Kite Consulting

The Future of Feed Efficiency: Tech, Costs and Smarter Dairy Management

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Kite Consulting) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:39:15 +0000

In episode 291 of the Kite Podcast, we kick things off with Chris Walkland’s latest milk market report before Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Kite Consulting’s Ben Watts and Suffolk dairy farmer Nathan Utting. Together, they explore one of dairy farming’s most pressing challenges: feed efficiency and its role in managing rising costs. The discussion highlights why truly understanding feed costs has never been more important for farm profitability. The team delves into Feedlync, an integrated feed management and weighing system that not only improves cost control but also helps farmers monitor productivity across groups and diets with real‑time accuracy. Nathan shares how the system has streamlined decision‑making on his farm, and together they highlight that including smart technology like Feedlync is becoming essential for staying efficient, competitive and profitable in today’s dairy sector. Feedlync is now approved under FETF grant item 421, offering eligible farmers in England a £1,398 contribution, with applications open until 28 April 2026. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Learning from Denmark: Biosecurity Insights for UK Farmers

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:26:42 +0000

In episode 290 of the Kite Podcast, host Ben Eagle is joined by Sophie Brewster from AHDB, Norfolk farmer Zara Dorrington, and Kite Consulting’s Nicola Bowden to discuss the recent AHDB knowledge exchange trip to Denmark— known for its strong focus on biosecurity and herd health. The group explore the purpose behind the visit, the current disease pressures facing UK livestock producers, and the innovative biosecurity measures they observed on Danish farms. Sophie reflects on the value of farmer to farmer learning and the benefits of stepping outside routine practice, while Zara highlights how shared knowledge and collaboration is rapidly growing in the farming community. Nicola brings her consultancy perspective, discussing how Danish learnings could lead to improved herd health and more resilient on farm decision making. They consider how a more collective and proactive approach to biosecurity could strengthen UK agriculture and improve preparedness for future disease challenges. The episode also includes the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Middle East conflict: how geopolitics will impact dairy

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:39:07 +0000

In episode 289 of the Kite Podcast, Chris Walkland opens with his usual milk market report. Host Ben Eagle is joined by Erik Elgersma, director and founder of Strategic Analyses Services based in the Netherlands, along with podcast producer Becki Reay. Together, the group delve into how global politics, rising geopolitical tensions and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are shaping agriculture, inflation and, crucially, the dairy markets. They explore how current events are influencing everything from fuel and fertiliser prices to packaging costs and consumer behaviour. Erik provides a clear global overview of the conflict’s ripple effects across energy markets and inflation. With pressures mounting across supply chains and consumers becoming more cost conscious, the team discuss both the short and long term implications for farmers, processors and the wider food sector. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

From Oil Spikes to Export Chances: Inside the Current Milk Market

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Reay, Chris Walkland, Ben Eagle, Will Evans) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:10:54 +0000

In episode 288 of the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Chris Walkland and Becki Reay to unpack the complex dynamics shaping today’s milk market, particularly as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East push oil prices toward $100 a barrel. Rising fuel and fertiliser costs — including a 50% jump in red diesel prices this month —putting mounting pressure on farmers, while milk prices continue to swing dramatically, with recent increases reported by Farmers Weekly underscoring the market’s volatility. Despite these challenges, many farmers are demonstrating impressive resilience, maintaining production levels comparable to last year, though questions remain about how long this stability can last. The team also highlights how important it is for farmers to stay adaptable, with Becki Reay encouraging proactive approaches to navigating sudden shifts in input and output prices. Looking forward, they also consider how growing global demand could create export opportunities, even as uncertainty continues to surround the UK market. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

From Forage Shortfalls to Feed Price Spikes: The Feed Market Outlook

Fri, 6 Mar 2026 13:39:36 +0000

In this week’s episode of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans is joined by Kite Consultant Torin Nicholson, KW Feed procurement manager Chris Pickles, and producer Becki Reay as they unpack the growing regional disparities in forage availability across the UK. Torin highlights why some areas are seeing plentiful forage while others face shortages, and what this means for farmers trying to formulate effective rations. Chris provides a clear overview of the current feed market, discussing the volatility created by supply chain disruptions caused by US/Israeli strikes in the Middle East and the impact of ADM’s production halt on the rapemeal sector. The team also looks ahead to the coming months, exploring the importance of strategic fertiliser planning, particularly with potential price rises linked to geopolitical pressures. Despite the challenges, the panel brings a sense of realism and optimism. They reflect on recent a stabilizing milk market, share why there are reasons to feel positive about the market outlook. Chris Walkland’s latest milk market report adds further positivity, with recent trading continuing to show strong progress. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Inside the NFU Conference: Fresh Leadership, Rising Optimism, and the Future of UK Farming

Tue, 3 Mar 2026 11:45:21 +0000

Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

From Ironman to Everyday Wins: Celebrating Mind Your Head Week

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Kite Consulting) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:38:19 +0000

Following on from Chris Walkland’s milk market report, we’re joined by mental health advocate Tom York, who shares his powerful personal journey—from growing up in an urban environment to finding his way into agriculture. His unconventional route into the industry, combined with the strengths and challenges of living with ADHD, has shaped a strong focus on building resilience. That resilience was put to the ultimate test when Tom completed an Ironman after just 30 weeks of training—an achievement that highlights the determination and mindset he brings into everyday life. Throughout the episode, Tom offers practical tips that support wellbeing both on and off the farm, including setting small daily goals and staying connected with others. He encourages listeners to focus on what they can control and to celebrate small wins, which can make a meaningful difference to overall wellbeing. As we wrap up, we’re reminded that looking after ourselves isn’t a one‑week campaign but an ongoing conversation that deserves care and attention throughout the year. Tom’s message is clear: we must stand shoulder to shoulder, supporting one another and breaking the silence around mental health in farming. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Securing the Future of Our Food: Attracting Young People to UK Agriculture

Fri, 6 Feb 2026 15:14:07 +0000

In episode 285 of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Arla Foods UK Managing Director Baz Padberg, Kite Consultant Becca Oakley, and producer Becki Reay as they delve into a new cross‑industry initiative created by Arla alongside partners from universities, further education, retail, policy and food producers. They discuss why young people often overlook the huge opportunities available in UK agriculture, reflect on the industry’s current demographics, explore the initiative’s three key recommendations, and consider what needs to change to attract, develop and retain the next generation of talent. The discussion brings fresh insight into the people and career pathways that will drive the future of UK agriculture. Dairy market analyst Chris Walkland is also on hand, opening the episode with his usual milk market report. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Market Trends, Farm Efficiency and the Road to DairyTech

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:37:03 +0000

Following Chris’ usual Milk Market Report, Will Evans and Ben Eagle welcome new senior consultants Beth Parry and Tim Kneale, who share insights from their specialist work with farms across the UK and discuss the practical on farm innovations they believe are genuinely transforming efficiency, resilience and long term sustainability in dairy. With DairyTech just days away, Becki Reay and the team discuss the big conversations expected at this year’s event, including milk price movements, new technology and the future direction of the sector, as well as what they are most excited to see, from the Innovation Hub to the activity on the Kite stand. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

SEMEX Dairy Conference Wrap Up: Markets, Tech & Farming Insights

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:22:48 +0000

Following Chris’ milk market report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Wigtownshire dairy farmer Rory Christie, Chair of the 2026 Semex Conference, and podcast producer Becki Reay. They look back at standout moments from the SEMEX International Dairy Conference in Glasgow last week and discuss current trends in the milk market, including how these may affect businesses over the coming months. The mindset throughout the conference was focused on “seeing through the issues – solving the issues – and being robust, efficient and resilient.” The group also reflects on the session chaired by Rory, which featured contributions from Serge Moly, Milk Supply Director at Lactalis; Paul Batchelor, Head of Milk Supply and Balancing at Lactalis; Paul Vernon; Tom Bradshaw; Christopher Lafougere; and Chris Walkland. The discussion offered strong support for farming, explored different angles on the market, and highlighted a positive long term outlook. There was also an interesting conversation around protein – how consumer diets are shifting and the growing demand for higher protein products. They touch on recent trade deals and the impact of global trade on producers. Manuel Soares, CEO at Milc Group, also provided insights into AI in farming and smarter livestock management to the economics behind protein demand and the resilient farming communities driving progress Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Resilience and Opportunity: Insights from the OFC 90th Anniversary

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:28:09 +0000

In this episode, we begin with Chris Walkland’s latest milk market report before celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Oxford Farming Conference with insights from OFC Director Ali Capper and dairy farmer Tracey Roan, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway. We delve into the report “UK Farming: Grasping the Opportunities,” led by Dr. Louise Manning, which explores the future of UK agriculture and the key interventions needed to help farming businesses thrive. We also highlight how any family business looking ahead should consider involving independent people to strengthen long term decision making. Throughout the discussion, Becki Reay joins the conversation, offering reflections and perspective as we unpack the conference’s core themes, including the sector’s resilience and the value of strong networks within the farming community. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Where Is the Milk Market Heading in 2026?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Ben Eagle, Becki Reay) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 13:19:30 +0000

Kicking off the New Year, this episode takes a close look at the current milk market. Ben Eagle, Chris Walkland and podcast producer Becki Reay discuss the latest trends in farmgate prices and milk volumes, and whether the sector is beginning to turn a corner. The discussion touches on the disruption caused by a plant breakdown over the Christmas period, which resulted in milk not being collected, before examining what the latest AHDB figures showing milk volumes down year on year could mean for supply. The focus then turns to more positive signals, including a recent rise in the GDT index and growing optimism around dairy prices heading into January, supported by milk price announcements for January and February from processors. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Mental Wellness at Christmas

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Lucia Slack, Jo Speed, Becki Reay, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:09:29 +0000

As we approach the end of the year, we find ourselves in our final episode, just days away from Christmas. This festive season is often filled with gatherings, laughter, and indulgence in food and drink with loved ones. Yet, for some, Christmas can bring about feelings of loneliness, especially for those facing challenging family situations. It's a time when many reflect on the past and ponder the future. We likely know someone who may be struggling during this season, and today, we will focus on the importance of supporting one another during Christmas and how to navigate the heavier emotional burdens that may arise. Joining us for this important conversation are rural life coach Jo Speed, first-generation dairy farmer Lucia Slack from Cumbria, podcast producer Becki Reay, and the ever-insightful dairy market analyst Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Red Tractor Review & Priorities - what farmers should expect

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Reay, Tim Lock, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:52:34 +0000

Following the results of the farm assurance review earlier this year, Red Tractor have this week announced its key priorities and planned actions, including a full review of standards. To discuss this, Will and Ben are joined on the Kite podcast this week by Tim Lock, the Dairy Sector Chair for Red Tractor to discuss the priorities for dairy, what actions are planned & how farmers can provide feedback on what they want to see by 1st February 2026. Chris Walkand is trying his best to find a glimmer of hope in this weeks milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Ireland's Nitrate Derogation: Balancing Dairy Production and Water Quality

Fri, 5 Dec 2025 15:00:40 +0000

In this episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans take a closer look at Ireland's dairy sector in light of the recent European Commission proposal to extend the nitrate derogation for another three years. They are joined by Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc and Emily Stafford, a Dairy Consultant with Kite, to discuss the implications of this decision for farmers both in Ireland and the UK. The conversation covers the importance of the derogation for Irish dairy farmers, the ongoing political debates surrounding water quality, and the conditional requirements that come with this licence. Chris Walkland also shares his latest milk market report, providing insights into the current state of the dairy market amidst challenging conditions. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

How relevant is COP30 for the future of UK Dairy?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Brian Lindsay, Chris Walkland, Becki Reay) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:30:34 +0000

In this episode of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Producer Becki Reay delve into the recent COP30 conference held in Brazil, exploring its implications for the agricultural sector, particularly dairy. Joining them is Brian Lindsey, an agricultural consultant and sustainability lead at Global Dairy Platform, who shares his insights from the conference. The trio discusses the key takeaways, including the evolving narrative around livestock and the importance of adaptation in climate discussions. The conversation touches on the relevance of COP discussions to UK dairy farmers and the necessity of maintaining a voice in global climate dialogues. Chris Walkland also provides his latest milk market report, highlighting the challenges facing dairy prices and the impact of new policies, such as the upcoming milkshake tax. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Argentina's Dairy Potential: Opportunities Amidst Economic Change

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:42:58 +0000

In this episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle explore the state of Argentina’s dairy sector, examining its current challenges and long-term potential amid significant political and economic shifts. They’re joined by John Allen, fresh from a visit to Argentina, along with Lukasz Wyrzykowski, Managing Director of IFCN, and Hugo Quattrochi, an IFCN dairy researcher based in the country. Together, they discuss Argentina’s rich agricultural resources, the scale and strengths of its dairy production, and the realities farmers face in an unpredictable economic climate. The conversation also delves into the impact of recent political changes under President Milei, including efforts to tackle inflation and stabilise the currency, and what these reforms might mean for the dairy industry’s future. As always, the episode features Chris Walkland’s latest market report, offering insights into current milk prices and broader market trends. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

New Zealand Dairy: Weathering Storms and Shaping the Future

Thu, 6 Nov 2025 15:39:06 +0000

In this week’s episode of the Kite Podcast, we’re heading to New Zealand for a wide-ranging update on the country’s dairy sector. Following recent storms with winds reaching 155km/h and widespread power outages, we explore how agriculture has been affected and what it means for farmers on the ground. Will Evans is joined by James Allen, CEO of AgFirst, to discuss milk flows, pricing, farmer confidence, and the implications of Fonterra’s $4.22 billion sale to Lactalis. We also look at New Zealand’s dairy export ambitions, including the strategic opening of Fonterra’s London office as part of its global push. As always, Chris Walkland brings us the latest milk market report, and Becki Reay is behind the scenes producing the show. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Milk price discussions & Freshways £25M investment

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:31:57 +0000

In episode 273 of the Kite Podcast, following this week’s Milk Market update from analyst Chris Walkland, we learn more about Freshways’ £25 million investment in a new processing hub in West Bromwich, set to handle up to 500 million litres of milk annually. Freshways Managing Director Bali Nijjar joins Becki and Chris to discuss the company’s growth, its farmer suppliers, and what the expansion means for the future. With many processors preparing to announce December prices, Becki, Chris, and Bali discuss the market dynamics influencing those decisions, ongoing challenges in the milk market, and what farmers can expect in the months ahead. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Inspiring Change in Agriculture: Sophie Gregory's Journey and Embracing Opportunities Ahead

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:05:34 +0000

Let's Farm Foundation

King's Foundation

Meet the Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the Year Winners: John & Nicola Young

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:32:33 +0000

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by the freshly crowned Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmers of the Year, Nicola and John Young. Hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle dive into the Youngs’ remarkable journey—from starting with just 80 cows to building a thriving herd of over 500, averaging 14,000 litres and almost 1,000kg of milk solids per cow per year. Joined by Kite’s David Keiley, the conversation explores the history of their business growth, early-stage succession planning, technical herd performance, genetic strategy, key focus areas, business performance, current investments, and future plans. They also reflect on what it means to be recognised at the top of their industry—and what that recognition means to others. Sadly, there isn’t nearly as much positivity in Chris Walkland’s milk market report this week, but it’s essential listening for anyone keeping an eye on dairy trends. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Navigating Dairy Costs: Trends, Investments & Insights for 2025

Fri, 3 Oct 2025 13:58:33 +0000

On this week’s podcast, there’s a very sobering milk market report from Chris Walkland following several drops announced this week. Kathryn Rowland and Marcus Doig from Kite Consulting join us to review dairy production costs and explore the trends we’re seeing in the data, including insights on investments and funding strategies. We’re also pleased to welcome southwest farmer Andrew Fry, who talks through his own investment strategy—including the economics behind adopting robotic milking and how it’s reshaped operations on his family farm.

Insights from IFCN’s Graz Conference

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:05:10 +0000

This week on the Kite Podcast, we dive into the heart of IFCN’s Supporter Conference in Graz, Austria, where the theme was “Making Sustainability Profitable: how to future proof the dairy industry.” We unpack the key discussions with Milica Kocić, Lead in Product Development at IFCN, and Kathryn Rowland from Kite, alongside our resident dairy market expert Chris Walkland and producer Becki Reay. Covering short-term challenges and long-term opportunities, global market trends, the future of supply and demand, insights into U.S. milk production, and emerging growth areas in dairy demand, this episode offers a comprehensive overview of the forces shaping the dairy sector. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Data-Driven Dairy: The Tech Revolution in Agriculture

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:47:38 +0000

In this episode, we explore the rapidly evolving intersection of technology and the dairy industry with experts Caroline Hamilton from Intelligent Dairy Solutions and Matt Butlin, Head of Ag Tech from AB Agri. Join Will and Ben as we discuss the impact of robotics, AI, and data integration on dairy farming, as well as the challenges and opportunities these advancements present. From effectively utilising vision technology, improving feed efficiency and the importance of data collaboration and linking systems, as well as making better use of existing data which could shape the future of dairy farming. With Chris Walkland providing his usual market report that highlights the current challenges facing the dairy sector, particularly concerning the impact of increased U.S. access to the UK food market. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Decoding Dairy Disruption: A Deep Dive into Current Trends

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:28:25 +0000

https://www.kiteconsulting.com/2025/09/01/decoding-dairy-disruption/

Organic Milk Matters: Understanding Market Flows and Forage Challenges

Fri, 5 Sep 2025 14:59:58 +0000

This week on the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Rob Daykin, Managing Director of Daykin Partnership and organic farmer Will Armitage, as they delve into the current state of the organic milk sector. The episode explores milk flows, forage availability and the challenges faced by organic farmers in today's climate. Rob shares insights from his extensive experience in organic farming and consultancy, while Will discusses the impact of weather conditions on forage stocks and the strategies he's employing to navigate these challenges. The conversation highlights the resilience of the organic sector amid ongoing pressures and the importance of maintaining a stable supply for consumers. Chris Walkland also returns with his market report, providing a detailed analysis of the latest developments affecting the dairy market, including significant fluctuations in prices and the implications for organic producers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

First Milk Annual Results Revealed

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Shelagh Hancock., Becki Reay, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:10:18 +0000

This week Ben Eagle and Will Evans welcome Shelagh Hancock, Chief Executive of First Milk, to discuss the cooperative's impressive annual financial results and the broader implications for the dairy industry. Shelagh reflects on the significant progress First Milk has made over the past year, including the successful integration of BV Dairy into their operations. Additionally, Shelagh shares insights into First Milk's commitment to regenerative farming and its impact on sustainability and farm resilience, as well as the cooperative's strategic initiatives, community engagement, and future growth plans. The conversation also explores the ongoing challenges in the milk market, with Chris Walkland providing his expert analysis on current trends and price fluctuations affecting dairy producers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

A New Chapter: Embracing Life After Dairy Farming

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:40:09 +0000

In this poignant episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined by Cheshire dairy farmers Tom and Karen Halton, who share their heartfelt journey of deciding to sell their herd after a remarkable career in dairy farming. Winners of the Dairy Farmer of the Year category at the British Farming Awards 2024, the Halton’s reflect on their successful tenanted dairy business and the emotional challenges surrounding their decision to step away from the industry. As they discuss the factors that led to this significant life change, Tom and Karen delve into their experiences of navigating the ups and downs of dairy farming, from market fluctuations to personal aspirations. The conversation also touches on their future plans, including property development and the joy of exploring new opportunities. Chris Walkland returns with his insightful milk market report, with an update on current market trends and challenges facing the dairy sector. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

From Pitch to Plate: How Dairy Fuels Young Athletes

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Will Roberts, Carrie McDermid, Jack Allwood) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:02:40 +0000

Watch the BUCS pilot results video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lEQ3ELF9Bg

Small-Scale AD in Dairy: What’s Possible, What’s Practical

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Gary Hague, Helen Dent, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 1 Aug 2025 13:24:05 +0000

In this episode, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans explore the role of on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD) in the UK dairy sector with guests Gary Hague, UK Sustainability and Development Manager for Biolectric, and Kite’s Sustainability Lead, Helen Dent. The discussion provides an overview of AD technology, its role in managing slurry and manure more sustainably, and its potential to reduce the environmental footprint of dairy farming. Helen and Gary share insights on adoption rates, farmer perceptions, financial incentives, and whether AD can help processors meet carbon reduction targets. They also explore the differences between large-scale and small-scale AD systems, and the viability of operating plants solely on slurry without the need for additional feedstock. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The future of genomic breeding: driving faster gains & financial returns

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Steve West, Kevin Ziemba, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:24:54 +0000

After Chris Walkland’s dairy market update this week, Ben Eagle is joined by Kevin Ziemba, Global Applied Genetic Consulting Manager at STGenetics (parent company of Cogent Breeding) and Steve West, Senior Consultant with Kite to explore the latest in genetics and genomics in dairy farming. They discuss the financial benefits of breeding for Ecofeed to improve feed efficiency and profitability, as well as how to build a genetic strategy to best fit your business. They also discuss the newly discovered gene responsible for muscle weakness in calves and the impact this could have. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Muller confirm £45million investment in Skelmersdale site & new contracts for Yew Tree suppliers.

