Podcasts sobre Farmers Weekly

This week, the Liberal Democrats are making some bold pledges – including an extra £1bn for farmers – if they form the next UK government. We find out what it could mean for your farm business – and find out whether the Lib Dems stand a chance of winning the next general election. With livestock farmers battling to keep a lid on costs, we meet the …

Maize seed success! Fears for next year's UK maize crop disaster averted as the government agrees to new seed dressing licenses. Are your cows ready to go digital? Are you ready to take up your passports? Defra launches the Digital Cattle Movement System consultation. Just how do one bank’s farming customers feel at the moment with sky-high inputs …

In this episode, we examine the benefits of Back British Farming Day – and ask what impact does it really have on politicians ? We meet the new shadow Defra secretary. How would he make farmers lives better if Labour won the next election? We investigate the impact of the cost of living crisis on retail milk sales. As a topsy turvy season continues…

This week, Rishi Sunak made a host of promises to farm leaders at a Downing Street summit held in back in May. But industry representatives have voiced frustration at what they say is a lack of progress when it comes to delivering the Prime Minister's pledges. We ask: what is going on? It's deadlock when it comes to sugar beet price talks between t…

This week, farmers are set to lose access to a market worth millions after the government scrapped water pollution rules for housing developers. What are the implications for growers and livestock producers? And how will they make up the unexpected shortfall? Farmers in Cornwall start to sell up and quit the industry after more than 3,000ha of Land…

In this episode, the Environment Agency is under fire after accusing farmers of breaching rules to protect water quality. Defra blames technical issues as it delays the opening of its flagship Sustainable Farming Incentive to applications. On the markets, we've all the regular commodity prices. We talk to the MP who says it should be easier for onl…

In this episode, we take a special look at farming in Canada – visiting family farms in the western prairie province of Alberta. We look at the vast scale of prairie agriculture, meeting producers, processors and politicians with farming interests. We discover how Canadian farmers are adding value to commodities like malting barley and discuss the …

This week, we find out how UK farmers can best deal with uncertainty – and secure a more profitable future for their farm business. As a challenging harvest continues, we look at autumn drilling options for winter cereal varieties – what's hot and what's not? We visit the farmers and environmental groups who have joined forces for a groundbreaking …

In this episode, as annual figures show another rise in farm theft, we meet the former SAS soldier helping to combat crime in the countryside. With wet summer weather making national news headlines, we've a full report on the frustrating stop-start harvest – up and down the country. On the markets, we get to grips with another dip in beef values – …

In this episode, we're at the Royal Welsh Show, where farm leaders say they will boycott a new agri-environment scheme. Welsh government plans requiring trees to be planted on 10% of farmland make the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme unworkable, says NFU Cymru. Dumbing down Net Zero might be popular with politicians seeking votes – but what impa…

In this episode, we ask does Natural England have an anti-farming bias when it comes to rolling out new habitat schemes? Or is it simply doing its job? Organic producers are concerned they will be shortchanged by an interim agri-environment scheme in Wales. We find out why the ex-farm beef price of beef falling – and we have our regular commodity m…

This week, as Farm Safety Week gets under way, we ask: just why are so many people being killed on UK farms? MPs tell the government they should compensate farmers for damage caused by the reintroduction of beavers into the countryside. and we look at current global trends in the grains market . And we talk to the scientists trying to find out whet…

This week, as a flaming June means it's all go for harvest 23, we find out whether early yields are meeting expectations. We ask why the UK animal vaccine supply chain has been so disrupted. On the markets, we speak to a grain analyst in Ukraine – and find out the importance of the latest Black Sea grain deal. And we speak to the team undertaking a…

This episode recorded at the 2023 Groundswell event in Hertfordshire. Compare the Market, how do the numbers between conventional and regen systems vary? Organic or not? The Soil Association diversifies into farm evaluation. We have the latest market prices, and look at how you can map carbon from the sky and we meet the regen potato growers. This …

In this episode, we look at the latest offering of government support for English farmers – the long-awaited 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive. What does it mean for your farm? And what happens to the thousands of farmers who signed up for the 2022 scheme, which is now being scrapped? We head to the Royal Highland Show as a government leak reveals…

In this episode, farmers face a hike in levy rates under plans announced by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. It follows what has been described as a 'near death experience' by the levy board and an admission that it hasn't been delivering for growers. We join the crowds as the Cereals event welcomes visitors to a new venue – the …

