
The Farmers Weekly Podcast
The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker and Louise Impey. Every Friday.
Latest episodes

May 10, 2024 • 39min
Defra pledges more support to secure farming future, Transition Live 2024, Cambridge University farm, fertiliser markets, environmental services, & circular dairy economy
In this episode, Defra secretary Steve Barclay promises more support for farmers following a challenging wet winter and spring.Mr Barclay made the pledge in a keynote speech at the Farmers Weekly Transition Live event in Cambridgeshire on Thursday, 9 May 2024.This episode of the Farmers Weeky Podcast was recorded on location at the event – held at Cambridge University's Park Farm, Madingley.More than 400 visitors attended Transition Live, aimed at helping secure a profitable and sustainable future for farm businesses.Co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Farmers Weekly arable correspondent Louise Impey, with additional reporting by Abi Kay and Charlie Reeve.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

May 3, 2024 • 32min
Farm safety concerns, AHDB levy board future, dairy prospects, market prices, & worm charming revival
In this episode, industry leaders voice concern after the Health and Safety Executive says it will no longer take a pro-active approach to farm safety.It's been a sticky few year's for farming’s levy board. So what's next?We meet Graham Wilkinson, the new chief executive at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.Milk prices keep climbing – but what about the different dairy sectors?We’ve our regular market roundup and a look at all the latest commoditiesAnd we find out how farmers are encouraging a worm charming revival.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Sandy Kirkpatrick, with additional reporting by Charlie Reeve.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Apr 26, 2024 • 44min
£30k fundraiser for injured farmer, Red Tractor confidence vote, Scottish livestock marts, beef sector future, & Agrikel trailer safety gauge
In this episode, well-wishers raise more than £30,000 for a farmer who sustained life-changing injuries in an workplace accident.It comes amid pleas for growers and livestock producers to take extra care as they try to catch up on fieldwork delayed by the wet spring.If you would like to help out after hearing Tim Parton's story, you can do so by making a donation to the Tim Parton Rehabilitation Fund.Bosses at the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme face calls for a vote of no confidence in their management. What happens next?We've the latest market prices – and we visit Scotland to look at livestock marts, where we get the low-down on trade.We look at the future for beef production – and discover the opportunities to be had from using software to measure performance.And we learn about trailer safety, with a little help help from a simple but effective gadget: the Agrikel towing eye gauge.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Sandy Kirkpatrick, with additional reporting by Philip Case, Abi Kay, Charlie Reeve and Michael Priestley.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Apr 19, 2024 • 32min
Clarkson's Farm series 3 preview, red diesel prices, herbal leys – simple or not? Space food – vertical farm in orbit, & farm charity London Marathon runners
In this episode, we dicuss what viewers can expect from the new series of the hit TV show Clarkson's Farm.With fuel prices set to rise, we examine the prospects for red diesel.Herbal leys – are they really the simple option for livestock producers wanting easy money from the Sustainable Farming Incentive?How space food from a vertical farm in orbit could benefit farmers back on Earth.And we pull on our sports gear and go for a jog with the farming charity runners taking part in this year's London Marathon*.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Sandy Kirkpatrick with additional reporting by Michael Priestley, Charlie Reeve and Matilda Bovingdon. You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.* If you would like to make a donation, London Marathon runners and their chosen charities include:Edd Mowbray, ABC Communications, Headway, the brain injury associationPhilip Case, Farmers Weekly, Farming Community NetworkEmma Crosby, Jen Cox and Lizzy Milne, NFU, Farm AfricaFlora Archer, NFU, East Anglian Air Ambulance