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Rob Hutchison) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:06:32 +0000

In episode 260 of the Kite Podcast, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans explore major upcoming developments at Yew Tree Dairy, including a £45 million investment in its Skelmersdale production site—just nine months after acquisition from Muller. This strategic move is not only aimed at expanding the business but also at further aligning Yew Tree Dairy offering farmers new and updated supplier contracts, Joining the conversation are Rob Hutchison, CEO of Muller Milk & Ingredients, and podcast producer Becki Reay, who shares valuable insights into the future of dairy processing and what it means for farmers. The episode also features Chris Walkland’s latest milk market report, highlighting recent trends and challenges in the dairy market. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

United for sustainable Dairy: The future of the UK Dairy Roadmap

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Bas Padberg, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:49:11 +0000

https://www.dairyuk.org/the-dairy-roadmap/

From Fields to Futures: Insights on harvest prospects & feed prices

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Pickles, James Bolesworth, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 4 Jul 2025 12:36:10 +0000

In this episode, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans delve into the current harvest prospects as combines begin to roll across the UK. Joined by James Bolesworth, Managing Director of CRM AgriCommodities and Chris Pickles, Procurement Manager from KW Feeds, they examine the impact of recent dry weather in the UK on forage stocks, complexities of the feed markets and the factors influencing supply and prices. The conversation also touches on the impact of geopolitical events, currency fluctuations and the ongoing challenges faced by farmers in the current climate. With an optimistic yet cautious outlook, they highlight the importance of strategic planning as the agricultural landscape continues to evolve. Chris Walkland also shares his usual insights in the milk market report, discussing the recent GDT drops and their implications for milk pricing. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Cooling the Herd: Effective solutions for heat stress in dairy farming

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Charlie George, Chris Walkland, Tim Davies) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:38:55 +0000

Revisit the list of practical solutions from Charlie at Tim at minute 17.

From Determination to Dairy: Frank Dunne's Ambitious Farming Vision

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Frank Dunne, Chris Walkland, Becki Reay) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:14:47 +0000

In this episode, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle continue their exploration of Irish agriculture with an inspiring story from Frank Dunne and his farming journey after he bought his first dairy farm at 26 years old. Joined by podcast producer Becki Reay and dairy market analyst Chris Walkland, the team delve into Frank's evolution from leaving his uncle’s dairy farm, to beef and progressing onto become a successful dairy farmer; discussing his innovative approaches and future aspirations, redefining success in dairy. Chris shares insights from the latest milk market report, highlighting significant developments in the European dairy industry, including the recent Arla and DMK merger discussions. The conversation also touches on the challenges of land availability in Northern Ireland and the importance of strategic planning in farming. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Controversial Nutrient Action Programme: Farmers Demand Change in Northern Ireland

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:08:04 +0000

In this week’s episode, we explore the proposed Nutrient Action Programme (NAP) in Northern Ireland, which has sparked significant debate within the agri-food sector. Join hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle, along with guests Aileen Lawson from the Ulster Farmers Union, Jason Rankin from AgriSearch and dairy market analyst Chris Walkland, as they delve into the implications of the NAP, the concerns raised by farmers and the potential impact on the agricultural landscape. With insights from their recent trip to Northern Ireland, the team discusses the balance between environmental responsibility and agricultural productivity, highlighting the urgent need for constructive dialogue and collaboration between farmers and policymakers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

From Farm to Fork: The Value of Engaging the Public

Fri, 6 Jun 2025 14:00:28 +0000

https://www.farmertime.uk/

https://justfarmers.org

https://ahdb.org.uk

https://farmsunday.org

https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/agdiversity

Compact feeding masterclass with Niels Bastian Kristensen

Fri, 30 May 2025 12:59:33 +0000

Following Chris’ milk market report, Will Evans is joined by compact feeding pioneer Niels Bastian Kristensen, Kite consultant Mike Bray, JG Vigar and Son’s herd manager Dane De Boorder based in Wiltshire, and podcast producer Becki Reay. Together, they explore the transformative potential of compact feeding, delving into its advantages, potential drawbacks, and the unique challenges faced by UK dairy farmers. Dane De Boorder discusses the recent masterclass hosted by JG Vigar and Son, he talks about the productivity improvement on farm over the past 4 years & what he’s learnt from introducing compact feeding. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Unlocking Potential: The Importance of CPD in Agriculture

Fri, 23 May 2025 14:07:11 +0000

To find out more about Kite's Herd Management Training which starts in August 2025 and is now open for applications, please email people@kiteconsulting.com

Exploring Dairy Futures: DIN Conference Highlights & Market Stability

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Reay, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 16 May 2025 10:11:36 +0000

Episode 152

Feed market insights: forage updates, harvest outlook & EU regulations

Fri, 9 May 2025 13:56:37 +0000

After Chris’ market report this week, highlighting a positive outlook for dairy prices, Will and Ben shift their focus from milk markets to the intricacies of feed markets, featuring insights from Chris Pickles, Procurement Manager at KW Feeds and Kite Technical Consultant Maimie French. Maimie provides an overview of the spring season, noting the quality of first cuts and the impact of weather on forage yields across the UK and touches on the challenges of heat stress. Chris discusses feed commodity markets, with ongoing considerations around protein sources for dairy rations, particularly the comparison between soya and rape meal, with an interesting and welcomed update on EU deforestation regulations. They also contemplate the potential outlook for harvest 2025 amidst current dry conditions and market uncertainties. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Milk market predictions: navigating volumes, prices & processing challenges

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Becki Reay) — Fri, 2 May 2025 14:36:00 +0000

Will and Ben are back this week, joined by Chris, who has just returned from holiday. In this episode, they delve into the current milk volume situation and the evolving milk market dynamics. With insights from Kite Director John Allen and podcast producer Becki Reay, the team discusses the implications of spring peak milk production, processing capacity, and the unexpected stability of milk prices amidst high volumes. Chris shares his market report, revealing how recent weather patterns and factory challenges have shaped the landscape. The conversation also touches on the contrasting pricing mechanisms of different processors and the potential future of milk pricing as the industry navigates these unique circumstances. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

An update on NZ dairy: milk markets, politics & dairy economics

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 11:34:34 +0000

Will and Ben return after a short break for Easter, to explore the current state of the dairy industry in New Zealand with insights from James Allen, CEO of AgFirst and John Allen, Kite Director. Following Chris’ market report, James and John discuss the impact of recent weather patterns on milk production, dairy economics, and the implications of environmental policies. With an analysis of production figures, market trends and the future of dairy in New Zealand and where these sit in a global context amidst some of the current challenges. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Spring peak - predictions, milk flows & forage

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:38:17 +0000

After Chris’ report this week on the Kite Podcast, Will and Ben bring you a timely spring update, joined by Kite Consultant Marcus Doig and Cumbrian dairy farmer Paddy Morris-Eyton. They share insights into the potential long-term effects of this spring’s weather on forage and milk flows, they also discuss the impact of recent market fluctuations, including milk price feed price ratio and the ongoing demand for beef on breeding strategies for dairy farmers. The conversation delves into the current state of grass growth across various regions, the challenges posed by dry conditions and the implications for farm management as we move deeper into the season. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Future of Johne's Management: Implementing Phase Three for Dairy Farmers

Fri, 4 Apr 2025 11:08:10 +0000

NMR

The National Johne's Management Plan

Understanding Soil Organic Carbon: Benefits, Challenges & Best Practices

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Robert Nightingale, Chris Walkland, Helen Dent) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:20:49 +0000

This week, Will and Ben explore the crucial topic of soil organic carbon, delving into its definition, benefits and ways to enhance its presence in our soils. They are joined by Robert Nightingale, Sustainability Technical Lead at Frontier Agriculture and Kite's Sustainability Lead, Helen Dent, along with everyone's favourite dairy market analyst, Chris Walkland. The discussion covers the significance of soil organic carbon in relation to climate change, soil health and farm resilience and how in the future, building soil organic carbon will become one of the tools in the carbon reduction journey. Helen shares insights from her newly released report on soil carbon, while Rob discusses practical steps farmers can take to improve their soil management practices. Together, they highlight the importance of understanding and measuring soil organic carbon as a vital component of sustainable farming . Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

How are AHDB delivering for levy payers after 1 year with Graham Wilkinson in charge

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Graham Wilkinson, Becki Reay) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:51:58 +0000

Understanding ammonia & phosphate regulations on farm – with practical & innovative solutions from Denmark

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Helen Dent, John Allwood) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:01:11 +0000

AHDB Events

Dairy Producer Organisations Explained

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Ian Harvey, Chris Walkland, Becki Reay) — Fri, 7 Mar 2025 14:50:03 +0000

This week, our hosts Will and Ben focus on Dairy Producer Organisations (DPOs) and their vital role in the dairy industry. With Ian Harvey, farmer, Director at Davidstow Creamery as well as a member of the NFU Dairy Board and former member of AHDB Dairy Sector Council, along with our own dairy market analyst, Chris Walkland. Starting the discussion prompted by a recent article from Chris in British Dairying Magazine, they discuss the role of DPO’s and the importance of collective representation for farmers. They discuss the limitations of DPOs, particularly highlighted in Chris’ article after 2 significant processors who do have DPO’s. have just given notice to a number of farmers. They also discuss the difference between DPOs and farmer boards, and the significance of FDOM (Fair Dealings Obligations Milk) over the next few months. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

EU vision for agriculture & food & what it means for UK ag

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:19:47 +0000

Following Chris' report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Jukka Likitalo, Secretary General of Eucolait, and Kite Director John Allen to examine the European Commission's recently published Vision for Agriculture and Food document. Jukka elaborates on the Commission's perspective regarding the future of agriculture and food in Europe, highlighting key priority areas aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and appeal of the agri-food sector while ensuring long-term food security. He emphasises the implications for farmers, particularly in fostering a fairer supply chain for dairy and improving farmers' incomes. Additionally, Jukka and John discuss the influence of recent farmer protests in Europe on policy development, as well as the effects of the evolving geopolitical landscape and increasing trade tensions. They also address the differences between the EU and the UK post-Brexit, particularly concerning the loss in subsidies for dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Oxbury Bank Transition Facility – accessing 1% over base lending!

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:46 +0000

This week after Chris’ report, Will and Ben are joined by Nick Evans, co-founder and Managing Director of Oxbury Bank and David Keiley from Kite, to discuss financing and sustainability. They focus on Oxbury’s new ‘transition facility,’ designed to offer finance at as low as 1% over base for farmers who are carbon footprinting & actively looking to improve their carbon credentials either via engagement with SFI or processor/retailer carbon reduction schemes. Nick explains the key features and qualifying criteria along with Oxbury’s motivation for providing the funding. David talks about the importance of access to finance for farmers, especially regarding working capital and stresses the need to collaborate across the supply chain to gather data, reduce carbon footprints and support the Net Zero goal. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

USA milk output, dairy & beef economics

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:03:46 +0000

Will Evans, Becki Reay and Chris Walkland are joined this week by Betty Berning; Contributing Dairy Economist at Highground Dairy. After Chris' rather inert milk market update, they go on to discuss the economics of USA dairy production and what is driving low volumes we are currently seeing from the USA, including record low heifer inventory numbers and record high beef calf prices. They discuss further the significant investments seen in cheese production facilities and the effect of Trump tariffs on exports. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Feed markets & outlook following Trumps tariff talk

Thu, 6 Feb 2025 13:34:00 +0000

After a successful day at Dairy Tech, Chris presents his usual market report. Will and Ben are joined by James Bolesworth, CEO of CRM Agricommodities, and Kite Consultant Amy Watson to discuss the effects of Trump's tariffs, particularly on agricultural commodities & feed markets. James updates on the market impact of tariffs on China since Trump's inauguration, focusing on Europe’s protein market and UK feed prices, with a reminder about the importance of supply and demand fundamentals. Amy talks about farmer and grower sentiment, milk-feed price ratios and advises farmers to manage feed risks amidst volatility while remaining positive about the long-term UK dairy outlook. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Arla Foods Ingredients acquisition of Volac

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Luis Cubel, Becki Reay, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:57:29 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Luis Cubel, Group Vice President and Managing Director of Arla Foods Ingredients to discuss the acquisition of the Volac Whey nutrition business last year. Luis gives an overview of why AFI was interested in Volac, with a change in consumer habits and the growth in popularity of Whey protein and where Volac sits in the context of other investments. He discusses what products they will be marketing, plans for investment in the site and what this means for current Arla farmers, especially in terms of adding value to the Arla business. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Trump inauguration debrief - what it means for global politics & dairy

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 15:33:57 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will & Ben are joined by podcast regulars, Erik Elgersma, founder & director of Strategic Analysis Services BV & Kite Director John Allen to discuss US & global dairy following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the USA. Erik & John discuss if there is any predictive value in what Trump did in his first term in relation to how the current term might impact US dairy. They consider short to medium term outlook, with particular reference to the influence of the US Senate, with a strong agricultural constituency behind which could not only impact economic policy, but also in relation to foreign labour. They also discuss the impact on global power dynamics & the potential to have a negative impact on trust where exports are concerned, with the opportunities this could provide to Europe. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Muller Yew Tree acquisition & Fast-Track launch

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Reay, Rob Hutchison, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:11:02 +0000

We are starting the year as we mean to go on, our first podcast of 2025 is a positive one; featuring the milk market report from Chris and discussing the exciting developments from Muller. Ben is joined by Rob Hutchison, CEO Muller Milk and Ingredients, Kite’s Becki Reay and Chris Walkland as they debrief on the Semex conference earlier this week and discuss what’s going on at Muller in more detail. It is only 10 weeks since the acquisition of Yew Tree by Muller but Rob summarises what they’ve been doing since then and the significance of this investment strategically, including how this fits in with their existing network of dairies and the opportunities it brings, not only to improve efficiencies but the potential market access and commercial benefits. Rob & Becki go on to discuss the launch of Muller’s innovative Fast-Track programme, which will bring together real time data measurement and monitoring of key inputs and outputs on farm to further drive efficiency and deliver commercial benefit to the farm and accelerated carbon reduction to Muller. As well as a broader conversation about the commercial incentive to reduce carbon, how that looks at farm level as well as consumers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Dale Farm investments in Cheddar processing & strong financial performance

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Nick Whelan, Becki Reay) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:50:58 +0000

In the final podcast episode of the year, we are joined by Dale Farm’s Group Chief Executive, Nick Whelan and podcast producer Becki Reay. Following on from Chris’ milk market report we discuss Dale Farm, the largest UK only farmer-owned dairy co-op. Located in Northern Ireland, Dale Farm has recently invested £70 million in their cheddar processing facility at Dunmanbridge. The podcast team discuss recent changes in the Dale Farm business, investments, challenges and opportunities for the dairy industry. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

COP29; financing & financially rewarding carbon reduction

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:26:44 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Rachael Madeley-Davies, AHDB’s Head of Environment Technical and Dorset dairy farmer and Nuffield scholar Sophie Gregory to discuss the most recent UN Climate Change Conference - COP29. They outline some of the key themes from COP and how agriculture was featured; with a full day looking at food and farming for the second year in a row. Rachael discusses how this links to the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability and the sectors commitment to the sustainable transition of dairy. Along with how other sectors are delivering on carbon commitments, how dairy and agriculture are viewed across the world and what we can learn from elsewhere. Sophie emphasises the need to communicate to all stakeholders to look beyond just carbon and appreciate what farms bring to the local community and the environment. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

ARLA reaction to Bovaer media storm & what it means for the future

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 15:52:46 +0000

Following a week long media storm triggered by Arla’s press release relating to Bovaer, we couldn’t not discuss on the podcast this week. And who better to join Ben & Will than Bas Padberg; Managing Director of ARLA Foods alongside John Allen, Becki Reay & Chris Walkland. They discuss the timeline of events including ARLA’s response along with unpicking some of the detail around the product, ARLA’s carbon reduction journey & their view on what role Bovear will continue to play in that. Chris warns of the risk to the wider dairy sector whilst Bas asks for the dairy industry to unite. Listeners can expect the usual milk market update & creative analogies from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Farm tenancies & TFA, plus comments on Bovaer & the media storm

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:01:11 +0000

This week after Chris’ report and discussion on the media flurry around the use of Bovaer, Will and Ben are joined by Robert Martin, Chair of the Tenant Farmers Association and Kite’s John Allen to discuss farm tenancies and landlord tenant relationships in the context of the UK Inheritance Tax reform. Rob firstly explains the role of the TFA in making sure tenancies work for tenant farmers and the work they do engaging with and lobbying policy makers. He discusses with John the broader sentiment and need for more engagement with government and policy makers to help them better understand the industry and make more positive decisions for the future of dairy and UK farming. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Setting the record straight on nutritious dairy and its sustainability credentials

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:06:35 +0000

Read the Dairy UK report here

Following the budget: practical advice for farm businesses

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Rob Hitch, Alex Jack, Chris Walkland, Becki Reay) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:19:49 +0000

After Chris’ usual report and following on from last week’s episode on the Governments new Budget, Will and Ben are joined by Rob Hitch, Partner at Dodd Accountants and Alex Jack, dairy farmer from Fife, to discuss what farming families and businesses can practically do to make sure they are fit for the new legislation. Rob outlines some advice to farmers in terms of working out assets and risks and what can be done to mitigate some of these, emphasising the importance of acting sooner rather than later and having plans and open discussions around succession. Alex introduces her family business & how this she sees this affect them, highlighting the importance of seeking advice from the right professionals to make sure people don’t get caught out. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Budget - beneath the headlines

Fri, 8 Nov 2024 16:01:14 +0000

NFU Online - what is a mass lobby

Autumn Milk Flows

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Becki Reay) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:12:31 +0000

After Chris Walkland’s usual report, he joins Kite Director John Allen to discuss autumn milk flows, first touching on the outcome of the CMA in relation to Muller’s acquisition of Yew Tree and what this means for the industry. They discuss the milk flows this autumn with record high volumes being produced throughout October as the trend for moving to autumn block calving continues. They go on to flag issues with seasonality payments as an unintended consequence of the milk contracts legislation which is currently being reviewed again. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

British Farming Awards 2024

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:27:39 +0000

After Chris’ report, Will and Ben are joined by Tom and Karen Halton who are finalists for British Farming Awards ‘Dairy Farmer of the Year’, as well as last year’s winner Patrick Morris-Eyton, to discuss the Awards ahead of the ceremony later this evening. Tom and Karen introduce their business including their priorities on farm in terms of maintaining high herd welfare standards and looking after their staff, as well as why they feel it’s important to them to connect with the public as the end user of the product they produce and how they do this. Paddy outlines how his farm has changed since they won the Award last year and as a judge this year, what he has seen in the candidates in terms of forward-thinking and sustainable farming. Paddy, Tom & Karen discuss why award ceremonies such as this are important to showcase best practice and excellence in people within the industry. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Working together for food security & climate change

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:17:27 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Nuffield scholar Ruth Grice, who works on her family’s dairy farm in Leicestershire as well as being the Farm Liaison and Sustainability Manager for Long Clawson Dairy, along with Rachael Madeley-Davies, Head of Environment Technical at AHDB to discuss how dairy farmers & environmental organisations can work together to achieve sustainable food security & combat climate change. With her Nuffield Scholarship and previous role within the Wildlife Trust, Ruth offers a unique perspective on the topic including how their environmental priorities on farm sit with what she has learned during her Scholarship from both farmers & environmental organisations in other countries. Ruth & Rachael discuss the role that Levy Boards play in connecting all the different elements, right through to the consumer. With the fundamental outcome being that of collaboration & creation of positive messaging between farmers, land managers, conservationists and the general public to ultimately achieve the same goal. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Profitability and Farm Costs

