Meet the Farmers

Going Against the Grain - Henry Astor from Bruern Farms

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Henry Astor, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to the Cotswolds to meet Henry Astor who runs Bruern Farms. Henry took on the reigns of the family farm from his father in 2017 and decided that creating diversity on the farm was the way to meet the challenges of the post Brexit farming landscape. The farm’s arable enterprise was joined by a herd of English long horns, saddleback pigs, chickens, and a host of building diversifications including turning a grain dryer into studio spaces and grain silos into work spaces. Henry also bought a flour mill, began brewing beer, started a market garden, began growing heritage grains, bought a cold press to make sunflower oil, built a farm shop and café. He also helped to found the North East Cotswold Farm Cluster which has over 125 farms in its membership. Henry also lived and worked in the USA for many years.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

The Story of Petite Peonies - Cambridgeshire farmer David Wheatley

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Wheatley, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Today host Ben Eagle is joined by Cambridgeshire tenant farmer David Wheatley who has recently taken social media by storm with his Petite Peonies account. They discuss David's farming journey, arable farming, diversification, Christmas trees, peonies and how to make the most of social media as a farmer.

With thanks to our sponsor TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods.

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/FarmSmarter

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

What's the future for the British Pig Sector? - Big Debate Episode 11

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:14:54 +0000

Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory turn their attention to the pig sector this week and are joined by mixed farmer Fred Allen, who farms near Newark, and Mark Haighton who is Pork Sector Director for AHDB. They ask about the current state of the sector and what its future might look like?

Also on the agenda for this week are news stories including growing underground, cattle rustling and the farmer choir on Britain's Got Talent.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Virgin Money is proud to support the launch of The Big Debate with Rural Pod Media, a timely initiative for British agriculture. Virgin Money is a trading name of Clydesdale Bank PLC. To discover more about Virgin Money visit Agriculture | Business | Virgin Money UK

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Farm Business Management | TELUS Agriculture

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that RuralPod Media Limited makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general informational purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, RuralPod Media Limited does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Any third-party materials or content of any third-party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of RuralPod Media Limited. RuralPod Media Limited assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, RuralPod Media Limited makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. The views of the hosts and guests are personal and RuralPod Media Limited or its sponsors, affiliates, employees or contractors, does not take any responsibility for these views. Such views are not the views of RuralPod Media Limited or any of its sponsors, affiliates, employees or contractors. RuralPod Media Limited does not verify the accuracy of the information contained in the podcast, and RuralPod Media Limited takes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the podcast. The information contained on the podcast is provided on an ‘’as is’’ basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. Any action you take based on the information contained in the podcast is strictly at your own risk, and RuralPod Media Limited will not be liable for any losses of damages in connection with the use of the podcast. None of the hosts, guests or contributors to the podcast will be responsible for your use of the information contained therein. The inclusion of third-party advertisements does not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, warranty, or recommendation of, and the author makes no representations and/or warranties about, any product or service contained therein. Under no circumstances will RuralPod Media Limited or their affiliates, partners, suppliers, licensors or guests appearing on the podcast be liable any losses (whether direct, indirect or consequential) suffered as a result of your doing (or not doing) anything as a result of listening or viewing (or inability to access) the podcast. Neither RuralPod Media Limited nor any of its hosts or guests appearing on the podcast shall at any time be liable for any content covered causing offence, distress or any other unforeseeable reaction suffered as a result of listening or viewing (or inability to access) the podcast. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of RuralPod Media Limited.

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Accelerating Regenerative Agriculture in the Cotswolds

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:23:15 +0000

In this special bonus episode we learn about the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme which is based in the Cotswolds. RAAP is an innovative initiative for farmers and advisors who want to deepen their understanding of regenerative and agroecological principles – and learn how to apply them in practice to produce nutritious food, improve soil health, boost biodiversity, and build farm resilience.

We hear from farmers and others taking part in the programme and visit the Cotswold Regenerative Agriculture Conference.

This podcast was supported with a Farming in Protected Landscapes Fund grant from Defra.

To discover more about the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme visit Home | Regendeep

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

Artificial Intelligence and Agriculture - What's the future?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Hatton, Matt Dobbs, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence in agriculture - what's the potential for the future?

Ben Eagle is joined by Ben Hatton from Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods and Matt Dobbs from Agsenze to discuss the potential.

With thanks to our sponsor Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods.

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/FarmSmarter

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food PART 2

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Iory Hughes, Madeleine Maslin) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

RuralPod Media and Meet the Farmers have collaborated with Emergent Generation to create a two-part podcast documentary about the future of food and farming to show anything is possible when young people are involved.

Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food details how group members think and feel about the future, how they imagine it can be and what they are doing to realise their vision.

Emergent Generation (Em Gen) is a network of young people building a food system that nourishes people and planet.

Part 2 shows how change is happening in the sector. Not waiting for permission to act, the episode visits two farms where young people are already generating the transformation they want. With a clear vision to ensure their aspiration is supported by action, they are also determined to share their experiences believing advocacy is central to their success.

The podcast was produced collaboratively between RuralPod Media and members of Emergent Generation, with EmGen members receiving podcast training as part of the wider project, including Iory and Madeleine, who present the podcast.

The project was partly funded through a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant.

For more information about Emergent Generation and its work, go to https://www.emergentgeneration.co.uk

Producer: Ben Eagle

Production support: Dan Grist

Presenters/Voiceover: Madeleine Maslin and Iory Hughes

Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food PART 1

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Iory Hughes, Madeleine Maslin) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food details how group members think and feel about the future, how they imagine it can be and what they are doing to realise their vision.

Emergent Generation (Em Gen) is a network of young people building a food system that nourishes people and planet.

Part 1 examines the future they want, hearing from several who have left other sectors to follow their passions and join the food and farming industry. They want it to become a well-paid, popular career route, with a viable long-term path – not a “strange curiosity”.

Their visions are bold and, by admission, sometimes idealistic, but not unrealistic according to those interviewed. Change they say is needed, “it has to happen.”

The project was partly funded through a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant.

For more information about Emergent Generation and its work, go to https://www.emergentgeneration.co.uk

Producer: Ben Eagle

Production support: Dan Grist

Presenters/Voiceover: Iory Hughes and Madeleine Maslin

Questions about Seasonal Workers - Big Debate Bonus

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sacha Wooldridge, Ally Hunter Blair, Sophie Gregory) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair explore the complexities of seasonal farm employment in the UK, featuring insights from Sacha Wooldridge, an immigration lawyer at Birketts LLP. They discuss licensing, visa caps, the employer pays principle, and any potential upcoming legal changes affecting seasonal and casual employment.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that RuralPod Media Limited and its contributors make no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general informational purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, RuralPod Media Limited does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Any third-party materials or content of any third-party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of RuralPod Media Limited. RuralPod Media Limited and its contributors assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, RuralPod Media Limited makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. The views of the hosts and guests are personal and RuralPod Media Limited or its sponsors, affiliates, employees or contractors, does not take any responsibility for these views. Such views are not the views of RuralPod Media Limited or any of its sponsors, affiliates, employees or contractors. RuralPod Media Limited does not verify the accuracy of the information contained in the podcast, and RuralPod Media Limited takes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the podcast. The information contained on the podcast is provided on an ‘’as is’’ basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. Any action you take based on the information contained in the podcast is strictly at your own risk, and RuralPod Media Limited and its contributors will not be liable for any losses of damages in connection with the use of the podcast. None of the hosts, guests or contributors to the podcast will be responsible for your use of the information contained therein. The inclusion of third-party advertisements does not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, warranty, or recommendation of, and the author makes no representations and/or warranties about, any product or service contained therein. Under no circumstances will RuralPod Media Limited or their affiliates, partners, suppliers, licensors or guests appearing on the podcast be liable any losses (whether direct, indirect or consequential) suffered as a result of your doing (or not doing) anything as a result of listening or viewing (or inability to access) the podcast. Neither RuralPod Media Limited nor any of its hosts or guests appearing on the podcast shall at any time be liable for any content covered causing offence, distress or any other unforeseeable reaction suffered as a result of listening or viewing (or inability to access) the podcast. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of RuralPod Media Limited.

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Emergent Generation - Young Voices in Farming and Food TRAILER

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Iory Hughes, Madeleine Maslin) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food details how group members think and feel about the future, how they imagine it can be and what they are doing to realise their vision.

Emergent Generation (Em Gen) is a network of young people building a food system that nourishes people and planet.

Their visions are bold and, by admission, sometimes idealistic, but not unrealistic according to those interviewed. Change they say is needed, “it has to happen.”

Part 2 shows how change is happening. Not waiting for permission to act, the episode visits two farms where young people are already generating the transformation they want. With a clear vision to ensure their aspiration is supported by action, they are also determined to share their experiences believing advocacy is central to their success.

The project was partly funded through a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant.

For more information about Emergent Generation and its work, go to https://www.emergentgeneration.co.uk

What impact will conflict in the Middle East have on agriculture? And thoughts on the future of AHDB - Big Debate ep10

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ally Hunter Blair, Sophie Gregory, Emily Norton) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:14:35 +0000

As conflict continues across the Middle East Sophie and Ally ask what it means for agriculture, especially as fuel prices rise? Aside from the humanitarian impact of the conflict there has been significant impact to the flow of materials. From oil to raw materials for fertiliser the agricultural supply chain has been significantly disrupted which will have consequences for farmers.

Also in this episode Ally is joined by Chair of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Emily Norton, to discuss her thoughts on its future, and Ally questions the value for money to levy payers.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Farm Business Management | TELUS Agriculture

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

A Story of Resilience - Full Circle Farms and The Garden Army

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Morphew, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Tom Morphew shares his inspiring journey from a young gardener to the founder of Full Circle Farms and the Garden Army CIC. He discusses his unique approach to regenerative farming, the challenges he faced in his entrepreneurial journey, and his commitment to creating a sustainable and community-focused farming model. Tom emphasizes the importance of mental health and community engagement in his work, aiming to provide opportunities for healing and purpose through agriculture.

With thanks to our sponsor Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods.

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/FarmSmarter

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

Meet Farmer Phil - Dairy Beef, Farm Shops and Farming in Ireland

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Phil Stewart, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

This week Ben heads to county Longford in Ireland to meet Phil Stewart aka Farmer Phil on youtube. Phil’s farm has been in his family for over 80 years. Farming 633 acres and rearing dairy beef calves the business is wide ranging and includes agri-contracting and a Farm Shop.

Image credit: Liv Stewart.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

Farmers Reflect on the NFU Conference and Is the Cereals Sector Fit for the Future? - Big Debate ep9

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:13:32 +0000

Following a discussion on this week's NFU Conference Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by three farmers to ask : ‘Is the Cereals Sector Fit for the Future?'

Guests include:

Chris Baylis – Director of Farming at Sir Richard Sutton Limited which has farms in Lincolnshire and Berkshire.

Andrew Court – Arable and beef farmer on 110 hectares (274 acres) in Staffordshire, farming regeneratively.

James Bowditch – 4th generation mixed farmer from Dorset. Arable, dairy, beef and sheep.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Farm Business Management | TELUS Agriculture

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

From Dairy Farming to YouTube: Josh Misselbrook's Story

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Josh Misselbrook, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Josh Misselbrook, who has worked on various dairy farms across Devon and is a farming YouTuber. Josh shares his journey from early experiences of farming to his current role. He discusses his educational path, including an apprenticeship in agriculture and his time working at Rothamsted Research. Josh expresses his passion for dairy farming, the challenges it faces, and the importance of supporting local farmers. He also shares his experiences with YouTube and how he started his channel.

Image credit: Josh Misselbrook

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

Reasons to be Confident about the future of farming

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:42:47 +0000

Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by Virgin Money's UK Head of Agriculture Brian Richardson and Head of Agriculture in Scotland Stephen Buchan to take a broad look at UK agriculture today.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our Headline Sponsor: Virgin Money

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Should we be taking food security more seriously in the UK? - Big Debate ep8

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:00 +0000

This week Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are asking : ‘Should we be taking food security more seriously in the UK and is investing in farming the answer?’ This is following the publication of a report by the UK government last month titled ‘Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security: A national security assessment’. Their guests include ffinlo Costain – Chief Executive of Farmwell and Founder of the Food and Global Security Network, and Laurie Laybourn – a researcher, author and strategist. Laurie leads the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative. He is also an Associate Fellow at Chatham House and holds fellowships at the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter.

Link to the report - Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security - GOV.UK

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

The Salty Shepherd - Steve Penberthy in Cornwall

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Steve Penberthy) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Steve Penberthy, a sheep farmer from West Cornwall, who shares his journey into farming, the challenges he faces, and the importance of public perception in agriculture. Steve discusses his farm's unique characteristics, the impact of weather on farming, and his experiences with lambing. He also highlights the diversification of his business through glamping and the challenges of securing grazing land. The conversation touches on the importance of community engagement and the need for farmers to connect with the public. Steve concludes with insights on the future of sheep farming and the significance of taking breaks from farm life.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Please join our mailing list here - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

Big Debate bonus - 'Ask the Legal Expert' - Inheritance Tax, Succession and Land Sales

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Chris Coupland, Annabelle Rout, Ally Hunter Blair) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000

In this bonus of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate, host Ally Hunter Blair puts listeners' questions to legal experts Chris Coupland and Annabelle Rout from Birketts LLP to discuss critical topics surrounding inheritance tax, succession planning, and land sales. The conversation emphasizes the importance of wills, lasting powers of attorney, and trusts, while also addressing the complexities of fair inheritance among family members. They provide insights into the impact of development on agricultural land value and the challenges of land valuation in the context of inheritance tax. Throughout the discussion, the significance of communication within families is highlighted as a key factor in successful succession planning.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Big Debate Farmers Compare their Farm Businesses - What does the future hold? - Big Debate Episode 7

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ally Hunter Blair, Sophie Gregory) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Big Debate hosts Ally and Sophie discuss various topics related to farming, including their personal journeys in agriculture. They also share insights from their recent trip to Scotland and engage with listener feedback, highlighting the importance of community in the agricultural sector. They discuss various aspects of farming, including the challenges and opportunities faced by young farmers, the differences between tenancy agreements, and the impact of technology on agricultural practices. They explore the balance between risk aversion and innovation, the importance of family life in farming, and the future of farming in relation to organic and conventional practices. The discussion highlights the evolving nature of agriculture and the need for adaptability in a changing landscape.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Growing a Regenerative Farm On Exmoor National Park - with Sarah and Georgia Weatherlake

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Georgia Weatherlake, Sarah Weatherlake, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Sarah and Georgia Weatherlake, who manage a 500-acre farm in Exmoor National Park.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

The Radmore Farm Journey - with Ben Aveling

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Aveling, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Ben Aveling, known as Radmore Farm on social media, reveals all about his farming and diversification journey over the past few years, as well as his entry into social media.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

The Farm Profitability Review with Baroness Minette Batters - what's next? - Big Debate Episode 6

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Minette Batters, Ally Hunter Blair, Sophie Gregory) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Baroness Minette Batters comes on the show to discuss her Farm Profitability Review and consider what might be next for the report? She also reflects on the elements of Secretary of State for the Environment Emma Reynolds' Oxford Farming Conference speech that nodded to the review.

Ally and Sophie also discuss farming conferences and events including Oxford Farming Conference, Oxford Real Farming Conference, LAMMA and Positive Farmers Conference in Ireland.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

ORFC 2026 - seed saving, community, sustainability and futures

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Charlotte Allender, Elaine Bradley, Catrina Fenton) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

With thanks to our guests: Charlotte Allender (Head of UK Vegetable Genebank at the University of Warwick); Elaine Bradley (Exec Director of the Irish Seed Savers Association) and Catrina Fenton (Head of Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library).

Photo credit: Hugh Warwick

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

A Tale of Two Tenant Farmers

Mon, 5 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle engages with Kayleigh Robb and Tim Scott, two tenant farmers who share the same landlord - the Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT). They share their unique journeys in agriculture, discussing the challenges and opportunities they face in modern farming. The conversation delves into the importance of wildlife-friendly practices, the dynamics of landlord-tenant relationships, and the evolving landscape of farming amidst climate change. Kerriann McLackland, head of estates at CRT, provides insights into the trust's mission and the support it offers to its tenants. The episode concludes with messages for farmers and the public, emphasizing adaptability, learning, and the importance of local connections in agriculture.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

An Audio Diary from Downlands Estate with James Gilboy

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (James Gilboy, Beth Watts, Luke Watts) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Downlands was purchased by the Gilboy family in the summer of 2023. In this episode we take a look behind the scenes at their farming journey so far.

With thanks to Becca Smith for guest producing this episode.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Big Farming Quiz of the Year: Reflecting on 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:05:00 +0000

In this episode of the Meet the Farmers podcast, host Ben Eagle leads a lively quiz featuring a panel of guests reflecting on the year 2025 in farming.

Huge thanks to Ben Briggs, Bronagh Dempster, Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair for taking part.

