

The Farmers Weekly Podcast
Farmers Weekly
The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Every Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 6, 2021 • 48min
Mayhem over manure rules, harvest washout, rural crime, beef and lamb prices, & woollen duvets
In this episode, new rules on autumn manure applications are set to have a big impact on farms, say industry leaders.Crime in the countryside falls – but the pandemic fuels a sharp rise in dog attacks on livestock.Harvest? What Harvest? Rain slows ripening and hampers progress across the country.On the markets, lamb eases as beef firms upAnd if you're having difficulties sleeping – why not try a woollen duvet.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with FW arable correspondent Louise Impey and FW senior livestock reporter Michael Priestley.

Jul 30, 2021 • 40min
DIY auto-steer for under £1000, farmers unprepared for BPS withdrawal, Agricultural Transition, beef prices firm, sheep dipping, & World-Record Sheep Shearer
Farmers are unprepared for the big drop in income they will suffer as the Basic Payment Scheme is phased out in England.The annual BPS payment makes up 36% of farm income – but one in three farmers have done nothing to replace it – despite cuts less than six months away.The finding comes in a special survey to mark the start of Transition, a major new initiative to help secure a sustainable future for farm businesses.With money on everyone's mind at the moment, we talk to the Warwickshire farmer who made his own satellite guidance system for less than £1000.The GPS system uses the AgOpenGPS opensource software. On the markets, beef prices continue to firm.And we have two stories involving big numbers and sheep.We talk to the man who expects to dip more than 500,000 sheep this season with a state-of-the-art mobile plunge dipper.And we meet the Oxfordshire farmer who has just set a new world record by sheering 872 strong wool lambs in nine hours.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom.

Jul 23, 2021 • 43min
Combines roll for Harvest 2021, new rules for Red Tractor scheme, farmland prices, Farm Safety Week, & interview with British & Irish Lion Wyn Jones
In this week's episode, with harvest 2021 is under way, we look at what's happening to crops coming off the field.Farm Safety Week starts with a plea to come home safe – we examine how you can stay out of danger on the farm this summer.The latest Red Tractor scheme rules are announced: are they a step too far? And we have a special interview with Welsh farmer and British Lion Wyn Jones, in South Africa for an eight-match tour against the Springboks.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with FW arable reporter Emma Gillbard and FW livestock editor Rhian Price.

Jul 16, 2021 • 44min
Prince Charles' warning over family farms, water for agriculture, arable futures, national food strategy, & the Great Yorkshire Show
Prince Charles' warning over family farms, water for agriculture, arable futures, national food strategy, & down the cattle lines at the Great Yorkshire ShowIn this episode, Prince Charles highlights his concern for family farms – and says the future of the countryside depends on their survival.Have you had your fill? We examine what the government's long-awaited national food strategy means for growers and livestock producers.We look at how climate change is affecting water supplies for agriculture – and what farmers can do to ensure they get a fair share for food production.On the markets, we check out out the latest arable futures ahead of harvest.And we join the socially distanced crowds at the Great Yorkshire Show – where we take a stroll down the cattle lines.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly's Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with Farmers Weekly community editor Lizzie McLaughlin and senior livestock reporter Michael Priestley.

Jul 9, 2021 • 42min
4x4 rivals: Ineos Grenadier v Land Rover Defender, Carbon payment schemes – are they worth it? Cattle vaccination and Bovine TB, free agri-environment advice, & red squirrel revival
In this episode, we preview the new 4x4 Ineos Grenadier and ask: can it really replace the much-missed old-style Land Rover Defender?As the government moves away from badger culling, will cattle vaccination be a game-changer in the battle against bovine tuberculosis?We look at a new set of free e-tools that could make it easier to get the best from agri environment schemes.And how a group of land managers believe contraception could boost red squirrel numbers by keeping grey squirrel numbers down.This episode co-hosted by podcast editor Johann Tasker and Farmers Weekly senior machinery reporter Edd Mowbray with Farmers Weekly chief reporter Philip Case.