Fri, 4 Oct 2024 10:48:00 +0000

Following Chris' report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Kite consulting’s Eliot Greenfield consultant based in Cumbria with special interests including business management and planning, ruminant nutrition and technical consultancy, Scottish Dairy Farmer Robin Campbell, and podcast producer Becki Reay, who thinks it was a good time to look back on farms costs and profits for the last financial year and reflect on what is ahead. The group discuss current market situation, cost of production, and how profitable dairy farmers are looking 6 months into financial year. Eliot goes on to advise what should business owns be doing…Is this a time to invest or hold on to the cash? Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Discuss the Undiscussabull – communication, conflict & farm succession

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:30:09 +0000

In episode 223 of the Kite Podcast, Will and Ben are joined Canada’s Farm Whisperer, Elaine Froese, AHDB’s Amy Hughes and Kite podcast producer, Becki Reay. The group talk about the taboo subject …Succession. Elaine a certified coach, speaker and author and an expert in helping farm families to improve their communication has been brought over to the UK by AHDB to speak in their upcoming Autumn workshops. The group discuss why this appears to be a difficult topic to discuss at home, how to approach these types of conversations with family and how to resolve communication issues. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

IFCN 2024 Conference: key messages and take homes

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:23:44 +0000

This week after Chris’ report, Will and Ben are joined by Andrea Lendewig, Head of Research and Development at IFCN and Dominik Streyl from Josera, who along with Becki attended IFCN Supporter Conference which was held in Poland last week. With Andrea’s presentation this year on global dairy status, she discusses the challenges the industry has been facing over the last few years, including the effects of unstable global economy, changes in environmental regulations, extreme weather and Geopolitical conflict on global supply, alongside the increasing global demand for milk. With Josera as a main sponsor of the conference, Dominik describes the productivity and structure of European dairy farms and the need to employ effective change management to address the changes the industry will need to make moving forward. Making comment on the opportunity for host country Poland to dramatically increase productivity and output. They conclude with an overall positive message for global and UK dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Bluetongue update

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Lorraine Blaxell, Jonny Crickmore, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:46:37 +0000

DEFRA Bluetongue information

Feed markets & forage situation on farm

Fri, 6 Sep 2024 14:32:08 +0000

This week after Chris’ report, Will and Ben are joined by Paul Macer and Amy Watson from Kite as well as James Bolesworth, CEO at CRM AgriCommodities for an update on the feed markets & forage situation on farm. Paul and Amy discuss the growing season and the quality and quantity of forage in clamps, in particular the variability in quality, but with lower protein forages being more common. They consider the impact of late planting on maize growth and both cereal and straw yields. James gives headline prices for the feed and commodity markets for key feed materials and discusses how political challenges are effecting this. Paul goes onto discuss the milk production volumes coming out of quarter 3 into quarter 4 ahead, in the context of the current milk price feed price ratio. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Record Breaking Butter Prices

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Erik Elgersma, John Allen) — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 15:04:59 +0000

Following Chris' report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Kite consulting director John Allen and Erik Elgersma, founder and director of Strategic Analysis Services BV. The group talk about the current record high butter prices and how these are underpinning milk prices at present as reflected in today’s milk price announcement by Arla and Muller. They go on to debate the potential risk of a milk price driven by one specific element. Moving on from butter to discuss current milk volumes and cashflows on farm and the situation regarding trade tensions between China and the EU. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Calf rearing & heifer management….can we do it better?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Zara Dorrington, Emily Stafford, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:27:21 +0000

Book the Kite PDO Conference here

Organic Dairy: battered, bruised, but back on the up?

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:03:40 +0000

Report - Organic Dairy: battered, bruised, but back on the up?

Kite Progressive Dairy Operators Conference - click for info & to book.

Capital Investment for Future Proofing Dairy

Fri, 9 Aug 2024 11:11:34 +0000

Uncommonly at this time of year, Chris Walkland’s milk market report is distinctly positive this week! Will, Ben & the podcast team are then joined by Kite consulting’s Emma McAvoy and Derbyshire dairy farmer Adam Sills to talk about a recent report published by Kite Consulting which highlights £4 billion worth of investment required by the sector in order to future proof farm businesses against the impact & challenges of climate change on their farms. Adam shares his experience on the impact he has seen on his farm, including forage production challenges through summer droughts & the wetter winters and how he is investing to mitigate some of these risks. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

An update on Irish dairy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Conor Mulvihill, John Allen) — Fri, 2 Aug 2024 14:03:25 +0000

A bit of good news in Chris’ report today before Will and Ben are joined by Conor Mulvihill, Director of Dairy Industry Ireland and Kite Director John Allen for an update on the dairy situation in Ireland. Conor gives us a general update on how the year has been for Irish dairy including how adverse weather and environmental regulations are affecting farmers and current farmer sentiment. Connor and John discuss commodity markets, the Irish grass-based systems vs elsewhere in Europe, as well as processor sentiment in terms of investment. Connor also emphasises the need for better communication from an industry perspective on the positive changes farmers are making, especially to meet sustainability requirements. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

European Politics

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Erik Elgersma, John allen, Becki Reay) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:54:56 +0000

Will and Ben are joined this week by Erik Elgersma - founder and director of Strategic Analysis Services BV – a Dutch-based globally active consulting firm in strategy, market and competitive intelligence and training. Also with us is Kite Director John Allen, and Senior Consultant Becki Reay. As the new Labour government settles in here in the UK we thought we’d take a look at the political landscape elsewhere today, especially in Europe. We discuss the political changes happening across Europe and what this means for farmers. Erik gives us an update on the political situation in the Netherlands and a summary of the carbon tax policy and how this might affect Danish farmers. Chris Walkland gives his usual Milk Market report for this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Investing in your farm team - How to become a employer of choice

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Ed Towers, Tillie Williams) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 12:15:21 +0000

Following Chris' report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Lancashire dairy farmer Ed Towers and Kite consultant Tillie Williams to discuss the importance of investing in people. Ed and Tillie address the challenges associated with labour in agriculture, noting that labour costs are the second-largest expense on a farm. They explore how investing in employee development and training can positively impact the business, even if the benefits are not directly financial, by improving the business retention and positively influencing recruitment efforts. Tillie also discusses how changes in government and the likely resultant policies may affect employment and recruitment efforts. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Live from Down to Earth 2024 - Grosvenor & regenerative dairy farming

Fri, 5 Jul 2024 14:20:37 +0000

A very special episode and a Kite podcast first as we record with a live audience from Down to Earth at Grosvenor Farms. Starting with the usual report from Chris Walkland, Will, Ben and Becki are joined by Mark Roach, Managing Director and Charlie Steer, Arable Manager for Grosvenor Farms, Helen Dent, Senior Sustainability Consultant with Kite and Amy Jackson, Director Oxtale Specialist Communications to discuss regenerative dairy farming. Helen outlines what we mean when talking about regenerative agriculture, looking at the SAI’s regen ag framework and what regen might look like for different systems. Mark and Charlie discuss the important role large, housed herds play in sustainable circular farming, what this means in the context of regen and how the principles have been integrated at Grosvenor. Focusing on questions from the audience, Amy emphasises that every farm can do something towards regen and the importance of authentically communicating these positive changes and messages to the consumer via the supply chain, with simplified proactive messaging. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Olympic special with Olympic medallist Dr Anna Watkins MBE, Wendy Martinson OBE & Dr Judith Bryans

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:57:59 +0000

After Chris’ report, this week Will and Ben are joined by an impressive line-up with Dr Anna Watkins MBE, double Olympic medallist and two times World Champion in the women’s double scull, Wendy Martinson OBE, Technical Lead and Performance Rehabilitation Nutritionist at the UK Sports Institute as well as Dr Judith Bryans, CEO at Dairy UK to discuss the import role dairy nutrition plays with athletes. Anna describes her journey into elite rowing and the role that dairy plays as part of her diet when training for events like the Olympics. Wendy introduces her role as a nutritionist to these elite athletes and why the composition of dairy products like milk, specifically play such an important role in their diet, including its ease of access wherever they are in the world and the importance of protein rich foods, especially for post workout recovery. Judith explains how Dairy UK are working with people like Anna & Wendy to educate teachers & other influential professionals about diary nutrition & running consumer campaigns via social media. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Interrogating party manifestos for food security

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Paul Tompkins, Becki Reay) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:06:50 +0000

A post-spring milk flow, forage and feed update

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Davidson, Chris Walkland, Paul Macer) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:02:04 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Paul Macer, Principal Consultant at Kite and Chris Davidson, Head of Procurement at AB Agri, to discuss milk flows, feed markets & the current forage positions across the country. Milk this spring was slightly lower than usual/predicted, so Paul discusses how outlook is looking now and into the autumn. With all first cuts now in the clamp & second cut completed or underway, Paul outlines what the quality and quantity is looking like and how the cash flow situation has impacted inputs, plus how farmers can look ahead to try and mitigate some for these extreme weather situations in the future in terms of feed and forage stocks. Chris gives us an overview of broader feed markets and along with the weather, what has been driving changes including the ongoing impact of the Russia/Ukraine war on exports of feed and touches on the incoming EU regs on soya with what impact this may have on UK farmers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

NZ dairy update & Muller acquisition of Yew Tree Dairy

Fri, 7 Jun 2024 13:52:44 +0000

There was lots for hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle to discuss with the guests on this week’s podcast. Firstly, along with the usual milk market update, Chris Walkland and John Allen discussed the very positive news regarding Muller’s acquisition of Yew Tree Dairy and the wider commitment to the sector being shown by UK based processors and how this is supports a positive outlook for UK farmers. Chris & John also joined NZ AgFirst CEO; James Allen and Kite’s Edward Lott in reviewing the past NZ dairy season and discussing Fonterra’s opening forecast price for the season ahead, including the comparative Cost of Production and how this could impact on farmer confidence, sentiment and investment. James looks ahead to the changing structure of NZ dairy including political, environmental and export market influences and they discuss how this compares to the UK. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

World Milk Day 2024 - nourishing the world

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Becki Reay, Judith Bryans) — Fri, 31 May 2024 14:27:21 +0000

Other than the sad news about Mona Dairy, the remainder of Chris' milk market report is fairly positive this week. Will and Ben are then joined by Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Managing Director at IFCN and Judith Bryans, Chief Executive at Dairy UK to discuss World Milk Day & dairy across the world. Judith gives an update on Dairy UK and the situation with the potential changes to food labelling and how this may affect the industry. She outlines why World Milk Day is such a significant event in the dairy calendar and introduces the theme for this year, emphasising the importance of education and promotion of dairy as a sustainable and healthy form of nutrition. Lukasz outlines the crucial role of dairy nutrition in diets across the world, the different perceptions of dairy in terms of affordability and accessibility and difference in consumer trends, as well as what this means for farmers. They discuss the priorities of global dairy going forwards, where the sector should focus it’s messaging and the need to carefully plan policies so that ambitions for world dairy can be achieved. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Arla Investments

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Bas Padberg) — Fri, 24 May 2024 14:06:25 +0000

On this weeks Podcast we’re joined by the Managing Director of Arla Foods UK, Bas Padberg, Kite Director John Allen, and Senior Consultant Becki Reay who will be discussing Arla and the more than £300 million worth of new UK investments that they’ve announced so far this year. In addition to previously announced plans for its Taw Valley site, Arla have announced that they will be updating and expanding their dairies and creameries at Lockerbie, Stourton, Aylesbury and Westbury. They go on to talk about what this means for the industry and for the future. Chris Walkland gives his usual Milk Market report for this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Dairy Industry Newsletter Conference – dairy modification and collaboration

Thu, 16 May 2024 13:42:37 +0000

This week Will and Ben are joined by Catherine Paice, the Editor of Dairy Industry Newsletter; Kite Director John Allen and Rory Christie who farms in South West Scotland to discuss the Dairy Industry Newsletter Conference. Catherine outlines what they wanted to address at DIN, specifically in terms of global demand, supply and food security, what steps have already been taken and what needs to be done going forward. John and Rory discuss what they took from the conference and stress the importance of processors better understanding their farmers, especially in terms of sustainability, emphasising the need for processors and retailers to find ways of adding value to milk and feed back in at farm level to create secure supply chains for the future. Along with his usual milk market report, Chris covers the Cheese investment in Northern Ireland and what it means for the industry. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

What does it take to be a winner at British Dairying Cream Awards?

Fri, 10 May 2024 13:32:56 +0000

Cream Awards entry form

Contract farming agreements

Fri, 3 May 2024 13:13:16 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Andrew Jones, a farm owner who entered a contract farming arrangement and Kite consultant Tillie Williams to discuss contract farming. Andrew outlines his experience as a business owner and the circumstances that led him to explore contract farming in the first place, including the process of finding/recruiting someone who would be a good fit for his business and how he manages that relationship now. Tillie explains why business owners may choose to explore this as an option, the benefits to both parties and importance of doing your due diligence, as well as things to focus on to ensure a successful partnership. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

USA update inc Dairy Outlook & Bird Flu in Cattle

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:07:18 +0000

Following Chris Walkland’s usual milk market report, Will and Ben are joined by podcast veteran Steve Spencer who is Managing Director of Global Insights at Ever Ag; and Matt Gould who is a Senior Director in Market Analysis at Ever Ag. Steve will be talking about some of the big stories when it comes to US dairy, focussing on the global market. Matt, who is speaking at the DIN conference next month discusses the theme “Dairy annihilation, capitulation, modification or collaboration?” and tells us what he will be talking about. We further discuss bird flu & potential impact on consumer demand and exports and thoughts on billion pound investments in processing to support growing domestic demand of dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Taking control of Johne's disease

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:21:02 +0000

Johne's Webinar

Carbon markets & natural capital

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Eddie Rixon, Emma Turnock, Becki Reay) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:11:06 +0000

Reaching a podcast milestone with episode 200, Ben and Will are joined by Eddie Rixon, a sheep and beef farmer from Oxfordshire and a Land Use Adviser with the Forestry Commission; as well as Emma Turnock, Consultant with Kite to talk about carbon markets. Eddie explains a bit about his own business and how they are utilising natural capital markets for alternative income streams and insetting carbon within their own farm to improve the carbon balance. Emma discusses the potential opportunities for carbon markets, what farmers could be considering, especially for otherwise unprofitable land and what we can learn from the markets elsewhere Europe. They discuss UK wide market regulation and schemes that farmers can benefit from and what opportunities are out there for farmers to ‘inset’ their own carbon, using nature based solutions to help mitigate climate change and manage land to climate goals. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

When the rain stops

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (David Christensen, Paul Macer, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 5 Apr 2024 13:41:56 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Paul Macer, Consultant with Kite and David Christensen, Oxfordshire farmer, to talk about forage management in the context of the incredibly wet weather experienced across the country this past season. Paul and David discuss some of the challenges on farm as a result and outline strategies for when it begins to improve to get on top of things, emphasising the need for patience. They discuss lessons that can be learned from the last year and what farmers can do to plan and mitigate for these kinds of issues in the long-term, touching on how this relates to TCFD and the potential cost to the industry of rectifying these issues, if investment in food security for the future isn’t prioritised by policy makers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Arla investment in Taw Valley and Mozzarella

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Edward Lott, Paul Savage) — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:24:55 +0000

Following Chris Walkland’s milk market report, Will and Ben are joined by Arla Foods UK Agriculture Director, Paul Savage, and Kite Director, Edward Lott. Paul and Edward talk about Arla’s recent announcement - €210 million investment into the Taw Valley plant in Devon for mozzarella production. They then go on to discuss why they chose to invest into the South West, UK and how they expect that this will positively impact the future of UK dairy farming. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Eucolait and global dairy dynamics

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Erik Elgersma, John Allen) — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:36:21 +0000

This week, after Chris’ milk market report, Will is joined by Erik Elgersma, founder and director of Strategic Analysis Services BV and John Allen, Kite Director to discuss their key take homes from the recent Eucolait workshop. John and Erik summarise the subdued short-term and more positive long-term dairy outlook around the world. They discuss the need to think about food as a strategic asset and focus on food security. Plus, how we must prepare for living and farming through climate change and move away from the globalisation of dairy, towards more regionalised supply and price management. They also discuss the need for traders to rely more on market signals rather than market sentiment. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Results from Kite & Cogent EcoFeed project show increased PLI & milk solids & a carbon reduction

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:39:45 +0000

Read the Report here

The future of Red Tractor

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Paul Tompkins) — Fri, 8 Mar 2024 13:56:11 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Paul Tompkins, the Vice Chair of the NFU’s Dairy Board and a Dairy Technical Advisory Committee Member for Red Tractor, to discuss the investigatory report reviewing the governance of Red Tractor. Paul outlines the points of recommendation from The UK Farming Unions and AHDB and how farmers can feed their own thoughts into the second independent review being conducted about what role assurance is going to play in the future. Paul and Chris discuss the need to discontinue the Greener Farms Commitment as a way to rebuild trust and the importance of reengaging farmers in the role that Red Tractor plays. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The long-awaited formal legislation on the regulation of dairy contracts

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Michael Oakes) — Fri, 1 Mar 2024 13:08:01 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report, this week Will and Ben are joined by Michael Oakes, the outgoing NFU Dairy Board Chair, to discuss the long-awaited formal legislation on the regulation of dairy contracts; officially labelled as ‘The fair dealing obligations (milk) regulations 2024’. Michael and Chris talk through the key parts of the legislation and how the guidance document will help both farmers and processors navigate and get the most out of the legislation. They discuss how it will be used in practice, as well as the opportunities with the non-exclusivity aspect, changes in notice periods and leaving terms and how the complaints procedure will work. Lastly, wishing Michael farewell and thanks for all he has done on behalf of the dairy industry as he retires from his role as Dairy Board Chair. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

GenoCells: the next-generation bulk milk sampling test for herd health management

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:38:06 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Richard Miller, Genomics Business Manager at NMR, Rose Jackson, Kite’s Head of Genetics and dairy farmer Rhys Davies for a discussion about NMR’s next-generation in milk recording, GenoCells. Richard explains how GenoCells works, using one bulk milk sample to provide individual cow Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) for the herd and how the technology allows you to detect and identify specific cows for targeted health interventions. Rose outlines the potential benefits to both farms and vets, including increased efficiency and improved cow health and welfare. Rhys explains where they are at in their use of GenoCells, how it compares to traditional milk recording and the practical application and advantages in his block calving herd. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Welsh Farming and Sustainable Farming Scheme

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Neil Blackburn, Aled Jones) — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:39:14 +0000

gov.wales/sustainable-farming-scheme-consultation

How is climate change impacting food security and farm resilience?

Fri, 9 Feb 2024 11:29:57 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report, Will and Ben are joined by not one but two of the Kite team; Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, Head of Sustainability and consultant Emma McAvoy alongside Jason Bayley, a Staffordshire dairy farmer. They share their thoughts on the highlights and mood at Dairy Tech this year where they were also speaking about the effects and impact of climate change on farm. Emma and Hayley discuss a recent survey of farmers which shows the extent of the issue with Jason talking though the challenges he has faced and what investments he’s made to plan for and mitigate. In highlighting these challenges and TCFD requirements for the supply chain and considering the potential threat to milk supply and food security, Hayley reminds listeners that this must be addressed and funded by the whole supply chain.. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Endless possibilities – Incorporating SFI into productive dairying

Fri, 2 Feb 2024 16:26:10 +0000

Following Chris Walklands milk market report, Will and Ben are joined by Ollie Blackburn; farm manager of Dillington Farms, part of the Dillington Estate in Somerset, and Kites Senior Sustainability Consultant Helen Dent. Helen gives an overview of current sustainable farming incentive schemes that are available now, and any changes over the next few years. They discuss how these have been incorporated into Ollies 300 cow unit and how environmental management has helped the farm both in terms of the natural environment and the overall business. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Future of Dairy: with first generation farmer, Matt Stephenson & CEO AB Agri, José Nobre

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 12:27:13 +0000

This week after Chris’ market report and own experience of Semex, Will and Ben are joined by José Nobre, CEO at AB Agri and Matt Stephenson, a dairy farmer from Cumbria for a debrief on their experiences of the Semex conference and discussion about the future of dairy. José outlines the challenges facing the industry and how some of these might be addressed, especially through a more circular approach to farming and a collaborative approach to selling the nutritional benefits of dairy to feed the world. Matt describes his journey into becoming a dairy farmer and how they overcame challenges with the help, advice and inspiration of others, as well as his vision for the future including investing in staff and growing the business sustainably. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Genetic strategies- striving for excellence

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:03:51 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Rhona McAlister, Precision Animal Health Commercial Manager at Zoetis and Rose Jackson, Head of Genetics at Kite to discuss genomics. Rhona outlines how genomic testing has impacted the sector over the last 10 years in the UK, in terms of the value being placed on genomic testing to breed profitable, long-living, healthy and sustainable animals. Rose explains how to navigate through all the information on animal selection and why it’s important to find the right index that fits with your ultimate breeding goals. They also discuss how this ties into antibiotic reduction and why the industry should still be taking this seriously. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Dairy outlook and farmer sentiment for 2024

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:05:38 +0000

For our first podcast of 2024, we start with Chris’ report and what the New Year brings for the markets. Ben is then joined by Philipp Goetz, Lead in Product Development at IFCN and Edward Lott, Director at Kite for a round up of dairy ’23, reflecting back on how it performed before taking a look at the year ahead. They discuss thoughts on Cost of Production, what is likely to most influence costs this year and where the pressures sit. Philipp talks data and experimenting with Artificial Intelligence for future figures as well as the role of farmer sentiment.