The conversation covers the challenges faced by farmers, the impact of market trends and political decisions, and the resilience of the agricultural community. As the quiz unfolds, participants share their insights and experiences, highlighting both the difficulties and the glimmers of hope within the industry. The episode concludes with a look ahead to 2026, emphasizing optimism and the importance of adaptability in farming. Panelists navigate through a series of quiz questions that test their knowledge on various topics, including 2025, culture, podcasts, and farming.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Are marts still the heart of commerce and community? - Big Debate ep5

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 04:00:00 +0000

For this week's Big Debate Ally and Sophie explore the future of traditional livestock markets in the UK, featuring insights from Dan Luff, co-founder of Sell My Livestock, and Scott Donaldson, a seasoned auctioneer and Group Director of H&H Group. The discussion covers the evolution of livestock trading, the impact of online platforms, the social aspects of markets, and predictions for the future of livestock sales. Both guests emphasize the importance of adaptability in the industry and the potential for a hybrid model combining traditional and online methods.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

With thanks to our podcast partners:

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Farmers React to the Farm Profitability review - BIG DEBATE Emergency episode

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Briggs, Ally Hunter Blair, Sophie Gregory) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000

The UK government has published the Farm Profitability Review which was authored by Baroness Minette Batters. In this 'emergency podcast episode' Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by Ben Briggs to give an initial reaction to the document.

To view the whole report visit - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farming-profitability-review-2025-an-independent-review

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

With thanks to our podcast partners

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/sector/agriculture/

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact

Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

The Story Behind Trevor and The Sheep Show - with Trevor Wayborn

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Trevor Wayborn, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Trevor Wayborn, the owner of The Sheep Show, a mobile show promoting British sheep and wool. Trevor shares his journey from a paramedic to a farmer, discussing his family history in agriculture, the challenges he faced in his career, and how he transitioned to running The Sheep Show. The conversation highlights the importance of mental health in farming, the impact of social media, and Trevor's aspirations for the future of The Sheep Show. He emphasizes the need for farmers to unite and support each other while encouraging the public to make informed choices about their food.

Takeaways

The Sheep Show combines education and entertainment to promote British sheep and wool.
Trevor's family has deep farming roots, influencing his career path.
He transitioned from a 27-year career as a paramedic to farming after a traumatic incident.
Trevor emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness in the farming community.
The Sheep Show aims to reach a wide audience beyond agricultural shows.
Social media has played a crucial role in promoting The Sheep Show and connecting with the public.
Trevor's background in theatre has helped him engage audiences effectively.
He advocates for supporting local farmers and making informed food choices.
Trevor believes in the importance of unity among farmers to face industry challenges.
He encourages farmers to seek help and not suffer in silence.

Image credit: Trevor Wayborn

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Big Debate Agri-Economic Report December 2025 - with Virgin Money's Brian Richardson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Brian Richardson, Ben Eagle) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:15:00 +0000

Brian Richardson is Head of Agriculture at Virgin Money. As part of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate, once a season Brian will be giving an 'agri-economic report', assessing the agricultural sector as a whole from his perspective in terms of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks for agricultural businesses.

In this report he is joined by Ben Eagle.

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

With thanks to our podcast partners Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Podcast Disclaimer

Contact

Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Do Scottish Farmers Have a Bright Future? - Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate ep4 - with Cammy Wilson

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Sophie and Ally are on holiday this week so Cammy Wilson from Fed by Farmers joins the Big Debate team this week for an episode with a Scottish focus. They also discuss the long awaited Farm Profitability review, dogs on leads and Christmas cheese.

For the Big Debate Cammy and Sophie are joined by John Sleigh, editor of The Scottish Farmer, and Sally Williams, a dairy farmer from Berwickshire. The question: 'do Scottish farmers have a bright future?'.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

With thanks to our podcast partners Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: Telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: Agricultural Lawyers | Agricultural Law Solicitors — Birketts

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Contact Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Sheepdogs and Taking on the Farm after school - with Erin McNaught

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Erin McNaught, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Erin McNaught, a fourth-generation farmer in North Wales. Erin shares her journey of taking over the family farm at a young age, the challenges of farming in a rugged landscape, and the balance between education and agricultural responsibilities. She highlights the importance of family legacy and the support from her grandfather in revitalizing the farm.

Takeaways

Erin took over her family's farm at 18.
The landscape in North Wales is challenging yet rewarding.
She has grown the farm to 400 sheep.
Balancing education and farming is challenging but possible.
Family support is crucial in farming.
Erin's grandfather played a key role in her farming journey.
She pursued a degree while managing the farm.
Weather conditions significantly impact farming operations.
Erin's achievements in sheepdog handling are notable.
The farming community values generational knowledge and legacy.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Farmers React to the Budget - The Big Debate ep3

Mon, 1 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this third episode of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory give their reaction to the recent Budget. They are joined by Yorkshire farmer Paul Temple and Editor of Farmers Guardian Olivia Midgley. Chris Coupland from Birketts also offers his initial appraisal of the budget.

They also talk about Open Farm Sunday and some news stories from the past fortnight.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

With thanks to our podcast partners

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/sector/agriculture/

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

The contents of this podcast are the copyright of RuralPod Media Limited.

Contact

Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

From Livestock Farming to the Radio - with Sam Walton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sam Walton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Ben speaks with Sam Walton, the Livestock Manager at Cotswold Farm Park. Sam shares his journey from growing up on a family farm in Cheshire to his current role, emphasizing the importance of public engagement and education in farming. He discusses his experiences in New Zealand, insights on agritourism, and the significance of mental health awareness in the agricultural sector. Sam also reflects on his radio career and the importance of networking within the farming community, concluding with messages to both the public and farmers about supporting the industry.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Do farmers need a new fitness culture?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Paul Norton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

We talk fitness on the show today. Does farming need a new fitness culture? Ben is joined by Paul Norton who has driven farm machinery across the world and is on a mission to get farmers fit.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Meet Rich the Funky Farmer - Pioneering Farming Youtuber

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Richard Cornock, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Richard Cornock, known as The Funky Farmer, about his experience in dairy farming and his journey as a pioneering YouTuber. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers, including inheritance tax, the volatility of the dairy market, and the importance of community among farmers. Rich shares insights from his 40 years in the industry, the evolution of farming content on YouTube, and the role of influencers in agriculture. He emphasizes the need for resilience and planning in farming, while also encouraging the public to support local farmers by buying British and direct. The conversation highlights the joy and satisfaction that comes from farming, despite its challenges.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Image Credit: Richard Cornock

The UK's share of global emissions is 1% - should UK farmers still aim for net zero? - Big Debate Episode 2

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this second episode of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory turn to the topic of climate as COP30 kicks off in Brazil. They are joined by Brazilian agricultural journalist Marianna Grilli and Professor Tim Benton to explore the subject. They also discuss cheese awards, Christmas trees and why Sophie is recording in an ironing cupboard in Denmark.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

With thanks to our podcast partners

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/sector/agriculture/

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

The contents of this podcast are the copyright of RuralPod Media Limited.

Contact

Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Ben travels to Kenya - IFAJ CONGRESS 2025 - PART 2

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:05:00 +0000

In this second episode Ben reveals more of his trip to Kenya. He interviews the Congress Director Aghan Daniel to set the scene for the congress in Nairobi. He also dives into issues such as women in farming in Kenya and takes listeners behind the scenes at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).

Make sure you listen to episode 1 to make the most of this episode.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Ben travels to Kenya - IFAJ CONGRESS 2025 - PART 1

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Ben travels to Kenya in this episode as part of the Alltech Young Leader Programme and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists annual congress, which takes place in a different country each year. In this episode he speaks to his fellow young leaders to discover more about agriculture in their respective countries.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Farming in Iceland - with Jack Bradley

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jack Bradley, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode, host Ben Eagle speaks with Jack Bradley, a first-generation dairy farmer in Iceland. Jack shares his unique journey from the UK to Iceland, detailing his experiences in the military, a pivotal holiday in Kavos that indirectly sparked his interest in farming, and his time working in New Zealand. He discusses the cultural differences between the UK and Iceland, the challenges of herd management, and the importance of community. Jack also explains the Icelandic milk quota system and his aspirations for the future, including establishing a tourism business alongside his farming. Throughout the conversation, Jack emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and the need for transparency in the agricultural industry.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction to Jack Bradley's Journey

03:17 Life in Iceland: Landscape and Community

05:52 Childhood Influences and Early Aspirations

10:50 Military Career and Lessons from Failure

14:53 Cultural Observations: UK vs. Iceland

19:34 The Pivotal Holiday in Kavos

23:44 Transitioning into Dairy Farming

24:39 The Importance of Fit in Job Recruitment

26:28 Challenges of Herd Management

28:13 Navigating Education and Career Paths

29:17 A Leap of Faith to Iceland

30:42 Life in Iceland: A New Beginning

33:11 Cultural Adjustments and Language Barriers

37:16 From Farming to Owning a Farm

40:12 Building a Future Together

44:12 The Efficiency of Business in Iceland

45:14 Understanding Iceland's Unique Milk Quota System

48:14 Challenges of Expanding Dairy Operations

50:47 Future Aspirations and Business Ventures

55:28 Cultural Insights and Unique Traditions

59:19 Messages of Encouragement and Change for Farmers

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Image Credit: Jack Bradley

The Big Debate Ep1 - Avian Flu, Pumpkins, Snails and Sustainability

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sophie Gregory, Ally Hunter Blair) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Join new co-hosts of The Big Debate series Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair in the very first episode of "Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate." Dive into discussions on sustainability, the impact of climate change on farming, and the quirky issue of 'snail farming' in Westminster. Sophie and Ally reflect on how the farming community is adapting to new challenges and opportunities, with insights into the role of technology and sustainability in shaping the future of agriculture. Tune in for engaging stories, opinions, and a touch of humour as Sophie and Ally explore the evolving landscape of farming. Episode will be out every fortnight.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast

Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

With thanks to our podcast partners

Headline Partner: Virgin Money

Associate Partner: TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods

Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods: telus.com/BigDebate

Associate Partner: Birketts LLP

You can find out more about Birketts and their leading agriculture team by heading to their website: https://www.birketts.co.uk/sector/agriculture/

Podcast Disclaimer

Disclaimer

The contents of this podcast are the copyright of RuralPod Media Limited.

Contact

Please email us at hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk to contact us about any issues.

Charlotte Ashley on Farming and the Influencer label

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Charlotte Ashley) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben sits down with Charlotte Ashley, a farmer, podcaster, and prominent countryside content creator, who shares her journey into farming, farming life today, and the power of social media to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities. We’ll also dive into Charlotte’s role as a content creator and her thoughts on the “influencer” label, as well as her podcasting journey with Rebecca Wilson.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Charlotte Ashley and Her Journey

04:06 Transitioning to Dairy Farming

11:50 Life Before Farming: A Personal Reflection

17:47 The Shift to Robot Milking Systems

23:50 Learning Curve in Dairy Farming

29:28 Advice for New Entrants in Dairy Farming

32:25 The Journey to Becoming Graham's Dairy Farmers

35:56 Defining the Role: Farmer vs Influencer

46:40 The Evolution of Podcasting and Storytelling

52:35 Navigating the Challenges of Dairy Farming

58:18 Reflections and Messages for the Future

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Image credit: Charlotte Ashley

Meet the Farmers - a brand new series and new hosts announcement!

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ally Hunter Blair, Ben Eagle, Sophie Gregory) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this special episode of the podcast Ben announces the launch of a brand new ongoing current affairs series on the podcast, with two new hosts joining the Meet the Farmers team!

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

In memory of Eleanor - Michael Kavanagh shares his family's experience of losing their 2 year old

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Michael Kavanagh, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this heartfelt episode, Michael Kavanagh shares his journey of grief following the tragic loss of his daughter Eleanor in January 2025. He discusses the challenges faced by his family, the importance of community support, and the promise he made to Eleanor to live a life well lived.

On Sunday 26th January 2025, 2 year old, Eleanor and her big sister Fiona, went to bed like any other night. Their parents Di and Michael played with them, read them stories, tucked them in and sang a lullaby. Both children went to sleep happy and loved. The following morning, Monday 27th January, Di went into the girls’ room to discover the unthinkable had happened. Eleanor had passed away in her sleep. Having had no signs of a worrying illness, and the brightest, happiest, healthiest little girl they had absolutely no warning there was anything to be concerned about. The postmortem would come back some 12 weeks later showing she had viral pneumonia.

In this episode which some viewers may find difficult, Michael Kavanagh describes his and Di's experience this year, grief, counselling and undertaking immense challenges in memory of Eleanor. Di has already completed her cycle from London to Paris in extreme conditions. Michael will be leaving their new home in Oxfordshire on Saturday 25th October, and within 24 hours he will run (and walk) to Eleanor’s grave 80 miles away in Shropshire. Three marathons, back-to-back. Off road. Through the night.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT MICHAEL AND ELEANOR PLEASE VISIT The Eleanor Challenge - GiveWheel

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:47 The Tragic Loss of Eleanor
05:56 Life After Loss: The Kavanagh Family's Journey
08:57 Michael's New Farming Challenge
11:51 Eleanor's Memory and the Promise of a Life Well Lived
14:53 Community Support and Resilience
17:42 Finding Joy Amidst Grief
26:25 Navigating Grief: Personal Insights
30:28 The Importance of Counseling and Support
35:29 Channeling Grief into Action: The Challenges Ahead
44:36 Charity and Community: Honoring Eleanor's Memory
51:02 Messages of Hope and Resilience

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found at ruralpodmedia.co.uk.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Cattle, Direct Sales and Youtube - Ian Pullen's farming journey

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ian Pullen, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Ian Pullen, a beef farmer from Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire. Ian shares his journey into farming, the challenges he faces with TB in cattle, and how he has successfully integrated YouTube into his farming business. He discusses the importance of diversification, the direct sales model for his beef, and the future of farming amidst changing policies and market demands. Ian emphasizes the need for farmers to adapt and find new income streams while maintaining a connection with their customers.

Takeaways

Ian Pullen took over the family farm in 1993 and has been farming for generations.
He transitioned from sheep farming to cattle due to the challenges of sheep management.
TB in cattle is a significant concern, affecting farm operations and income.
YouTube has become a lucrative side business for Ian, sometimes earning more than farming.
Ian emphasizes the importance of being authentic and having thick skin when sharing farming experiences online.
The tree surgery business has been crucial in supporting the farm financially.
Direct sales of beef have created a loyal customer base, with people traveling long distances to buy from Ian.
Future plans include diversifying the farm's income through potential tourism and local sales.
Ian's daughter is showing interest in taking over the farm, which brings hope for the future.
The farming community needs to adapt to changing policies and find innovative ways to sustain their livelihoods.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ian Pullen and His Farm
02:56 The Journey into Farming: From Sheep to Cattle
06:01 Navigating the Challenges of TB in Cattle Farming
08:59 The Rise of YouTube: A New Income Stream
11:54 Balancing Farming and Tree Surgery
14:52 The Future of Farming: Diversification and Sustainability
17:48 Direct Sales: Building a Customer Base for Beef
20:50 Planning for the Future: Challenges and Opportunities
23:44 Messages for the Public and Fellow Farmers

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Thomas Gent on Regenerative Farming, Innovation & the Future of Agriculture

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Thomas Gent, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Ben Eagle visits Thomas Gent, a fourth-generation farmer from the Lincolnshire-Cambridgeshire border. Thomas, his father and grandfather have transitioned the family farm to regenerative agriculture methods since 2008. Thomas is also the founder of Gentle Farming. The conversation covers Thomas' personal journey into farming, the transition to regenerative practices, the role of innovation and technology, and his views on the future of agriculture in the UK.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Bronagh Dempster: Navigating Farming and the Dairy Industry as a New Entrant

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Bronagh Dempster, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Bronagh Dempster, a passionate new entrant from Northern Ireland. Bronagh shares her journey into farming, her education at Queen's University Belfast, and her experiences working on a dairy farm. She discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry, her involvement in the Nuffield Next Gen scholarship, and her aspirations to start her own small-scale beef operation. Bronagh emphasizes the importance of attitude in agriculture, the value of sports in her life, and offers advice for newcomers to the industry. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of farming and the excitement for the future of agriculture.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction to Bronagh Dempster

02:46 Bronagh's Journey into Farming

10:15 The Dairy Industry Landscape

14:27 Nuffield NextGen Scholarship Experience

19:21 Starting Her Own Cattle Venture

24:16 Balancing Farming and Processing Work

26:35 The Importance of Sport in Life

28:24 Future of Dairy and Farming

29:46 Advice for New Entrants in Agriculture

31:48 Messages to the Public and Farmers

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

What was harvest 2025 like for farmers? Harvest 2025 Special

Mon, 8 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Ben is sent on farm harvest reviews from a number of UK farmers who are also former guests of the show. To say harvest 2025 was disappointing for many UK farmers is an understatement for many.

We'd love to hear or read your experiences of harvest this year wherever you are in the world - please add your thoughts in the comments.

