Early retirement scheme, lump sum support payments, new entrants, lambing students, store cattle prices, Countryside Stewardship, & Farmers Weekly Award winners

In this episode. we examine government plans to let farmers in England take a one-off lump sum in place of their remaining direct payments.

The aim is to help some farmers leave the industry while making way for new entrants. How might the scheme work – and what do we need to know?

The latest Countryside Stewardship offering is open for applications – we take a special look at the latest improved options and payment rates.

With peak lambing season almost here, veterinary students will be arriving on farms for work experience placements.

We look at how you can get the best from your lambing student – and make sure they have a good experience at the same time too.

On the markets, we have the latest arable commodity prices – and store cattle are on the rise.

And we speak to some of the winners of this week's Farmers Weekly Awards – with a special message from HRH the Prince of Wales.

Special guests include Lynette Steel (Tenant Farmers Association),  George Lyon (former president, NFU Scotland), Alison Rickett (Fresh Start Enterprise Centre), Vicky Robinson (Natural England), John Aynsley (farm manager, Skelton Farming, North Yorkshire), Paul Dennison (Strutt & Parker), Peter Eccles (farm manager, Saughland Farm, Midlothian), Abi Reader (dairy farmer, Vale of Glamorgan).

This episode of the Farmers Weekly podcast is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with FW editor Andrew Meredith and FW livestock reporter Michael Priestley.