Dairy marketing & the new Let's Eat Balanced Campaign

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:10:58 +0000

Mootrition

Let's Eat Balanced

Arla brands and business performance

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Jonathon Dixon, Chris Walkland, Becki Leach) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:50:32 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Jonathan Dixon (JD), Senior Vice-President in Sales for Arla and Becki Leach, Senior Consultant with Kite. JD gives us an overview of consumer demands that have been driving product purchasing and innovation and how this has affected Arla brands and business performance over the last 18 months. He discusses with Becki the signs of recovery both in sales and milk price and what more to expect in 2024. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Past, present & future of Dairy & data

Fri, 8 Dec 2023 16:12:10 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report this week, Will and Ben welcome Andy Warne who has been Managing Director at National Milk Records since 2002 as he announces his retirement. Andy discusses the past, present and future of his career, the NMR business and wider dairy industry and along with John, he shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities for the business and sector going forward. Discussing new products, innovations and technologies, along with the opportunity to collaborate more, utilise data better and deliver against sustainability objectives. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Impact of January tax payments & managing cash flow

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Lucie Hammond, Chris Walkland, David Keiley) — Fri, 1 Dec 2023 13:50:17 +0000

After a glimmer of hope in Chris’ market report this week and some steps in a positive direction, Will is joined by Lucie Hammond Partner at Hazlewoods Accountancy and David Keiley, Senior Consultant with Kite to focus on how to manage tax payments due this January to manage some of the cash flow implications. David outlines some of the challenges facing farmers in terms of cash flow following the downturn this year, focusing on the importance of budgeting and how accountants and consultants can work together to help businesses forecast cashflows . Lucie talks through some of the options for businesses showing profits in terms of tax, options for capital investments, on & off farm, as well as things to be aware of before committing to these investments. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

A nitrate update from Ireland and implications for the UK

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Steve Arthur, Emma McAvoy, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 16:42:40 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report and a comment on this week's announcement on AHDB's new CEO, Will and Ben are joined by Steve Arthur, Chair of the Irish Farmers Association Dairy Committee and a dairy farmer in County Wicklow and Emma McAvoy a Consultant with Kite, to discuss dairy farming in Ireland and the situation regarding nitrate level restrictions. Steve gives an overview of the milk year in Ireland and how it’s been for farmers there including fixed milk price schemes and lessons learned in the last 12 months. Steve outlines the nitrate restrictions and excretion bands and the impact these have had on farmers, especially the small and medium producers as well as the pressure being felt to reduce cow numbers. Emma outlines what changes farmers will need to be making to meet these reduction targets, as well as what people are doing in areas of the UK and the likelihood of the restrictions being implemented elsewhere. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Oxford Farming Conference: The Power of Diversity

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Abi Kay, Becki Leach, Will Evans, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:41:26 +0000

www.ofc.org.uk

Farmers weekly Survey

Dairy Down Under - liquid gold, family strength & full of opportunities

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 15:54:10 +0000

After Chris’ report this week, Ben is joined by Rachael McGrath, Aussie dairy farmer, Steve Spencer, of Freshagenda and John Allen, Director at Kite for an update on Dairy Down Under. Steve gives us an overview of the highs and lows there over the last few months including the impact of the high milk price, volatility of the climate and what the relationship looks like between retailers and dairy farmers. Rachael gives us an insight onto her family farm and what the previous and current year has looked like including the impact of milk price, weather and the post Covid labour market. They give their thoughts on the EU Trade negotiations and discuss the challenges of the landscape in terms of connecting people, especially the next generation, comparing the investment in young farmers by processors in the UK vs Aus. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Agritechnica and German Dairy - Getting Better Not Bigger

Fri, 3 Nov 2023 12:58:13 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report this week, Will and Becki are joined by Cord Lilie, German dairy farmer and board member for DLG dairy farmers (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society) and Nicola Bock who is a Dairy and Beef Project Manager for the DLG to discuss dairy farming in Germany and the upcoming Agritechnica trade fair. Cord outlines what dairy production looks like in Germany and with similar issues to here in the UK, he discusses some of those affecting their dairy farmers including the labour situation, restrictions on buildings and welfare requirements from the retailers, as well as how this leaves current sentiment amongst farmers. Cord also explains what consumer requirements look like in terms of priorities and how GMO free milk has become almost standard across dairy producers. Nicola outlines some of the highlights at Agritechnica and what visitors can look forward to at the show, with an exciting announcement regarding the women in Ag Award. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Sustainability and Dairy priorities around the world

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Brian Lindsay, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:53:26 +0000

After Chris’ usual milk market report, flying solo this week, Ben is joined by Brian Lindsay, the Sustainability Lead at Global Dairy Platform and Director of Dairy Sustainability Framework & John Allen, Director with Kite to discuss sustainability and Dairy priorities around the world. Returning from a recent trip to the US at the IDF World Dairy Summit, John and Brian discuss their key take homes, summarising the differences between US and EU sustainability plans, government priorities and support, as well as the need to widen narrative on the benefits of dairy, especially in terms of nutrition and food security. Brian also outlines the objectives of the Dairy Sustainability Framework which aims to build the narrative on the continuous sustainability improvement of the global dairy sector and discusses with John, the different sustainability challenges and priorities faced elsewhere in the world, as well as what the European dairy sector can learn from these. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Mona Dairy - the new cheese on the block

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 13:50:34 +0000

Firstly, more positive news from Chris Walkland on the milk market report this week, then Will & Ben are joined by Ronald Akkerman, co-founder and CEO of Mona Dairy, as well as Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, Kite’s Head of Sustainability, to discuss cheese production and sustainability. Ronald introduces the business, how it came to be as well as their ambition for the future. He talks through the challenging landscape for a cheese producer including the need to have intelligent conversations with retailers about long-term certainty and security of supply. Wanting to take a lead on sustainability, he explains what they are doing to head towards net zero, including the use of electric haulage and focus on an efficient factory. Hayley outlines the current and future sustainability agenda for dairy production and the need to add value to absorb some of the costs, referencing the recent cheese report and the need to identify market opportunities, converting milk to cheese as efficiently as possible. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Can AHDB deliver more value to dairy farmers with a levy increase?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Lyndon Edwards, Becki Leach, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:50:44 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report this week, Will, Ben and Becki are joined by Lyndon Edwards, AHDB’s Dairy Sector Council Chair and a dairy, beef and arable farmer from near Chepstow. Lyndon outlines how farmer feedback has influenced the sector priorities and delivery over the previous months, including increasing their work on dairy marketing, exports and reputation management and a recent trip to Anuga to promote dairy products across the globe. They discuss the proposed levy increase and how this would enable further work in these areas plus other areas of focus to deliver value back to farm. Lyndon discusses with Becki what they are doing to change the narrative around dairy emissions, reframing the cow as the hero in the story and the need to concentrate on the positive benefits of dairy. They also touch upon the recently appointed five extra agri-food attachés from the government to help boost the UK’s agri-food export and what this could mean for the industry and future of dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Discover Ag Podcast

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 12:51:47 +0000

https://www.thehandsthatfeedus.com/podcast

IFCN Conference – valorizing sustainability & the standardisation of carbon foot-printing tools

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:05:57 +0000

After Chris’ milk market report this week Will and Ben are joined by John McCurdy, Technical Director at Intellync and Helen Dent, Senior Consultant at Kite, who along with Becki discuss the take homes from the IFCN Supporters Conference which took place in Chester this week. They discuss some of the key themes and take homes from the conference, including a consensus of international guests being that there is a positive outlook for dairy long-term, with a need to promote more positively the health and taste benefits. They also discuss the wider sustainability challenges including how we valorize sustainability, enabling dairy farmers to feed the world sustainably and the standardisation of tools to measure carbon foot-printing on farm and why this is so important, what it means for farmers and for the wider industry. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Chewing the Cud on the UK Cheddar Market

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Erik Elgersma, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:40:04 +0000

Chewing the Cud Report

Efficiently Achieving 1000kg

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 11:58:35 +0000

We first discussed this back in episode 157, but now with a published report, Will and Ben are joined by dairy farmer Robin Campbell and Kite’s Head of Genetics; Rose Jackson, to discuss how some farms are consistently achieving 1000kg of fat and protein per cow, per year. Rose starts by giving us some context to the ‘Efficiently Achieving 1000kg report’ including the key focus areas, findings and take homes including the impact the first 50 days of a heifers life can have on lifetime performance. Robin introduces his business and shares his inspiration for making changes on farm to improve cow environment and how a focus on genetics has impacted cow performance. Robin & Rose also discuss opportunities for the future, what other farms can learn from this report and how this information will help the wider dairy industry. Not forgetting our usual milk market report from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

OMSCO relaunches as Organic Herd

Fri, 8 Sep 2023 16:08:45 +0000

After our usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Will is joined this week by Martyn Anthony, CEO of the now Organic Herd & David Keiley, Senior Consultant with Kite to discuss the rebrand from OMSCO. Martyn talks through the process and his experience of the rebrand and new product development, driven by achieving value for members & the long-term growth strategy. He discusses the new product lines, designed to engage the next generation of consumers and re-establish organic dairy in the market place. David outlines the unprecedented challenges faced by organic dairy farms over the last few years and the resilience shown by these of these farmers, driven by their belief in the ethics and sustainability that lie behind the product. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

EP170 : Farmer Time

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Tom Martin, John Towers, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 1 Sep 2023 15:14:51 +0000

This Week, Chris delivers his market update from the Netherlands and Ireland and joining him is ‘Farmer Tom’, Tom Martin: Founder of Farmer Time and Lancashire Dairy Farmer: John Towers. Tom developed his idea of linking a farmer with a teacher, anywhere within the UK, to deliver short fortnightly sessions to school children of all ages, relating the academic curriculum to different aspects of farming and food production. As an active Farmer Time participant, John describes his sessions as the highlight of his Week and is passionate about interacting with the children, telling the story of farming, and seeing how his messages are dissected and applied to different topics being covered in school, whether it be Food Technology, Textiles or Animal Biology etc. Farmer Time allows farming to have a positive voice in the education of children (future consumers!) and connecting them with agriculture. The programme is currently being delivered to 2% of school children and Tom wants to take this to 10% but needs 3000 farmers to help him reach this target. Would you be willing to be part of this fantastic scheme? Take a listen and see what you think. For more info, visit www.farmertime.uk Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Assessing global dairy production & demand with IFCN

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Philipp Goetz, Becki Leach, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:03:19 +0000

Back from his travels, Chris brings us his milk market report and along with Will, Ben and Becki are joined from Germany by Philipp Goetz, Lead in Product Development at IFCN for some insight on their latest figures on global dairy production and demand; telling the stories behind the data. With production growth slowing, Philipp outlines the trends and sentiment across the world and Chris brings us up to speed on dairy trading after the summer break. Philipp also discusses the short and longer-term factors influencing production including changing herd sizes and demographic of dairy farmers across the world. Philipp and Chris discuss cost of production, how margins are looking at the moment and predicted changes over time, also taking a look at dairy consumption data. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Fertiliser markets, forage stocks & milk flows

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Finley Hawkins, Becki Leach, Paul Macer) — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 08:43:38 +0000

This week on the podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Finley Hawkins; Southern Fertiliser Business Development Manager at Frontier Agriculture and Principal Consultant at Kite; Paul Macer to discuss the current fertiliser markets following the news that CF Fertilisers is permanently closing its ammonia production plant at Billingham. Fin shares his thoughts on the outlook for gas prices and the knock on effect on fertiliser pricing for next season before Paul goes on to describe the levels and quality of forage he is seeing on farm along with the resultant impact and outlook for milk flows. Chris Walkland once again sends a milk market update from his holidays. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Defining and finding the skills for the future of dairy farming

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:49:54 +0000

We couldn't go two weeks without a milk market update so Chris has sent us one all the way from Ireland to keep us going till he’s back. Will and Ben then welcome James Allen from New Zealand based ag consultancy Agfirst Waikato who is currently the UK, alongside his wife Kerry Allen and Becki Leach, Senior consultant at Kite to discuss their respective commitments to the future of dairy. James firstly gives us an update on milk price in NZ and current farmer sentiment, moving on to discuss his Nuffield scholarship which is looking at the role of the rural/agricultural consultant and what this role might looks like in the future. He outlines what he’s learned so far from his travels in the US and UK and the importance of utilising the data available out there on farm, comparing and contrasting consultancy between the US, UK and NZ and the value rural professionals provide to the farmer. Kerry explains her work to influence the NZ school curriculum, changing the perception of agriculture to benefit students in over 100 schools, encouraging more young people into the sector and supply chain and to ultimately feed the world. Becki briefly touches on the news from AB Agri on the acquisition of NMR, which will help provide even more insight in helping dairy prosper for the long term. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Leading yourself & others in agriculture

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Manley, Becki Leach) — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 14:16:45 +0000

With Chris Walkland away on holiday there’s no milk market report this week so Will and Ben go straight into the discussion on leadership and personal resilience with Chris Manley, Nuffield Scholar and Becki Leach, Senior Consultant at Kite. Chris outlines his Nuffield scholarship focusing on leadership, explaining where his interest first came from and how it developed. Chris and Becki discuss how this relates to leadership on farm and the importance of identifying leaders in your business & encouraging growth in others. They also discuss how this extends to personal leadership including managing your mental health and Chris explains the ‘#walkwithme’ campaign he started last year, encouraging the people to talk about their mental health and why he feels it’s important to normalise these discussions. He also describes how he came up with his own personal ‘tool box’ to strengthen his own mental wellbeing, creating simple, positive habits to keep himself mentally fit. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Looking to the next generation and a positive future for dairy

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:47:19 +0000

With a much more positive podcast this week, even including a little bit of positivity from Chris and his report, Will and Ben are joined Mary Dent, Yorkshire farmer and Eliot Greenfield, Consultant at Kite to talk about the next generation and what they have to offer to the future of dairy. Mary introduces her family farm and what brought her back into dairy farming after exploring a career outside the industry, including what transferable skills she brought back with her and how these are benefitting the family business. Eliot introduces Kites new Accelerator group and the importance of these networks to support the next generation to make the most of their enthusiasm and the new perspective they offer. Eliot also discusses with Becki the wealth of opportunities for young people across the agricultural industry and the positive impact the new generation will have. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

NFU Dairy Production Intentions Survey & the future for dairy

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:09:39 +0000

Take part in the survey here

A dairy market & cost of production update from New Zealand

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:57:41 +0000

After another less than cheery milk market report from Chris this week, Will and Ben are joined by Phil Journeaux, an agricultural consultant and economist with AgFirst Waikato & John Allen, Director at Kite for an update on dairy in New Zealand. Firstly, looking back at last season for some context, Phil moves on to give some insight into outlook for this season, talking costs, inflation, interest rates and Cost of Production for NZ farmers. With John bringing it back to the UK, comparing the situation here and looking onto later this year in the UK, discussing volatility in the markets with Chris. We couldn’t cover all of this without discussing what farmers are doing to mitigate some of these negative impacts and the importance of business resilience and keeping a level head in down cycles. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Using the ‘EcoFeed’ genomic traits to improve feed efficiency & a gloomy milk market report

Thu, 6 Jul 2023 11:32:43 +0000

After a very gloomy report from Chris Walkland, we move into something more positive to help farmers with those ever-rising costs; Will and Ben are joined by Jocelyn Johnson, research scientist with STgenetics in the USA (parent company of Cogent) and Rose Jackson, Kite’s Head of Genetics to tell us all about the ‘EcoFeed’ index. Jocelyn introduces STgenetics and explains the driver behind looking for these genomic traits, how the index was developed and the opportunity it presents to help reduce costs as well as the carbon footprint. Rose explains the EcoFeed genomic traits (both cow and heifer) and the science behind it as a measure of feed efficiency. They discuss why these traits might be of interest to dairy farmers especially now we are starting to see the impact of the EcoFeed trial over here in the UK. With feed as one of the biggest financial costs and biggest impact in terms of our carbon footprint, they discuss how these genomic predictions translate on a practical basis to the amount of feed that a farm might save on an individual level and therefore how it might help to influence decision making on farm and therefore improve efficiencies. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

An update on commodity & feed markets, Cost Of Production & milk flows

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:44:15 +0000

This week after Chris’ milk market report, Will is joined by James Bolesworth, Managing Director at CRM AgriCommodities and Edward Lott, Kite Director for an update on feed markets, Cost of Production and milk flows. James gives an update on current commodity prices and a round-up of where the feed markets have been over the last few months. He shares his thoughts on the impact of the Russia/Ukraine situation, specifically looking at news from the weekend and how this has and could influence commodity markets further. James also outlines harvest prospects as we approach the season in the UK as well as further afield. Edward updates us on how forage is looking now a lot of the UK has seen some rain and the subsequent outlook on Cost of Production in the context of forage stocks and feed prices, milk price:feed price ration and impact on milk production. They also discuss other factors to be aware of in the markets and wider issues currently driving sentiment. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

AHDB levy increase & where will the money be spent?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Mike King, Becki Leach, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:22:57 +0000

With discussions of a potential increase in levy rates on the table, Dairy Sector Council Member and Gloucestershire farmer; Mike King joins Kite’s Senior Consultant; Becki Leach to talk through how inflation has played a part in making this decision, the process for getting the increase implemented and realistically, how often the levy should be reviewed. With AHDB’s current priorities focusing on defending the reputation of dairy farmers and the health and welfare of animals, where should the next focus be in terms of spending and what happens if they don’t deliver with the extra funding. With Chris Walkland giving his weekly market update, you are in for a great listen! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

IFCN & the future of world dairy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Torsten Hemme, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:51:25 +0000

This week after Chris’ milk market report, Ben is joined by Torsten Hemme, IFCN founder and John Allen, Kite Director to talk about the International Farm Comparison Network. Torsten briefly talks through the background to IFCN and the changes we’ve seen over time since it was established in 2000, as well as the main talking points and findings presented at the most recent researcher conference in Riga last week. John and Torsten discuss the challenges for world dairy and the outlook and trends from the varying markets across the globe. They also outline what they see as the key areas of research for the dairy industry and the importance of reconnecting farmers and consumers for the future of dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Regenerative Ag at RABDF's Down to Earth Events

Fri, 9 Jun 2023 15:16:48 +0000

https://projectdowntoearth.co.uk/

https://torpenhoworganic.co.uk/

Efficient dairying - achieving 1000kg milk solids

Thu, 1 Jun 2023 15:39:23 +0000

The week’s podcast is perfectly timed for World Milk Day. After Chris’ usual milk market report, Will is joined by Joe Ives, Hampshire based dairy farmer and Maimie Sloan, Kite Consultant, to discuss Kite’s 1000Kgs project which examines herds achieving (or very nearly achieving) 1000kg of milk solids per cow per year. Maimie gives some background to the project, why Kite have decided to look at this and what kite hope to achieve. As one of the farmers involved in the project, Joe gives some insight into his business discussing his high standard of KPI’s, technical performance and recognising the importance of having a strong and passionate team on farm to achieve these. He explains how robots have had a positive impact on the running of the farm, overall efficiencies and the health and welfare of the herd. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

EP156: DIN Conference: Adding Value & Monetising Sustainability

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Catherine Paice, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons) — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:57:46 +0000