Huge thanks to all our farmer contributors - Richard Heady, Rebecca Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Charles Anyan, John Pawsey and Andrew Court.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Recruiting Professionals and Farm Managers in Farming and the Rural Sector - with Miranda Webster

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Miranda Webster, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Miranda Webster from Webster's Rural about the challenges and opportunities in recruitment within the professional and farm manager side of the agricultural and rural sectors. They discuss the evolving landscape post-Brexit and post-pandemic, the importance of attracting and retaining talent, and the skills that are currently in demand. Miranda shares insights on how rural businesses can make themselves more appealing to potential employees and the differences in recruitment strategies for small versus large organizations. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in recruitment and the importance of maintaining a human touch in the hiring process.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

About The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast [promo] The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is the first and only dedicated podcast for the UK fruit and veg sector, with news, views and the insider detail behind the top stories affecting the trade, hosted by journalist Nina Pullman. The Fresh Produce Journal is the UK’s longest running trade magazine and has been covering the global fruit and veg business, from retail to marketing, seed breeding, growing and wholesaling, since 1895. The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is a Fruitnet Media International production, connecting the global fresh produce trade through magazines, events and content at Fruitnet.com. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or listen via the FPJ app.

Sheep farming in Australia - meet Tara from Tara Farms

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tara, Ben Eagle) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In episode 307 of Meet the Farmers, Ben travels (virtually) to western Victoria, Australia to talk with Tara, a third-generation sheep and mixed crop farmer working alongside her family. Tara runs Australian White and Primeline sheep, and is passionate about balancing productivity with long-term sustainability. She shares how responsibilities are divided on the farm, the role of technology in their management, and the opportunities and challenges facing Australian agriculture today — especially climate variability. Beyond the farm gate, Tara has built a strong following on Instagram and YouTube, where she shares the real ups and downs of farm life, helping bridge the gap between farmers and the wider public. This conversation covers her farming journey, the evolution of her family’s land, and her ambitions for the future.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Getting started in farming - with James Warwick

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (James Warwick, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle speaks with beef and sheep farmer James Warwick from north Cornwall about how he moved to Cornwall from Cambridgeshire to live with his grandparents and learn to farm. He now farms South Devon cattle and 350–400 ewes. James shares his passion for farming, financial challenges of farming and the mental strain it can sometimes bring.

We talk about:

The story of how James moved to Cornwall to farm with his grandparents
Life on the farm today and the balance between sheep and cattle.
His apprenticeship on another farm and what he learned
Being open about the mental strain farming can bring.
The financial pressures of farming and how he tackles cashflow uncertainty
His vision for the future of the farm over the next decade

James offers a heartfelt and honest perspective on the rewards and realities of farming, blending tradition with a willingness to speak openly about issues that matter to farmers everywhere.

Photo credit: James Warwick

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers

OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers

To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Corn, Beans and Shorthorns - Farming in Indiana with Shane and Val Wallis

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Shane Wallis, Val Wallis, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this week’s episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle is joined by Shane and Val Wallis, who run a family farm in Indiana in the United States raising Shorthorn cattle alongside corn, beans, and hay. Shane and Val share insights into their day-to-day operation, why Shorthorns are important for them and the story of their farm. They reflect on the unique challenges and rewards of farming in their part of Indiana and the pressures facing U.S. farmers today from their perspective. The conversation also looks ahead to the future of their farm and the values that drive their work.

Image credit: Shane and Val Wallis

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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'ReMooable Energy' - Our Cow Molly's plans and fundraiser for community owned energy project

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Eddie Andrew) — Fri, 8 Aug 2025 11:15:56 +0000

To support the project visit reMooable Energy - Our Cow Molly goes electric - a Environment crowdfunding project in Sheffield by sarah.galligan@ecofit.uk

For more info on Our Cow Molly visit - Our Cow Molly – Farm Shop & Ice Cream Parlour

Eddie last featured on episode 12 of the podcast!

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Farming Leaders - Meet Deputy President of the NFU - David Exwood

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Exwood, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 Aug 2025 10:04:49 +0000

In this episode, Ben Eagle is joined by David Exwood, Deputy President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), who farms over 1,200 tenanted hectares just south of Horsham in West Sussex. David shares insights from his multi-enterprise farming business—featuring arable, beef, sheep, and a farm shop—as well as his leadership journey within the NFU.

They discuss:

David’s farming background and philosophy
His leadership style and priorities at the NFU
The challenges facing UK agriculture, including ELMS, inheritance tax changes etc
The role of politics in shaping farming’s future
Opportunities for younger farmers and the role of innovation
With candid reflections on decision-making, long-term motivation, and what he’d change with a magic wand, this episode offers a deep dive into the person behind the leadership role and the direction of British farming today.

Final thoughts include messages for both the public and farmers.

Photo credit: Lawrence Looi / NFU.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Smart farming in the dairy sector - technology, AI and the future

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle explores how SMART farming is reshaping the UK dairy sector. From herd management to sustainability and automation, Ben is joined by a panel of farmers and agri-tech experts to discuss how digital tools, data, and intelligent systems are helping dairy businesses become more efficient, resilient, and future-ready.

Together, the panel examines real-life examples of SMART farming in action, the benefits and barriers of adopting new technologies, and the innovations on the horizon. Whether it's camera technology, AI, slurry monitoring, or pasture measurement, this episode is packed with practical insights into the future of dairy farming.

👥 Guests

Ben Hogg
UK & Ireland General Manager, Datamars Livestock
Ben brings a tech supplier’s perspective, discussing how connected livestock systems and data-driven tools are enabling better decision-making and improving livestock health and productivity.

Mike Jones
Dairy Technical Manager, UK Agritech Centre
Mike shares a national overview of agri-innovation in the dairy sector, highlighting where adoption is thriving and where farmers still face challenges when integrating new technologies.

Patrick Morris-Eyton
Cumbrian Dairy Farmer & Arla District Representative
Patrick manages a high-input, high-output system with 900 pedigree Holsteins. He reflects on how SMART farming supports consistency, scale, and staff management on a large dairy farm.

Adam Atkinson
Farm Manager, Caulston Farm (Carswell Group), South Devon
Adam runs a spring block calving system with 600 Kiwicross cows on a grass-based setup. He shares how digital tools like grass measurement and herd monitoring enhance sustainability and performance.

📌 Key Topics

SMART farming explained

Digital herd management

Sustainability and efficiency through tech

Practical farm experiences (large-scale vs. pasture-based)

Automation, AI, and the future of dairy

Cultural and financial barriers to tech adoption

🔗 Resources & Links

Datamars Livestock – www.datamars.com

UK Agritech Centre – www.agritech-centre.co.uk

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Tyler Froberg: From Army to Agriculture - family, business growth and agri-influencers

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tyler Froberg, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Ben travels across the pond to Alvin, Texas, to meet Tyler Froberg — a fourth-generation farmer and agri-influencer who is reshaping how people connect with agriculture. Tyler shares the story of his family’s farm, Froberg Farms, which started with just 22 acres of strawberries in 1936 and has now grown into the largest “You-Pick” strawberry farm in Texas.

Tyler talks about his path to farming, which wasn’t a straight line. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Washington state. Upon returning to Texas, he worked in the Pearland Parks and Natural Resources Department before ultimately coming back to the farm. He also completed a degree in agriculture from Texas Tech University — all of which contributed to his approach to farming today.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Tyler co-created the Farming for Dummies podcast with Noah Young to help bridge the gap between farmers and the public. He also began sharing his own story online, quickly gaining a loyal following across TikTok and Instagram with his educational and often humorous takes on everyday life on the farm.

This conversation covers:

The evolution of Froberg Farms over four generations

Tyler’s journey through the military and back to agriculture

The challenges and opportunities of direct sales and “You-Pick” operations

Using social media to connect with non-farming audiences

Why storytelling is key to the future of agriculture

🔗 Links & Resources

Froberg Farms – frobergfarm.com

Follow Tyler on Instagram – @tylerfroberg

Farming for Dummies Podcast – [Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts]

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Image credit: Tyler Froberg

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Groundswell 2025 - Exploring 'regenerative' beyond the farm gate

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Guests Featured:

Emma Burnett – Senior Researcher in Agriculture and Sustainability, Fielden Whisky

Øistein Thorsen – CEO, FAI Farms

Julia Kirby Smith – Better Food Traders

Hannah Gibbs – Programme Manager, Sustain

Lucy Williamson – Registered Nutritionist & Advocate for Soil-to-Gut Health

What We Cover in This Episode:

What "regenerative" means beyond the farm

The role of consumer-facing brands in regenerative storytelling

The responsibilities and opportunities for retailers—big and small

Linking human health with soil health and biodiversity

Whether regeneration will become the norm or a niche

Links and Resources:

Lucy Williamson Nutrition

Call to Action:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts—it really helps us grow the show.

🎧 Next episode: Ben speaks with Texas farmer Tyler Froberg.

Image credit: Ben Eagle

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Tim Parton: Resilience, Regeneration, and Rethinking Arable Farming

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tim Parton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 7 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this milestone 300th episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle sits down with Tim Parton, farm manager of a 300-hectare arable enterprise in Staffordshire and a leading voice in regenerative agriculture. Tim shares his journey from conventional farming to pioneering biological, no-till methods that have dramatically cut synthetic inputs while boosting yields and soil health.

We discuss his innovative drill modifications, the importance of cover crops and microbial brews, and the challenges and rewards of shifting to a regenerative system. Tim also opens up about the life-changing accident he suffered in 2024, his remarkable resilience, and how he continues to inspire and consult within the farming community.

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Image credit: Tim Parton

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Global Shocks, Local Farms: Wars, Climate, Trade, Politics and Beyond - with Emily Norton and James Bolesworth

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (James Bolesworth, Ben Eagle, Emily Norton) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 06:40:12 +0000

In this big-picture episode, Ben Eagle is joined by two expert voices—Emily Norton and James Bolesworth—to unpack how global forces are shaping the future of UK farming. From the war in Ukraine and climate extremes to trade policy and political unpredictability, we examine how these shocks are influencing prices, planning, and resilience on the ground.

🧭 What We Cover:

Part 1: Global Forces in Flux – Wars, Trade & Market Volatility

Which global events are driving the most pressure on UK agriculture

How the war in Ukraine disrupted grain markets and commodity flows

Trade policy shifts post-Brexit and their on-farm implications

Are UK farmers more exposed to international risk?

Part 2: Climate, Weather & Risk – Farming in an Era of Extremes

How climate volatility is reshaping investment and land use

The financial and production risks of extreme weather

Global climate impacts on food security and commodity markets

Part 3: UK Response – Policy, Politics & Farm-Level Strategy

Assessing the UK’s agricultural policy response to global pressures

Closing Thoughts – Looking Ahead

One global trend UK farmers must pay closer attention to

📢 Final Messages:

🎧 Next Episode (300!): Join us for a milestone conversation with regenerative farming pioneer Tim Parton.

💬 If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show or share it with a fellow farmer.

📲 Follow us: @meetthefarmerspodcast | www.meetthefarmers.co.uk

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Farming in Cornwall: Peter Green on Cattle, Podcasting, Family & the Future

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Peter Green, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle heads to Stithians in Cornwall to meet Peter Green, a fifth-generation farmer, Nuffield Scholar, and host of Cornish Mutual’s Farming Focus podcast. Peter shares his remarkable journey from studying physics and working as a chartered accountant, to returning home to Cornwall to rebuild the family farm after the tragic loss of his parents in 2007.

Now running a grass-fed Stabiliser beef herd, Peter talks about:

Transitioning from corporate life back to farming

Managing grief and responsibility following the death of his parents in a car accident.

The decision to sell, and then restock, the farm's herd.

Building a sustainable, low-input beef business in Cornwall

Selling direct to customers through beef boxes

His work with the Prince’s Countryside Fund

Co-hosting the Farming Focus podcast and engaging the South West farming community

Balancing life as a farmer, podcast host, and dad to five-year-old twins

This episode is a powerful reminder of how purpose, resilience, and people can shape a meaningful farming future.

🔗 Links & Mentions:

Farming Focus Podcast – Cornish Mutual

Royal Countryside Fund – Farm for the Future

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Image credit: Peter Green

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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What's it like to be a young farmer in Ireland? - with Sophie Bell

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sophie Bell, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:05:13 +0000

In this episode, we’re heading to County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland to meet a next-generation voice in farming — Sophie Bell.

Sophie is part of a rising wave of young farmers who are not only tackling the day-to-day challenges of running a farm, but also using social media to share their stories, connect with wider audiences, and bring attention to rural issues. From climate resilience to the pressures of food production, Sophie is navigating what it means to farm in the 21st century.

In this conversation, Ben and Sophie discuss:

Her journey into farming and how she came to take over the family farm

The unique pressures facing young farmers in Ireland today, including access to land, financial sustainability, and changing weather patterns

How Sophie is using platforms like Instagram to engage both farmers and non-farmers, build community, and advocate for the industry

Her hopes for the future of farming and what she’d like to see change for the next generation

Whether you’re in the field, behind a desk, or just curious about rural life, this episode offers a thoughtful, honest look at modern farming through the eyes of someone living it every day.

Follow Sophie Bell:
📸 Instagram: @sophie_bell__
🎥 TikTok: @sophie_bell__

Support the show:
If you’re enjoying Meet the Farmers, please consider leaving a review or sharing this episode with someone who’d love it.

Image credit: Sophie Bell

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

The Challenges of Farming Alone (and some dog training tips) - Damian Barson's story

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Damian Barson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, we focus on the inspiring story of Damian Barson — a man who made the life-changing decision to enter the world of sheep farming in his fifties. Formerly a professional dog trainer, Damian took his first steps into agriculture in 2021. Today, he manages a flock of around 150 ewes, including Mules, Swaledales, and other breeds.

Damian shares the highs and lows of his journey so far — from venturing into farming to facing the emotional toll of caring for a close friend and coping with the personal isolation that farm life can bring. This episode offers a raw and honest example of when farming life meets the challenges that life can bring in general.

🧠 Topics Discussed:

Prices and lambing 2025.

Damian’s journey from dog training to sheep farming.

Expanding his flock.

Mental health and tackling isolation in rural life.

Farm safety and the importance of having connections.

Dog training tips from Damian.

What’s next for Damian?

Image credit: Ryan Day

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Britain's Fittest Farmer and Farm Fitness - with Will Arden

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Will Arden, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 2 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle is joined by Will Arden — arable and deer farmer from Lincolnshire, founder of The Farmyard Gym, and head judge of Britain’s Fittest Farmer. With five competitions under his belt and a recent win in the men’s under-40s category, Will shares his passion for fitness, mental health, and how farmers can stay strong in both body and mind, on and off the farm.

Apply for Britain's Fittest Farmer 2025 competition here - Farmers Weekly - Britain's Fittest Farmer - About the competition

Image credit: Will Arden

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Farming, Fashion and a £254,000 grant - an update from James and Katie Allen

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, James Allen, Katie Allen) — Mon, 26 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle catches up with James and Katie Allen, a dynamic couple whose journey into farming began with conservation grazing and has evolved into something much bigger. Originally featured during the Meet the Farmers on Tour series in 2019, James and Katie return to the podcast with exciting updates from their new 170-acre holding near Swindon.

James and Katie have built a thriving, nature-led enterprise focused on native breed cattle and sheep.

Recently, their business took a major leap forward with the opening of a new on-farm tannery and classroom, funded by a £254,000 grant. These new facilities are already playing a vital role in their mission to connect farming, sustainability, and education — particularly in the realm of fashion. The Allens now host fashion students and others on the farm, sharing insights into the journey from hide and wool to finished product and their links with farming.

We discuss their vision for the future, what the grant has enabled, sustainable leather production, and how they’re bridging the gap between agriculture and fashion.

Topics covered:

Starting out with conservation grazing

Moving to the new farm.

Building a sustainable tannery and educational space

James's Churchill scholarship

Engaging with the fashion industry and design students

Engaging with the local community

Image credit: James and Katie Allen

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture - with Stephanie Anderson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Stephanie Anderson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:14:48 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle is joined by US author and journalist Stephanie Anderson to discuss the transformative role women are playing in regenerative agriculture. Stephanie’s latest book, From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture, shines a spotlight on female farmers and changemakers who are rethinking how we grow food in the face of climate change.

From battling conventional norms to pioneering new practices rooted in sustainability and equity, these women are proving that leadership in agriculture can be diverse, resilient, and regenerative. Stephanie shares intimate stories, key insights from her research, and her vision for a more just and climate-conscious food system.

Guest:
👩‍🌾 Stephanie Anderson

Author of From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture

Author of One Size Fits None

Assistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction at Florida Atlantic University

Website: stephanieandersonwriter.com

Topics Covered:

What is regenerative agriculture and why it matters?

How women are challenging traditional farming models?

The intersection of sustainability, equity, and food justice.

Behind-the-scenes stories from From the Ground Up.

The role of storytelling in environmental and social change.

Stephanie’s personal journey from farm girl to journalist and author.

Resources Mentioned:

From the Ground Up

One Size Fits None

Image credit: Stephanie Anderson

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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How do you start a farming or land based business from scratch? Alex and Emily Crawley on starting a conservation grazing business

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Alex Crawley, Emily Crawley, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 12 May 2025 09:35:44 +0000

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle sits down with Alex and Emily Crawley, co-directors of Grazing Management Limited, to explore the concept of conservation grazing and their journey starting their business. Based in the Forest of Dean, the Crawleys are using native breed cattle, sheep, and goats to deliver environmental benefits on land managed by charities, government agencies, and private owners.

Neither Emily nor Alex began their careers in agriculture. Emily comes from a background in the charitable sector (and also as a pilates instructor!), while Alex transitioned from a military and diplomatic career into land management, later earning a Graduate Diploma in Agriculture and becoming a Nuffield Scholar.