In this episode, a rural crime wave has seen machinery and high-tech equipment stolen from farms across the country. We ask, what are the police doing about it? With harvest not far off, we get latest advice for growers seeking to get the most from their wheat and barley crops. Tighter enterprise margins mean profits are likely to be down this year…

This week, with new season prices now unveiled, how should you best secure your fertiliser requirements? A food security expert says the government needs to think differently when supporting farmers to feed the nation healthily – and affordably. On the markets, we talk to the European tractor manufacturer who has just made a big marketing announcem…

This week, tenant farmers accuse the government of taking a “pick and mix” approach to reform of the tenanted sector in England. It follows the government's long-awaited response to last autumn's Rock Review, set up to provide a framework for a more resilient tenanted sector. We hear about the future for the UK's small abattoirs – and how a resurge…

This week, Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper and Rishi Sunak pose for the cameras at No. 10 Downing Street. So was the Prime Minister's Farm to Fork summit just a PR stunt? Or is the government finally taking food security seriously? We take a trip to Ireland, where livestock producers are racing ahead of UK farmers when it comes to environmental f…

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. Our panel is: Former Defra secretary Rt Hon. George Eustice MP…

In this episode, as Rishi Sunak summons farm leaders to Downing Street, we ask: what can we expect from the Prime Minister's food summit? High inflation has made food increasingly unaffordable for many consumers – but many farmers say high input costs mean food is actually too cheap. Where does the truth lie? Meanwhile, MPs slam Defra's IT systems …

In this episode, we examine how UK farmers are striving to overcome low confidence in the sector – caused in part by high input costs. Confidence among farmers is at a low ebb, according to the latest NFU survey – but some sectors are faring better than others. We look at the future for on-farm robots as a flagship agri-tech start-up warns that it …

This week, it's all about the weather as we cross our fingers in the hope that a cold, wet spring gives way to something a little warmer. As the latest ag-inflation figures are released, we talk the the buying groups who have joined forces to get a better deal for on farm inputs. We meet the Welsh dairy farmer who is growing a carbon-sucking shrub …

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at the John Innes Centre, Norwich. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. Our panel is: Shadow Labour Defra farm minister Daniel Zeichner MP Conservativ…

This week, does the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme still serve its purpose? Or is it time to get rid of it? Red Tractor assurance chair Christine Tacon insists the scheme very much has its place – but concedes that there is room for improvement. We find out how regenerative arable farmers are getting a guaranteed price by almost going organic – …

This week, as dairy processors and retailers reduce farmgate and retail milk prices, we examine the prospects for British farmers. With crop nutrition programmes well under way this spring, we find out why more growers are making the switch to liquid fertiliser. On the markets, global demand for beef looks set to stay firm – supporting UK values – …

In this episode, Farmers Weekly launches a four-point plan to clean up the UK meat supply chain after uncovering a major food fraud scandal. The Meat: Our Expectations campaign is seeking views from livestock producers, meat processors, retailers and other members of the supply chain. In other news, our latest survey reveals the extent to which far…

This week – a mass food fraud involving rotten and mislabelled meat has triggered a criminal investigation after being exposed by Farmers Weekly. The government tells farmers to use urea fertiliser sensibly – or face tighter restrictions. We find out how the industry is fighting back. How you can keep your family happy – and avoid a long-running di…

In this episode, we look at the pros and cons as the government launches its latest countryside stewardship offer for farmers in England. Government landscape agency Natural England is under fire after a data leak reveals details of farmers who oppose plans to protect Cornish moorland. We've the latest prices on the markets – and we give away an iP…

In this episode, farm leader Minette Batters has condemned unacceptable behaviour in UK agriculture – including at work and work-related events. It comes after a woman at last month's NFU conference in Birmingham deliberately avoided sitting near her NFU county chairman so he couldn't “lean all over her.” Other women in agriculture have since come …

This week, Exclusive - South American beef labelled British: 10 years after the horsegate scandal, just how safe is the UK’s red meat supply chain? Crisis in the uplands: with hill farm incomes forecast to crash this year, just how will livestock farmers survive? On the markets, why are arable prices heading down and what are the global grain prosp…

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at SRUC Oatridge, Scotland's Rural College in West Lothian. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. Our panel is: NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy F…