On the podcast this week we are joined by DIN’s Editor & Director of Eden Publishing; Catherine Paice and Kite’s Head of Sustainability; Hayley Campbell-Gibbons who come together to talk through why monetising sustainability was the focus for this year’s DIN conference. They discuss the emphasis on Sustainability internationally and how dairy processors and traders are aligned on demonstrating improved sustainability within the supply chain, viewing it as an investment in securing the future of dairy consumption. They share details of discussions on how to monetise sustainability delivery and ensure that no one is left behind on improving sustainability whilst maintaining profitability, in their business. As always Chris Walkland gives us his weekly milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

EP155: Peak Milk & Forage: Quality over Quantity

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (eliot greenfield, Becki Leach, Paul Macer) — Thu, 18 May 2023 14:09:19 +0000

This Week, Chris Walkland gives us his usual market update which leads us perfectly into a great discussion with Kite’s very own Paul Macer, Eliot Greenfield, and Becki Leach to deliberate if we have reached peak milk for 2023 and where we can expect volumes to go from here. With Eliot based in the North and Paul based in the South, they consider how the slow spring and catchy weather is affecting grass growth, first cut, forage quantities and quality and how all of this, along with milk price is impacting farm sentiment. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Food, Farming and the Current UK Political Landscape

Fri, 12 May 2023 13:50:40 +0000

Following Chris Walklands dairy market update, former Deputy President of the NFU and Hertfordshire farmer Stuart Roberts joins Kite’s John Allen and Becki Leach to talk about his role advising the Lib Dems on their Food and Farming policy and how important it is in supporting food security whilst also keeping climate change and environmental factors at the forefront. Stuart talks in length about the impact of a potential hung parliament affecting the Farming policy in the future and, off the back of a recently published article, Stuart, John, and Chris debate if British farming is facing an existential crisis. A fantastic listen bursting with information! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Talking & tasting Farmhouse Cheese fit for a King with Courtyard Dairy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Andy Swinscoe, Lucy McClymont, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 5 May 2023 15:25:32 +0000

The Courtyard Dairy

Music

You Got Jazz by Diego Nava (Mixkit)

Cheese glorious cheese commercial from 1987 Pulled from Betamax tape of May 17th 1987 broadcast of KING 5 Seattle (NBC)

India Dairy Update including Lumpy Cow Disease, production & consumption shifts

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Prashant Tripathi, John Allen) — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:24:51 +0000

A depleted podcast team this week as we are missing both Ben and Chris, but there is no shortage of fantastic discussion as Will is joined by Prashant Tripathi, Director of Market Development at Solera Advisors in Germany and John Allen, Kite Director for an update and discussion on dairy in India. Prashant talks about lumpy cow disease which is currently affecting cattle in India and discusses the impact on farmers, local communities and domestic milk volumes up to National level. Prashant and John go on to discuss the nutritional and political importance of dairy in India, and the challenge of keeping dairy products affordable for poorer communities and to keep rural communities thriving. They discuss consumption and production shifts, import opportunities and a more recent focus on carbon emission reduction. John touches on the significance of the Muller milk price hold this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Highlights of the latest proof run and the methane index numbers

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Drew Sloan, Rose Jackson, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:43:02 +0000

After Chris Walkland’s milk market report this week, Will and Ben welcome Drew Sloan, Vice President in Corporate Development Semex and Rose Jackson, Senior Consultant & Kite. Rose talks through the highlights from the latest April proof run and Drew joins to talk through the numbers and data for the methane emission trait. Together they discuss the practical applications of genomic data on farm and in context of the wider sustainability agenda. Drew also outlines the upcoming Semex Roadshows which our very own Chris will be attending. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The benefit that Nuffield Farming Scholarships provide to the industry

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Rich Walker, Charlotte Merson, Tom Rawson) — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:07:02 +0000

This week after Chris’ milk market report, Ben and Will are joined by Rich Walker, dairy farmer from South West Scotland and 2019 Nuffield Scholar to talk us through the findings of his Scholarship looking at ‘British Dairy Exports: The Opportunities and Challenges. We are also joined by Tom Rawson, current Vice Chair of Nuffield’s trustees & a Director of Evolution Farming who along with Rich, take us through their Nuffield journeys; what the Scholarship offered them as individuals in the short-term, including the learning and travel experiences, as well as the ongoing opportunities for them and their businesses. They also discuss the inspiration they’ve gained from others around the globe, not forgetting what they see as the wider value for the industry. Charlotte Merson, Nuffield’s Alumni Officer joins us to explain what the Scholarship involves, how it’s awarded as well as the application process and deadline this year. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Feed and Forage Efficiency

Thu, 6 Apr 2023 12:57:38 +0000

After Chris Walkland’s milk market report, joining Ben this week are Maimie Sloan, Technical Consultant with Kite and Henry Lewis, Herefordshire based dairy farmer to discuss feed and forage efficiency on farm. Maimie outlines what she sees as the important things to put in in place to achieve ideal feed efficiency and reduce cost per litre without compromising elsewhere. Henry gives us a forage making masterclass, taking us through his well refined system including their fertiliser/slurry application, how they utilise their multi-cut system and the importance of consistency, as well as their plans for the rest of the year. Maimie also gives a general feed market update, looking at the year ahead with some tips for farmers in terms of a forward strategy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

EP148:Eucolait debrief - Will falling milk prices prompt a 2-tier dairy market?

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:11:39 +0000

EP148: Eucolait 2023 This Week, Chris Walkland kicks us off with his usual market update which continues to be down beat as it has been in recent weeks, and further emphasised by today’s announcement from Arla of the significant but not unexpected reduction for April. John and Chris go on to discuss the inevitability of others following suit and a substantial differential emerging between processors selling into retail and commodity markets. This further illustrates the points John made at the IFCN-Eucolait Outlook Workshop in Brussels this week, regarding the likelihood that we will see a two-tier dairy market in the future. Who better to join John and Chris to drill into the sustainability requirements of the retail markets than Kites recently appointed Head of Sustainability, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons. Hayley was invited to the Dairy UK meeting earlier this week which saw those across the industry map out how they plan to reduce scope 3 emissions across the supply chain. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Farmer Protest Party Election Win & Dutch Politics

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Erik Elgersma) — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:58:11 +0000

Chris Walkland kicks of this week’s podcast with his market update and he is followed by Erik Elgersma; Founder & Director of Strategic Analysis Services BV who joins John Allen to delve deeper into the developments of the Dutch situation and address the unexpected winner of the recent provincial elections - The Farmer Citizen Movement Party. They discuss structure of the Dutch Parliament and senate, who The Farmer Citizen Movement Party are and what this means for Dutch politics along with sharing their thoughts on how other Governments within the EU and UK could view the situation. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

AHDB Veganuary analysis & consumer buying behaviour

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Grace Randall, Helen Dent, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 14:01:10 +0000

AHDB - Veganuary article

Tribute to Ian Potter 22 May 1960 – 27 February 2023

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:23:38 +0000

Ian Potter's Celebration of Life event ipmsltd.co.uk

Gold Cup Winners - The Logan Family

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Alistair Logan, David Keiley, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 3 Mar 2023 17:02:09 +0000

Innovate UK

Dates - opens for applications from 17th April - 31st May 2023.

The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle & a dairy update from NZ

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Edward Lott, James Allen) — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 13:33:22 +0000

After our usual milk market report from Chris, Will and Ben are joined by James Allen, CEO of Agfirst in New Zealand and Edward Lott, Kite Director to discuss the current dairy outlook in NZ. James outlines the devastating consequences of Cyclone Gabrielle on the north island of the country and the impact on horticulture and dairy farming in these areas. James and Edward discuss more broadly this dairy season and the challenges NZ farmers are facing including what is driving increased costs for farmers there, how environmental constraints are impacting on production & how this compares with the UK. They discuss what farmers in NZ are doing to address their environmental impact as well as some of the other challenges, including how finding and retaining good staff in a restricted labour market, is crucial to the resilience of the business. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Strengthening the 'Digital Dairy Chain' in Cumbria and South West Scotland

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (David Keiley, Chris Walkland, Stuart Martin) — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:58:23 +0000

Digital Dairy Chain Website

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The Dutch Government's Sustainability Policy

Thu, 9 Feb 2023 15:33:21 +0000

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EP140: DairyTech Cost of Production and the Importance of Cash Break Even Milk Price

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Kite Consulting) — Fri, 3 Feb 2023 16:25:05 +0000

EP140 – DairyTech Cost of Production and the importance of Cash Break Even Milk Price Joining Ben Eagle this week on the podcast is Devon Dairy Farmer Cath Ratcliffe and Kite Director Edward Lott. Chris’ milk market report bucks the trend of recent weeks with glimmers of positivity following some shifts in market sentiment and trading and Cath and Ed continue a positive outlook, albeit discussing some of the cost of production challenges. Cath shares her thoughts on the importance of monitoring costs, benchmarking and knowing her breakeven milk price to help her to manage her business. Edward shares his advice on why, in bearish milk market, dairy farmers should also be calculating their CASH breakeven milk price. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Wyke Farms - Cheese price challenges

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Rich Clothier, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:55:58 +0000

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Semex announce new genomic test to index for methane

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Drew Sloan, Rose Jackson, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:37:19 +0000

We couldn’t discuss anything other than Semex conference this week so after Chris’ milk market report, Will and Ben are joined by Drew Sloan, Vice President in Corporate Development at Semex and Rose Jackson, Senior Consultant and Head of Genetics in Kite to do just this. Rose and Drew discuss the power of genetics to improve the environmental credential of the industry, even more so with the announcement from Semex regarding development of their genomic test to identify methane output, leading the way to low methane cows. They discuss how this will work in practice and what it could mean for the industry, looking ahead to create value for farmers in the future and what opportunities it creates for the wider sustainability agenda. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The importance of being proactive & maintaining personal resilience

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:00:16 +0000

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The New Muller Milk Contract

Wed, 4 Jan 2023 11:48:11 +0000

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Morrisons Farmer Christmas and Muller Contract Pricing Announcement

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Sophie Throup, Chris Walkland, David Keiley) — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:54:10 +0000

In our final podcast of 2022, Chris’ milk market report includes his thoughts on Mullers milk contract pricing announcement this morning, then Will and Ben are joined by Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Sustainable Sourcing at Morrisons and David Keiley, Kite Senior Consultant at Kite to talk about the Morrisons “Farmer Christmas” advert. Sophie explains why they decided to showcase farmers in their advert again this year and discusses with David how it relates to Morrisons wider strategy in terms of linking up farmers with consumers, as well as meeting their sustainability targets. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

How Arla’s sustainability incentive has been received by farmers & retailers

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Paul Savage, Chris Walkland, Becki Leach) — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:18:53 +0000

Will and Ben are joined this week by Paul Savage, UK Agriculture Director for Arla, Becki Leach, Senior Consultant for Kite and of course Chris Walkland for his milk market report. Paul outlines how Arla’s sustainability incentive has been received by farmers and retailers so far, the key focus areas on farm and how they are going to deliver the sustainability objectives. He discusses with Becki how programmes such as R500 can help deliver these changes and how this aligns with retailer priorities for sustainability, as well as how the message is being put across to consumers to help meet their expectations. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The multiple opportunities for US dairy

Fri, 9 Dec 2022 16:51:46 +0000

This week after the milk market update from Chris, Will and Ben are joined by Lucas Fuess, Director of Dairy Market Intelligence at Highground Dairy and John Allen from Kite for an update on the US dairy situation. Lucas outlines what their current milk output looks like as well as the milk price, input prices and market outlook. He discusses with John the limited constraints and multiple opportunities presented for US dairy, including export opportunities and on-going investment in processing capacity. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Secure milk price & Kite's next chapter as part of the AB Agri Network

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, John Allen, Edward Lott) — Fri, 2 Dec 2022 15:59:12 +0000

Even Chris Walkland’s Milk Market report couldn’t dampen the excitement as Kite’s very own J-Edward duo, John Allen and Edward Lott share the news and more details about Kite's next chapter following the acquisition by AB Agri. Plus, they discuss the most recently updated COP figures including break even milk price, as well as the history of the COP model and why there is a need to move from break even milk price to a secure milk price. They emphasise that to avoid supply issues seen in other sectors ,the industry need to recognise the input and investment costs required in the coming months and years and this needs to be reflected in a secure milk price Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Opportunities for the next generation of #TeamDairy

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 15:20:57 +0000

After a milk market report from Chris Walkland, Will and Ben are joined this week by two of the newest members to join the Kite team; Marcus Doig and Maimie Sloan. They share their thoughts on the future of dairy, the outlook and opportunities they see for the next generation and the advice they would give to those looking to pursue a career in agriculture. They go on to discuss their respective farming backgrounds, route into dairy (and the Kite team) and what motivates them Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Dairy Discussions & Climate Commitments at COP27

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Kite Consulting) — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 17:06:32 +0000

EP130: Dairy Discussions & Climate Commitments at COP27 On this week’s episode, Chris Walkland is on hand to provide a milk market update and host Ben Eagle is joined by Sarah Simpson; Director at Simpson Farms Ltd and Brian Lyndsay; Sustainability Lead at Global Dairy Platform. They discussed the level of Agricultural representation at COP27, the dairy discussions taking place at the event and the climate commitments made along with the sometimes misaligned policy at local level. They also discuss the work of the Global Dairy Platform including the recently agreed Carbon Sequestration methodology, GWP* and its possible unintended consequences along with the challenges of implementing climate agreements at farm level. Another must listen episode! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Does the AHDB strategy deliver for farmers?

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 14:24:27 +0000

After the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Will Jackson, Divisional Director for Engagement and Strategy at the AHDB and Ed Towers, dairy farmer from Brades Farm to discuss the future direction of ADHB. After a period of reflection and consultation with levy payers, Will outlines the main changes that have come about, the ‘3 pillars’ they will be focusing on in the future, as well as the areas they will look to scale back or streamline. Ed outlines his feedback on these changes as a levy payer and how he sees value is added to his business. They discuss the challenges and opportunities for AHDB, especially in terms of a collaborative approach with other organisations and where they are still able to fill the gaps to add value for the dairy and wider food industry. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Ukraine, Russia & Milk Markets

Fri, 4 Nov 2022 16:19:09 +0000

After the recording of this podcast this morning Chris picked up some news from a trader that a floor in the butter market may have been reached, with Q1 prices slightly higher than yesterday. Fingers crossed and watch this space next week!

Australia update - milk output down and declining

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Steve Spencer, John Allen) — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 15:55:54 +0000

The slideshow referenced in the podcast can be found by following this link

Welsh NVZs Update

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Aled Jones, Neil Blackburn, Chris Walkland) — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 15:50:45 +0000

Chris Walkland unfortunately doesn’t have much positive news in his milk market report this week on the Kite podcast but happily there is much more positivity amongst this week’s guests; NFU Cymru President; Aled Jones and Kite Managing Partner; Neil Blackburn. They both join Will Evans this week to discuss the recent announcement on the amendment of the Welsh NVZ regulations which see a delay in the implementation date, a commitment to explore alternative technological solutions and will allow farmers to apply for a derogation in relation to the 170Kg/Ha N limit. They also discuss how farms are continuing to prepare, including funding opportunities for infrastructure investments and what the wider implications are of this announcement for devolved nations. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The New Arla Sustainability Incentive

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Arthur Fearnall, Chris Walkland, Ainsley Baker) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:41:19 +0000

This week Will and Ben are joined by Arthur Fearnall, Arla Board member (one of his many titles) and Ainsley Baker, Kite Partner to discuss Arla’s new sustainability incentive, as well as Chris Walkland for our usual market report. Arthur outlines Arla’s wider sustainability commitments, how they have been working towards these and how the sustainability incentive fits in. He describes the different areas that they are focusing on within the points system of the incentive and what it involves for Arla farmers. He discusses with Ainsley how they have worked closely with farmers to come up with the model and the feedback they’ve received so far, as well as how they are going to accurately measure the sustainability improvements and begin to roll this out. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

A review of retailer sustainability targets and progress

Thu, 6 Oct 2022 14:56:41 +0000

View the report discussed in the podcast on the Kite website here

Oxbury New Gen, Currency, Inflation and Interest Rates

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 15:54:00 +0000

On this weeks podcast Will Evans is joined by the Managing Director of Oxbury Bank, Nick Evans and Kites Jess Buss. They discuss the impact of this weeks turbulent financial events including currency, rising interest rates and what this means for inflation, along with Oxburys New Gen finance offer. Plus there is a discussion on what this means practically at farm level, what opportunities it presents and how to manage their business in a changing financial environment. As always we have the usual Milk Market Report from Chris Walkland Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Cream Awards Young Dairy Farmer of the Year 2022

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Heydon Dark, Chris Walkland, Becki Leach) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:42:19 +0000

This week Will and Ben welcome and congratulate Heydon Dark, Cornish dairy farmer and winner of the Cream Awards Young Dairy Farmer of the Year Award. This year, it was sponsored by Kite and with producer and Senior Consultant Becki, one of the judges, Becki outlines why Heydon stood out to her. Heydon describes the core values of his farming business and his journey so far, including navigating through the challenges of the early years. He also discusses how he came to decide on his current system and why this works for him and his lifestyle, as well as the opportunities and priorities for the future. We also ask Heydon what advice he would give to young farmers starting out on their own journey. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Dairymen supplement in The Grocer 'Could dairy become a luxury'

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Kevin White) — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:02:02 +0000

Today Will and Ben are joined by Kevin White, Fresh Foods Editor of The Grocer and John Allen, a Managing Partner at Kite to discuss The Dairymen Report which features results from a recent consumer survey, The State of a Nation, completed in July this year. They discuss key features of interest including consumer trends in dairy buying and several reasons for a recent reduction in consumption in the UK. They also discuss the need to better communicate the message of nutrient density to these consumers and campaigns to add value to dairy. Chris Walkland gives us his usual milk market report but also a ‘shopping basket’ update comparing the latest prices across dairy and plant-based alternatives. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Cream Awards John Beckett Memorial Trophy winner Willsbro Holsteins & Resilience Conference Summary

Fri, 9 Sep 2022 16:59:00 +0000

After scooping the John Beckett memorial cup plus two other Cream Awards last night, Cornish farmer Anthony Wills of Willsbro Holstein joins host Ben Eagle to tell us a bit about his business, the cows, the family and what makes his business resilient. John and Becki comment on the calibre of entries for the Kite sponsored Young Farmer category and discuss the qualities required to thrive in the sector and how the finalists demonstrated these. Plus a small mention for another important award winner. Chris Walkland gives us a detailed milk market update before they all discuss the key themes from yesterday’s Dairy Resilience 2030 Conference, including sustainability, genetics, and people. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Will sustained low milk volumes continue?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Paul Macer, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 2 Sep 2022 15:56:42 +0000

Back after a week off, Will and Ben are joined by Paul Macer, Partner at Kite Consulting and Chris Walkland, not just for his usual report, but for in-dept look at the milk markets. With these currently being guided by the sustained lower than average milk volumes, they discuss the pressure being felt by the processing sector on demand and availability. Paul also shares the results of the forage survey recently sent out by Kite, which gives some context for the outlook on milk volumes for this autumn. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Future Proofing your Farm Business

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Chamberlain, Chris Flint, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:18:20 +0000

After the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Ben is joined John Chamberlain, Derbyshire based farmer and Chris Flint, Managing Consultant and Partner at Kite, to talk about the challenges this year has brought and future proofing your farm business. John explains what they have already put in place on the farm to manage winter feed stocks and cash flow, as well as the key capital investments they have made including the use of grants available. Chris talks through a number different options for investment and how these could be prioritised, including small adjustments to existing structures, renewables and the importance in investing in people. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Ukrainian-Russian export agreement & drought impact on feed stocks

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, James Bolesworth, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 15:13:26 +0000

Will and Ben are joined by James Bolesworth, Managing Director at CRM Agricommodities and John Allen, Managing partner at Kite, to discuss the new UN backed trade agreement between Russia and Ukraine to restart grain and other exports across the Black Sea. With decent volumes of feed material now moving out of Ukraine, James and John discuss current and future buying opportunities presented by this. They also outline the impact of the UK and European drought conditions on both forage stocks and harvest, taking this into consideration for winter feed planning. This week, along with our usual market report, Chris reports on the inaugural GDT Pulse auction featuring whole milk powder alone, during the interim week of the main GDT auction. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Irish Emission Reduction Targets

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Conor Mulvihill, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Thu, 4 Aug 2022 14:25:44 +0000

Food vision Strategy for Ireland

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c73a3-food-vision-2030-a-world-leader-in-sustainable-food-systems/

