The Farmers Weekly Podcast

In this week's podcast, – one million people have now signed an NFU petition calling on the government to ensure all imported food meets UK standards.Farm leader Minette Batters explains how they NFU is determined that UK farmers will not be undermined by substandard food imports.Re-thinking arable rotations – we examine why more growers are ditching traditional break crops in favour of a two-year sown legume fallow.We speak to Suffolk farmer Tom Jewers, seed specialist Ian Gould of Oakbank, Strutt & Parker farm consultant George Badger and Natural England agronomist David Whiting.We have our usual market round-up – including a special look at farmland with rural specialist Andrew Shirley of land agents Knight Frank.We preview what promises to be one of the country's biggest farm machinery dispersal sales – with tractors and implements from across 30,000 acres.Auctioneers James Durrant of Clarke & Simpson, Bill Pepper of Cheffins and Harvey Pile of Stags say online sales of machinery have really taken off.In livestock, MPs and peers say small abattoirs should be recognised and eligible for capital payments in any future agricultural support framework.Patrick Holden, of the Sustainable Food Trust, explains why smaller slaughterhouses have a vital role in the rural economy.East Sussex farmer Frank Langrish and Derbyshire organic producer Nick Adams give their take on the future for the local meat sector.And in a special interview, Kenyan-born pig producer Flavian Obiero, who arrived in the UK as a teenager, says it is time to call out casual racism in farming.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with Farmers Weekly senior machinery reporter Edd Mowbray.

In this week's podcast, an NFU petition calling on the government to make sure food imports are produced to UK standards is set to pass one million signatures.It comes in the week that the House of Lords have been debating the Agriculture Bill – we ask whether the government can be trusted on farming.As one of the most challenging seasons in living memory nears a conclusion, we examine the prospects for this year's wheat harvest On the markets – beef continues to rise as ram sales are put into jeopardy.We take a special look at business interruption insurance – what chance of a payout is there for farm diversifications forced to close because of coronavirus?And we raise a glass to World Gin Day – with two farmers who saw an opportunity and started distilling their own.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom.With Farmers Weekly business editor Suzie Horne and Farmers Weekly livestock editor Rhian Price.

In this week's podcast, the death of an 82-year-old rambler who was attacked and killed by cows highlights the dangers of mixing cattle with walkers.Cattle were responsible for nine deaths nationally last year – including non-farming folk who were killed while out walking in the countryside.We talk to retired agronomist John Porter – who lost his brother Mike when the two men were attacked by cows while out walking seven years ago.In other news, get off those mobile phones – police warn tractor drivers they are breaking the law by taking calls on the road.On the markets, there's a red meat revival as consumers return to a product they know and trust – benefiting beef and lamb producers.We examine the latest wheat and barley varieties ahead of autumn planting, as we take a special look as we preview this month's Cereals Event.And we meet a farmer who started his own pizza business – with an extra special ingredient thanks to the Henry Plumb Foundation.

In this episode, drought fears grow as lack of rain hits crops and grass growth across much of the UK – farm leaders call for action.We look at the weather prospects for the June – and towards harvest.MP Julian Sturdy and Professor Cristobal Uauy from the John Innes Centre explain how they believe gene-editing could benefit UK farmers.Suffolk farmer Brian Barker explains how he uses keeps track of farm inputs and we examine the prospects for new season lamb prices.We preview all the latest arable news ahead of the AHDB's Strategic Farm Week 2020 and we find out why Jersey Royal potato growers are going green.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with Farmers Weekly deputy business editor Andrew Meredith.

Police are warning farmers that criminal gangs are targeting farms across the country – stealing GPS systems worth thousands of pounds from tractors.Prince Charles joins the campaign to get Brits working on farms and help bring in this year's harvest. We need “pickers who are stickers,” he says.The government says it will introduce tariffs to protect UK farmers from sub-standard food imports. It might help – but will it really work?On the markets –  there's a big barley bulge – and not just in the UK.Resilient food and farming businesses are adapting to changes in consumer demand as the coronavirus virus continues. We talk to a top banker.And young farmers make sure their wellbeing is top of the agenda during the lockdown with a new campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week

In this week's podcast, we look at the impact on farmers as coronavirus restrictions are eased and allow people back into the countryside.Social distancing must still be observed – of course – but concerns remain that an influx of visitors from towns and cities could spread the virus through rural communities.Farm leaders say the fight goes on after MPs ditch the idea of making sure food imports adhere to the high standards met by UK growers and livestock producers.It follows the return of the government's Agriculture Bill to parliament – and the defeat of a key amendment on animal welfare and environmental standards.With less than a week to go before key fungicide chlorothalonil is banned, we look at the implications – and some alternatives – for arable growers.On the markets –  urea prices are set – as sheep prices maintain momentum.A Lanarkshire farmer celebrates after selling a Limousin bull for £15,000 in an online auction – what is the future for livestock marts?And crofters in the Outer Hebrides are growing olives and lemons – helping to revitalise the local economy while producing salad and fruit.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly executive editor Philip Clarke.

