Episodes
Welsh farmer and World War II Royal Airforce veteran Aneurin Owen will be 100 years old on November 30, 2024. Farmers Guardian online editor Emily Ashworth meets him to talk about a century in farming and in honour of Remembrance Day, his time in the RAF.Message us
Published 11/08/24
Following the Chancellor's announcements on Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief in the 2024 Autumn Budget, Farmers Guardian's Alex Black, Rachael Brown and Jane Thynne dig into what the changes may mean for the farming industry. The news team take a look at the implications of all the announcements this week, from the agriculture budget to the minimum wage and changes to delinked Basic Payment Scheme payments.Message us
Published 11/01/24
For this special episode, we partner with our sister podcast (The Land, Leisure and Tourism Podcast) to bring you a discussion with Sykes Holiday Cottages and one of their latest customers. We talk about the logistics and challenges of diversifying your farm into holiday letting, but also the positives that it can bring to you and your farming businessFor more information on the Farm Business Innovation and Land, Leisure and Tourism shows, visit www.lltshow.comMessage us
Published 10/28/24
This week Farmers Guardian's online editor Emily Ashworth went to Charlotte Ashley's farm in Cumbria to talk to her and close friend and social media star Rebecca Wilson all about showcasing real-life farming on social platforms. They also highlight the importance of future-proofing the business and attracting new talent to farming.Message us
Published 10/24/24
After 40 years, West Midlands dairy farmer and former NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes decided to quit milking, sold his 200 holstein dairy herd and started a new venture rearing 200 plus beef cattle on his Bournville Village Trust tenant farm on the southern outskirts of Birmingham. A decision which he described as ‘really tough' and initially something he was reluctant to share with anyone else, over concerns people would think he had 'failed'. Mr Oakes said there was not one singl...
Published 10/17/24
With the country now 100 days into the new Labour Government, Farmers Guardian has created a new manifesto on what farmers and rural businesses want from the Government.FG editor Olivia Midgley, Patrick Holden, chief executive of the Sustainable Farming Trust, National Pig Association chief executive Lizzie Wilson, Minette Batters, tenant farmer and former NFU President, farmer John McCulloch, Ed Barker, head of policy and external affairs at the Agricultural Industries Confederation an...
Published 10/11/24
Wool was, at one time, the jewel of fabrics. It was a well-respected product but, over the years its value has decreased. In this episode, we look at why. Is it a pricing issue? Is it a marketing issue? Emily Ashworth and Katie Fallon look back at the timeline to find out what changed.Message us
Published 10/10/24
As the 2024 political party conferences wrap up, Farmers Guardian's news and business team discuss the goings on at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative Party conferences and what each party has to offer for the farming sector. Message us
Published 10/04/24
This week's Farmers Guardian podcast is a little different.FG's online editor Emily Ashworth joins the machinery team, Toby Whatley and James Huyton, to delve into the world of machinery and talk about the opportunities in the sector, especially when it comes to careers.From technology talk to taking a first - and very slow - drive of the Claas combine on James' farm, this podcast really highlights that we need to bridge the gap between agriculture and the wider public. Message us
Published 09/26/24
On the pod this week, news reporter Chris Brayford visited students and staff at Barnsley College’s Wigfield Farm campus to discuss the importance of agricultural courses in educational settings.@WigfieldFarm // @barnsleycollegeShould more schools be providing agricultural courses? Should agriculture be featured on the syllabus and curriculum from the moment a child starts school until they leave to kickstart their careers? Can agriculture offer a viable career path for young people to enter ...
Published 09/20/24
On the podcast this week, we are joined by Welsh farmer Clive Jones, Wales’ Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies (@huw4ogmore) and Wales’ Wildlife and Rural Crime Coordinator Rob Taylor (@rural_wales), to discuss livestock worrying.@WGRuralLivestock worrying, when a dog chases or attacks livestock on agricultural land can have costly consequences on the health, well-being and finances of farmers across the UK. In most cases, farmers are witnessing first-hand the devastation a dog can ha...
Published 09/12/24
For siblings Anna and Sam Hallos, the future succession of their tenanted upland beef and sheep farm in West Yorkshire has been an ‘open and honest’ conversation around the farmhouse kitchen table for many years now. They have both been ‘heavily involved’ in the business from a young age, but now older, at 27 and 24 years old, Sam and Anna have started making decisions, which they both said is helping to shape their future on the farm. While both Anna and Sam are relishing the opportunity to ...