Food vision for dairy

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/2d7b4-statement-on-food-vision-dairy-group/

Farm Safety Week Summary with Jim Chapman MBE

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Jim Chapman, Chris Walkland, Ainsley Baker) — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 13:01:37 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Jim Chapman MBE, Trustee of the Farm Safety Foundation, along with Kite Partner, Ainsley Baker, to discuss the very important topic of Farm Safety. Jim shares the details of his own on-farm accident, how it affected him physically and mentally and how he has since made it his mission to raise awareness of the topic. He and Ainsley discuss the most recent farm safety figures and their thoughts on if, and how, farmer attitudes and farm practices have changed over the years along with sharing their thoughts and tips on accident prevention on farm. Chris Walkland, as usual gives us the latest news and views on the dairy markets. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Heat stress on farms

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Kate Matthews, Vicky Hicks, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:58:07 +0000

Chris returns from holiday this week for his usual milk market report and Will and Ben are joined by two members of the Kite Team to discuss the impacts of heat stress on farm, Kate Matthews, Vet consultant and Vicky Hicks, Technical consultant. Kate and Vicky discuss both short and long-term effects on cow health and production as well as mitigation measures that can be put in place such as adjusted diets/feeding, to limit the impact of extreme temperatures. They also discuss with Chris how it can affect milk flows into the market and the tightening supply across UK & Europe Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Exploring the Feed Markets

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (James Bolesworth, Neil Blackburn) — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 15:45:32 +0000

Chris is on holiday this week so no milk market report but we still get a markets fix as Will and Ben are joined by podcast veteran James Bolesworth MD at CRM Agri-Commodities and Neil Blackburn, Kite Managing Partner at Kite to discuss the feed markets. They discuss current grass and forage situation on-farm including options for those who are short and buying options for those not yet booked, along with discussing the prospects for both the UK and European harvest and the on-going impact of Ukraine on markets and exports. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

UK & EU milk market review - volumes, pricing, currency impact & Dutch farmer protests

Fri, 8 Jul 2022 12:51:35 +0000

With farmers protesting against green reforms in the Netherlands and Western Europe, and milk volumes down in the UK, Europe and across the globe, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans welcome back Erik Elgersma; Founder and Director of Strategic Analysis Services BV alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland for an in-depth discussion on the milk market and pricing mechanisms. They also discuss the detail of the Dutch farmer protests, the outlook for both UK & EU farmers and the impact of currency. We get the usual milk market update from Chris who, later in the podcast boldly states that milk prices shouldn’t go up much further and explains his reasoning for this. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

UK Dairy Roadmap and consumer sustainability campaign

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Ash Amirahmadi) — Fri, 1 Jul 2022 14:47:48 +0000

On this week’s podcast, following our usual update from Chris Walkland, Will and Ben are joined by Ash Amirahmadi, in his role as Chair of Dairy UK and John Allen, Kite’s Managing Partner to discuss the new ‘It’s what we’re made of’ campaign that Dairy UK have launched to highlight the sustainability improvements achieved through the UK Dairy Roadmap. Ash outlines the background to the campaign, who they are trying to reach and why the target consumer audience was chosen. Ash and John discuss why collaboration is important to help the industry move forward and how we should highlight the positive progress so far both at farm and processor level in terms of sustainability. They also discuss the importance of sharing these messages with policy makers, highlighting the progress made by the dairy sector, with the hope of gaining the government's support. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Government's Food Strategy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Stuart Roberts, Lucy Williamson, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:43:01 +0000

Following our usual milk market update from Chris, we are joined this week by Stuart Roberts who farms in Hertfordshire and is now the Lib Dem’s Food and Farming Advisor and Lucy Williamson, Nutritionist, a Love British Food Ambassador and a former vet, to discuss the government’s food strategy which was published on 13th June. Stuart and Lucy give a summary of their views on the food strategy and what key message were missing, particularly from a health and food security perspective. They discuss the complexity of the issues within the food supply chains and the need to talk more about health in connection with food and sustainability, as well as how we might objectively measure this to support the message. Stuart also outlines how farmers might benefit from the publication of the strategy with an opportunity to focus on health when we talk about food and nutrition density, particularly within dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Great Plant Based Con with Jayne Buxton

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:05:12 +0000

One of our most positive and thought provoking podcast’s ever! Author Jayne Buxton joins us a week after the release of her book ‘The Great Plant Based Con’ to discuss with the podcast team why she wanted to write the book, some of her research and conclusions about plant based diets along with a discussion on some of the big businesses and individuals who are bankrolling the plant based agenda. Jayne is on a mission to inform and win over the hearts and minds of the ‘confused middle’ consumer to enable them to make informed choices about their diet and food. She closes with some fantastically positive and insightful messages for farmers - A must listen podcast for everyone who is fed up with the Plant-based propaganda! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Regenerative Agriculture – what are its applications for the commercial dairy farmer?

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:09:20 +0000

This week, Ben Eagle is joined by Organic dairy farmer and ‘Down to Earth’ event host Tim Downes alongside Kite Partner Ainsley Baker. Tim describes how he has adopted Regenerative agriculture principles on his farm and the results he has seen and shares the reasons he thinks farmers who want to know more about Regen should visit the Down to Earth event. Ainsley and Tim discuss the viability of incorporating Regen principles into their farming businesses, the challenges they are likely to encounter and the opportunities a move to a more mixed farming business my offer. After a positive GDT result this week Chris Walkland gives an upbeat milk market report. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Public Perception of Dairy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Neil Baker, Chris Walkland, Amy Jackson) — Fri, 27 May 2022 12:32:59 +0000

After our usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, our hosts Will and Ben are joined by Amy Jackson, Director of Oxtale Ltd and Neil Baker, Farm Manager at Bakers of Haselbury Plucknett to look at the perception and preference of the Great British public towards dairy cow management in the UK. Amy outlines her research into this topic and discusses with Neil how we might use this to change public perception to help people feel good about their choice to buy dairy. From a farm perspective, Neil discusses how we might consider these perceptions when designing future farming systems, also touching on the welfare vs carbon debate. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Muller’s Investment Announcement & Focus on Farmer Groups

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Grant Hartman, Chloe Cross, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 20 May 2022 14:02:41 +0000

After the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Ben is joined this week by Carmarthenshire dairy farmer and recently elected Chair of the Muller Milk Group Board; Grant Hartman and Kite Consultant Chloe Cross. They discuss the MMG board, it’s role, purpose and how it interacts with the senior team at Muller along with discussing both the Muller Advantage and Next Gen groups and what the recent announcement regarding investment and expansion means for Muller suppliers. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Lord Deben and the dangers of restricting dairy output in world short of food

Fri, 13 May 2022 13:44:57 +0000

Full report can be viewed here:

https://www.kiteconsulting.com/2022/05/13/project-apollo/

DIN Conference & an update on dairy Down Under

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Steve Spencer, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 6 May 2022 14:07:07 +0000

Chris opens as usual with the milk market report after the 4th consecutive fall in the GTD auction and the podcast team are joined by Steve Spencer, Director of FreshAgenda and John Allen, Kite’s Managing Partner. Steve gives us an update on dairy Down Under in terms of milk volumes and the mood of farmers at present, as well as the view from Australian dairy on the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. With all 3 at the DIN Conference this week, they discuss the key themes and sentiments that have featured so far, along with the important ones that haven’t, as well as other key discussions including resilience which seems to feature across world dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Indonesian Palm Oil Ban: a changing situation

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (James Bolesworth, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 15:11:00 +0000

This week Will and Ben are joined by James Bolesworth, Managing Director CRM AgriCommodities and John Allen, Managing Partner at Kite to discuss the unexpected news this week of an export ban on palm oil by Indonesia, pushing up the oilseeds markets. Plus our usual milk market report from Chris Walkland. With Indonesia as the largest global exporter of palm oil, James talks us through the fast moving situation, giving some context to the situation and what it means within the wider oilseed picture. James also covers how the markets have been responding to the decision as well as the impact on consumers. James, John and Chris discuss the food vs fuel debate and the interrelationship between energy, food and fertiliser plus the impact of trade restrictions more generally and what lessons we can learn from all this. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Dairy UK informs healthcare professionals dairy keeps us stronger for longer

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Erica Hocking, David Levick, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 15:52:46 +0000

This week Will and Ben are joined by Erica Hocking, Senior Nutrition Scientist at Dairy UK, David Levick, Kite Partner and for our milk market report, Chris Walkland, to discuss the benefits of dairy nutrition and the Dairy UK Stronger for Longer event. With the Dairy UK nutrition team on the front line, bringing together emerging dairy nutrition and dairy science, Erica summarises the webinar which was aimed at communicating the benefits of dairy nutrition to other healthcare professionals. Erica and David also discuss the opportunity to adjust how we market dairy to make more of the nutritional benefits, not just for children but also in terms of healthy aging and how vital it is to include science in the pro argument. They also consider how we can get this positive message out to professionals and consumers including addressing misinformation about dairy and sustainability. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

A view from Europe on dairy markets

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Marcel van der Vliet, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 11:26:19 +0000

This week the podcast team Will, Ben & Becki are joined by Marcel van der Vliet who is Sales & Procurement Manager for the VanDrie Group and President of CELCAA; the voice of European traders in agri-food commodities. Along with John Allen, Managing Partner at Kite and Chris Walkland, they discuss and compare the dairy markets and trading environment in the UK and Europe. Marcel shares his thoughts on dairy market cycles and if or when and where we might see markets settle and for how long. Wearing his CELCAA president hat he also shares insight into the current political position and emphasis in Brussels; in particular balancing the ‘Green deal’ and an on-going focus on sustainability with more recent political events. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Gold Cup Award Winner & DairyTech Debrief

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Di Wastenage, John Torrance, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 8 Apr 2022 14:41:13 +0000

For our landmark 100th episode and with everyone back “fresh” from DairyTech 2022, Ben and Will are joined by Di Wastenage MBE, Devon dairy farmer and Chair of RABDF and John Torrance, who was announced yesterday as the 2020 winner of the RABDF NMR Gold Cup. They debrief and discuss the sentiment at DairyTech this year and the key topics on everyone’s mind. With the long-awaited announcement of the Gold Cup Award winner, we celebrate with John Torrance and hear a little about his business, where his key focus lies and discuss what makes him and other winners stand out. Plus of course our usual milk market report from Chris. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Is 50 the new 40ppl required to incentivise milk production?

Fri, 1 Apr 2022 13:14:01 +0000

On the first day of the new milk year and after a week of significant milk price announcements from major retailers and processors, Kite’s Paul Macer and John Allen join Chris, Becki, Ben & Will on the podcast discussing current UK milk volumes which are significantly down year on year. The same production and supply challenges are being seen across Europe and they discuss whether the recent price announcements quoting milk prices of 40ppl are sufficient to incentivise milk production & to reduce the current year on year supply gap. Chris is surprisingly well behaved on April Fools Day the milk market report is still positive although with some negative trends down under on the futures to keep a watch on. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Arla give a boost to UK dairy

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 11:55:49 +0000

Ian Potter, renowned dairy commentator, John Allen, Kite’s Managing Partner and Chris Walkland join Ben, Will & Becki on this week’s podcast to discuss Arla’s 5 year growth strategy for the UK which was announced earlier this morning. Hot off the press, they discuss the key elements including; Arla’s growth plan in key dairy categories, including organic and the subsequent need to recruit more milk and new farmers. They discuss Arla’s significant investment commitments, including investments in processing capacity alongside investment in sustainability actions and product innovation. They go on to share their thoughts on the impact this will have on the wider UK dairy sector and farmers, including how Arla exploring export opportunities will increase competition and drive up the returns from liquid milk across the board. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Cost of Production rising to 40ppl plus Interest & Inflation Impact

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Neil Wilson, Edward Lott, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:07:08 +0000

This week Will and Ben are joined by Neil Wilson, Director of SAB Advisory Ltd and Edward Lott, Managing Partner at Kite. With our recent analysis predicting break-even milk price at 40ppl, they discuss the time delay between input price and milk price rises and the impact this is having on cash flows. Also, given this week’s interest rate rise, revised predicted inflation rates and the likelihood of seeing costs continuing to increase, they highlight the importance of regularly reviewing budgets. With Chris now back from holiday we have our usual milk market report and make sure you listen to the outtakes at the end for Becki’s Freudian slip on his holiday activities! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Ukraine impact on feed markets & the planning and feeding implications on farm

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Mike Bray, James Bolesworth) — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:54:28 +0000

Will and Ben are joined this week by James Bolesworth, Managing Director at CRM Agri-Commodities and Mike Bray, Partner at Kite to discuss the initial impact of the war in Ukraine on commodity markets and the implications this may have on farm feeding strategies. James explains how the markets have reacted to the initial shock and the exacerbating factors such as low stock levels on key commodities and shipping restrictions in the Black Sea. Mike describes the impact and sentiment he is seeing on farm and they discuss what to expect in the coming weeks and months if the conflict continues longer term, including potential disruption to planting and yields. Chris is on his holiday so there is no milk market report this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Balancing retailer climate commitment with food security

Fri, 4 Mar 2022 16:10:31 +0000

This week, after the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Will and Ben are joined by Chris Brown, Senior Director of Sustainable Supply Chains at Asda and Rachael Madeley-Davies, Kite’s Head of Sustainability, to discuss the BRC’s ambition for all food products in the UK to achieve Net Zero by 2040 and the associated requirements for reducing carbon emissions on farm. Chris Brown shares his insight on ASDA’s ongoing climate commitments and goes onto discuss with Rachael whether recent events in Ukraine and a focus on food security could change such climate commitments. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Ukraine impact & UK dairy market dynamics Beyond Reset

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Erik Elgersma, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:12:49 +0000

Kite Beyond Reset Report

Kite Ukraine Update - Impact on Uk dairy industry

Reacting to BBC Panorama ‘A Cow’s Life: The True Cost of Milk’

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Ian Potter, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:12:11 +0000

After the usual milk market report, this week Ben and Will are joined by Ian Potter, renowned dairy commentator, John Allen, Kite’s Managing Partner and Chris Walkland to talk about the recent and controversial Panorama programme ‘ A Cows Life; The True cost of milk’. Ian was featured in the programme and discusses with John and Chris the complexity of the issues as well as their thoughts on whether the BBC was ‘balanced’ in its coverage. They talk about the response from both Red Tractor and Freshways and the importance of a protect and promote message. They also outline what they think industry and farmers should be doing in response to the programme and media surrounding it. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The science behind products designed to reduce methane

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Vicky Hicks, David Levick, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:47:19 +0000

After the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Will and Ben are joined by Kite Senior Consultant Vicky Hicks and Managing Partner David Levick to follow on from last week and discuss greenhouse gas emissions. With Ruminants hitting the headlines recently, Vicky and David discuss why it’s important to consider methane alongside carbon dioxide, looking at the science behind the products and feed additives being promoted to reduce methane or improve feed efficiency. They also outline what they see as the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities when it comes to reducing methane emissions and how these could help the dairy industry to become the heroes in the climate change story. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The inevitable carbon taxation for NZ farmers

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Phil Journeaux, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 4 Feb 2022 13:08:46 +0000

Does Genomic testing provide a good return?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (chris walkland, rose jackson, richard ward) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:25:27 +0000

After the usual milk market report from Chris Walkland, Ben and Will are joined by Rose Jackson; Senior Consultant and Genetics lead at Kite alongside dairy farmer Richard Ward to discuss Genetics and Genomics. Rose outlines why having a focussed genetics strategy, including genomic testing is a key component of improving cow and herd performance and profitability and Richard gives an overview of his farm, how genomics has been implemented, the unexpected range in results he has seen and how it is influencing his breeding decisions. Rose and Richard discuss the short, medium and long-term benefits of investment in genomics and the scale of improvements it can deliver. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

"We Eat Balanced" and Positive Dairy Promotion

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Liam Byrne, Anna Jones, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:28:39 +0000

weeatbalanced.com

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Outlook on inputs – feed markets, fertiliser and forage

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (James Bolesworth, Tim Davies, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 15:01:16 +0000

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2022 Outlook and Beyond Project Reset

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 7 Jan 2022 13:48:21 +0000

For the first podcast of 2022, Ben Eagle is joined by Kite’s Managing Partner John Allen and Chris Walkland to give their outlook for the year ahead and to revisit Project Reset. Before this though, they first pay respects to Dairy Journalist Barry Wilson, who sadly passed away on Christmas Day. Carrying on his milk market positivity from 2021, Chris delivers the first milk market of 2022 and goes on to discuss with John the milk market outlook and continuing (upward) shift in both the milk market and farm inputs. They discuss what has changed since the Project Reset report was published in October, where we are now in terms of prices and cost of production and where we could be heading this year. They outline how UK dairy can make the most of this window of opportunity, given we are not currently subject to some of the same regulations and limitations as EU producers. They also discuss how the shifting markets put power back with producers and how those who are able to learn the lessons of the past and make strategic decisions on the future of their business will remain resilient for the long term. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Festive Feel Good with Jessica Langton - Countryfile's Young Countryside Champion

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Jessica Langton, chris walkland, Becki Leach) — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:54:31 +0000

Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by 4th generation Derbyshire based dairy farmer, NFU dairy board appointee and multiple award winner; Jessica Langton alongside podcast Producer and Kite Consultant Becki Leach and of course, Chris Walkland for our last podcast and milk market report of 2021. Jessica gives some background on the farm business as well as the topics keeping the NFU Dairy Board busy and shares why she feels it is important to have the next generations voice represented. She also shares her enthusiasm for linking up agriculture with consumers. Jessica, Becki and Chris share the positives of 2021 and what they believe to be the key challenges and opportunities going forward over the next year.

EU Ag policy: Challenge for Europe, Opportunity for UK Dairy?

