & expert advice | The Farmers Guardian arable podcast | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:19:02 | |
The latest Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions have arrived, bringing fresh opportunities for farmers, but also plenty of questions. In this episode, we sit down with Megan Whatty, Hutchinsons environmental specialist, to unpack the latest developments, explore what has changed, and discuss what the new actions could mean for farm businesses across the country.
With funding levels lower than many in the industry had hoped, we take an honest look at where the real opportunities lie, which actions may offer the greatest value, and what farmers should consider as they plan for the future.
Whether you're already participating in environmental schemes or are considering your options for the first time, this episode provides valuable insights to help you make informed decisions for your business.
Speakers Ash Ellwood - Farmers Guardian head of arable Megan Whatty - Hutchinsons environmental specialist | |||
| Politics, pigs and price caps in focus at Royal Highland Show | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:15:59 | |
Following another fantastic Royal Highland Show, Farmers Guardian takes a look at the highs, the topics of conversation and the challenges facing the farming industry in Scotland, with the First Minister committed to price caps on essential food items and fears over the future of the pig sector. | |||
| Sir Keir Starmer resigns: What does it mean for farming? | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:18:26 | |
In this special episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast, FG's news and business team discuss the Prime Minister's resignation, the impact on agriculture and the prospects of Andy Burnham as the next resident of Number 10. | |||
| Behind the scenes at Cereals 26 | 15 Jun 2026 | 00:24:26 | |
The FG team reflects on the main action from this year’s event held at Diddly Squat including budget announcements, celebrity sightings and some encouraging slug statistics. | |||
| Bovine TB - The Big Debate | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:45:45 | |
With a cattle TB vaccine targeted by 2030 as the Government aims to eradicate bTB by 2038, Farmers Guardian livestock specialist Ellie Layton hosted a debate at the Royal Cornwall Show.
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| Clarkson’s Farm series 5: a look at the series so far | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:26:05 | |
In this episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast, deputy editor Alex Black and head of news and business Jane Thynne discuss the return of Clarkson's Farm for its fifth series on Prime Video. The news and business team take a look at the key themes of the series, from Jeremy Clarkson’s health to the changes to Inheritance Tax and the ups and downs of the farming year, and whether the popular series is still worth a watch. | |||
| Why the platinum ten minutes matter after an on-farm accident | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:20:57 | |
Farming accounts for around 20% of UK workplace deaths despite making up just 1% of the workforce. In the first episode of our FarmersAid series, in partnership with RABI, Professor Stuart Maitland-Knibb explains why the first few minutes after a serious farm accident are where survival is decided, why fear can stop people from acting, and how the new FarmersAid app is designed to change that. | |||
| Jeff and Katie Aiken: Stockmanship, success and starting again | For Flock’s Sake Ep3 | 01 Jun 2026 | 01:03:20 | |
Jeff and Katie Aiken join Farmers Guardian’s Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder for the latest episode of For Flock’s Sake. | |||
| Is oilseed rape making a comeback? Success strategies for UK growers | The Farmers Guardian arable special | 28 May 2026 | 00:33:14 | |
For years, many growers questioned whether oilseed rape still had a future in UK arable rotations. Pressure from cabbage stem flea beetle, difficult establishment seasons and rising input costs pushed confidence in the crop to some of its lowest levels in decades. But after two stronger seasons, sentiment is beginning to shift. So why is oilseed rape making a comeback on some farms? What are successful growers doing differently? And can OSR once again become a reliable and profitable break crop in modern arable rotations? In this episode, we’re joined by Nigel Padbury from Premium Crops and Dorset farm manager Tom Baker to discuss the latest thinking around OSR establishment, varietal choice, cabbage stem flea beetle management, crop nutrition and rotational strategy. | |||
| The Farmers' Choir are through to Britain's Got Talent finals - but who are the farmers behind the show? | 26 May 2026 | 00:28:51 | |
The Farmers' Choir stormed through Britain's Got Talent semi-finals at weekend, soaring in to the final as possible winners. With the whole of the UK's farming community behind them, the choir hope to spotlight some of the main issues facing agriculture, such as mental health and isolation. The choir was originally set up by Jeremy Clarkson to promote his Hawkstone beer and cider business, but its members found it was a way to get people off the farm. In this special podcast, Katie Fallon speaks to Katryna and Ben from the choir to find out more. | |||
| Political change: What does it mean for farming? | 19 May 2026 | 00:21:02 | |
In the wake of the elections in Wales and Scotland, and the uncertainty over the future of Sir Keir Starmer, Alex Black and Jane Thynne discuss the latest changes in politics and what it means for the agriculture sector. | |||
| From the classroom to the cattle shed - lecturers and students discuss careers in farming | 11 May 2026 | 00:26:07 | |
What does a career in agriculture look like in 2026? On this episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast, students and staff from Myerscough College discuss modern farming careers, college life, the changes in the industry over the recent decades and the opportunities available across the agricultural sector. | |||
| Inside Hexham Auction Mart with Drew Patrick and Harrison Collingwood | For Flock's Sake Ep2 | 05 May 2026 | 01:07:00 | |
Livestock auction marts are a vital cog in keeping the rural community turning, with around 130 active auction marts scattered across the UK. Nowhere is this more evident than in Northumberland, the least densely populated county in England.