This week – it really black gold? We go carbon farming with growers and livestock producers in Sussex. We look at Scottish agriculture policy - and ask whether politicians and farm leaders are working too closely with one another to make a difference. We've the latest market prices – we find out why beef prices have hit a record high. And we discov…

This week, opposition leader Keir Starmer sets out his stall at NFU conference – as Defra secretary Therese Coffey comes under fire from farmers. Farm minister Mark Spencer announces new funding for small abattoirs – but can't say exactly how much is available. Could prospects be about to improve for tenant farmers? We find out from Baroness Kate R…

This week, what's the future for regenerative agriculture in the UK? We find out the latest hopes and aspirations at this year's BASE conference. Hugh binge-watches Clarkson's Farm 2 – is it as good as the first? Or is Jeremy past his sell-by-date? And what's all this about farm safety? We find out why Scotland's farmers are so disgruntled with Sco…

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at Harper Adams University. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. Our panel is: Defra farm minister Mark Spencer Harper Adams vice chancellor Michael L…

This week, Defra farm minister Mark Spencer defends this government’s policies for agriculture. Mr Spencer insists the future is bright for farming - and says the industry must do more to export food and attract new entrants into the sector. We’re at Harper Adams University, where farmers and students are among the audience for the very first Farme…

In this episode, the government finally unveils further long-awaited details of its flagship environmental scheme for England. Farmers will be paid to undertake six new actions – on hedgerows, arable and horticultural land and grassland. They will also be paid for pest and nutrient management. But will it work? We talk to Defra secretary Therese Co…

This week – just how important is soil health? Well not as important as it should be, say critics, who accuse the government of not taking it seriously enough. Livestock farmers are cutting back on numbers – we look at the reasons why. Is it just down to high input costs? Or is it something else? On the markets, we've all the latest prices and – we…

In this episode, we join the crowds as thousands of visitors flock to the LAMMA 2023 farm machinery show at the Birmingham NEC. As the machinery sector bounces back from Covid, we find out whether supply chains have recovered from the pandemic too. With input costs continuing to surge, we ask whether alternative fuels and electric tractors can repl…

This week, the government announced extra money for farmers in England who sign up to its Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. But is it enough to make the scheme more attractive to farmers? With high input costs set to be a big challenge during 2023 – we ask whether alternatives to nitrogen fertiliser are worth considering. In other news, a group…

In this final Farmers Weekly podcast of 2022, we review the farming year – and take a special look at the prospects for UK agriculture in 2023. We do so with Andersons – the farm business consultants who publish the Andersons Outlook – an annual look at the year ahead for agriculture. Ag-inflation and high input costs seen in 2022 are set to remain…

This week, soaring input costs and spiralling consumer inflation mean the UK faces a food supply crisis, says the NFU. So why won't the government do anything about it? How an innovative approach is helping a Somerset dairy farming family get additional value out of bull calves. On the markets, we've all the latest commodity prices We run the rule …

Delayed again, just what is the future for Defra's flagship Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) for England? Is ELMs really hanging by a thread? Or will the government finally make the scheme a success? And when will we find out? We hear from Defra secretary Therese Coffey, Labour shadow farm minister Daniel Zeichner and Natural England cha…

This week – a shortage of workers is making it harder for farmers to produce food profitably, but what should be done? Should more visas be granted to overseas workers? Do technology and robotics have a role to play? And how do we change the perception of agriculture as a low-wage industry? Elsewhere, we examine how garlic can help dairy cows fight…

In this episode, why are UK supermarkets importing eggs rather than paying British farmers more to offset higher production costs? We examine the impact on your farm business as the UK government unveils a huge round of spending cuts. As the mild – and now wet – autumn continues, we've the latest on arable crop establishment, pests and diseases out…

In this episode, the government is urged not to reduce farm support as the it seeks to plug a £60 billion hole in its public finances. Farm leaders and environmental groups say it would be a folly to slash the farm budget at a crucial time for the industry. Confidential details involving 1,500 farms will be strictly protected as Defra strives to de…

In this episode, why politicians are being urged to put their money where their mouth is when promising to back British farming. One year after Boris Johnson outraged pig producers by dismissing the crisis engulfing the sector, how are farmers faring now? With some arable farmers ripping up oilseed rape, we look at the prospects for the crop over t…