Together, they’ve built a contract grazing business that earned them the British Farming Awards' New Entrant accolade within just two years. This conversation dives into three core themes: the power of farming to support environmental goals, the realities of starting a land-based business without owning land, and the bold personal journeys that led them to agriculture.

🎧 Topics covered:

What conservation grazing is and why it matters

The role of native livestock in biodiversity and habitat management

Starting a farming business without owning land

Transitioning into agriculture from completely different careers

Lessons learned, early successes, and advice for new entrants

📝 Resources & Mentions:

Nuffield Farming Scholarships

Royal Agricultural University – Graduate Diploma in Agriculture

British Farming Awards – New Entrant Category

🌿 Whether you’re interested in sustainable land management, starting a farming venture, or simply love a good career pivot story, this episode offers insight and inspiration in equal measure.

Image credit: Alex and Emily Crawley

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Paludiculture and Wetter Farming - An Opportunity for Agriculture?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jenny Bennion, Sarah Johnson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 5 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Today on the show we’re talking about paludiculture. You might not have heard the term before, but paludiculture is the practice of wetland farming—essentially growing crops on rewetted lands, usually peatlands. Paludiculture is emerging as a way to restore peatlands, reduce carbon emissions, and explore the creation of new income opportunities for farmers and landowners.

Peatlands play a critical role in ecosystems. They store vast amounts of carbon, support biodiversity, and regulate water levels. However, draining peatlands releases huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The big question is: can we farm in a way that both protects and restores these landscapes?

Jenny Bennion and Sarah Johnson from Lancashire Wildlife Trust believe that paludiculture could provide at least some of the answers.

For more info on paludiculture visit - www.paludiculture.org.uk

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Agroforestry Mini Series ep3 - The 'How' of Agroforestry

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Kemp, Ben Eagle, James Ramskir-Gardiner) — Fri, 2 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

This mini-series has been produced in collaboration with the Forestry Commission. This time we’re talking about agroforestry - the benefits, the practicalities and the questions our guests think that you need to asking before committing to an agroforestry project.

In this third and final episode we’re talking about the 'how' of agroforestry - Ben asks guest Tom Kemp from Working Woodlands Cornwall and co-host James Ramskir-Gardiner about the things to look out for when it comes to establishing and managing an agroforestry system.

Email address to get in contact with the Forestry Commission Agroforestry team: GRNationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Agroforestry Open Weekend 16th-19th May 2025: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/

Agroforestry Mini Series ep2 - Silvopasture v Silvoarable systems

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sam Morgan, James Ramskir-Gardiner, Ben Eagle) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this second episode we talk about silvopasture and silvoarable agroforestry systems - Ben asks guest Sam Morgan and co-host James Ramskir-Gardiner about the opportunities and challenges when it comes to managing these systems.

Email address to get in contact with the Forestry Commission Agroforestry team: GRNationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Agroforestry Open Weekend 16th-19th May 2025: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/

Agroforestry Mini Series ep1 - Making the Case for Agroforestry - why do it?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Clare Hill, Ben Eagle, James Ramskir-Gardiner) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In this first episode we’re focussed on the ‘why’ of agroforestry - Ben asks guest Clare Hill and co-host James Ramskir-Gardiner to make the case for agroforestry and they make the case for why you should consider doing it on your farm.

Email address to get in contact with the Forestry Commission Agroforestry team: GRNationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Agroforestry Open Weekend 16th-19th May 2025: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/

Soil: The World at Our Feet - an Exhibition at Somerset House

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Henrietta Courtauld, Bridget Elworthy, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Today’s episode takes us from the fields to the heart of London to reflect on a truly unique and thought-provoking exhibition that has just wrapped up at Somerset House in London, marking its 25th anniversary. Titled Soil: The World at Our Feet, the exhibition brought together visionary artists to reframe how we think about the ground beneath us.

Far from being “just dirt,” this exhibition invited visitors to see soil as a living, breathing system—one that underpins not only agriculture but culture, climate, and community. Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld from The Land Gardeners came up with the concept for the exhibition and they speak to Ben in this episode They talk about how the exhibition came to life, what it revealed, and put their case as to why soil should matter to everyone—not just farmers.

SOIL | Somerset House

Home — the land gardeners

Soil Home — the land gardeners

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

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Cutting Inputs and Output to Increase Profitability - investigating 'The Profitable Farm' with Chris Clark and Brian Scanlon

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Chris Clark, Brian Scanlon) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Today, we're diving into one of the most critical challenges in farming today—profitability. How do you balance the demands of business, the realities of nature, and the need to manage energy and resources sustainably at a time when income sources and profitability itself is undergoing change?

To help us explore this, I’m joined by two returning guests who are tackling these questions head-on—farm consultant Chris Clark and physicist Brian Scanlon. Together, they've written a new book, very recently published by 5m books and titled The Profitable Farm: Balancing Business, Nature and Energy through MSO, which stands for Maximum Sustainable Output. And make sure you keep listening to the end of the episode because there is a discount code which will give you 25% off the book and I’ll tell you what that code is later.

Long standing listeners amongst you may have caught our bonus episode back in June 2023 which was when Brian and Chris were last on the show, and if you did then you’ll already have a taste of their thinking. If not, don’t worry—we’re going to unpack it all right here, but I recommend scrolling back to that episode. Today, we'll be digging into the book itself, discussing what Chris and Brian have been learning and developing since their last appearance on the show, and what MSO might mean for the future of your farm.

To buy the book with a 25% discount (courtesy of 5m books) - click here and use the code meet25

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Cycling, Swimming and Running 550km and Raising Money for RABI - the Borderline Challenge with Hugh Addison

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Hugh Addison, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 7 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Today on the show, we’re diving into an incredible story of endurance, resilience, and getting behind the agricultural community. Joining Ben is Hugh Addison from Cumbria, who, with his sister Alex and a few friends, is gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime endurance challenge—which they have called the Borderline Challenge. This September, they will cycle, swim, and run a staggering 550km from Sligo in Ireland to the mouth of the Tyne in England, using nothing but human power.

The challenge is also about raising vital awareness and funds for The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI)—a charity supporting the mental health and well-being of those in rural and farming communities.

Today, we’ll hear from Hugh about why he and Alex have taken on the challenge, we’ll hear about how they are training for it, and their personal connection to the cause they are supporting. We’ll also explore the highs and lows they anticipate, from cycling across Ireland’s rugged landscapes to braving the icy North Channel swim and running the length of Hadrian’s Wall.

To support Hugh, Alex and the rest of the team visit their justgiving page or find out more on their website.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Hydroelectric, sheep and sustainability in Wales - with James Raw

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (James Raw, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We’re in Wales for this episode and Ben's guest is James Raw - a seventh-generation farmer who runs a hill farm in the heart of the Cambrian mountains. James has implemented a range of practices and projects at his farm, including the creation of two hydro systems and a farming system that focuses on soil health and biodiversity. He was awarded the prestigious Low Impact Award in the annual M&S Select Farm Awards for England and Wales last year. In this episode Ben and James talk about James's farming journey, the changes that he has enacted on the farm and some trends and issues in farming.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

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A Farm in London - with Tom Davis

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Davis, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Ben's guest today is Tom Davis who once went on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James to talk about ducks. Tom is currently Farm Manager at Mud Chute Farm which is in the heart of London on the Isle of Dogs. He’s a trustee of the British Waterfowl Association and the poultry club of Great Britain and a former trustee of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. And he’s also no stranger to the small screen, having appeared on a number of TV programmes to chat all things farming.

Born and raised on a council estate in Battersea, he may not come from a traditional farming background, but he’s been determined to follow a career in the sector and has previously managed another city farm and worked as an instructor at a college. Tom also judges sheep, poultry and waterfowl at various agricultural shows.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Borders Farm Life - with Matthew Anderson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matthew Anderson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

We’re in Scotland today and Ben's guest is Matthew Anderson who until recently was farming with his Father and brother over three farms in the Scottish Borders over 660 Ha all grassland and hill land, half owned and half rented. He has now started a new farming business with his brother on about 330 ha of mostly rented ground. And to see what this looks like you can check out his youtube channel at Borders Farm Life. Today we’ll talk about his farming journey so far, we’ll talk about improving hill farm land and selecting cattle for low maintenance outwintering.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Let's talk Succession - with Andy Guy and Amy Fry

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andy Guy, Amy Fry, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

With inheritance tax seemingly permanently in the farming and general news at the moment we’re taking a deep dive into the topic of succession on the podcast for this episode. The newly formed Succession Alliance has come together to help farming families on their succession journey and in the episode we’ll discover what this new organisation is and who’s in it, what they’re aiming to achieve and we’ll also talk about succession in general terms and give you some ideas for how you can begin conversations with your family.

We also talk about the difference between succession and inheritance.

Ben is joined by Amy Fry and Andy Guy who are both succession experts working within the Succession Alliance.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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NFU Conference Review, Steve Reed and Inheritance Tax

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rebecca Morgan, Tom Martin) — Mon, 3 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

The NFU conference on 25th February saw 700 NFU members descend on London in a change to the usual Birmingham venue. The subject that dominated was predictably inheritance tax and feelings were high in the room when Secretary of State for Defra Steve Reed gave his speech. He announced lots of additional measures but it was inheritance tax that everyone was focussed on. In this episode we review the conference with beef and sheep farmer Rebecca Morgan who is also Chair of Ludlow NFU and is on the consultancy team for agri and rural PR and marketing agency Pinstone, and Cambridgeshire arable farmer Tom Martin.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Farmers - What Keeps You Awake At Night?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Clare Otridge, Marie Charles, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

CLICK HERE for the link to take you to the survey!

Grounded Research are asking for your help in building a picture of how the pressures of being a farmer in 2025 are felt differently for every farmer. They have over 500 responses so far to their question 'What keeps you awake at night?' but would like to hit the 1000 mark before the survey ends in March. Participation is entirely voluntary and you will have the option to join Grounded's research community at the end or simply contribute to this piece of research with no further contact.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Meet Robin Aird - Farm Manager to the Earls of Suffolk and Berkshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Robin Aird, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

We’re heading to Wiltshire today to Charlton Park Estate which is home to the Earls of Suffolk and Berkshire. Ben is joined by Robin Aird who is the Farms and Estate Manager. The farm itself is around 1450 hectares (nearly 4000 acres), a mix of arable and grassland. On top of this the farm has about 5,500 tonnes of grain storage capacity. 78 hectares of woodland and 560 hectares of environmental features are central to the estate’s conservation strategy which is made up of wild bird food areas, cover cropping, wildflower areas and grass margins. Today we’re going to hear more about this and Robin’s own journey.

Image credit: Robin Aird.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Forward Thinking Farming on 6000 hectares - with Chris Baylis

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Chris Baylis, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Chris Baylis is Head of farming for Sir Richard Sutton Limited, which manages and owns a portfolio of trading assets and businesses in the hotels, property and farming sectors.

Image credit: Chris Baylis.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Dairy Farming on the Isle of Man, dung beetles and cheese tasting - with David Cooil

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Cooil, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

For the Isle of Man Creamery (to sample some of their cheese) visit - The Isle of Man's leading dairy farmers - Isle of Man Creamery

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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A regenerative journey - with Kyle Richardville and Stuart Johnson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kyle Richardville, Stuart Johnson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Pig Farming, Diversification and the debate on inheritance tax - with Norfolk farmer Tom Wright

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Wright, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Searching for Innovation at Oxford Real Farming Conference

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:05:45 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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BIG Farming Quiz of the Year 2024 - with Will Evans, Milly Fyfe, Flavian Obiero and Peter Green

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Play along with this year's quiz and let us know how you get on

.You can contact Ben by emailing ben@ruralpodmedia.co.uk or follow us on Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for all your support this year! Happy Christmas and a very happy new year for 2025!

We'll be back in January.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Do Big International Policy Events Matter to Farmers on the Ground? - and a review of 2024 - with Chris Manley

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Chris Manley, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:22:36 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Meet the Farm Manager of the Colman Family's Estate - Michael Balls

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Michael Balls, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Michael Balls

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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The Road Towards Farming Full Time- with George Sturla

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (George Sturla, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 2 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Image credit: George Sturla

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Land Alive 2024 - The New Regenerative Event

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Land Alive took place at the Bath and West Showground on 22nd-23rd November 2024. It was organised by Sustainable Food Somerset in association with the Royal Bath and West Society.

This episode was sponsored by Cornish Mutual, farming insurance experts for the south west.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Farmers Rally in London and the Reaction Since the Budget

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Bizza Walters, Ben Eagle, Richard Heady, Ben Cooper) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:59:09 +0000

Huge thanks to all the farmers who took part in producing this episode.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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100 Years of Biodynamic Farming: Episode 2: Biodynamic Farming Today and Tomorrow

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 05:05:00 +0000

This podcast was presented and produced by Ben Eagle for RuralPod Media. To find out more about our work visit ruralpodmedia.co.uk or find our podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Special thanks to everybody who contributed to this series including Gabriel Kaye, Bernard Jarman, Berni Courts, Alison and John Chapman,Emma Hams, Gala Bailey Barker, Louisa Ellerker, Peter Darwell and Cattherine Powell. Thanks also to Hawkwood College and the Biodynamic Association.

This music for the series was from Flying Heads and CW Music Productions.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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100 Years of Biodynamic Farming: Episode 1 - Biodynamic Roots: A Century of Growth

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

This podcast was presented and produced by Ben Eagle for RuralPod Media. To find out more about our work

Special thanks for this episode to everybody who contributed including Gabriel Kaye, Bernard Jarman, Berni Courts, Catherine Powell and Alison and John Chapman. Thanks also to Hawkwood College and the Biodynamic Association.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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From Pubs to Poultry - the story of Rebecca Tonks and St Ewe Eggs

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rebecca Tonks, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Rebecca Tonks

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Pitch Up! - Hear more from farmers Tim May and John Cherry

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (John Cherry, Tim May, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Pitch Up! Annual call-out to join our growing circular communities.

Check out our sister show - Rural Business Focus - subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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The Budget in Full, and news about a Regen Ag Prize

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Carol Paris, Tamara Giltsoff, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 Nov 2024 15:57:12 +0000

Link to Land Alive event - LandAlive | NEW Food & Farming Conference | 22-23 Nov '24

Link to Roots to Regeneration - Regenerative Agriculture Training Program | Roots to Regeneration - Roots of Nature

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Growing Tea in Wales - with Lucy George

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Lucy George, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Lucy George

Link to Land Alive event - LandAlive | NEW Food & Farming Conference | 22-23 Nov '24

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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5000 acres and counting: restoring a hill and building a business - with David and Cora Cooper

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Cooper, Cora Cooper, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: David and Cora Cooper

Link to Land Alive event - LandAlive | NEW Food & Farming Conference | 22-23 Nov '24

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Chet Valley Vineyard and the Future for English Wine Making - with John Hemmant

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (John Hemmant, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:43:03 +0000

You can find out more about Chet Valley Vineyard at Norfolk Vineyard - English Wines - Vineyard holidays Tours & Stays (chetvineyard.co.uk)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Robot Milking and the Future of Dairy - with Farmers Weekly Columnist Cath Morley

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Cath Morley, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 7 Oct 2024 17:14:18 +0000

Image credit: Cath Morley

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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From Nursing to Farming - Inspired by Clarkson's Farm - with Chloe Lucas

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Chloe Lucas, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Chloe Lucas

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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ME, PoTS and life on a Yorkshire farm - with Holly Moscrop

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Holly Moscrop, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Holly Moscrop

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Keep Calm and Carry On: The Story of Growing a New Horticultural Business - with Sinead Fenton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sinead Fenton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Sinead Fenton

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Ahead of the Sheep Field and Entering the Industry from a non farming background - with Ed Munt

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ed Munt, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 9 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Scottish Farmer (Craig Stephen); courtesy of Ed Munt

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Harvest Special 2024

Mon, 2 Sep 2024 13:25:25 +0000

Huge thanks to Charles, Richard, Andrew and Andrew for sending their contributions.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Insect Farming: The Solution for Sustainable Protein? - with David Tavenor

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Tavenor, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: David Tavenor.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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The Sustainable Food and Farming Pioneer - Patrick Holden

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Patrick Holden) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Sustainable Food Trust

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Into the archive - Helen Browning and Edward Vipond

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Edward Vipond, Helen Browning) — Mon, 5 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Ben delves into the Meet the Farmers archive and digs up 2 previous episodes.

Episode Notes

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Into the archive - Amanda Owen and Tom Clarke

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Amanda Owen, Tom Clarke, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 11:08:16 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Into the archive - Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones and Anna Jones

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Anna Jones, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Into the archive - Rich Heady, Aled Evans, Jess Langton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jess Langton, Aled Evans, Rich Heady) — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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From fire breathing vegan to Derbyshire dairy farmer - meeting Alistair Macbeth

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Alistair Macbeth, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 8 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Alistair Macbeth, a mixed livestock farmer in Derbyshire, shares his journey from accidental farmer to managing a small dairy farm. The farm is located in the Peak District and is primarily focused on dairy farming, with a herd of 40 cows. Alistair also keeps Jacob sheep and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs. He and his partner Connor became farmers by chance, offering to work a few hours a week in exchange for a place to live. Over time, they took on more responsibility and now run the entire farm. Alistair also discusses his transition from being vegan to consuming meat and dairy products.

