The Farmers Guardian Podcast
The Farmers Guardian podcast brings you real farmer stories, the latest news and discussion about all the issues affecting the farming community.Listen on the go as the Farmers Guardian team talk through the latest issues across the dairy, livestock and arable sectors affecting your farming business, featuring special guests who share their personal experiences.
The Budget wrap-up: What real impact does this budget have on your farm?
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.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with NFU Mutual.
Sean McCann - Chartered Financial Planner, NFU Mutual
Paul Tompkins - Deputy President, NFU
Stuart Maggs - Head of Tax and Partner, Howes Percival
Martin Williams - Arable Farmer, Herefordshire
The value of investments can rise or fall and you may get back less than you invested.
Is your soil ready for winter? How to assess your soil health this season | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast
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...
The future of rural policing and what it takes to tackle rural crime
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.
They talk about the lack of deterrent for those carrying out the crimes, the threat of the government's incoming police reform and the continued financial and emotional devastation rural crime is having on farming and rural communities.
This episode also brings a new, interactive segment to the podcast, called 'What's Your Beef', in which farme...
The British Farming Awards 2026 - celebrating the best in UK agriculture
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.
We hear too from some of the night’s deserving winners and why, despite all the current challenges, they are determined to keep farming.
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Party lines: what are political parties really offering farmers?
Which political party can win the farmers vote at the next General Election?
In this episode, the Farmers Guardian news team breaks down the key farming policy announcements from this year's party political conference season.
They analyse what these promises mean for agriculture and look to answer the big question: who is on track to secure the crucial rural vote?
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Boomer and Millie Birch: What does it take to breed great cattle? | For Flock’s Sake Ep. 7
Boomer and Millie Birch join Farmers Guardian’s Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder for the latest episode of For Flock’s Sake
In this episode, set in Staffordshire the couple tell us how a shared passion for livestock has developed into pedigree and commercial breeding enterprises.
Both working within the cattle industry, they bring their experience and knowledge into their own breeding operation, where they run the High Sky Shorthorn, Sky High Hereford and Boomer British Blue herds.
They talk about the highs and challenges of breeding cattle, their approach to selecting genetics, why...
How losing £12,000 on a potato contract sparked a rethink on one Yorkshire farm | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast
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 po...
‘No farmer is an island’ - Nuffield scholar shares her findings from her research into mental health within farming
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
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SFI fiasco: farmers miss out on funding
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
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UK Dairy Day: Milk prices and the Sustainable Dairy Pathway
Recorded at UK Dairy Day, this episode tackles the big questions facing dairy farmers today - from milk prices to the new Sustainable Dairy Pathway.
Farmers Guardian Editor, Katie Jones, caught up with Michael Halliwell (Holstein UK), Lyndon Edwards (AHDB) and Ian Harvey (NFU) on what’s next for a sustainable dairy future
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China’s pork power: trade, disease and what it means for the UK
China is the world’s biggest pork producer and consumer — but what does that mean for UK pig farmers?
In this week’s Farmers Guardian podcast, Katie Fallon hears from industry experts at the World Pork Conference in Qingdao, China to understand China’s influence on the global pork trade, the threat of African swine fever and what the UK can learn from China’s experience, with insights from the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss.
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Prime Minister faces farming questions as Parliament returns and Reform unveils farming policy
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.
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“You think it's never going to happen to somebody you know”: The Mental Health Crisis in Farming | For Flock’s Sake Ep6
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 To...
Half the land, 80% of the yield: does relay cropping really stack up? | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast
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.
Join Ash Ellwood to find out the practicalities of relay cropping, what Ben has learnt from the trial and whether the results suggest relay cropping could have a place in a commercial arable rotation.
We also catch up with Thomas Slattery, engagement lea...
The bluetongue surge: Immediate action now and lessons for the future
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.
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When an ambulance is two hours away, what do you do?
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.
<...Bluetongue surge and what farmers need to know
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.
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Paul and Claire Slater: The Business of Breeding 500 Commercial Tups | For Flock's Sake Ep. 5
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Is Yield Still King? Rethinking Variety Choice Ahead of Autumn Drilling | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast
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.