From breaking into the auctioneering world to building trust and transparency in the ring, Drew and Harrison share their journeys and insights into the job and discuss how marts are evolving, reinvesting, diversifying, and adapting to secure their future, much like the farming businesses they serve. | |||
| Regen learnings from Duchy of Cornwall 'Focus Farmers' | The Farmers Guardian arable special | 01 May 2026 | 00:49:52 | |
Join us for our second arable special where Farmers Guardian head of arable, Ash Ellwood, visits Duchy of Cornwall's Focus Farmers, Heather and Paul Gorringe. Together, they explore the Gorringes' journey from a conventionally plough-based system to a biologically focused, regenerative system - and lessons they are learning along the way through the Focus Farmer programme. | |||
| The wool industries fascinating farm to fabric journey | 27 Apr 2026 | 00:31:20 | |
In this week's Farmers Guardian podcast, we take a look at the wool industry, touching on its diversity and the problems faced within the industry. We are joined with Harriet Fletcher Gilhuys, textiles researcher at Fashion Roundtable who will talk about the Great British Wool Revival and its support for the farm to fabric journey. | |||
| Are UK farmers ready to hold protests? | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:32:22 | |
War in the Middle East is placing a heavy toll on UK farmers. Coverage in Farmers Guardian in recent weeks has revealed the extent and impact of skyrocketing prices to red diesel, heating oil and fertiliser since the Middle East crisis escalated on February 28. The crisis has placed an additional £25,000 on fuel bills for some farm businesses, and others have claimed the UK is lurching into a food security crisis if the Government does not act immediately to support domestic food production. In response to claims that the UK Government is preparing a ‘worst case scenario’ for the possibility of food shortages, Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said it is ‘not a concern’ for the UK economy at present. But if war in Iran continues beyond the summer, it could place even greater pressure on planting decisions, affordability and the availability of resources. Is the UK really prepared for food shortages? Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said de-escalating the crisis and reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the only way to stop the price volatility experienced by farmers. But as each day passes, and with no signs of a peace deal in sight, the question is how long can farmers withstand pressures on their businesses? And is protesting an appropriate form of action?
Farmers For Action co-ordinator William Taylor joins us on the podcast to discuss the impact of the war on UK food producers, the impact of Inheritance Tax on farm profitability, if UK farmers will hold protests, the influence of the fuel strikes of 2000, and the importance of UK Government passing a Farm Welfare Bill to bring about fairness in the food supply chain. | |||
| Disruption from weight loss jabs and AI are opportunities for food and farming sector | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:36:59 | |
In partnership with the Cultivate ‘Leading Through Change’ Conference, Farmers Guardian editorial director Olivia Midgley speaks to chair of Noble Foods, Sarah Dean and fifth generation cider-maker Eleanor Thatcher of Thatchers Cider, about what good leadership looks like in family businesses, the opportunities and threats on the horizon and why weight loss jabs and artificial intelligence should be embraced in food and farming. We also catch up with Andy Venable, CEO and founder of Hillsgreen, who started the Cultivate conference back in 2020 | |||
| The Government cannot kick farmers when we are down! | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:46:48 | |
As the first farmer to appear on The Great British Bake Off, Mike Greenwood-Wilkins managed to bring farming to the masses. In this special, Mike talks about his family arable farm and getting funding for a new farm shop which will be his legacy, Government support - or lack of - and, of course, shouting about farming on the nation’s favourite baking programme. | |||
| Can young farmers trust the Conservatives? | For Flock’s Sake Ep. 1 | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:56:03 | |
For Flock’s Sake is Farmers Guardian’s new podcast series giving young farmers a voice on the issues shaping the future of British agriculture. Chapters: | |||
| How is the Middle-East crisis impacting agriculture? | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:28:49 | |
With oil prices rising in response to US action in Iran, analyst Rupert Somerscales speaks to the Farmers Guardian team about the relationship with wheat and oilseed prices, and what the geopolitical situation means for agriculture, and farmers' grain marketing plans. | |||
| Arable special: From Field to Food Charity, how surplus crops find a second harvest | 27 Mar 2026 | 00:39:23 | |
Thousands of tonnes of perfectly good arable produce never leave the farm gate, due to spoilage, market gluts, or shifting contracts. But what actually happens to that surplus? In this episode, head of arable Ash Ellwood visits a re-distribution site in Merseyside to dig into the true scale of on-farm waste and follow the journey of surplus produce beyond the field. Discover how FareShare and The Felix Project are turning overlooked harvests into vital food supplies for nearly 8,000 charities and why understanding where your crop goes next could reshape how you see value, waste, and opportunity in your rotation. To get in touch with FareShare and The Felix Project, head to: | |||
| Farmers take Government to the High Court | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:25:10 | |
Following last week's judicial review into the changes to Inheritance Tax, the Farmers Guardian news team discuss the case and what it means. We hear from Jane Thynne who was reporting in the court room, alongside claimant and farmer Tom Martin, Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins and businessman Steve Perez. | |||
| Farm Retail Association patron Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says people have an ‘appetite for food with a story’ | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:20:23 | |
The Farm Retail Association (FRA) conference focused on making the most of your diversified farm business, whilst focusing on the wider benefits to society - food miles, the economic contribution of farm shops and markets and the national health crisis. Emily Ashworth speaks to tv presenter Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall about farm-to-fork connection and if it really means something, and former FRA chair Emma Mosey, farmer and farm shop owner. | |||
| Farm death count reaches 30 in 2025/26 | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:22:40 | |
As more deaths are reported on farm, reaching 30 for the year since April 2025, the Farmers Guardian team discuss reporting on these incidents and speak to Jill Hewitt from the NAAC about what the industry needs to change the safety culture. | |||