Published 09/05/24
Our Yorkshire Farm, featuring the Owen family, was an immediate success with TV viewers. Looking into the Owen family's life with nine children on one of the most remote hill farms in the country enthralled the nation, and now, six years later, one member, Reuben Owen, is carving out his own path. His latest TV series, Life In The Dales, has been a hit, and he is making his own mark on the Yorkshire Dales with his new business. But farming, of course, is never far from his mind. Message us
Published 08/30/24
On the podcast this week, we learn about the value of agritourism and diversification in Scotland with Dundee farmer Caroline Millar. Escaping from the world to a farm's tranquil surroundings in the Angus countryside could be the ideal answer for any couple seeking a romantic weekend getaway, with the diversification working hand-in-hand alongside the farm. The Hideaway Experience at Balkello Farm, run by Scottish farmers Caroline and Ross Millar alongside their two children Finlay and Sophie...
Published 08/23/24
Shepherdess Brittany Cole Bush talks to Farmers Guardian US Correspondent John Wilkes. California is experiencing some of the worst ever wildfires. By August 16, a total of 5,210 wildfires burned 332,606 ha (821,887 acres). The Park Fire is the fourth largest in Californian history – approximately 14 times the size of San Francisco. Since late July it has destroyed 173,000 ha in Northern California. This podcast was recorded August 4. On the podcast this week John is joined by...
Published 08/21/24
Harvest 2024 has arrived and after suffering pests, persistent storms and setbacks, three farmers share their experience with Farmers Guardian.Message us
Published 08/16/24
In a special one-off podcast, guest-hosted by FG columnist and farmer Amy Wilkinson, go behind-the-scenes at Farmers Guardian HQ to see how our epic digital campaign 24 Hours in Farming unfolds. Reaching millions of people, the campaign, aims to showcase the farming industry to wider society and this year we have 24 ambassadors to help us do just that. Amy visits one of this year's ambassadors, Frank Carr who farms in Yorkshire, to talk to him about being a fourth-generation hill farmer and w...
Published 08/09/24
With farm tenant and landlord relationships in the spotlight in recent months, the Farmers Guardian podcast spoke to the CLA, a tenant and landlord from the Castle Howard Estate and the Scottish Tenant Farming Commissioner Dr Bob McIntosh.Positive, collaborative tenant-landlord relationships and collaboration will provide benefits to both parties with Castle Howard tenant Michael Fargher highlighting the good long-term relationship help with his landlord.Jasper Hasell, estate chief executive ...
Published 08/02/24
On the podcast this week Farmers Guardian reporter Chris Brayford is joined by Farm Safety Foundation’s chair of trustees James Chapman for a special insight into farm safety. It is a very important week for the industry which marks Farm Safety Week, an annual initiative which places a spotlight on farming’s poor safety record, as well as the need to keep everyone safe on farms. The Health and Safety Executive released data on Monday (July 22) from the last year which found 35 people had died...
Published 07/26/24
As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode discusses the role of data, the tools available to measures GHG emissions and the value to farmers in sharing that data. Leprino Foods' Sustainability Manger Ben Williams, Farm Manager of net zero livestock farm and current Nuffield Schold Dan Smith and Livestock Sustainability Specialist at UK Agri-Tech Centre Megan Powell look at the narrative around th...
Published 07/21/24
Tom Heap is widely known for his appearances on BBC Countryfile, The Climate Show and Rare Earth, and he has a passion for the natural world. His latest book, Land Smart, explores how various people in the wider agricultural industry can manage the land differently to create balance between nature and food production. Whether that is regenerative practices or introducing more technology, it is not a one size fits all approach. Message us
Published 07/19/24
As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode focuses on how animal health and welfare is key to improving the sustainability of farming systems and the importance of adopting a mindset of 'if you look after your livestock they will look after you'. Northern Ireland dairy farmer and McDonalds Progressive Young farmer at Dawn Meats Nathan McClure, Hertfordshire livestock and arable farmer and farm vet...
Published 07/18/24
As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode shares helpful on-farm tips to improve water and waste management, whilst looking at some of the practical challenges including infrastructure and investment. Livestock farmers Lizzie Halton-Harrop and Rob Havard, LEAF technical co-ordinate Megan Whatty and Berkshire arable farmer and former winner of BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion Eleanor Gil...
Published 07/14/24
As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at some practical on-farm examples of improving biodiversity whilst building resilience into farm businesses. Oxfordshire arable farmer and consultant Ben Adams, McDonalds Progressive Young Farmer at Moy Park Darcy Johnson and Wiltshire mixed farmer and former NFU student and young farm ambassador Mike Wilkins explore the benefits of enhanced biodiv...
Published 07/13/24