Alistair Macbeth shares his journey from conventional dairy farming to a cow with calf system, driven by his ethical concerns. He discusses the challenges and rewards of this new approach and emphasizes the importance of supporting local farmers. Alistair also highlights the need for new entrants in the farming industry and calls for more kindness and collaboration among farmers.

Takeaways

Alistair Macbeth and his partner Connor became farmers by accident, offering to work a few hours a week in exchange for a place to live on a small dairy farm in Derbyshire.
The farm is primarily focused on dairy farming, with a herd of 40 cows, as well as Jacob sheep and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs.
Alistair and Connor transitioned from being vegans to consuming meat and dairy products, as they felt disconnected from the farming system and wanted to have more control over the quality and welfare of the food they consumed.
Their journey highlights the importance of understanding where our food comes from and the need for more sustainable and ethical farming practices. Transitioning from conventional dairy farming to a cow with calf system can be challenging but rewarding.
Supporting local farmers and buying local produce can make a significant difference in the farming industry.
The farming industry needs new entrants to bring fresh ideas and resilience to the sector.
Farmers should strive to be kinder to each other and foster a sense of community and collaboration.

Image credit: Alistair Macbeth

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Groundswell 2024 - How to scale regenerative agriculture?

Mon, 1 Jul 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Investing in Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture - with Jake Freestone

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jake Freestone, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Jake Freestone, farm manager at Overbury Farms, discusses the history and operations of the farm, as well as his journey in agriculture. Overbury Farms is a diverse estate and farming business that follows regenerative farming principles. Jake emphasizes the importance of investing in the next generation of farmers and the challenges of finding and retaining good people. He also talks about his Nuffield scholarship on breaking the wheat yield plateau in the UK and the role of soil health in increasing yields and improving the environmental profile of the farm. Jake emphasizes the importance of investing in soil health and improving soil function through practices like cover cropping and returning crop residue. He discusses the need to keep fields covered and graze cover crops with livestock to enhance soil health and resilience. Jake also highlights the work of the Green Farm Collective in promoting regenerative agriculture and ensuring fair value for farmers. He emphasizes the importance of effective communication to combat misinformation and educate the public about farming practices. Jake shares his optimism for the future, acknowledging the challenges ahead but also the opportunities for growth and adaptation.

Takeaways

Overbury Farms is a diverse estate and farming business that follows regenerative farming principles.
Investing in the next generation of farmers is crucial for the future of agriculture.
Improving soil health is key to increasing yields and improving the environmental profile of the farm.
Finding and retaining good people is a challenge in the current labor market.
Jake's Nuffield scholarship focused on breaking the wheat yield plateau in the UK. Investing in soil health is crucial for improving soil function and resilience.
Keeping fields covered and grazing cover crops with livestock enhances soil health.
The Green Farm Collective promotes regenerative agriculture and fair value for farmers.
Effective communication is essential to combat misinformation and educate the public about farming practices.
The future presents both challenges and opportunities for growth and adaptation in agriculture.

Image credit: Jake Freestone

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

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The Evolution of a Dairy and Pigs Business - with Rory Christie

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rory Christie, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Rory Christie, a dairy, pigs, and beef farmer from Dumfries and Galloway, shares the history and evolution of his family farm. They have a 200-sow pig business and an 1100-cow dairy enterprise. Rory discusses the use of genetic testing, AI, and embryo transfer to improve the health and performance of their herd. He also talks about his involvement in the Milk Suppliers Association, a dairy co-op that supplies milk to the creamery at Stranraer. Rory emphasizes the importance of paying farmers for the environmental goods they provide and the challenges of labor shortage and compliance in the industry.

Takeaways

Rory Christie's family farm in Dumfries and Galloway has a 200-sow pig business and an 1100-cow dairy enterprise.
They use genetic testing, AI, and embryo transfer to improve the health and performance of their herd.
Rory is involved in the Milk Suppliers Association, a dairy co-op that supplies milk to the creamery at Stranraer.
He emphasizes the importance of paying farmers for the environmental goods they provide and highlights the challenges of labor shortage and compliance in the industry.

Image credit: Rory Christie

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Intensive Poultry and Regenerative Arable - with former FW arable farmer of the year Will Oliver

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Will Oliver) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Will Oliver, a fourth-generation arable and poultry farmer, discusses his farm in Leicestershire and the challenges and diversifications he has undertaken. The farm grows wheat, maize, and winter beans, and also has a poultry enterprise with 175,000 chickens. Will emphasizes the importance of efficiency, risk-taking, and diversification in running a successful farm. He talks about the benefits of integrating arable and poultry farming, including utilizing manure and growing feed crops. Will also discusses the challenges of growing affordable food, navigating through bird flu pandemics, and managing costs and margins in the poultry industry. He highlights the importance of biosecurity and the welfare of the birds. Will shares his passion for arable farming and the regenerative practices they are implementing. He also touches on the history of the farm, the impact of climate change, and the challenges of labour and rising interest rates. Will Oliver, an arable farmer and owner of Dandelion Hideaway, discusses his involvement in agricultural boards and the importance of influencing policy. He also talks about his glamping enterprise and the value of getting people on the farm. Will shares his approach to diversification and the need for sustainability in farming. He emphasizes the importance of cost of production and profitability, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Will's message to the public is to buy local and support farm shops, while his message to fellow farmers is to share their stories.

Takeaways

Efficiency, risk-taking, and diversification are key to running a successful farm.
Integrating arable and poultry farming can have benefits such as utilizing manure and growing feed crops.
Growing affordable food while maintaining high welfare standards is a challenge in the poultry industry.
Biosecurity is of utmost importance in poultry farming to prevent disease outbreaks.
Regenerative farming practices can help improve soil health and sustainability.
The history of the farm and the impact of climate change are factors to consider in farming.
Labor and rising interest rates are challenges faced by farmers. Involvement in agricultural boards allows farmers to influence policy and have an impact on the sector.
Diversification, such as glamping, can provide additional income and opportunities to engage with the public.
Sustainability in farming involves protecting the land for future generations and making the best use of resources.
Cost of production and profitability are crucial considerations for a sustainable farm business.
Buying local and supporting farm shops is important for the survival of these businesses.
Farmers should share their stories to increase understanding and appreciation of agriculture.

Image credit: Will Oliver

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Farming in Shetland with This Farming Life's Kirsty and Aimee Budge

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kirsty Budge, Aimee Budge, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 3 Jun 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Kirsty and Aimee Budge

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Discovering Farming in Japan - with Rupert Shinner

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rupert Shinner, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Rupert Shinner

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

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First time farming on the Isle of Wight - with Francesca Cooper

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Francesca Cooper, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 20 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Francesca Cooper

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Ranching on a big scale - with Lauren Johnson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Lauren Johnson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Lauren Johnson

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Rooted in Resilience: A Visit to Cultivate 2024

Mon, 6 May 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Huge thanks to the Cultivate team for allowing us to record at the event.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Back to the Ranch - with Avery Wrigglesworth

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Avery Wrigglesworth, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Image credit: Avery Wrigglesworth

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Curlews and Farming in the Dales - with Leigh Weston

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Leigh Weston, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Leigh Weston who farms in the Yorkshire Dales. Leigh is an ambassador for Curlew Action.

Image credit: Leigh Weston

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

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'Move Your Cows More Frequently' - with Ben Thomas

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Thomas, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Cornish beef farmer Ben Thomas.

Link to Six Inches of Soil

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

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Into the podcast archive

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Fred Price, Abi Reader, Nikki Yoxall) — Mon, 8 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

We take a look back through the podcast archive at 3 previous episodes.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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The Growing Grower: From 7 Acres to 136 Acres - with Bal Padda

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Bal Padda, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Bal and his family run Vicarage Nurseries in the Vale of Evesham alongside his team of 10 full-time staff and 150 seasonal workers. Growing 1,200t of strawberries (4 million punnets) and 100t of raspberries each season on 136 acres, the business supplies UK retailers as well as wholesale and farmers’ markets.

The farm and business have grown greatly since his parents first started it on seven acres in 1997, after moving to the UK from Punjab in 1966. Bal joined his parents on the farm in 2009 as a stop gap and loved it so much he stayed – and he’s built it from there.

Image credit: Bal Padda.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

From Interior Design to the Farm - with Anna Barton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Anna Barton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Staffordshire to meet Anna Barton. Brought up in London and trained in interior design, Anna never imagined she’d become a farmer. Then she met her builder husband whose parents needed help running their soft fruit farm in Staffordshire, so in 2016 the pair moved there and Anna became an overnight expert in growing strawberries and running a busy café and shop.

Canalside Farm stands on the banks of the Trent and Mersey canal and is 26 acres in size (around 10 hectares). The farm has a large glasshouse and 20 polytunnels planted with strawberries and raspberries. The farm also grows rhubarb, tomatoes, cucumbers and seasonal flowers. Everything is sold through an on site farm shop and pick your own scheme.

The family also grow around 20,000 pumpkins each year; sold for the increasingly large Halloween market in October each year.

Image credit: Anna Barton.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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Meet the Beef Farmer of the Year 2023 - with Ian Farrant

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ian Farrant, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Herefordshire and Ben is speaking to Farmers Weekly’s 2023 Beef Farmer of the Year Ian Farrant who farms 600 acres of land on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border. Beef production on the farm is part of a larger family partnership which also includes dairy and arable units. Ian is responsible for the beef however and rears and finishes around 650 dairy cross calves on a forage based system. Ian is very keen at finding efficiencies as well as making the farm as sustainable as possible in all ways for the future. With this in mind he has also diversified into hazelnut production and now grows 11 different hazelnut varieties on 6ha of steep land on the farm. He has planted clover in between the trees which provide nutritious grazing for a couple of hundred chickens and turkeys which he runs in the hazelnut orchards.

Image credit: Ian Farrant.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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The one with former MP Neil Parish

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Neil Parish, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Ben speaks to the former MP and MEP Neil Parish about his life and political career, including his final days in Parliament and the events that led to his resignation in April 2022.

Neil has started a new podcast called 'We Can Do Both' which explores the ideas around producing food as well as looking after the environment. For more information click here (instagram page) or here (acast).

Image credit: Neil Parish

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

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Six Inches of Soil - meet the team!

Wed, 6 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Six Inches of Soil is based on the regenerative farming movement in the UK and follows three young farmers for a year. It also explores broader concepts behind regenerative agriculture and the soil crisis.

The film follows the stories of Anna Jackson, an 11th generation arable and sheep farmer from Lincolnshire; Adrienne Gordon, a small-scale vegetable farmer in Cambridgeshire; and Ben Thomas, a Cornwall-based cattle farmer who specialises in pasture-fed beef. The film documents their highs and lows over a one-year period as they embark on a regenerative journey, working to adopt sustainable practices while building viable businesses.

In this episode Ben is joined by Claire Mackenzie (producer), Colin Ramsay (director), Adrienne Gordon and Ben Thomas (stars).

Image credit: Six Inches of Soil

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

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Howden Rural Insurance

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American Apples and Facebook Marketplace - with Kait Thornton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kait Thornton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re back in the US, in the far north west, indeed nearly on the Canadian border and Ben is meeting a fruit farmer from Washington State. Kait Thornton grows 180 hectares (440 acres) of apples and pears. She’s a 4th generation farmer at home but also started her own fruit selling company ‘Kait’s Crates’ at just 15. She has cleverly used social media to build her business , starting with Facebook marketplace and now has a huge following on TikTok which helps in raising awareness of her brand. She recently graduated from Washington State university with a degree in marketing.

Image credit: Kait Thornton.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Building the Inclusive Farm - with Mike Duxbury

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Mike Duxbury, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Mike Duxbury is the co-founder of Inclusive Farm, along with Ness Shillito. After a career in the wider agricultural sector and then at Vodafone, Mike saw the farm as his next step. Blind from the age of 6, inspiring disabled people and people with special needs is Mike's focus, through the means of farming.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Corn, Soybeans and Social Media - with Zoe Kent

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Zoe Kent, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Find Zoe on Instagram here.

Today we’re heading across to the US, to Ohio to meet 8th generation farmer Zoe Kent. Zoe grows 2000 acres of corn and soybeans and she has amassed a whopping 420,000 followers across Facebook, Tiktok and Instagram sharing her farming life. She graduated from college in 2017 and worked for her dad Mickey as an employee before becoming a partner in 2019 and taking on the business fully in 2021 when her dad retired. She holds an ag business degree from Ohio State University.

Image credit: Zoe Kent.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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Bringing the Cows Back Home - with Huw Foulkes

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Huw Foulkes, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Denbighshire in Wales to meet dairy and beef farmer Huw Foulkes. Huw was brought up on a dairy farm but was initially put off farming when he saw his father having to sell his herd. He got the farming bug at college though and ended up re-establishing a dairy on his family’s farm with a micro-dairy of 15 red polls. For his beef he crosses Welsh black heifers with Wagyu bulls. The whole system uses regenerative techniques. Huw also works on another local dairy farm to supplement his income.

Image credit: Huw Foulkes

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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'Farming is a long term game' - with Ben Cooper

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Cooper, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 5 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Wiltshire to meet arable and beef farmer Ben Cooper. Ben farms 800 acres alongside his brother and father in the Pewsey Vale of Wiltshire, growing wheat, barley, oats and canary seed as well as producing hay and straw. As well as the cattle and the crops Ben has helped the family diversify into 'pick your own pumpkins' and Christmas trees, and he also works off farm carrying out agricultural market research for clients across the ag industry as well as being a teaching fellow at the University of Reading.

Image credit: Ben Cooper

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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500 Years with One Family, and still looking to the future - with Clare Mainwaring

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Clare Mainwaring, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Today we are heading to Shropshire to the Oteley Estate which has been in the Mainwaring family for 500 years. Ben's guest is Clare Mainwaring who runs the 2000 acre estate with her husband Ian. Clare and Ian rear two herds of native British cattle – Shorthorns and Highlands, they have a flock of sheep and some pigs. They’re also not afraid of trying new things and in recent years have launched premium meat boxes, held open garden days, market days, created a cafe and farm shop that opens once a week, they’ve held ‘walk and eat’ events, open farm days, and worked with a local distillery to start producing their own damson liqueur to sell in the shop, as well as working with a local chef to make ready meals using their produce - to name but a few! Today we’re going to hear more about Clare and what it takes to run a traditional estate that has been in one family for so many generations.

Image credit: Countryside Magazine

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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The Compaction Crisis - Talking Soils with Niels Corfield

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Niels Corfield, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Niels Corfield is an agricultural consultant based in Norfolk. You can find out more by visiting his website - Home - Regenerative agriculture consultancy for farmers and landowners (nielscorfield.com)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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Dairy Down Under - with Rachael McGrath

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rachael McGrath, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 09:40:16 +0000

Today Ben meets Rachael McGrath who is a dairy farmer based in south west Victoria in Australia. She farms with her dad and the herd is made up of stud Jerseys, Brown Swiss and some cross breeds. They also have sheep and horses on the farm.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Farming in Norway (and New Zealand) - with Ola Utgaard

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ola Utgaard, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 8 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Ben heads to New Zealand this week to meet Norwegian dairy and beef farmer Ola Utgaard. Ola farms in Lesja which is 2 hours south of Trondheim in Norway but is currently working away in New Zealand.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

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The Big Farming Quiz of the Year 2023

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

For the last episode of the year Ben is joined by Sue Pritchard (CEO at Food, Farming and Countryside Commission), Stuart Roberts (Hertfordshire farmer and former Deputy President of the NFU), Jez Fredenburgh (agri-food journalist and knowledge exchange fellow at Agrifood for Net Zero Plus) and Ranald Angus (Caithness arable farmer) to round up the year and take part in this year's 'Big Farming Quiz of the Year'. Play along at home as the answers will be revealed at the end.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Making a Small Mixed Farm Pay its Way - with Andrew Court

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andrew Court, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Andrew Court runs the family’s 275-acre mixed farm with his mother and brother. The rotation includes winter wheat, spring oats, spring peas and winter barley as well as oil seed rape. Andrew studied agricultural engineering at Harper Adams before returning to the family farm. He is also involved with the Institute of Agricultural Engineers, is the new chair of the Farmers Club under 35s committee for 2024 and part of the Just Farmers network.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

The Green Farm Collective and the Route to Regen - with Michael Kavanagh

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Michael Kavanagh, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in Shropshire meeting farm manager Michael Kavanagh who is also a founding director of The Green Farm Collective, a company set up for knowledge exchange, to trade carbon and biodiversity and regeneratively farmed produce. Michael has also previously managed farms in North Yorkshire and Essex. In 2014 he transitioned 600 acres of the arable farm that he currently manages to zero till and his rotation is diverse consisting of milling wheats, heritage wheats, malting barley and quinoa. He now farms around 1700 acres in total. His system also includes 650 ewes which are lambed outdoors using an extensive system. He was runner up in the Soil Farmer of the Year 2020, winner of the Climate Change Champions competition 2022 and a 2022 finalist in the Farmers Weekly Awards Farm Manager of the Year category. Like Ben, he is also a current scholar on the Oxford Farming Conference Inspire Programme.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Christmas is Coming - a revisit to see Paul Kelly

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Paul Kelly, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Christmas is coming so Ben heads to Essex to speak to turkey farmer Paul Kelly of Kelly Turkeys.