Apr 12, 2024 • 40min
Defra relaxes flood compensation rule, landlords v tenant farmers, huge solar farm controversy, bumper spring lamb trade, & 60-year-old vintage tractor run
In this episode, the government relaxes flood compensation rules after one of the UK's worst flood-hit farmers found himself ineligible for payment.Tenant farmers call for talks with landowners who want to take back farmland so they can claim inheritance tax relief.We've all the latest market prices – and take a special look at the record-breaking trade in spring lamb this year.Plans for a huge solar farm covering 800ha (2000 acres) has divided farmers and rural communities in Wiltshire.And we go for a ride with a 60-year-old farm machinery enthusiast on a 60-year-old vintage tractor – all for a good cause.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Sandy Kirkpatrick with additional reporting by Philip Case, Matilda Bovingdon, Charlie Reeve and Georgie Green.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Apr 5, 2024 • 31min
Emission fears for Scottish beef producers, illegal meat scandal one year on, latest market prices, & farmers share a sauna for mental wellbeing
In this episode, beef farmers fear they could be driven out of business by government plans to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.A police investigation continues – one year after Farmers Weekly blew the whistle on a food safety scandal involving illegal meat.We’ve our regular market roundup and all the latest commodity prices.And we visit the farmers who are sharing a sauna to improve their mental wellbeing.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Farmers Weekly deputy editor Abi Kay.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Mar 29, 2024 • 33min
London tractor protest, illegal meat imports, Pig World, Sustainable Farming Incentive restrictions, & Scottish young farmers ask #AreEweOK?
In this episode, farmers drive dozens of tractors through central London and call for a better deal from the Westminster government.Why won’t Defra do more to keep illegal meat imports out of the country?We’ve more on the government's decision to limit the amount of land entered into its Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.And #AreEWEok? We speak to the Scottish young farmers highlighting the importance of mental wellbeing at lambing time.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Scottish farmer Sandy Kirkpatrick.Additional reporting by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Phil Case and Pig World editor Alistair Driver.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Mar 25, 2024 • 19min
Emergency podcast: Defra restricts land going into flagship green scheme
In this emergency podcast, we get to grips with Defra's announcement placing restrictions on land going into the Sustainable Farming Incentive.Under the changes, SFI applicants will only be able to put 25% of their land into six SFI actions that take land out of direct food production.The announcement was made by Defra on Monday 25 March 2024 – and applies to new applications to the flagship agri-environment scheme.Joining podcast host Johann Tasker to make sense of the Defra announcement and what the restrictions mean for farmers are:Farmers Weekly arable correspondent Louise ImpeyAgronomist Andrew Wells of the Arable Alliance and Association of Independent Crop ConsultantsFarm business consultant and independent agronomist George Catchpole of Ceres RuralThe full Defra announcement can be seen here.Do catch up with our regular Farmers Weekly Podcast every Friday with Johann Tasker and Scottish farmer Sandy Kirkpatrick,To contact Johann and Sandy, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Mar 22, 2024 • 38min
Red Tractor abandons Greener Farms Commitment, big drop in UK cereals area, artificial intelligence in agriculture, market prices, & Farmers' Choir raises £46k for charity
In this episode, Red Tractor Assurance abandons plans for farmers to carbon footprint their businesses under its Greener Farms Commitment.We find out what growers are doing while waiting to see if the weather will dry up in time to plant spring cereal crops.Are agronomists about to become obsolete? We discover how artificial intelligence promises to benefit your farm business.And a mass choir of Scottish farmers sings their heart out at Perth Concert Hall - and raises £46,000 for charity.You can find out more about the Farmers Choir on their Facebook page.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Scottish farmer Sandy Kirkpatrick.Additional reporting by Farmers Weekly editor Andrew Meredith, Farmers Weekly arable correspondent Louise Impey, and agricultural journalist Mike Abram.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Mar 15, 2024 • 35min
Gene-edited crops to be grown by farmers in England, water management as wet weather continues, commodity prices, & porn MP launches farming podcast
In this episode, we find out how farmers in England are set to be the first in Europe to grow gene-edited crops.We discover how water management is helping UK farmers ride out the wet winter weather into spring.We’ve our regular market round-up – and all the latest commodity prices.And we get the low-down on new podcast by Somerset farmer and former MP Neil Parish – who resigned as a politician after watching porn in parliament.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and Scottish farmer Sandy Kirkpatrick.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
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