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 08:59:49 +0000

A full copy of the report is available here:

The Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Judith Bryans, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 3 Dec 2021 11:33:39 +0000

This week cheese is on the menu, Christmas cheese to be exact and Ben Eagle is joined by Judith Bryans; Chief Executive of Dairy UK and Chris Walkland for the annual Chelsea Pensioners’ Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses. Judith and Chris celebrate the history of the Ceremony and the important role that dairy plays in supporting the nutrition of ex-service personnel in this long-standing tradition. UK Dairy should be extremely proud of not only producing fantastic cheeses, but the significant role it plays in these important Christmas traditions. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Opportunities Ahead: Why the UK Dairy Industry can prosper from increased export demand

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 15:42:30 +0000

This week we are focusing on the recently launched Kite report “Opportunities Ahead” sponsored by National Milk Records. To outline the key messages in the report, Will and Ben are joined by Andy Warne; NMR’s Managing Director, Erik Elgersma; founder and director of Strategic Analysis Services BV, Kite’s Managing Partner John Allen and Chris Walkland who also delivers the usual market update. They discuss the limited ability and appetite of traditional dairy export nations to meet the continuing and increasing Global demand for dairy and the resultant opportunities for UK dairy in these markets. They urge Policy makers to recognise the value and export potential of dairy and to ensure that the industry is able, and has the confidence to invest in UK dairy processing capacity to realise the opportunities ahead! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Round up of what COP26 means for UK Agriculture

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 14:17:52 +0000

After Chris’ milk market review we get straight into the details of discussing COP26 and what it means for UK Agriculture. This week, Ben and Will are joined by NFU’s Climate Change Advisor; Dr Ceris Jones, who is just back from attending COP26 and Kite’s Head of Sustainability; Rachael Madeley Davies. Ceris and Rachael give a round-up of the key COP26 topics most relevant to the UK Ag industry including the Methane Pledge, GWP* and the agreement on carbon markets and trading. Ceris also shares some of the other key discussions, ideas and learnings from other sectors on tackling climate change. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Arla identify the value and growth of dairy in international territories

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Simon Stevens, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 15:59:23 +0000

This week, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Simon Stevens - Executive Vice President of Arla and Head of Arla Foods International and Kite’s Managing Partner, John Allen, talking about the broader, international Arla business as well as our usual Milk Market update from Chris Walkland. Simon and John discuss the business and commercial growth opportunities for Arla outside of Europe including the Middle East, Africa and Asia. They focus on how the rising demand in these territories is due to their increasing appetite for dairy and willingness to spend more of their income on health and nutrition. This, coupled with the capacity for growth in traditional dairy producing territories being curtailed by environmental constraints, will potentially result in a long-term shift in the value of dairy, as recently highlighted in Kite’s Project Reset. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Carbon sequestration calculation

Fri, 5 Nov 2021 15:50:17 +0000

This week, Will and Ben are joined by Alexi Ernstoff, Global Science Lead and Sustainability Consultant at Quantis International and Kite’s Head of Sustainability, Rachael Madeley-Davies to talk through the work with Brian Lindsay and the team at Global Dairy Platform. Many farms may have already calculated their carbon footprint, but have been waiting for methodology to understand how to incorporate the carbon sequestration capacity of their farmland. The C-Sequ project brings together stakeholders from the dairy and beef industry to agree guidelines for calculating carbon sequestration in cattle production systems. With all we’ve heard this week from COP26, it would be easy to think that farmers are part of the problem but Alexi and Rachael discuss how the opposite is true and the opportunities for farmers to be recognised for good environmental practice. Plus not forgetting the usual milk market update from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite highlight the need for a dairy price reset

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Peter Willes, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:15:39 +0000

This week, with Will on holiday, Ben is joined by Peter Willes - Director of Parkham Farms, John Allen and Chris Walkland to discuss Project Reset, with Kite leading the way in the call for a realignment in the price of dairy products on the shelves. We might be seeing the highest AMPE Chris can ever remember, but with unprecedented levels of inflation for key inputs; both on farm and throughout the supply chain, the price of dairy to the consumer can no longer remain at current lows - the price of food must reset. John, Peter and Chris discuss the current imbalance of supply and demand for dairy products and the risk to consumers and retailers if we don’t bring together discussions across the whole supply chain. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Fertiliser & feed costs & future planning

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Tim Davies, Chris Walkland, Paul Macer) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:40:36 +0000

Not discouraged by some technical issues, our hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined this week by two Kite partners, Paul Macer and Tim Davies to talk about the topic on everyone’s lips at the moment; the current fertiliser and feed prices. They discuss the significant price rises, their impact on profitability and the risks of knee jerk reactions or poor planning. Paul focuses on fertiliser – with some top tips and a market situation outlook. Tim discusses some of the alternative options to our shrinking choice of feed materials in the UK and possible unintended consequences of cutting feed rates. It’s a stark listen made slightly more cheery by Chris Walkland’s milk market report which is again very positive. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Mark Larwood; Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the Year

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Mark Larwood, Ben Watts) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:48:30 +0000

This week, hosts Ben and Will are joined by Mark Larwood; winner of Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the year award, along with his consultant and Kite Partner; Ben Watts. After another very positive milk market update from Chris Walkland with some notable and significant price jumps, Chris puts aside the football politics to congratulate Mark on his fantastic achievement. Fully recovered from the celebrations but still on a high, a very modest Mark talks us through the technical performance and farm investments, his winning team and what the award means to him. Ben, shares his thoughts on what is driving Mark’s business forward and sets him apart from others including key investments in genetics and staff, and comments on the winning combination of a healthy herd of cows and a healthy working environment. Mark also outlines what’s next for the farm and shares his insight into key challenges and opportunities for the industry. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Minette Batters on the political appetite for agriculture

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Minette Batters, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 8 Oct 2021 15:09:15 +0000

Fresh from the Question Time panel on Thursday evening, Minette Batters; NFU President, joins host Ben Eagle alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland on this weeks podcast. After some worrying comments from PM Boris Johnson earlier this week at the Conservative Party Conference, we ask Minette if she believes there is a political appetite for agriculture. Minette describes the government as having ‘our lives and our livelihoods in their hands’ and discusses with John, the NFU request for a delay to BPS reduction to support farmers through this period of unprecedented change, as well as current issues with food security, farm labour and export opportunities. Not forgetting Chris who has double celebrations, firstly on becoming a grandfather but also the Milk Market is again extremely positive with some staggering numbers for spot milk trading this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

World School Milk Day & Dairy Nutrition in Children

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Barbara Bray) — Fri, 1 Oct 2021 13:18:05 +0000

On this week’s podcast, Food and Nutrition Consultant; Barbara Bray MBE joins her fellow Oxford Farming Conference council member and our podcast co-host; Will Evans alongside Ben Eagle and Chris Walkland. To coincide with World School Milk Day earlier this week, and after hearing that over 2.5 million children are at risk of food insecurity, they discuss the nutritional benefits of dairy for children along with the political, social and behavioural aspects of food consumption and nutrition. Chris Walkland gives a very positive milk market update and wishes Becki all the best with her London Marathon efforts this weekend. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Will Ireland have the World’s first climate neutral dairy farm by 2027?

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 12:12:26 +0000

On this week’s podcast, Enda Buckley; Director of Sustainability at Carbery Group and Rachael Madeley-Davies; Head of Sustainability at Kite join hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle to discuss a project aiming to deliver the first ever climate neutral dairy farm by 2027. After the usual milk market update from Chris Walkland, they discuss the UCD-led Farm Zero C project which was recently awarded 2 million Euro funding to support this and provide a blueprint to roll out across over 5000 other farms. It will use Shinagh Farm, owned by the farmers of Carbery group (4 West Cork Co-ops) as a demonstrator for this project, with the goal that the farm will be climate neutral by 2027. Enda and Rachael discuss current farm carbon performance, the areas of focus for improvements, key learnings so far and discuss how climate neutrality extends beyond carbon. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Neil Kennedy – Optimism in the industry and opportunities for Crediton Dairy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Neil Kennedy, David Levick) — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:01:06 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Neil Kennedy Chairman at Crediton, alongside Kite’s David Levick and Chris Walkland. Neil has been instrumental in driving significant changes during his career within the dairy industry, playing an important role in the Milk Link/Arla merger before acquiring the Crediton business. With extensive involvement in a number of other dairy businesses including Omsco, Rodda’s, Ornua UK, Belton Cheese as well as Dairy UK, he is well placed to discuss the future growth opportunities of value added products, whilst looking to encourage consumer trade-ups. Neil and David discuss how the relationship with their farmers is critical to the Crediton business and Neil speaks optimistically about the expansion and new entrants they are seeing in their supply group. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

New Zealand - cost of production, farm performance and milk production outlook

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (James Allen, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 14:17:00 +0000

Host Ben Eagle is flying solo this week and is joined by Managing Director at AgFirst Waikato; James Allen, Kite’s John Allen and Chris Walkland. Chris gives a milk market update and they discuss New Zealand dairy farming; a view of the season so far, farm performance, cost of production along with the short and long term milk production outlook. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Island of Jersey; its cows, dairy farms, milk production and marketing

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Andrew Le Gallais, Tanya Colman, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 3 Sep 2021 12:04:55 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined this week by Jersey dairy farmer and Chairman of the Jersey Milk Marketing Board; Andrew Le Gallais alongside Kite Partner Tanya Colman. After a milk market update from Chris Walkland they discuss the island of Jersey and it’s cows, dairy farmers, milk production, marketing and exports. Including how the decision to lift a ban on the import of genetics just over a decade ago changed the production capacity of the cows and the island. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities of farming on Jersey. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

IFCN predictions on global dairy production, consumption and farm competitiveness

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Dr Torsten Hemme, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 13:18:54 +0000

This week we are taking a global view of dairy production, consumption and farm competitiveness and to do this hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Dr Torsten Hemme; CEO of the International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland. After a milk market report from Chris, they discuss IFCN’s data, analysis and prediction for dairy consumption in 2050 and discuss which of the key dairy nations have the production capacity and the necessary farm competitiveness at a global level to meet any increase in demand. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

How dairy can be part of the climate solution

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Rachael Madeley Davis, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 11:47:45 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle welcome back Chris Walkland with more to be positive about in his Milk Market Review, along with Kite’s Head of Sustainability, Rachael Madeley Davis and Managing Partner John Allen, to discuss the most recent IPCC Report. They talk methane, the GWP* metric and what this means for the dairy industry, as well as how ruminants could be aiding global cooling– take note policy makers! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Inflation rate impact on cost of production and profitability

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Edward Lott) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 12:58:54 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle welcome a pre-recorded Chris Walkland for another positive milk market update. John Allen and Edward Lott share their thoughts on, if and how rising inflation rates will impact farm cost of production and profitability in the short-term, as well as a much longer-term view on whether rising inflation rates are positive for agriculture and food production. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

RABDF Gold Cup and Scottish Dairy Outlook

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Stuart Martin, Chris Walkland, David Keiley) — Fri, 6 Aug 2021 08:55:30 +0000

The Kite podcast is on tour this week as hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined from Scotland by Dairy Policy Manager at NFU Scotland; Stuart Martin, Kite’s very own David Keiley and Chris Walkland who are all in Scotland ahead of the RABDF Gold Cup. After the usual and a more positive milk market report, they discuss Gold Cup winner Robert Sloan and family and the key issues on all Scottish farmers minds including the weather and grass growth, processing capacity, policy and labour. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

UN Food Strategy Summit - Sustainable Livestock Solution

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 22:53:26 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle welcome Chris Walkland for a milk market update and Chief Executive of Dairy UK; Judith Bryans and Kite's Head of Sustainability; Rachael Madeley-Davies. They share some of the key discussion points and sentiment from the UN Food Strategy Summit earlier this week in Rome. On the global stage, the anti-livestock agenda was minimal and many of the sessions described how sustainable livestock will enable to UN to meet its Sustainable Development Goals. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

National Food Strategy - Fundamentals & Flaws

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Rachel Hallos) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 18:14:36 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle are joined by Yorkshire farmer and NFU County Chair for West Riding; Rachel Hallos alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland to discuss the recently published, long awaited National Food Strategy. They discuss and critique the key proposals of the document, including the recommendation to cut meat consumption by 30% and an acceptance of the GWP* metric for measuring the climate impact of ruminants. Unfortunately, Chris Walkland is the bearer of bad news as he gives us this weeks milk market report.

How is China demand & USA supply effecting the milk market?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Erik Elgersma, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:08:32 +0000

On this week’s podcast we have the regular milk market update from Chris Walkland who then joins Erik Elgersma; Director of Strategic Analysis Services BV & former Director of Strategic Intelligence at Friesland Campina and John Allen to discuss the global drivers of milk markets. They consider how the current demand from and supply from the USA is effecting the short and longer term market outlook and pricing. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Labour Challenges – is a Skilled Worker Visa the solution?

Fri, 9 Jul 2021 12:00:56 +0000

On this week’s podcast, we cover the two topics most farmers are discussing at the moment; the football and farm labour. After Chris Walkland has given his analysis of the football and the milk markets, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined by Devon dairy farmer Julie Webber alongside Kite’s Rachael Madeley-Davies and Becki Leach to discuss current labour challenges on farm and the opportunities and possible solutions including the Skilled Worker Visa. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Is there a silver bullet and commercial return for Methane reduction?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Jude Capper) — Fri, 2 Jul 2021 14:56:27 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Professor Jude Capper; Livestock Sustainability Consultant and Harper Adams Professor of Sustainable Beef Production alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland. After the usual milk market update from Chris, Jude and John discuss the science behind products designed to reduce methane output from cows, the challenges of measuring reductions and a discussion on who will pay. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Helers Cheese – Business succession and investment, product innovation and growth

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, George Heler) — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:18:05 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by John Allen and George Heler; grandson of Cheshire Cheesemaker Joseph Heler and Managing Director of his namesake business. George describes succession of the business from his Dad, Mike, to him and how he is continuing the family legacy of investment, innovation and growth through investing in secondary processing allowing the business to retain and increase the value of outputs and the development of brands such as ‘Eat Lean’ to meet retailer and consumer demands. Chris Walkland comments on how routes to market will influence dairy prices in the future and gives his usual milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Breeding efficient cows delivers increased profits and improved carbon footprint

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Mark Roach, David Levick) — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 13:05:15 +0000

Given the turn in the market, a somewhat subdued milk market report from Chris Walkland precedes a very upbeat discussion with Cogent Chairman and Managing Director at Grosvenor Farms; Mark Roach and Kite’s Managing Partner; David Levick. They debate the return on investment from genetic spend, the increasing importance and potential impact of Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) and how breeding efficient cows delivers both increased profits and improved carbon performance. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Can Muller realise the Advantage, with Rob Hutchison

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, John Allen, Rob Hutchison) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:06:26 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Muller’s Chief Operating Officer; Rob Hutchison alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland. We ask: will Muller Advantage help the business and its suppliers regain the Advantage with retailers? Along with discussing the recent deal with Lidl to offer a 3-year fixed price of 29ppl and hear the outcomes and opportunities from project Darwin. Chris Walkland gives his usual milk market update from the most unlikely location. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Australian Trade Deal Details and Brexit Trade Update

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Tom Forshaw, Becki Leach, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 4 Jun 2021 11:22:20 +0000

Hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Tom Forshaw; Senior Policy Analyst at AHDB with comments from Chris Walkland and Becki Leach as they discuss the details of the proposed trade deal with Australia and what this might mean for dairy, along with an update on how Brexit continues to impact trade and prices. Chris Walkland also gives his usual milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Dairy in India, the Sacred Cow & World Milk Day

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Prashant Tripathi, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 28 May 2021 14:51:18 +0000

It’s World Milk Day on 1st June and whilst in the western world dairy, milk consumption and cows are often challenged on how important and relevant they are in the modern world, the story is very different elsewhere. In India, the largest producer and consumer of dairy in the world, not only are cows sacred and culturally significant, dairy supports local economies and is a vital source of nutrition. We discuss this and celebrate World Milk Day with Prashant Tripathi; Director of Market Development at Solera Advisors alongside our own John Allen. In Chris Walkland’s milk market update, he explains why a lot more farmers should be receiving over 30ppl than they are doing. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Leading Agriculture Through a Period of Change

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Stuart Roberts, Becki Leach) — Fri, 21 May 2021 13:49:12 +0000

It’s #AgriLeadership week so hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are talking to Stuart Roberts; NFU Deputy President and Becki Leach about what they think great leadership looks like both at industry and farm level. They discuss the challenge of leading through significant change and the complexities of leading a membership organisation. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Climate & Cows with Frank Mitloehner

Fri, 14 May 2021 19:56:47 +0000

Well known UCD Professor; Frank Mitloehner (@GHGGuru) joins our Head of Sustainability; Rachael Madeley-Davies this week to debunk myths about the climate impact of cows. They discuss the limitations of the GWP100 climate calculation in accounting for methane, possible alternative calculations, the UN Conference for Climate Change (COP26) later this year and how ruminant agriculture could contribute to climate cooling. As always, we have the latest milk market update from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Weather impact on milk, feed & forage in the UK & across the world

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, John Allen, James Bolesworth) — Fri, 7 May 2021 12:40:00 +0000

Whilst most of the UK has had at least some rain in the last week, persistent low temperatures are still limiting grass growth and impacting milk flows. Similar challenging weather conditions have and are impacting crop establishment and growth worldwide and could impact commodity and feed prices in the coming weeks and months. James Bolesworth; Managing Director at CRM AgriCommodities, John Allen and Chris Walkland discuss on this weeks podcast.

First Milk: Strategy, Sustainability & Success

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Shelagh Hancock, David Keiley, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 13:45:58 +0000

Hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle are joined this week by First Milk’s CEO Shelagh Hancock and Kite’s David Keiley to reflect on First Milk’s strategy and transformation over the past 5 years and to share more details about their recent announcements on Net Zero and Carbon Capture which form a key part of their sustainability strategy going forward. We also have the usual milk market update from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Focussing on Genetics at Grosvenor Farms

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (David Craven, Marco Winters, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:38:49 +0000

On this week’s podcast, host Will Evans is joined by David Craven from Grosvenor Farms and Marco Winters from AHDB. They discuss the genetic progress and performance of the Grosvenor herd and David shares his thoughts on selection criteria to breed a herd which meets the needs of the future. Marco gives us a sneak preview of some new metrics; FCE and EnviroCow which are due to be incorporated into PLI later this year and we get a rather patriotic milk market update from Chris Walkland this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

The Role of Dairy Around the World

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Mitch Kantar, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 15:36:32 +0000

12 months ago hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans didn’t have a clue what they were letting themselves in for & Chris Walkland was still practising his stand-up in front of the bathroom mirror and getting rave reviews from his two pooches. So this can only mean one thing…..it's the Kite Podcast’s first birthday! To celebrate (& eat virtual cake) we’re joined by Mitch Kantar from Global Dairy Platform to reflect and discuss the role of dairy around the world, covering everything from dairy’s contribution to health & nutrition, economic stability, social mobility and environmental sustainability and how it delivers against the UN’s sustainable development ambitions. And of course, it wouldn’t be the Kite Podcast if we didn't have the usual Milk Market update from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Spring milk & markets in the UK & Europe

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Erik Elgersma, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 9 Apr 2021 13:33:47 +0000

Hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle welcome Erik Elgersma; Director of Strategic Analysis Services BV & former Director of Strategic Intelligence at FrieslandCampina back to the show alongside John Allen & Chris Walkland to discuss the milk markets including what spring volumes are looking like in the UK and across Europe alongside a longer term outlook for volumes and prices. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Don't be a crazy farm safety fool on April Fools day (or any other!)

Thu, 1 Apr 2021 10:33:32 +0000

This week the whole Kite Podcast team were in on an April Fools Day prank on our podcast producer Becki Leach, who fell for it hook, line and sinker! But hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle manage to curtail the frivolity to discuss a very serious topic with the Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation (also known as Yellow Wellies); Stephanie Berkley, plus our very own Becki Leach, who is running this year's London Marathon on behalf of Yellow Wellies. John Allen and self-professed prankster & dairy hack Chris Walkland also joint in the wind-up. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Carbon Calculators

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:16:37 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined this week by NMR’s Managing Director, Andy Warne, to discuss the business, including their livestock genomic testing service. Andy & Kite’s Rachael Madeley-Davies go on to discuss Carbon Calculators and how the data might be used by farmers alongside other farm datasets. Chris Walkland gives listeners an insight into both the milk markets and his hopes for tonight’s rugby. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Global Dairy Trade (GDT)

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Robert Martin, Chris Walkland, Eric Hansen) — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:31:40 +0000

On this weeks podcast, hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by Eric Hansen; Director at Global Dairy Trade (GDT), farmer Robert Martin along with Chris Walkland to discuss the mechanics of the Global Dairy Trade auctions including products traded and who are the buyers and sellers along with a discussion on how this impacts and influences world and UK milk markets. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Scotland’s Dairy Ambitions

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (David Keiley, Paul Grant, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:52:47 +0000

This week, Chris Walkland gives another upbeat dairy market update and the podcast team head (virtually) to Scotland to discuss the recently launched Scottish Dairy Growth Board strategy with its Chairman; Paul Grant, Kite’s Senior Consultant in Scotland; David Keiley and Chris Walkland. They share thoughts on the current position of Scottish dairy and how, if the ambition to increase export opportunities and processing capacity are realised, this could impact both Scottish and UK dairy. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Bank Lending including Green Finance Opportunities

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Neil Wilson, John Allen, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 5 Mar 2021 14:54:19 +0000

In this week’s podcast hosted by Ben Eagle & Will Evans, Chris Walkland explains in his milk market report what the 15% rise in the GDT auction translates into in milk price terms before Neil Wilson; Director at SAB Advisory Ltd & John Allen go on to discuss bank lending and access to finance across the food and agricultural sector. In particular; what ‘green finance’ might mean to farmers – will green finance mean preferential interest rates, how will farmers prove their green credentials & does green finance provide an opportunity for businesses planning to borrow money and grow their business? Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Practicalities of an All Wales NVZ

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Neil Blackburn, Abi Reader) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:00:53 +0000

We are joined this week by dairy farmer; Abi Reader alongside Kite’s Neil Blackburn to carry on some of the themes from last week’s podcast; discussing what the introduction of an all Wales NVZ means for dairy farmers both practically in the short term and how it might influence longer term planning at farm level. They share their thoughts about the wider precedent it sets for other nations and whether this is an indicator of the likely speed and scope of future environmental legislation implementation. Chris Walkland gives a milk market update after starting a virtual argument about this weekend’s rugby. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Permitting, Planting Trees & Carbon Credits

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Phil Journeaux, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:45:54 +0000

The podcast team take a virtual trip to New Zealand where hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by Phil Journeaux, an agricultural consultant and economist with AgFirst & John Allen, Kite’s Managing Partner. With NZ farmers now required to record & report on their environmental impact and NZ agricultural output limited or retracting, they discuss what the future of UK agriculture might look like including some appealing commercial financial returns for non-food producing activities such as tree planting and the development of carbon markets. Despite our best efforts to leave him at home, Chris Walkland joins us on the tour, not only to enlighten us with his dairy knowledge but to act as our NZ tour guide. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Celebrating Young Farmer Success!