Ben last visited Paul in episode 8 of the podcast in June 2017.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Discover US Agriculture and Ag Podcasting with Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tara Vander Dussen, Natalie Kovarik, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000

We’re heading to the US today and meeting the stars of the Discover Ag podcast – New Mexico dairy farmer Tara Vander Dussen and Nebraska based rancher Natalie Kovarik. Discover Ag sets out to discuss ‘agriculture you can relate to’, connect listeners with farmers and explore the food system. As well as the podcast Tara and Natalie formed Elevate Ag which helps producers to tell their story online .

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

When Farming Meets Radio - Hugh Broom

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Hugh Broom, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Today Ben speaks to a man who is no stranger to agri podcasting or indeed broadcast journalism in general - Surrey farmer and Farmers Weekly podcast host Hugh Broom. Hugh worked full time as a broadcast journalist in radio for 10 years first in local radio in Reading before moving to Capital Radio, LBC and Classic FM in London and then going part time with BBC Radio Five Live doing news and travel until it moved to Manchester. Throughout that period he was also running the family farm in Surrey where he’s the fourth generation to farm. The business is currently focussed on rearing dairy beef cattle but in the past also had a sheep enterprise and various direct sales ventures. From 2004 to 2009 he wrote for Farmers Weekly and when they launched their podcast at the beginning of Covid, Hugh was the obvious choice to sit alongside Johann Tasker as co-host. He’s sat on numerous NFU committees in various roles including as south east livestock chair and National Beef Chair.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Show References

Image credit: Hugh Broom

Meeting Amy the Lancashire Cowgirl

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Amy Wilkinson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Today on the show we’re meeting Lancashire based beef and arable farmer Amy Wilkinson who farms with her family on 285ha of tenanted land. As well as their arable rotation the Wilkinsons raise 650 dairy crosses up to finishing. Amy is also a columnist with Farmers Guardian.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Show References

Image credit: Amy Wilkinson

Counting Sheep with Matt Blyth

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Blyth, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today on the show we're talking sheep and Ben is meeting Matt Blyth who is a livestock advisor and has many years of experience managing sheep. Born and bred in Lincolnshire, Matt did a course at Northumberland College specialising in sheep and beef and then went on to work with a number of sheep flocks - from assisting a shepherd on an 1800 ewe flock in Hampshire to running a 540-ewe flock near Basingstoke, to running a flock for 15 years in west Sussex. Further, in 2021 he began a Nuffield farming scholarship evaluating the potential cost benefits of electronic data recording for UK sheep and beef farms.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Show References

Image credit: Matt Blyth

Meet the Dairy Daughter - Amy Eggleston

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Amy Eggleston, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in Leicestershire and Ben is meeting fifth generation dairy farmer Amy Egglestone who some of you will know better as ‘the dairy daughter’ on Instagram. Amy and her family run a 600-cow dairy herd on a New Zealand-style grazing and spring calving system. As well as her life on the farm she is also a rural marketing specialist and is the Director of Pastures Green Communications which she set up in 2018 to help rural and agricultural businesses promote themselves both on and offline.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Show References

Image credit: Amy Eggleston

Trees On Farms Mini Series (2) - Ep3. 'Creating a Woodland Management Plan'

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Karina Ponton, Dan Holmes, Ben Eagle, Jon Burgess) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Ben has teamed up with the Forestry Commission once again to make this mini-series focussed on trees on farms. In this series we are asking three questions focussed on the ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ of farm woodland management. In the first episode we asked why we need to improve our management of farm woodlands in the UK in the first place? Then in episode 2 we had a question time format asking ‘what farmers need to know about managing trees?’, and in the third and final episode we are asking how farmers can manage their farm woodlands better, using the practical example of a woodland management plan.

Ben is joined by his Forestry Commission co-host Jon Burgess who is a Woodland Resilience Officer based in the south west.

In this episode Ben and Jon are joined by Karina Ponton who is a Regional Woodland Advisor for FWAG South West and farmer Dan Holmes.

Forestry Commission: gov.uk/manage-woodland

FWAG: The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (fwag.org.uk)

Wonky Horn: Wonky Horn Organic Meat Company

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Trees On Farms Mini Series (2) - Ep2. 'Trees on Farms Question Time'

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Ben has teamed up with the Forestry Commission once again to make this mini-series focussed on trees on farms. In this series we are asking three questions focussed on the ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ of farm woodland management. In the first episode we were asking why we need to improve our management of farm woodlands in the UK in the first place? In this second episode we have a question time format asking ‘what farmers need to know about managing trees?’, and in the third and final episode we’ll be asking how farmers can manage their farm woodlands better, using the practical example of a woodland management plan.

Ben is joined by his Forestry Commission co-host Jon Burgess who is a Woodland Resilience Officer based in the south west.

In this episode Ben and Jon are joined by Simon James who is Woodland Management and Policy Senior Manager at the Small Woods Association and James Ramskir-Gardiner who is the national agroforestry advisor at the Forestry Commission.

Forestry Commission: gov.uk/manage-woodland

Small Woods Association: https://www.smallwoods.org.uk/ and Sustainable Woodland Management Course – Course Calendar (smallwoods.org.uk)

Link to LEAF reference that James Ramskir-Gardiner mentions - https://leaf.eco/farming/resources/ash-dieback

Simon James refers to the Sustainable Woodland Management Course – Course Calendar (smallwoods.org.uk) and the Tree Council’s Guidance Canopy decline Tree-Council-Ash-dieback-tree-owners-guide-FINAL.pdf (treecouncil.org.uk)

Ash dieback resources: https://leaf.eco/farming/resources/ash-dieback

Tree Council’s guidance on canopy decline Tree-Council-Ash-dieback-tree-owners-guide-FINAL.pdf (treecouncil.org.uk)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Trees On Farms Mini Series (2) - Ep1. 'Why do we need to improve our management of farm woodlands in the UK?'

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Dougal Driver, Ben Eagle, Jon Burgess) — Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Ben has teamed up with the Forestry Commission once again to make this mini-series focussed on trees on farms. In this series we are asking three questions focussed on the ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ of farm woodland management. In this first episode we’ll be asking why we need to improve our management of farm woodlands in the UK in the first place? Then in episode 2 we’ll have a question time format asking ‘what farmers need to know about managing trees?’, and in the third and final episode we’ll be asking how farmers can manage their farm woodlands better, using the practical example of a woodland management plan.

Ben is joined by his Forestry Commission co-host Jon Burgess who is a Woodland Resilience Officer based in the south west.

In this episode Ben and Jon are joined by Dougal Driver. Dougal is the CEO of Grown in Britain, an initiative that promotes timber products grown in the UK.

Forestry Commission: gov.uk/manage-woodland

Grown in Britain www.growninbritain.org/ and Join us for Grown in Britain Week 2023! - Grown In Britain

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

5 Years of Just Farmers

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re marking the 5th anniversary of Just Farmers, which if you don’t know it, is a unique communications project for British agriculture. It was founded by agri journalist Anna Jones following her Nuffield Scholarship and has seen dozens of farmers pass through its doors. So today we’re going to reflect back on those 5 years, ask what Just Farmers is all about, how it helps farmers and the media and ask what it’s future might be? Ben is joined by its founder Anna Jones as well as rural affairs journalist and broadcaster Tom Heap and two farmers who have been through the Just Farmers programme – Charles Goadby (who was in the first group) and Ceri Squire (who was in the most recent, seventh group).

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

Show References

Image credit: Just Farmers

Just Farmers website - Connecting you with independent farmers - Just Farmers

Mercer Family Charitable Foundation

Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust

The Royal Countryside Fund

Central Region Farmers Trust

The Benefits of Learning on the Job - with Eveey Hunter

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Hertfordshire to meet arable farmer Eveey Hunter who alongside her role on the family farm wide hustles for two haulage businesses, does some consultancy work and is a current member of the Next Generation Forum for the NFU. Eveey chose to not go down the academic route and learnt on the job working for grain storage and haulage companies before returning to her family’s farm. Today we’ll learn more about why she chose to do that as well as the farm business itself and Eveey’s thoughts on the future of ag for the next generation.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Eevey Hunter

Shout out - Countryside Kitchen Meets with Milly Fyfe

What is the future for Agroforestry? A visit to the Agroforestry Show

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000

The Agroforestry Show was held on 6th-7th September 2023 and was organised by The Soil Association and the Woodland Trust.

Many thanks to all of the contributors to this podcast episode including Helen Browning, Ben Raskin, Rhodri Owen, Liam Armstrong, Connor Kendrew, Chris Jones, James Ramskir Gardiner and Will Simonson.

For more information on the Agroforestry Show click here.

For the Agroforestry Handbook click here.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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Watch us on Youtube here

A Rollercoaster of a Year - with Tom Carlisle

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Carlisle, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to the Yorkshire Dales, to near Skipton to speak to sheep and beef farmer Tom Carlisle who keeps 650 ewes, 30 suckler cattle and 2 pygmy goats on 420 acres of land. He’s also recently diversified into glamping pods. On Instagram he is known as 'dalesfarmer' and you may know him for his quite fantastic lamb national reels. Tom married his wife Aimee a little over a year ago and they have had a rollercoaster first year of marriage which we go into in the episode, including the birth of their son William and hearing about Aimee's breast cancer diagnosis.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Tom Carlisle

Shout out - The Sheep Game on youtube

'The Voice of the Pig' - with Mark Jagger

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Mon, 4 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Pigs are back on the podcast today and Ben is joined by Mark Jagger who is based in Suffolk and works as Assistant Grower Farms Manager for BQP. BQP breeds and rears over a million pigs a year using a number of different systems including outdoor born, straw finished, RSPCA Freedom Food Assured, free range and organic. They have around 30 per cent of the UK market share making them the largest pig farming business in Britain. Mark works to help new farmers set up their buildings and operations ready for pig enterprises. Mark has worked in the pig sector for over 30 years in all areas from farrowing to finishing. In 2021 he was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Pig Welfare prize at the RSPCA Assured Pig and Poultry Awards.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Mark Jagger

Meet the Farmers Harvest Special 2023

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Farmers featured include:

Richard Heady (Buckinghamshire)

John Pawsey (Suffolk)

Martin Lines (Cambridgeshire)

Charles Anyan (Lincolnshire)

Andrew Wilson (North Yorkshire)

Ranald Angus (Caithness)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

How a Farm Magazine Came to Life - with Mike Donovan

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Mike Donovan, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in Wales highlighting a farming publication that has been in circulation for over 30 years. Ben is joined by publisher and former dairy farmer Mike Donovan, who may be better known as the editor and founder of Practical Farm Ideas Magazine. The magazine is published four times a year and features leading edge innovations developed by farmers and engineers which can be used as inspiration for its farmer readers. Mike launched the magazine in 1992 and since then he has covered everything from min till to biogas plants, sexed semen to robotic milking and mobile handling to implement innovations, often long before these became at all mainstream on farms. Mike started his career as an editor at The Economist Intelligence Unit before moving on to the Financial Times. He had a farm upbringing however and did a degree in Agricultural Economics, so farming was never far from his life and interests. In the late 70s he and his wife left their home in London for West Wales where he became a dairy farmer, and this is where his real interest in practical and machinery innovations was kickstarted. The rest they say is history. Since February 2017 he has also been the editor of Direct Driller Magazine.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Mike Donovan

Carbon, Sheep and a 'Compulsive Interest' in the land - with Liz Bowles

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Liz Bowles, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in the south west and Ben meets sheep farmer and Chief Executive at the Farm Carbon Toolkit, Liz Bowles. Liz has rich experience as an adviser to farmers, farmer-controlled businesses, retailers, food service providers and processors on sustainable farming practices and developing and managing sustainable supply chains and supply chain relationships. For 20 years she worked at ADAS, now the UK’s largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, policy advice, research and development. She was also at the Soil Association as Associate Director of Farming and Land Use for nearly 9 years and she’s been an independent consultant since 2012. Liz farms pedigree Shropshire sheep on the slopes of the Exe valley near Tiverton in Devon which has been a passion of hers for many years, but she spends most of her time in her role at the Farm Carbon Toolkit.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Liz Bowles

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:50 Liz comes in.

02:02 Farm Carbon Toolkit - brief introduction.

05:22 Is UK ag moving fast enough when it comes to tackling climate issues on a farm level?

08:00 There's a need for governments to better support farmers.

10:42 Shouldn't other sectors be doing more?

12:45 The issue of 'carbon blindness'

13:22 Liz's farm.

15:15 Pedigree Shropshire sheep.

18:55 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

19:42 The genetics of Liz's flock can be traced directly back to her parents' flock.

22:54 Liz living in Zambia.

26:13 Liz's holistic approach to her mindset.

29:20 Liz's time at the Soil Association.

31:55 Innovative Farmers.

35:30 International Year of Soils

37:24 RuralPod Media message.

38:14 Challenges - biggest challenge for Liz. We need to survive without fossil fuels and this will challenge how we produce food.

42:14 Solutions - needs to start with schools and ag colleges.

45:46 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

46:11 Liz's message to the public. Get involved and meet the farmers. Build relationships with farmers.

49:06 Liz's message to farmers.

50:20 Liz's recommendation for a blog, podcast or social media account - Rest is Politics.

50:59 Ben rounds up.

Keep Calm and Carry On - with Gwyndaf Thomas

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Gwyndaf Thomas, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 7 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000

We’re in Wales today meeting dairy farmer Gwyndaf Thomas. Gwyndaf owns and runs a 430-acre dairy farm in the rolling hills of Carmarthenshire in West Wales. The herd consists of 270 outdoor run autumn calving cows - mainly Friesian, but also a few Jersey crosses; and the cows are grazed rotationally on grass. Gwyndaf grew up on what is now his brother’s farm and he moved to his family’s other farm once the family had expanded. He has four teenage children and there’s also one full time employee on the farm in addition to Gwyndaf. On top of this he’s a partner in another local dairy farm. In 2016/17 he lost all his cows to TB and had to establish a new herd from scratch, a truly difficult time.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Gwyndaf Thomas

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:53 Gwyndaf comes on.

02:29 Gwyndaf talks about Carmarthenshire.

03:03 Gwyndaf talks about his business and the herd.

05:55 The farm where Gwyndaf grew up.

08:03 Gwyndaf went to Aber to do a degree in agriculture but his father had an accident so he had to return to the family farm.

12:04 Gwyndaf's dad's accident.

14:51 A Plan Rural Insurance sponsor message.

15:37 Gwyndaf grew and developed the business and eventually moved to the other farm.

20:45 Eastern European labour.

24:03 A Plan Rural Insurance sponsor message.

25:29 Gwyndaf's message for the public.

26:32 Gwyndaf's message to farmers.

28:49 Ben rounds up.

Farming and Podcasting in Ireland - with Noel Clancy

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Noel Clancy, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 04:00:00 +0000

We’re heading over the Irish Sea again today to meet Tipperary beef and sheep farmer and farming podcaster Noel Clancy. Out the Gap, Noel's podcast, is a monthly podcast recorded on location with farmers across Ireland.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Noel Clancy

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:28 Noel comes in.

01:58 Noel describes his area in south Tipperary.

04:12 Noel's influences growing up.

06:13 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

06:59 Reduction of stock numbers in Ireland. Challenges that Noel faces as a farmer.

09:38 Noel's feeling as to sentiment on the ground in Ireland.

10:45 Where does Noel see his farm going in future?

13:58 Out the Gap Podcast

17:38 Deciding on guests for the podcast.

19:55 RuralPod Media message.

20:44 The role of podcasts in terms of telling farming stories - what does Noel think?

24:55 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

25:19 Coming up on Out the Gap Podcast

27:00 Where is Noel going with the podcast in future?

29:55 Noel's message to the public.

31:17 Noel's message to farmers.

33:00 Noel's suggestion of someone to follow.

34:02 Ben rounds up.

Ethics of dairy calf management and other dairy stories with Anna Bowen

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Anna Bowen, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 04:00:00 +0000

We’re heading to Ceredigion in Wales today to meet dairy farmer, consultant, writer and Nuffield Scholar. Indeed Anna Bowen’s CV is pretty impressive and she clearly makes the most of her time. She is a director of Symbiotic Farming Ltd – which is contract based and they milk 300 cows on a grass based spring block calving system. She’s also a freelance writer and journalist and has written for a range of rural, equestrian, farming, sustainability and women’s lifestyle magazines and websites as well as doing some PR work. She is also a consultant with the Andersons Centre specialising in dairy but also covering sheep and beef grassland systems. Her Nuffield Scholarship is titled ‘Can the UK improve the ethics of its dairy calf management while retaining profitability?’

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Anna Bowen

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

02:00 Anna comes in.

02:10 Anna grew up on a dairy farm in Carmarthenshire. Anna's life growing up.

03:06 Anna has moved towards a different farming system but she never expected to work in agriculture.

05:14 Where did Anna think she would head? Initially she was going to be a vet but she decided to not go ahead.

06:20 Anna's time at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.

07:11 Anna did a masters in Sustainable Ag and Food Security.

09:19 Anna started working in marketing and sales for a large veg importing firm.

11:18 Sponsor message about A Plan Rural.