Jul 2, 2021 • 50min
Cereals 2021: Uplift pledged for soil health payments, future for cereal varieties, latest robotic tractor, & clash over sugar beet prices
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast was recorded on location at the 2021 Cereals event in Lincolnshire.In this episode, Defra secretary George Eustice pledges a 30% uplift in support payments to farmers who improve soil health.But is it enough?We take a look at the latest robotic tractor as it woos the crowds at Cereals. Does it stack up?Cereal varieties are understandably under scrutiny - is the future behind us?And farmers fall out with British Sugar over beer prices - will the two sides ever be happy?This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly podcast editor Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly senior machinery reporter Edd Mowbray and Farmers Weekly eastern region correspondent Louise Impey.

Jun 25, 2021 • 55min
Groundswell: Regenerative agriculture – does it work? Sustainable Farming Incentive, carbon farming, min-till drills, & Secrets of Soil
This week's episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast was recorded on location at Groundswell – the UK annual event dedicated to regenerative agriculture.We meet the farmers who are improving soil health while ensuring their farms remain profitable and productive. How do they do it?We look at the latest government plans to reward farmers who look after soil, water and the environment. How exactly will farmers be paid?We get the low-down on a new £100,000 direct drill. And we speak to the people bringing conventional and organic producers together.And we meet artist and farmer's son Henry Driver whose latest work is a novel interpretation of the soil beneath out feet.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly editor Andrew Meredith and Farmers Weekly senior machinery reporter Edd Mowbray.Recorded on location at Groundswell 2021, held on 23-24 July 2021 at Lannock Manor Farm, Weston, Hitchin, Hertordshire.

Jun 18, 2021 • 47min
Oat wars, farm shows go ahead despite lockdown, Royal Highland Showcase, beef fears over UK-AUS trade deal, fertiliser prices, & Kaleb Cooper – star of Clarkson's Farm
In this episode, we catch up with 21-year-old farmer Kaleb Cooper – the unexpected star of Jeremy Clarkson's latest TV series.We ask Kaleb what it was like working with Jeremy – and how much of what we see in the eight-part series is real, and how much is for the cameras.We speak to the Cambridgeshire farmer being sued by plant-based drinks giant Oatly – and examine the growing popularity of oats. On the markets, are fertiliser prices set to stay high?We look at the agricultural shows going ahead – despite decision to extend lockdown by another four weeks. How do they do it?And we examine the likely impact on British beef producers of the free trade deal agreed between the UK government and Australia.This episode co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly senior livestock reporter Michael Priestley.

Jun 11, 2021 • 43min
Farmer flips parked car with telehandler, blended wheat mixtures, arable prices soar, slow broadband, & farmer sends veg to foodbank
In this episode, after a farmer uses a telehandler to remove a car blocking his gateway, we ask what are your rights when it removing vehicles on your land?We look at how wheat growers are blending their own seed mixtures to reduce their fungicide use and improve profitability.On the markets, are arable commodity prices set to stay high?Is your farm plagued by poor connectivity? We examine the challenges holding bacl the rural economy – and ways to speed up poor broadband.And we talk to a farmer who is sending surplus fresh vegetables to foodbanks – via Amazon – helping to feed less fortunate people in towns and cities.

Jun 4, 2021 • 39min
Farm thieves reveal their secrets, surge in organic farming, dairy margins under pressure, latest grass varieties, & Clarkson's Farm
In this episode, criminal gangs reveal how they target farmers to locate expensive items of machinery they can then steal to order.Are you going organic? The latest figures show a surge in the amount of farmland going into conversion. On the markets, are input prices putting dairy margins under pressure?We take a look at the latest grassland varieties – and ask how many farmers are actually using the recommended list?And ahead of his new TV show, we find out why Jeremy Clarkson decided to run his own farm – despite knowing nothing about farming.