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The Royal Welsh Show - farmers bring the feel-good factor back
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
Olivia Midgley also talks to Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iowerth about the vision for the future of Welsh farming
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Burnham becomes Prime Minister: What does it mean for farming?
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.
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Regenerative Farming: Who pays for nature and how farmers can capture more value: Groundswell 2026
Who should pay for nature, and are farmers receiving a fair share of the value created by regenerative farming?
In this special edition of the Farmers Guardian podcast, our expert panel which includes three farmers; Dr Nikki Yoxall, Nuffield scholar and Pasture for Life technical director; Harriet Cherry, Groundswell director and Wildfarmed agricultural relationship manager; and Adel Jones, regenerative farming consultant, explores one of the biggest questions facing agriculture today: how regenerative farming can become a profitable business model while continuing to produce food.
The discussion, led by Farmers Guardian’s Olivia Midgley, examines whether natu...
Are Contract Farming Agreements The Future For Young Farmers? Will Riddington and Katie Andrews | For Flock's Sake Ep4
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 ge...
Groundswell 2026: Reflections, Research and the Future of Regen
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.
From practical innovations and farmer experiences to the latest thinking on regenerative agriculture, they share what they learned, what surprised them and what deserves closer scrutiny.
The discussion concludes by exploring the bigger question: where does regenerative farming fit in the future of global food production?
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Is the future bright for Scottish farming?
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.
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What do the latest SFI actions mean for Arable farmers? Funding changes, opportunities & expert advice | The Farmers Guardian arable podcast
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 f...
Politics, pigs and price caps in focus at Royal Highland Show
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.
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Sir Keir Starmer resigns: What does it mean for farming?
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.
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Behind the scenes at Cereals 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.
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Bovine TB - The Big Debate
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.
Farmers and experts debated the next steps for bTB control in England. Guests included beef farmer Paul Westaway, who farms in a high-risk area in Gloucestershire and is a member of the Bovine TB Partnership; Alan Carter, Cornwall dairy farmer and Farmers Guardian columnist and Ed Simmons, veterinary surgeon, British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).
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Clarkson’s Farm series 5: a look at the series so far
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.
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Why the platinum ten minutes matter after an on-farm accident
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.
To learn more or download the app, visit www.farmersaid.org.uk
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Jeff and Katie Aiken: Stockmanship, success and starting again | For Flock’s Sake Ep3
Jeff and Katie Aiken join Farmers Guardian’s Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder for the latest episode of For Flock’s Sake.
Known throughout the sheep world for their success with the renowned Procters Texel flock, the Aiken family have experienced both the highs of pedigree sheep breeding and the challenge of starting again.
In this episode, Jeff and Katie discuss growing up in livestock, life on the show circuit, the family dynamic behind their success and rebuilding at Ainstable Hall with the Coniston flock following the dispersal of Procters.
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Is oilseed rape making a comeback? Success strategies for UK growers | The Farmers Guardian arable special
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 Pa...
The Farmers' Choir are through to Britain's Got Talent finals - but who are the farmers behind the show?
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...
Political change: What does it mean for farming?
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.
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From the classroom to the cattle shed - lecturers and students discuss careers in farming
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.
A massive thanks to David, Rachael, Molly and Josh for their time and to Myerscough College for hosting us
To learn more about the college, and the courses they offer, visit https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/
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Inside Hexham Auction Mart with Drew Patrick and Harrison Collingwood | For Flock's Sake Ep2
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.
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 auctioneers Drew Patrick and Harrison Collingwood from Hexham and Northern Marts in Northumberland.
From breaking into the auctioneering world to building trust and transparency in the ring, Drew and Harrison share...
Regen learnings from Duchy of Cornwall 'Focus Farmers' | The Farmers Guardian arable special
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 Duchy of Cornwall’s regenerative ambitions are brought to life through its seven ‘Focus Farms’, each representing a different landscape and farming system across the estate. The initiative is designed to fast-track progress towards net zero while building a more nature...
The wool industries fascinating farm to fabric journey
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.
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