12:03 Anna's farming side as a contract dairy farmer today.

14:27 Consultancy - Anna works for the Andersons Centre as a Farm Business Consultant.

15:55 Anna's writing.

18:19 Everything that Anna does works together.

20:15 Rural Pod Media message.

21:04 Anna's Nuffield on the ethics of dairy calf management.

23:45 Some of Anna's visits and takeaways.

26:30 What changes does Anna predict in dairy ethics moving forwards?

28:52 Perception of ethics in different countries.

30:46 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural.

31:10 How did covid impact on Anna's travels?

33:49 The influence of Anna's Nuffield on her and how she takes it forwards?

35:33 What is next for Anna?

37:17 A piece of advice that Anna would give her younger self.

39:14 Anna's message to the public.

39:52 Anna's message to farmers.

40:45 Podcast recommendation - Pasture Pod. Also Invisible Women.

42:00 Ben rounds up.

Farm Safety Week Special - with Richard Wade

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Richard Wade, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 04:00:00 +0000

To mark Farm Safety Week we are discussing what is probably one of the most important topics in farming – keeping people safe and well on farms. Ben's guest is very well placed for this week with rich experience in occupational safety and compliance across a number of different sectors, which includes agriculture. Richard Wade is Director at Risk and Safety Compliance Services which provides health and safety auditing, management and training services across the UK. Rich has a background in the armed services.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Twitter @mtf_podcast

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Richard Wade

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:10 Richard comes in.

01:26 Richard's background in the army medical corps.

02:39 The history of health and safety.

04:58 Rich's link with farming.

06:12 Transition into civilian life.

07:30 Why is Farm Safety Week so important?

08:48 How does farming compare with other sectors in terms of how dangerous it is?

10:00 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural

10:46 Common issues that are perhaps quite simple to fix.

12:30 Places will be looking at safety already and yet it's still happening - why?

15:27 RuralPod Media message.

16:15 What can be done and where to start?

18:58 There's always risk but it doesn't need to be deadly.

19:10 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural.

19:45 The issue of time.

20:59 Bringing it together - the importance of peer to peer discussions.

23:06 Rich's message for the public.

23:48 Rich's message for farmers.

24:25 Health and Safety Executive website link.

25:07 Ben rounds up.

'Every Day is Different' - with Chris Dickinson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Chris Dickinson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in Cumbria to meet farmer and entrepreneur Chris Dickinson. Chris is involved with a number of different businesses, with a particular emphasis on the poultry industry but by no means exclusively. For example, one of his businesses is a goat meat business based on his family’s farm. Chris is a board member of the Wagyu Breeders Association; he’s a member of the Yorkshire Future Farmers Association, The Tesco Future Farm Foundation and has been a scholar with the Henry Plumb Foundation.

About Ben

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Chris Dickinson

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:25 Chris comes in.

01:50 Chris balances many hats - how does he manage this?

04:22 Chris's upbringing.

05:00 Newcastle.

06:10 Chris's enjoyment and interest in poultry.

07:23 Chris's time at the NFU.

10:09 Chris's entrepreneurial side - key figures who have inspired him - turkey farmer Derek Kelly especially.

12:43 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

13:28 Chris's family farm and the context behind it.

16:38 Goats.

20:22 The goat meat market and where Chris's meat is going.

22:04 Message from RuralPod Media.

22:54 Chris's wider business hat and his involvement with other businesses.

25:36 Chris's future and what he wants to do next.

27:36 Broader farming issues - challenges currently.

29:32 Egg crisis

30:45 Optimistic for the future?

33:39 'Farmers need to be nicer to each other'.

35:04 New podcast - Three Pronged.

37:00 Ben rounds up.

Groundswell 2023 - What does regenerative agriculture mean in 2023?

Mon, 3 Jul 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today Ben heads to Groundswell to understand more about what regenerative agriculture means today.

About Ben

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Groundswell Festival

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

What is the maximum profit potential of your farm? - Understanding Maximum Sustainable Output

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Brian Scanlon, Ben Eagle, Chris Clark) — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000

This episode was produced in association with Nethergill Associates, a farm consultancy based in Devon.

For more information on Nethergill Associates visit nethergillassociates.co.uk

For further description and definition of 'Maximum Sustainable Output' click here.

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

03:02 Chris Clark introduces himself.

03:47 Brian Scanlon introduces himself.

04:19 Chris introduces Nethergill Associates as a consultancy.

05:44 'The problem' - struggling farm profitability and declining nature value - why did Chris want to focus on tackling these big problems.

07:42 Does the farming sector perhaps not look outside (to other sectors) enough? Brian comments.

08:25 Is it possible to put a figure on the maximum profit potential of a farm business? What does profit mean?

10:19 Brian explains how the size of the farm is the critical limiting factor in profitability currently.

10:40 Energy - why do we need to focus on this?

12:34 Farmers as energy producers.

12:55 Mindset shift - seeing nature as a stakeholder in your farm business.

16:02 Natural capital and how maximum sustainable output interacts with it.

16:20 Free issue energy.

17:20 Brian explains productive variable costs and corrective variable costs.

19:15 What are Chris and Brian doing on the ground on a farm in calculating MSO?

24:31 Going beyond farming - does MSO have wider applicability?

25:54 ''The energy that goes into other inputs cannot be recovered'' says Chris.

26:28 Profitability - the culture in farming behind it.

28:18 ''Profitability is fundamental for food security'' says Brian.

29:00 The Less is More Report and where Nethergill Associates has come from.

31:32 MSO is about all farms, not just upland farms, but how does this relate to the uplands? Does this approach offer a more democratic approach?

32:29 The concept of the managed landscape.

33:42 The maths on how variable MSO is. Can it be improved over time?

34:30 Food security.

37:50 Brian discusses yield. Husbandry v additives.

38:48 Contract farming and profit shares. How does MSO work with this?

42:36 The direction of profitability.

43:10 Wider benefit in terms of economy, ecology and community. What are the benefits for everyone else? What is the relevance for policy makers?

46:58 Message for the public and message for farmers.

48:56 Ben rounds up.

Permaculture on a farm scale - with Huw Evans

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Huw Evans, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in south Wales near Abergavenny and Ben is meeting Huw Evans who runs Three Pools Farm. Three Pools is a 141 acre farm made up of a mixture of pasture and woodland. Located in the foothills of the Black Mountains, the farm is inspired by permaculture design. In addition to the farm enterprise Huw organises a number of different events to get more people onto the farm.

About Ben

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Huw Evans

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:16 Huw comes in.

02:00 Huw talks about the landscape around the farm.

03:12 How did Huw get into permaculture?

05:05 Huw buys the farm.

05:18 Huw's first year on the farm.

05:53 What is permaculture?

06:42 Permaculture on a larger scale.

07:23 Permaculture outside of the UK.

08:02 What is being produced on the farm?

09:47 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural

10:33 Aspirations for the future.

12:18 Vision for going forwards.

14:00 Perception.

16:00 Rural Pod Media message.

16:48 What are the similarities between permaculture farms?

19:30 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural.

20:01 What have Huw's learning points been?

21:12 Huw's message for the public.

22:10 Huw's message for farmers.

22:57 Huw shout out for Blind Boy Podcast

24:12 Ben rounds up the episode.

The Global Farmher - travelling the world with Rachel Stratton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rachel Stratton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:54:53 +0000

Today we are in Canada and Ben is speaking to Rachel Stratton, aka The Global Farmher. Rachel wears many hats as a shepherd, shearer, tractor driver, stock woman, adviser and administrator. She has worked all over the UK, from Orkney to Cornwall and indeed many places abroad with her dog Jane. From dairy to beef operations, sheep farms and even venison farms, Rach has experienced a lot of different types of farming.

About Ben

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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Twitter @mtf_podcast

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Rachel Stratton

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:40 Rachel comes in.

02:29 Rachel talks about some of her travels during Covid.

07:19 Working with horses.

07:32 Has Rachel always wanted to do what she is doing now? She explains how she originally wanted to be an orthopaedic trauma surgeon.

10:00 Rachel travels to Cyprus.

13:42 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

14:27 Does Rachel meet many other people who are doing what she is doing?

16:22 Lambing in Scandinavia

18:36 Challenges.

21:46 Where does Rachel count as home?

22:55 Rachel has bases in many different places.

26:00 language skills.

29:11 Experience with showing and early times at the Royal Show.

32:36 Early times on farms.

35:40 The willingness to learn more.

36:20 Countries that Rachel would still like to visit/work in.

45:30 Passing the good in the world on to others.

46:30 Rachel's experience on chronic fatigue.

52:22 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

52:45 Where does Rachel see herself in 5 years time.

53:55 Rachel's message to the British public.

58:24 Rachel's message to farmers around the world.

01:00:10 Recommendation for a blog - theglobalfarmher.com + instagram

01:01:00 Jane the New Zealand herding dog.

01:03:44 Ben wraps up.

Farming, Family, Therapy and Legacy - Exploring Jamie's Farm with Dan Smith

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Dan Smith, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 5 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we're heading to Monmouthshire in south Wales to meet Dan Smith who is Farm Manager at Jamie’s Farm in Monmouth. Jamie's Farm have a four-winged approach – farming, family, therapy and legacy and they have 6 farms across England and Wales on to which they invite these young people to stay on the farm with the team for five days. Dan himself grew up on various farms across England and Wales as his father was a farm manager. Before joining Jamie’s Farm he ran a business in the Cotswolds specialising in farm maintenance, conservation management and farming cover. He has a passion for sharing his experience and helping others to appreciate the countryside.

About Ben

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Jamie's Farm

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:50 Dan comes in.

2:06 Dan tells Ben about Monmouthshire.

3:55 What is Jamie's Farm, what does it stand for and what does it do?

7:18 How did Jamie's Farm start and who is Jamie?

9:07 How did Dan first get involved with the charity?

10:15 Covid, cost of living and the 'demand' for the service.

12:33 Dan's day to day is varied.

15:02 Sponsor message about A Plan Rural Insurance.

15:48 Do the young people who come to the farm want to be there and do they experience a shift in their thinking?

18:45 Eating together. The importance of the table.

19:50 What has Dan learnt?

20:20 Farming industry not that open minded culturally.

21:53 Rural urban divide - most people don't mix in both worlds - what is Dan's perspective? He believe the void between the two is huge.

24:20 The farming industry is coming under a lot of attack in terms of environmental impact.

25:25 The disconnect between where food comes from and what people are prepared to eat.

26:05 What are the kids eating normally?

28:10 The perception of where food comes from.

28:52 Buying local food post covid.

29:42 Dan's journey to getting to this point. Life growing up.

34:15 The love for the 'romantic' side of farming.

35:36 Getting into agriculture without going down the further education route - creating structure.

38:05 Building networks.

38:27 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural.

38:51 Challenges in the wider industry. Especially the challenge of mindset and not being prepared to be challenged.

42:20 Dan's message for the public.

43:03 Dan's message to farmers.

43:25 Promo of how to follow Jamie's Farm.

45:16 Ben rounds up the episode.

Reflecting on another 100 episodes with Will Evans

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Will Evans) — Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Another hundred episodes has gone past and we’ve been all over the British Isles from the north of Scotland to Cornwall and the Isle of Man to Sussex and met farmers from pretty much every sector - dairy, pigs, poultry, horticulture, cereals, potatoes, sheep and beef. We’ve discussed the environment, politics, culture, new entrants, challenges, inputs, policy, trade and profiled some amazing personal stories. We’ve championed some fantastic farmers, which is what this podcast is all about. In this episode we look back through the archive at some of the last hundred episodes. Ben is joined by Will Evans – who is an arable and beef farmer from north Wales, the current Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference, Farmers Weekly back page columnist and Ben's co-host over on the Kite Podcast. Will started the Rock and Roll Farming podcast at about the same time that Meet the Farmers started in 2016.

About Ben

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Image credit: Will Evans

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

2:00 Will comes in.

2:14 Will talks about his farm and how farming this year has been so far.

4:00 Ben explains the context for this week's episode.

5:00 Episode 102 example with Sally Williams and Will Evans.

7:00 Ben asks Will to tell him about his early days as a Director of the Oxford Farming Conference and how the conference has changed over that time.

12:30 Abi Reader discusses TB

14:45 Ben and Will discuss TB.

18:48 Bill Northey talking about carbon and climate.

20:30 Ben and Will discuss carbon and climate.

24:35 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural Insurance.

25:19 Ben introduces the episode with Chris Clark.

25:55 Chris Clark on the link between nature and farming and putting nature on the balance sheet.

27:24 Ben and Will discuss Chris's comments.

30:40 Ben and Will discuss agflation and the rise in the cost of inputs.

33:46 Janet Hughes

35:54 Ben and Will discuss Janet Hughes' influence.

38:54 Ioan Humphreys and his message to the public and message to farmers.

41:25 Ben and Will discuss the egg crisis, supermarkets and Ioan's comments.

45:19 Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones and personal purpose.

46:17 Ben and Will discuss mindset.

49:48 Emma O-Sullivan talking about the death of Daniel Picton-Jones.

51:40 Will and Ben discuss mental health.

55:26 Russ Carrington talking about mindset shift in regenerative agriculture.

58:42 Ben and Will discuss regenerative agriculture and whether we talk about it too much?

01:00:30 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

01:00:54 Ben introduces Jess Langton

01:01:14 Jess Langton on getting the next generation involved in policy direction.

01:02:26 Ben and Will discuss positivity and Jess's comments.

01:04:42 Will's message to the public.

01:05:49 Will's message to farmers.

01:07:15 Ben rounds up the episode.

Irish Dairy to Dung Beetles with Bruce Thompson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Bruce Thompson) — Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today Ben is heading across the Irish Sea to speak to Irish dairy farmer Bruce Thompson who milks 300 cows at the foot of the Slieve Blooms in the heart of the island of Ireland. Over time the farm has shifted towards dairy but it used to be more of a mixed farm with sheep, beef and dairy enterprises. Bruce has always worked in agriculture although he has a diploma in automobile engineering and is currently studying for a diploma in sustainability. He’s probably best known in regen ag circles in the UK for his role in the dung beetles for farmers project along with Sally Ann Spence and Claire Whittle. This was the subject for his Nuffield scholarship in 2020 titled “Anthelmintic resistance control measures incorporating pastoral management and dung beetles to increase biodiversity?”

About Ben

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Start with why - Simon Sinek.

The Dairy Edge from Teagasc.

Image credit: Bruce Thompson (Dung Beetles for Farmers)

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:29 Adam comes in.

2:06 What are Irish farmers talking about at the moment?

4:06 The Slieve Blooms

4:53 Off the tourist circuit.

5:26 Spring calving system - about Bruce's herd.

6:36 How the business has changed over time.

8:08 How has Bruce shifted towards managing a team and moving away from the traditional family structure.

10:45 The issue of labour everyone is talking about it.

12:15 Are we putting people off farming by speaking it down.

13:26 Did Bruce always want to farm?

14:53 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

15:38 Nuffield and dung beetles.

17:55 Travelling in south Australia and Tasmania before Covid hit and Bruce had to cut his Nuffield travels short.

20:00 People management skills were the biggest asset of businesses.

20:58 Bruce's Nuffield had an impact on the whole team on the farm.

21:52 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

22:17 Challenges - barriers to embracing technology and innovation in relation to climate change.

27:10 Reach out to Ben with your experiences.

27:45 What does a sustainable farm look like?

30:00 State of soil.

31:31 Getting younger people into the industry in Ireland.

34:48 Bruce's message to the public.

35:21 Bruce's message for farmers.

35:48 Recommendation for podcast - The Dairy Edge. - Teagasc. Also 'Start with why' by Simon Sinek.

37:00 Ben rounds up.

Farming and Agri-Software - with Adam Short

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Adam Short) — Mon, 8 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re in Devon with new entrant to farming Adam Short. Adam’s primary professional background is in the IT sector and indeed his primary line of work today, alongside life on the farm, is in agri-software, a subject that I’m sure will be of interest to many of you, which is partly why I’ve asked him on the podcast. He’s had a varied career prior to moving into the agricultural community and he moved to his small farm in Devon in 2016. He’s the current Registrar for the Old English Goat Society and achieved rare breed recognition for them in 2020. And, alongside Kim Brook and Flavian Obiero, Adam is the co-founder of the Pig Exchange Network, which aims to fill gaps around knowledge exchange for smaller scale pig producers.

About Ben

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

John Richardson and the Futurenauts podcast

Image credit: Adam Short

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:42 Adam comes in.

1:58 Week 6 of lambing.

2:20 Adam's life growing up - far away from farming.

4:26 Adam went to Aber to do a degree in software engineering. After this he met his first farmer near Brecon.

6:30 Adam considers getting into agriculture.

6:50 The challenge of getting into farming.

8:00 Was it difficult being 'an outside' - did Adam feel this was an issue?

10:30 Adam's IT career.

15:00 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural Insurance.

15:46 Adam does IT freelance work.

17:10 8 acres in Leicestershire - where does Adam go next?

20:35 Mental health.

21:25 Adam applies for farm management roles.

24:15 Adam can afford to buy a smallholding.

27:05 The farm in Devon.

31:00 Goats.

35:08 Pigs and the Pig Exchange Network.

