Agricology Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This is the first episode of a new series exploring agroforestry, in which we use the elements as a framework to deepen understanding and challenge assumptions around trees on farms. The overarching aim is to explore how trees on farms contribute to more than just individual functions, holding the ability to transform whole landscapes and ecosystems. 'Water' includes exploring how trees impact flood risk, rainfall, and soil moisture. Guest podcaster Wallace Currie is joined by Ben Raskin, Head of Agroforestry at the Soil Association and co-organiser of the Agroforestry Show, who brings a wealth of knowledge about using trees effectively to manage extremes of water in a changing climate. Colin Tosh, Senior Agroforestry Researcher at the Organic Research Centre talks about his work modelling agroforestry systems to understand how trees impact water on farms through their influence on rainfall interception, soil characteristics, and microclimates. Vicki Hird, a lady of many hats, including being Strategic Lead on Agriculture at The Wildlife Trusts, touches on the challenges of water pollution caused by agriculture and sewage companies and how agroforestry can help tackle these issues, and talks about her work with lowland peat soils.

Find out more about the series here. Explore the Agricology Agroforestry Hub here.

In the last episode of the series, plant ecologist Jonathan Storkey treats us to fascinating insights on biodiversity in production systems and soil microbial communities, emphasising how context is crucial when choosing your tillage approach. He shares his journey from birdwatching ecologist to leading weed scientist at Rothamsted Reseach, where he has been studying tillage and biodiversity interactions for over two decades.

He dives into the concept of "functional biodiversity"- pollinators, predators, and microbes that support food production, and how tillage impacts those delicate systems. We explore the Rothamsted long-term systems trials, where contrasting tillage approaches across different soil types are revealing nuanced shifts in yield, weed pressure, soil carbon, and microbial succession. Jonathan explains how early-stage bacteria-dominated soils differ from more stable fungal systems, and how physical disturbance resets succession.

He also explores glyphosate reliance (including glyphosate-resistant weeds), weed control trade-offs, IPM potential, and the resilience of different systems to extreme weather events.

This third episode of the new Agricology podcast season features Kate Still from the Soil Association's Farming and Land Use team. Kate comes to the conversation with a whole farm approach in mind and the need to balance what farms can support to create healthy animals, healthy farmers and a healthy farm bank balance with as few inputs as possible. Her quiet wisdom comes across as she considers strategies and approaches to optimising rather than maximising livestock production. We discuss the highlights from some of the Innovative Farmers field labs Kate's been involved with, which have looked into strategies including the use of herbal leys, winter forage options and transitioning to new grazing systems. We speak about the challenges of getting new grazing strategies 'right,' having the infrastructure to make rotational grazing happen, and training staff to be able to do this.  

Show notes: Read about the field labs Kate mentions, the University of Reading diverse forage programme, and the work of New Zealand Advisor John King here: https://tinyurl.com/5dr8kv75   

In this episode we are joined by Dr Lindsay Whistance, Senior Livestock Researcher at the Organic Research Centre. Lindsay, who started her working life as a dairy herds-woman, comes to the conversation through the lens of animal welfare. The episode is an enlightening exploration of thoughts and ideas relating to optimal carrying capacity. It covers topics including the important partnership between humans and livestock which can be lost when animals are reduced to being just a tool, and the need for wider acknowledgement of animals' fundamental place in the ecology of a landscape, being critically important to ecological health. Lindsay touches on how we can provide for animal's needs, farming in a way that allows animals to adopt natural behaviours, and approaches that can help balance the relationship between human, animal and environment. She also considers peoples different conceptions of "good animal welfare" and the challenges associated with focusing on health in the round.

Show notes: Access the David Fraser paper and the poem by William Henry Davis that Lindsay mentions here: https://tinyurl.com/5dr8kv75. 

In the first of a new series exploring optimal carrying capacity, we speak to biodynamic farmer Richard Gantlett, from Yatesbury House Farm in Wiltshire. He talks about farm operations and highlights the approaches used; from dynamic rotational grazing to the role of herbal leys, and what he refers to as being a "forest farm approach." He explains how spending time with Alex Podolinsky has inspired the emphasis he now puts on the use of observation as a farmer. We look into the environmental impacts of livestock and Richard explains how research on his farm shows he has a negative carbon balance. He also touches on some of the tricky elements of the debate surrounding livestock emissions, and perceptions around this subject.

Show notes: Find out about Obsalim, read about Alex Podolinsky and dive in to Richard's PhD here: https://tinyurl.com/5dr8kv75. 

This episode features our visit to Three Hagges where we were shown around by Woodmeadow officer Dan Carne & one of the founders Ros Forbes Adam. They talk about what a woodmeadow is, potential relevance to farmers, layout of the site, how it was created & is now managed, tips for farmers interested in putting some land over to a combination of woodland & meadow, & thoughts about wider scale adoption of woodmeadows & agroforestry. It is produced as part of 'A National Network of Agroforestry Farms' project.

View accompanying notes & site photographs here.

Organic livestock farmers Bill & Cath Grayson run the Morecambe Bay Conservation Grazing Company. They practice conservation grazing on semi-natural habitats of woodland & limestone grassland scrub which can be described in agroforestry terms as wood pasture. Our editor talks to them about what they do, how they came to do it, benefits & challenges they've encountered & thoughts on wider scale adoption of agroforestry. The episode is produced as part of 'A National Network of Agroforestry Farms' project. 

View the farmer profile for Bill & Cath Grayson here.

In this episode we explore the science and practice of biofumigation - the use of a temporary brassica (mustard) cover crop to help manage soil pathogens and weeds. Katie Bliss introduces footage from a webinar which features researcher Dr Matthew Back (Harper Adams University) and Alec Roberts (Tozer Seeds) in a lively discussion with a group of growers innovating with enhancing diversity in protected cropping as part of the DiverIMPACTS project.

Mike Mallett is farm manager of Maple Farm Kelsale, a 138-hectare organic farm in Suffolk which is mostly arable with some permanent pasture, woodland, horticulture & laying hens. He talks about regenerative agriculture, beneficial weeds, intercropping, the extensive agroforestry on the farm & providing for the hens' health & welfare, with some fascinating insights; from breed selection to innovations in feed supply & his involvement in OK-Net Ecofeed. View the full farmer profile on the Agricology website.

In this episode we hear from organic mixed min till farmer John Pawsey & arable conservation ag no-till farmer Clive Bailye in featured footage from an online event 'Know your soils and know your sales' that took place in July 2020 as part of OF&G's NOCC, with support from the AHDB. Renowned broadcaster Charlotte Smith leads the conversation which focuses on their approaches & practices they deploy that equip their farming businesses with resilience in light of the many environmental & economic challenges.