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Leach, Chris Walkland, Nick Eccles) — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:19:14 +0000

Hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Nick Eccles; dairy farmer and winner of the Young Farmer of the Year at the 2021 Cream Awards alongside Kite’s Becki Leach. They discuss what makes Nick an award winning young farmer including; how he has driven the family business forward through investment in technology and the use of data in decision making which is delivering great technical and financial performance and created a sustainable business for the future. Chris Walkland blesses listeners with not only his dairy market wisdom but careers advice on this week’s episode. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Feed Prices & Future Farm Profitability

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, James Bolesworth) — Fri, 5 Feb 2021 12:55:31 +0000

After another positive milk market report from Chris Walkland, hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by Managing Director at CRM AgriCommodities; James Bolesworth & Kite’s John Allen. They discuss current feed markets, what is driving prices for key feed materials; including the impact of China’s buying behaviour, what to expect in the medium term and what this means for farm profitability when considered in the context of milk price predictions. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Gold Cup & Dairy-Tech

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Neil Baker, Matthew Knight) — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:15:27 +0000

As Dairy-Tech goes online next week & the announcement of the Gold Cup winner is delayed, hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans talk to dairy farmer & 2015 Gold Cup winner; Neil Baker and Matthew Knight from RABDF. After Chris Walkland’s milk market update, Matthew tells listeners what to expect from a virtual Dairy-Tech before he & Neil discuss the role that awards & events such as these play in championing innovation and driving progress on farm. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Hitting The Motivation Wall

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Bill Higgins, Chris Walkland, Jo Speed) — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:33:43 +0000

Host Ben Eagle talks to dairy farmer; Bill Higgins & Kite’s very own Jo Speed as they discuss the current challenge many farming families & teams are facing in maintaining motivation. Keeping teams motivated during winter can be a challenge at the best of the times but has been further emphasised by Covid both during 2020 & in the current lockdown. Jo & Bill discuss the tell-tale signs that indicate teams & individuals might be ‘Hitting the Wall’ & give practical solutions of how to tackle this on farm in both large & small family teams. Chris Walkland gives listeners another very positive milk market report. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & AHDB Change Strategy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allwood, Nicholas Saphir) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:40:34 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined this week by the Chair of AHDB; Nicholas Saphir and dairy farmer John Allwood. They discuss the key elements of AHDB’s new Change Programme & Strategy for the next 5 years (2021 – 2026) including the proposed focus on farm performance, evidence and marketing & exports. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & What the Deal Means For Dairy

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Erik Elgersma) — Fri, 8 Jan 2021 14:00:10 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans welcome listeners to 2021 and back to the podcast with a brighter Brexit outlook following the deal announced on Christmas Eve. We’re joined by former Director of Strategic Intelligence at FrieslandCampina & Director and Founder of Strategic Analysis Services BV; Erik Elgersma & our very own John Allen to discuss what the Brexit deal means for dairy. We're also joined by Chris Walkland for his first milk market update of the year, after a positive GDT auction earlier in the week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Christmas Stilton Special with Cropwell Bishop

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Flint, Chris Walkland, Robin Skailes) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:37:07 +0000

Christmas isn’t complete without cheese……& with Chris Walkland featuring every week on the podcast we’ve never been short of cheese. But this week’s pre-Christmas episode, hosted by Ben Eagle has a double dose of cheese; Chris Walkland’s terrible jokes & market report followed by Robin Skailes of Cropwell Bishop Creamery & Kite Partner Chris Flint to talk all things Stilton! We discuss not only Covid & Brexit but also the Cropwell Bishop business; its farmer suppliers, customers, consumers & why it is so synonymously linked with this time of year. Plus, we have an insider tip from expert Stilton eater Robin about the best way to enjoy Stilton this Christmas! We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our listeners a healthy & happy Christmas along with a prosperous new year. Thanks for joining us & listening each week, we look forward to welcoming you back to listen on Friday 8th January 2021! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & DEFRA’s Agricultural Transition Plan

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Janet Hughes, Chris Walkland, Ros Hughes) — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 16:13:31 +0000

Following the publication of the Agricultural Transition Plan last week, which detailed how BPS will be phased out & gave some detail about new agricultural support schemes, hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle are joined by Janet Hughes; Programme Director for Future Farming & Countryside at DEFRA alongside our own Ros Hughes. Janet shares DEFRA’s ambition for the future of farming including an increasing focus on environmental protection and her thoughts on how this fits with food security. Ros describes the steps farmers can take to manage the gap in farm income which could emerge as BPS incomes reduce at the same time as costs associated with environmental compliance increase. Chris Walkland gives his usual milk market update & thankfully, spares us his singing. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Carbon Sequestration Calculation

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Brian Lindsay, Chris Walkland, Helen Evans) — Fri, 4 Dec 2020 11:46:19 +0000

Hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle are joined on this weeks podcast by Brian Lindsay, who is the Global Dairy Platform’s Sustainability Lead & Project Manager for C-Sequ, alongside our very own Helen Evans. They discuss the current carbon sequestration calculation consultation, what it could mean for dairy, practical implementation on farm & how this links with the ELMs framework revealed earlier this week. As always, we have the milk market update & banter from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Waitrose Net Zero Carbon by 2035

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 13:24:12 +0000

Hosts Will Evans & Ben Eagle are joined by Jake Pickering who is Agriculture Manager at Waitrose, dairy farmer & WDF Chairman; Brian Barnett & John Allen. Waitrose recently announced an ambitious target for their business and farmer suppliers to be carbon net-zero by 2035. We discuss what this means for the Waitrose business, their customers, farmer suppliers and how practically this will be achieved practically on farm along with what this means for the wider dairy industry. Plus we get a milk market update from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Bitesize Brexit Negotiations & Trade Implications

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Andrew Kuyk) — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:14:43 +0000

Following a milk market update from Chris Walkland, where he helpfully and metaphorically goes shopping for George Eustice, hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by the Director General of the Provision Trade Federation (PTF); Andrew Kuyk CBE. The PTF represents companies trading or manufacturing dairy, pork and seafood products, having previously worked for the Food & Drink Federation and DEFRA, Andrew has unique insight and shares his rather stark thoughts on the progress of the Brexit negotiations, why fisheries are such a sticking point for an agreement and how both a deal (or no deal) might impact the trade of dairy products. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Podcast from America Part 2

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Eric Meyer, John Allen) — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:38:43 +0000

Following the US presidential election we invited Eric Meyer from Highground Dairy back onto the podcast alongside John Allen to discuss what the Biden administration means for US dairy producers and consumers, what impact the current oversupply of milk in the US means for UK dairy and whether the incoming administration looks more or less favourable for UK exports to the US or US imports to the UK. Chris Walkland provides not only his usual milk market update but gives us unofficial, uncensored coverage of the Presidential election. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Farming Lockdown Life & Personal Resilience

Fri, 6 Nov 2020 15:51:09 +0000

Chris Walkland gives his usual milk market update and hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined this week by FCN’s Vicki Beers, Arla’s Rosie Cowie & Rozenwyn Lane; a dairy farmer from Cornwall to discuss the impact of lockdown at farm level and how Arla & Asda’s collaboration with the Farming Community Network is aiming to support farmers with these & other farming challenges. They share tips on recognising stress in yourself and others and their thoughts on ways to de-stress and improve personal resilience. FCN are a voluntary organisation & charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community. They run a confidential, national helpline which is open every day of the year from 7am to 11pm and volunteers provide free, confidential, pastoral and practical support to anyone who seeks help. Whether the issue is personal or business-related, FCN can help - call 03000 111 999 or visit https://fcn.org.uk/ Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Barbers Cheesemakers Halloween Special

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Michael Masters) — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:18:17 +0000

It’s not just Chris Walkland’s puns that make this week’s episode scary….it’s our Halloween special. When we heard about the Halloween cheese that Barbers Cheesemakers had created that was largely destined for the US market we couldn’t think of a better time to find out more about the Barbers business than during our Halloween special. This week Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by Michael Masters; Head of Milk Supply & Operations at Barbers Cheesemakers and Kite’s Managing Partner; John Allen to discuss the Barbers business including the Barber family farming operations & their dairy farmer suppliers, the range of cheese they produce & the markets they are destined for! Unusually though, it’s the milk market itself rather than Chris Walkland’s jokes that might provide the biggest fright this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Regenerative Agriculture - Principles & Practicalities

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Dan Burdett, Ainsley Baker, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 15:00:01 +0000

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Milk & More With Patrick Muller

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:05:49 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by Patrick Mueller and John Allen to discuss Mullers Milk & More business following Kantar data released last week showing that doorstep deliveries have surged during Covid. Patrick describes where Milk & More sits alongside the wider Muller business and how they have evolved a very traditional service business to meet the needs of a modern, values driven consumer, which differentiates it from its competitors and commands the higher price paid from customers. There’s a small appearance from Becki Leach and of course we have Chris Walkand giving his usual milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Bitesize Brexit Looming Labour Issues

Fri, 9 Oct 2020 10:06:49 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by Chris Walkland for his usual milk market update, along with dairy farmer Henry Lewis and Kite consultant Rachael Madeley-Davies who discuss the looming labour issues in relation to the impending EU-Exit. Most farms, even those employing minimal numbers of local staff, struggle to meet their current labour requirements and with confirmation last week that, from an Immigration Policy perspective farm workers are considered neither skilled nor in short supply, this issue will only be exacerbated further once we leave the EU on 31st December. Rachael and Henry discuss what this might mean practically for dairy farm labour supply and what a future dairy farm labour and recruitment might look like. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & 2020 Outlook with Andy Gilman

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, David Levick, Andy Gilman) — Fri, 2 Oct 2020 11:30:04 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined by farmer Andy Gilman and his Kite consultant David Levick, to take a look back at 2020 so far & forward into autumn along with discussing the development of the business. In between kicking tyre's & watching tractor porn, Chris has managed to pull together his usual (comedy) Milk Market Update to share with listeners! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Rosy Lane Holsteins

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Leach, Chris Walkland, Lloyd Holterman) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:49:46 +0000

On this weeks podcast, host Ben Eagle is joined by Lloyd Holterman from Rosy Lane Holsteins, Becki Leach & Chris Walkland to discuss all things covid, cows & celebrating awards. Lloyd talks about how they are minimising the risk & impact of Covid on farm and discusses the financial returns they have realised as a result of covid related federal support. They also discuss current cow performance and targets & describe how these are enabling Rosy Lane to meet their sustainability objectives! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Brexit Bulletin

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:43:49 +0000

With roughly 100 days to go until 31st December & Brexit back in the political and public spotlight, on this week’s podcast hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans ask John Allen, Rachael Madeley-Davies & Chris Walkland to give a round-up of the current situation for this ‘Brexit Bulletin’ podcast. As always, the podcast includes Chris Walkland’s Milk Market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Buying Behaviour & Brands

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Becki Leach, Chris Walkland, Harry Evans) — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 13:23:12 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined on this weeks podcast by marketeer & dairy farmer’s son; Harry Evans who, alongside Becki Leach, discusses human psychology, branding and buying behaviour & why marketing the health benefits of milk might not be the best way to increase the appreciation or consumption of dairy & milk! This week Chris Walkland not only gives us the usual milk market update but a suggestion for a podcast jingle too. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Winter Feed Markets & Sustainable Soya

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Tim Davies) — Fri, 4 Sep 2020 13:45:00 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined on this weeks podcast by our very own Tim Davies & John Allen. Before discussing the sustainability of soya in future dairy rations, Tim carries on the theme from last weeks podcast & shares his thoughts on the feed markets this winter. Including discussion about the challenging UK, but favourable harvests in Europe & worldwide and the alternative destinations for many feed materials. No podcast would be complete without Chris Walkland’s milk market update. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Forage & Feeding

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 11:03:44 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle & Will Evans are joined this week by dairy farmer Jimmy Evans alongside Kite Consulting’s Duncan Williams & John Allen. After Chris Walkland’s usual milk market update, we attempt to reverse the rain by talking about forage again. They discuss what forage quality & stocks look like on-farm and the considerations for feeding cows this autumn/winter. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Organic Dairy; Stopping Consumers Moving To Plant-Based?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Harriet O'Regan, Chris Walkland, Richard Hampton) — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 10:53:13 +0000

Following the usual milk market update from Chris Walkland, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined this week by Arla’s Category Director for Milk & Organic; Harriet O’Regan & OMSCO’s Managing Director; Richard Hampton. They discuss the position of organic dairy in farmer and consumer mindsets and ask “does organic give the dairy industry a chance to take back market share from plant based?” And share thoughts on the impact of Covid, exports, a recession & online shopping habits along with details of the upcoming industry initiative Organic September! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Dairy Contract Consultation

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Michael Oakes, Robert Craig, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:21:19 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined this week by farmers Michael Oakes and Robert Craig who are also wearing their NFU Dairy Board Chair & First Milk Vice Chair hats respectively. After a milk market update from podcast regular Chris Walkland they discuss the key elements of the dairy contract consultation including; pricing mechanisms, exclusivity, fixed volumes, farmer co-ops & unintended consequences. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & a Cheesy Chat

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Kevin White, John Allen) — Fri, 7 Aug 2020 11:49:46 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined this week by the Grocer’s Fresh Food editor; Kevin White, John Allen and Chris Walkland & they’re discussing all things cheesy (not just Chris’ jokes!). Cheese has been a big winner during Covid with over a 20% surge in both retail volume and value as reported in the recent “Big Cheese” article in the Grocer. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update, Dairy Advertising, Government Obesity Guidelines & Brexit

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:10:05 +0000

Hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined this week by Chief Exec of Glanbia & Dairy UK chair; Paul Vernon, Dairy UK Chief Exec; Judith Bryans, Becki Leach & Chris Walkland. As the “Milk Your Moments” dairy campaign culminates, donating £100k to mental health charity Mind, they discuss the outcomes & next steps for dairy advertising campaigns, along with both the Governments recently announced Obesity strategy & the UKs impending exit from the EU. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Opportunities for Dairy Post-Covid

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Becki Leach, Di Wastenage) — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:04:33 +0000

We’re staying a little closer to home this week as hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans are joined by dairy farmer Di Wastenage, Becki Leach and Chris Walkland. After Chris gives an “out of this world” milk market update we ask; what is important to the consumer, how does dairy meet those requirements and what opportunities does a post-covid world present to increase the perceived value of dairy? Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & a Podcast from the Emerald Isle

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, John Allen, Conor Mulvihill) — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 14:13:06 +0000

We continue our (virtual) tour this week albeit a little closer to home, when hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined from Ireland by Conor Mulvihill Director at Dairy Industry Ireland, John Allen and Chris Walkland. They discuss the milk markets, including the recent record milk output from Ireland, its impact on the UK market and the potential implications of Brexit on the Irish milk markets. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Lessons From A Land Down Under - Part 2

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Steve Spencer, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 06:30:03 +0000

On Part 2 of this week’s podcast hosted by Will Evans and Ben Eagle, the conversation with Steve Spencer from Fresh Agenda Australia, John Allen and Chris Walkland continues. In light of the current UK consultation of dairy contracts, we look to Australia to understand how their Dairy Code of Conduct, which came into force in January this year, has impacted farmers and what lessons we can learn from their experience. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Lessons from a Land down under - Part 1

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, Chris Walkland, Steve Spencer) — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 12:48:58 +0000

We continue our (virtual) international tour on this week’s podcast when hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Steve Spencer from Fresh Agenda Australia alongside John Allen and Chris Walkland giving us his usual milk market update. With news of UK retailers challenging suppliers on price, Steve shares his experience of retailer competition down under, including the long term impact of retailing “$1 dollar milk” on farmer and consumer sentiment & it’s effect on farm gate prices. On part 2 of the podcast with Steve, due to be released early next week we look at the Australian Dairy Code of Conduct, what it means to farmers & what lessons UK dairy farmers can learn from the Australian experience. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Podcast from America

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Eric Meyer, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Fri, 3 Jul 2020 08:09:35 +0000

On this week’s podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined all the way from Chicago, by Eric Meyer from Highground Dairy, John Allen & Chris Walkland. Eric talks about the impact of Covid-19 on American milk flows and markets, including the record lows & highs they’ve seen in the past 3 months. Followed by a discussion on the extent of the US aid package & the longer term implications on US, global & UK milk prices. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & the Possibility of Permitting for Dairy Farms?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Nico Mouton, Chris Walkland, Paul Macer) — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 14:14:34 +0000

Hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined on this week’s podcast by Kite’s Paul Macer and, dialling in from New Zealand, Director of AgFirst; Nico Mouton. They discuss the possibility of farms requiring permits as a result of increasing focus on the impact of Agriculture on the environment, in particular on water and air quality. They look at the regulation changes that have already occurred in NZ and what the UK equivalent might look like. Plus we have the usual milk market update from Chris Walkland. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & The Impact of Interest Rates on Investment Decisions

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:15:21 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans and Ben Eagle, on this week’s podcast, Chris Walkland gives an update on the milk markets and joins Neil Wilson, Ainsley Baker and Becki Leach to discuss historically low interest rates and what factors they think should be influencing investment discussions and decisions on farm. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & the Agriculture Bill

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 15:22:18 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans and Ben Eagle on this week’s podcast, John Allen is assuming the role of a well-known beanie hat wearing, Government Advisor to provoke counter discussion with our very own Rachael Madeley-Davies on what farmers should be expecting from the Agriculture Bill, including discussion about Environmental protection and Food Security as a public good. Last but not least, Chris Walkland gives us his usual Milk Market update which isn’t quite as enthusiastic (or musical) as the previous couple of weeks! Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Implications of the Drought

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Edward Lott, Joss Fawcett) — Fri, 5 Jun 2020 15:43:00 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans & Ben Eagle, on this week’s podcast Chris Walkland excels himself with a whole back catalogue of songs in his milk market update. Chris then joins Joss Fawcett and Edward Lott from Kite in a discussion about the technical and financial implications if the drought continues. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Improving Business Resilience

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (John Allen, John Forrest, Chris Walkland) — Fri, 29 May 2020 13:59:40 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans & Ben Eagle, on this week’s podcast Chris Walkland turns the juke box up loud before giving us his usual milk market update. John Forrest gives a farmer perspective on managing a dairy business with a challenging milk price, including positively positioning the business for long term resilience. With John Allen sharing his thoughts on the longer term milk market prospects, including the current price differential. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & Marketing Milk

Fri, 22 May 2020 15:53:56 +0000

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update plus Climate, Cows & Communication

Fri, 15 May 2020 13:02:23 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans & Ben Eagle; on this weeks podcast Chris Walkland updates listeners on the milk market and Dr Jude Capper Phil Gibson & John Allen discuss what has happened to the climate during Covid and how we can communicate with the consumer about cows and climate. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update & The Post-Covid Consumer

Thu, 7 May 2020 15:08:50 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans and Ben Eagle; on this week's podcast Chris Brown, John Allen, Becki Leach and Chris Walkland discuss short term milk markets along with what the post Covid consumer might look like. In particular, will their focus on sustainability remain and have they developed new behaviours and habits in relation to both food consumption and purchasing? Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk and Feed Market Update - What's Oil Got To Do With It?

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Tim Davies, Chris Walkland, Chris Laycock) — Fri, 1 May 2020 13:30:37 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans & Ben Eagle; Chris Laycock, Tim Davies and Chris Walkland discuss (in their best Tina Turner voice) What’s oil got to do with it…...with “it” being the milk and feed markets. They try to answer the question - how does crude oil price correlate with milk and feed price and what is the potential impact and outlook. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Milk Market Update and Supply Projections

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Chris Walkland, Paul Macer, John Allen) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:13:25 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans & Ben Eagle - this week John Allen, Paul Macer and Chris Walkland discuss dairy market trends and trading in light of the continuing effects of Covid-19. They make an initial assessment of milk reduction schemes and downward price pressure on milk supply and Paul gets his crystal ball out to predict the date and volume of this spring’s peak. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

Kite Consulting Update on Markets and Money

enquiries@kiteconsulting.com (Neil Wilson, Chris Walkland, John Allen) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 09:47:38 +0000

Hosted by Will Evans & Ben Eagle - a panel discussion with John Allen, Chris Walkland and Neil Wilson on what is actually going on in the markets and what you need to do to protect your business. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.