Farmers and grainstore managers face a critical shortage of dust masks ahead of harvest because demand has soared due to coronavirus.People are buying up the masks to limit the spread of the virus – making them hard to come by for farmers who need them when working in grain stores.Dairy farmers are to receive up to £10,000 each in government help to get them through the coronavirus pandemic. We talk to an MP who says the crisis highlights the importance of food security and resilience.We take a special look at oilseed rape – a break crop at breaking point? And we examine whether money-back seed offers are good enough for farmers to stick with the crop.We have our latest market news – and get the low-down on auction marts as breeding sales return to the ring.A Welsh vet explains how he takes care to avoid spreading coronavirus when TB testing cattle. And we find out why a team of sheep shearers had an unexpected visit from the local police.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly eastern England correspondent Louise Impey and Farmers Weekly livestock reporter Michael Priestley.

In the last week of the driest April since records began, it finally rains – prompting growers to tweak their crop management programmes.We ask three farmers – David White (Cambridgeshire), Colin Woodward (Oxfordshire) and Craig Livingstone (Hampshire) – how they are getting along.Growers of ornamental plants say garden centres which were shut down under coronavirus restrictions must reopen to the public as soon as possible.Sales of ornamental plants are worth £1.4bn annually – and May is the busiest month. Martin Emmett from Tristram Plants says his business is on a knife-edge.In the markets, pressure is mounting on the government for hardship payments to help dairy farmers ride out the coronavirus lockdown. NFU president Minette Batters tells us how public support for British farmers has increased during the lockdown – and why a dairy support package is vital.As their European factories reopen, machinery manufacturers say they are pulling out all the stops to get spare parts to farmers ahead of the busy silage season and harvest.And we have a timely safety reminder from a Lincolnshire farmer who was lucky to escape injury when the main boom ram failed on his loader.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom with Farmers Weekly livestock editor Rhian Price.

Farmers are to get more say on how the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board spends their money. We talk to AHDB chairman Nicholas Saphir and Mark Coulman of the Tenant Farmers Association.Devon sheep farmer Colin Rowland, Essex cereal grower Ed Ford and Cumbrian dairy producer Robert Craig all say there is room for improvement at the AHDB.In the markets, the government wants more farmers to apply for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan – Farmers Weekly deputy business editor Andrew Meredith explains how you can get your hands on some money. Winter barley crops are coming under an increased disease threat. We get advice from independent agronomist Peter Cowlrick in southern England and Agrii agronomist Greig Baird in Scotland.Welsh farmers are up in arms about plans to make the whole of Wales a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. We ask: are the new restrictions really necessary?The coronavirus pandemic means Red Tractor assurance inspections can't be done on farm – so they're being done by mobile phone instead. Farmers Weekly executive editor Philip Clarke explains how they work.And Rothamsted researcher Kelly Jowlett is seeking views from growers on the benefits of ground beetles in crop protection. We delve into the depths of the #BeneficialBeetlesSurvey.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom.

Sir Peter Kendall reveals all about his time at the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board – after serving six years as AHDB chairman.In this special interview – recorded just days after Sir Peter left the AHDB – he tells Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker that:Queues outside supermarkets during the coronavirus crisis are a stark reminder that farming should be at the centre of government policyIt would be “bonkers and insane” for the UK government to allow in cheap food imports that don't meet UK standards.Treasury rules are a "pain in the backside" and government bureaucracy sometimes slowed down important AHDB decisionsGrowers and livestock producers should be given a vote on whether AHDB levies should continue – and how they should be spentThe government must be more ambitious if it is to work successfully in partnership with British farmers and UK agricultureFarmers must play their part in raising productivity – rather than suggesting that failing to do so is someone else's faultAn accompanying article, Sir Peter speaks out on food security, was published in Farmers Weekly magazine on 17 April 2020.