42:40 IT side of Adam's career - focus on data. Genetic diversity - why is that a focus? Where does Adam see this going?

52:10 Adam's message for the public.

52:25 Message for farmers.

54:00 Adam recommends John Richardson and the Futurenauts

55:22 Ben rounds up.

Flourishing into the Future - with Calixta Killander

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Calixta Killander, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Cambridgeshire to meet grower Calixta Killander who founded Flourish in 2017 which focuses on producing unusual produce for chefs. Initially a market garden Calixta’s enterprise has now grown to include fruits, vegetables, herbs, heritage grains, salads and flowers on 56 acres. Her ambition is to produce nutrient dense food and supply directly to her customers as well as create a truly regenerative farm that goes beyond most people’s expectations. Flourish was built on horsepower with Calixta’s two Comtois horses – Bill and Ben – doing all the farm’s fieldwork from ploughing to cultivating, muck spreading and weeding until 2020. They are now in retirement. But Calixta’s journey towards a life on the land did not start in eastern England but in the United States, where she spent 6 ½ years learning and honing her craft.

About Ben

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

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A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Farmer to Farmer Podcast

Image credit: Callixta Killander

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:50 Calixta comes in.

2:36 How does Calixta decide what to grow?

4:25 Growing peppers and chillies.

5:20 Heritage grains.

9:59 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

10:44 Calixta's life growing up.

12:35 Calixta finds a university in the US.

13:54 Time in Hawaii

15:05 Why did Calixta come back to the UK? The story of the horses Bill and Ben.

17:04 Buying equipment from the Amish.

18:20 Establishing the farm - year 1.

20:40 Calixta turns up at restaurants.

22:30 Working with restaurants.

23:54 Building a team.

25:26 The issue of recruitment and the labour issue.

30:04 The workers are the most important.

30:20 The issue of nutrient density.

33:46 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

34:09 The challenge of climate and the weather.

37:29 Calixta's vision for the future.

40:02 Calixta's message to the public.

41:17 Calixta's message to farmers.

43:34 Shout out for the Farmer to Farmer podcast.

44:35 Ben rounds up the show.

Open Farm Sunday 2023 - Is your farm signed up this year?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jenny Olds, Ben Eagle, Annabel Shackleton) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Open Farm Sunday is just around the corner and organisers LEAF are still encouraging as many farmers as possible to sign up. The official date for this year’s event is Sunday 11th June. But if you’re a farmer, why should you consider getting involved? Well to find out Ben is joined today by LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday Manager Annabel Shackleton and poultry and arable farmer Jenny Olds from Cornhill Farm in Cornwall.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show

1:35 Annabel Shackleton introduced Open Farm Sunday

2:42 Over 150 farms are already signed up.

3:14 The theme for this year's event is stories and storytelling.

4:40 Why does Annabel think that Open Farm Sunday retains its profile? Food is in the news and the media now. People are more interested in food.

7:00 Open Farm Sunday doesn't need to be a huge event.

7:16 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance

8:00 Jenny introduces her farm.

9:20 Why did Jenny want to get involved in Open Farm Sunday in the first place?

11:20 Jenny talks about her first moment?

13:35 Jenny gets a shock...

14:45 Ticketing systems.

17:02 Annabel explains how OFS has changed over the years.

20:45 LEAF Open Farm Sunday ambassadors.

22:22 What is happening at Jenny's event this year?

24:24 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance

24:47 Jenny's message to a farmer considering to get involved.

27:00 Where do interested farmers go? farmsunday.org

27:49 Annabel's message to the public.

28:49 Jenny's message for farmers.

29:20 Ben rounds up the show.

'A passion for dairy' with Jessica Langton

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jessica Langton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Derbyshire to speak to dairy farmer Jessica Langton. Despite only being in her 20s Jess already has an impressive CV and bags of passion, enthusiasm and drive for a career in agriculture. As well as working on the family dairy farm, she studied Animal Science at the University of Nottingham and is currently on a grad scheme with Genus who she worked with on a part time basis while doing her degree. She was a driving force for introducing Jersey and Norwegian Red genetics into her family’s pedigree Holstein and Friesian herd and she also has a strong interest in improving sustainability on the farm. This interest in sustainability goes wider and indeed when she was at Nottingham she was part of Enactus Nottingham, a not for profit organisation run by students and her social enterprise there worked with Arla to investigate feeding seaweed to ruminants as a way of reducing methane emissions. Jess was an NFU Student and Young Farmers Ambassador last year, she’s an appointee on the NFU Dairy Board, and in 2021 she was named Agricultural Student of the Year at both the British Farming Awards and the Farmers Weekly Awards.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Becca and Lizzie: The Podcast

Image credit: Jess Langton

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

2:00 Jess comes in.

2:37 What is Jess doing on her grad scheme with Genus?

4:20 Who are Genus and Promar? Genus is a bovine genetics company mainly looking at marketing bull semen with a big focus on sustainability.

5:45 Jess talks about her family's dairy farm with Lochlan pedigree Holsteins.

8:11 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

8:57 What 3 words would Jess use to describe herself?

9:55 Jess enjoys doing lots of different things - she wanted to be a doctor for a while.

10:55 Jess's time at Nottingham University.

12:15 A project on reducing methane emissions by feeding seaweed to cattle.

14:48 Jess is involved in a lot of wider industry work, including with the NFU. Jess explains why it is important for her to get involved in the wider industry.

16:42 Where does Jess see herself in 10 years time?

18:04 Challenges in the industry - Jess sees labour as being the major issue at the moment.

20:10 Ben and Jess discuss publicity of the industry and painting farming in a realistic way - but how to encourage skilled people into the industry?

21:47 Challenges in the dairy sector - what is Jess's perspective on dairy for this year?

23:24 Does the long term future look good for dairy? Jess thinks so.

24:22 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

24:53 Jess's message for the public: keep supporting farmers. Keep drinking milk and eat plenty of cheese!

25:16 Jess's message for farmers: we are a team. Look out for each other.

25:40 Jess does a shout of for the Becca and Lizzie Podcast.

The Marathon Running Farmer - meet Charles Anyan

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Charles Anyan, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re heading to Lincolnshire to meet arable farmer and runner Charles Anyan, who farms 346 hectares of land at Springthorpe near Gainsborough in the north west of the county. Cropping includes a fairly standard rotation of wheat, barley, oil seed rape and spring beans. Charles also runs a small DIY livery yard and is involved in a couple of mid-tier stewardship schemes. He’s been back on the family farm since 2006 following various jobs in Australia and a degree at Newcastle University. Running has become a massive part of Charles's life since the lockdowns and he has now run 2 marathons, with another two planned for this year. He also enjoys playing rugby, cycling, travel and hill walking in the Lakes or the Peaks. He has become a prominent advocate for talking about mental health and is an ambassador for the Farming Community Network.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

John Charles Jones (Woodborough Park on twitter)

Image credit: Charles Anyan

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:39 Charles comes in.

2:02 Charles talks about Lincolnshire

3:10 Charles's family have been farming in the area since 1820.

4:05 The land is suited for cereal production.

4:21 A range of soils in Lincolnshire.

5:39 World wheat yield record near Louth.

6:00 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

6:44 Charles went to Newcastle University.

9:11 Newcastle is a stunning city.

9:26 Charles has spent a lot of time in Australia - why has it featured so much in his life?

13:29 Charles believes that Sydney is the best city in the world.

14:14 Farming policy and Charles's frustration with current food and farming policy.

15:15 The ban of various agri-chemicals.

16:20 Other break crops.

17:58 Food security discussion.

20:08 Charles is looking at ELMs and other options for environmental management.

20:48 How does the economic future for Charles's farm look like post 2027/28 and the end of BPS.

23:57 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

24:22 Charles's experience with running and story of weight loss.

33:08 Mental health and Charles is an ambassador for Farming Community Network.

33:35 Run 1000

37:45 Charles plans to run his first marathon.

39:20 Have we broken the stigma of talking about mental health in farming?

44:40 Charles's message for the public.

45:38 Charles's message to farmers.

46:06 Charles's recommendation for a blog, podcast or social media account - FCN, LRSN, YANA, Yellow Wellies, RABI. Also John Charles-Jones (Woodborough Park).

Farming on the Isle of Man with Ean and Harry Parsons

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Harry Parsons, Ean Parsons, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 3 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today we’re on the Isle of Man for the first time, to speak to father and son Ean and Harry Parsons. The Parsons’ sheep and beef farm is at Laxey on the eastern side of the island. It’s around 5000 acres in area with 3500 of that moorland. Ean is also the current President of the Manx NFU, and a former Chair of its Meat and Livestock Committee. Harry is a student at Harper Adams studing for a BSc in Agriculture with Farm Business Management. He’s currently on his placement year working as a trainee Rural Business Advisor with SRH Agribusiness.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Pasture Pod It's about time

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:56 Ean comes in.

2:11 Harry comes in.

2.25 An intro to the Isle of Man

3.32 What is the island like for younger people and growing up on the island

4:41 Harry explains about his time growing up on the island.

6:01 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance

6:46 Farming on the Isle of Man.

7:50 The north of the Isle of Man is eroding.

9:04 Specific challenges for the Isle of Man.

10:50 What does Harry see are the major differences between the UK and the Isle of Man in terms of ag policy.

13:58 The four pillars of the Isle of Man farming policy.

15:00 How does the Isle of Man work in terms of the regulators.

16:14 How long has Ean been involved with the Manx NFU?

16:50 Labour issues on the Isle of Man.

17:42 Have many of Harry's friend's stayed on the Island or moved elsewhere?

19:07 Ean explains how younger people will return to the island when they want to start a family.

19:38 Any movement across to Ireland?

20:20 About the farm at Laxey.

22:40 Dairy farming on the Island.

23:30 Harry explains the strong sense of identity on the Isle of Man.

24:02 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

24:25 The opportunities for the Parsons going forwards.

26:10 Harry explains about his placement.

27:48 Harry going back to Harper.

29:20 Cost of inputs and will it drive innovation?

31:30 The impact of rising costs on Manx farmers.

33:02 Harry says that this will drive farmers to see themselves as rural businesses.

33:35 Concerned farmers approaching Ean.

34:28 Harry and Ean's messages to the public.

36:43 Harry and Ean's messages to farmers.

38:26 Recommendations for blogs and podcasts - Pasture Pod About Time series; Defra blogs; Grassmen on YouTube.

Caithness and Carbon Markets with Ranald Angus

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ranald Angus, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Caithness based mixed farmer and Nuffield scholar Ranald Angus.

Episode Notes

Today we’re heading up to Thurso in Caithness on the northernmost coast of Scotland to meet mixed farmer and 2021 Nuffield scholar Ranald Angus. Ranald is a partner in his family’s mixed farm with beef, sheep, arable and forestry enterprises. His Nuffield focuses on carbon and his working project title is 'Bridging the carbon divide: marketing soil sequestered carbon for economic, agronomic and climatic regeneration'.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Nuffield Farming Scholarships

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:25 Ranald comes in.

01:57 Ranald introduces Caithness - where is it and what is it like?

03:14 Farming in Caithness.

05:33 Context of the climate and harvesting in the north of Scotland.

07:20 Ranald's family has been farming in Caithness for several generations. He explains more.

10:08 Sponsor message about A Plan Rural Insurance.

10:53 Ranald's life growing up on the farm.

13:50 A farming upbringing is a good start in life.

15:00 Ranald's involvement with young farmers.

18.50 Ranald gets involved with the business...but he started with an engineering career.

20:50 Ranald's trip to New Zealand.

21:47 Ranald talks about the farm and the enterprises - sheep, beef, arable, forestry.

25:26 Why did Ranald want to do a Nuffield Scholarship?

28:40 Covid was the catalyst that made Ranald commit to doing a Nuffield.

31:10 Carbon markets is now more accepted as being more mainstream as a practice.

32:27 Why carbon markets as a subject for his Nuffield?

33:58 What is Ranald's assessment of carbon market opportunities at the moment?

38:40 How long will a carbon offset be there? Challenges of the concept.

41:40 The move towards a more microbial way of farming.

43:39 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

44:09 Are there any countries that are more established than others for carbon markets? Ranald talks about Germany.

48:39 The wider agricultural context. A crossroads in farming.

50:50 Ranald's message for the public.

52:30 Ranald's message to farmers.

54:25 Ranald podcast listens - Pasture Pod, Pub Yields, Kite Podcast. + a youtube 'addict'

56:00 How to engage with Ranald's Nuffield progress.

57:18 Ben rounds up the show.

What makes great milk? - with Martin Gott

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Martin Gott, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Cumbria based cheesemaker, sheep and goat farmer Martin Gott.

St James Cheese

Episode Notes

We’re up in the Lake District today, in Cumbria to meet farmer and cheesemaker Martin Gott who runs Holker Farm and St James Cheese with his wife Nicola. Martin and Nicola have rented the Cumbrian farm since 2006 after moving up from Somerset. They established a flock of milking sheep and began making farmhouse artisan cheese. Previously Martin worked alongside two other cheesemakers both making cheese from raw milk, one with goats in Somerset and one making Lancashire cheese near Preston. Martin grew up in Lancashire and whilst he wasn’t raised on the farm, his father farmed pigs near Kendal in Cumbria. After working for four years as a butcher for his father he left to follow his passion in cheese and begin what would become his cheesemaking career. After 18 months in Lancashire Martin moved with Nicola to Somerset to work part time for legendary farmhouse cheese maker Mary Holbrook. It was during this period that they bought some sheep and starting experimenting with their own cheese which resulted in St James cheese. They returned north to take up their current tenancy on just 20 acres of land. Alongside their 100 or so sheep during covid they took on a load of goats and now make goats cheeses alongside the sheeps cheese. In 2018 Martin started a Nuffield scholarship on the subject of ‘the prevalence and importance of indigenous bacterial cultures in raw milk cheese’ which took him to US and among others he learnt about microbiology from a cheese making nun who held a PhD.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

St James Cheese

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show

02:48 Martin comes in

02:55 Where does Martin's interest in cheese come from?

06:12 Everyone tastes something different when they eat cheese.

09:10 Martin's memories of farmhouse cheeses

11:14 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural

12:03 Where is Martin in Cumbria?

13:19 Martin talks about the farm itself.

15:08 Martin and Nicola buy some goats.

18:28 How creative or scientific is coming up with a new cheese?

29:58 The quest to find the best milk

35:11 The US and cheesemaking

37:29 The cheesemaking nun with a PhD.

39:35 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural

39:58 Nicola.

43:47 Martin's experience at Kirkhams

48:52 Mary Holbrook

52:25 What does the future look like for Martin and Nicola?

58:24 Martin's message for the public.

01:01:20 Martin's message to farmers.

01:03:07 How do people follow - twitter or instagram (or Nicola on Facebook)

01:04:16 Ben rounds up.

Selling Direct with Helen Griffiths

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Helen Griffiths, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Helen is the third generation of her family to farm at Longridge Farm in Gloucestershire, which is 100 acres in area. Originally a dairy farm along with sheep and traditional orchards, Helen now runs a 50 head sucker herd with Dexters, 120 breeding ewes, a dairy goat rearing system, a small pig rearing unit, 100 turkeys for the Christmas market, a livery yard and the orchard. She is also a part time lecturer in agriculture at Hartpury College where she mainly teaches livestock production. She has in the past worked there on a full time basis. In 2017 Helen’s dad died after a 5 year battle with cancer, and this was a real turning point for Helen and the business, encouraging her to go full throttle with it, especially the meat box enterprise.

You can follow Helen on Instagram here.

Or search for Longridge Farm on Facebook.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Produce and Provide UK

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show

01:58 Helen comes in

02:15 What gives Helen the drive to keep doing what she is doing?

03:00 History of the farm and Helen's grandfather.

03:55 The farm enterprises.

05:54 Helen and Griff start buying stock.

06:13 Did Helen want to farm when she was growing up?

08:08 Helen went to Hartpury College to do a vet nursing science degree.

09:35 In 2005 Helen and Griff take the leap to farm but Helen also gets a job as a full time lecturer in animal care at Hartpury.

11:24 This episode is being sponsored by A Plan Rural Insurance.

12:08 Helen working with her dad.

12:55 Starting out with selling direct: Helen's tips.

15:25 It doesn't happen overnight but gradually you get repeat customers.

16:18 Social media takes time to build.

16:31 Would Helen expand or work with other producers?

18:35 Helen's day to day depending on the time of year.

20:35 Lambing 2023

22:42 More information on A Plan Rural Insurance.

23:04 The apples and orchards - what does Helen do with them?

24:46 Helen's dad gets cancer.

26:39 Flooding on the farm and wetter winters going forwards.

28:29 The future for the farm.

30:18 Goat meat is popular.

30:52 Challenges section - profitability and balancing cost of production versus profit.

32:50 Helen's internal battle of passing costs on to her customers.

33:24 Helen's message for the public.

34:19 Helen's message for farmers.

35:28 Helen's shout out for Produce and Provide UK

36:09 How do you follow Helen?

37:06 Ben rounds up the show and what is happening next week?

Let's Talk about Diversity in Farming - with Flavian Obiero

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Flavian Obiero, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Flavian manages 130 sows from farrow to finish on a mixed farm in Hampshire which also has sheep, beef, arable and a farm shop. Before he started this role in 2021 he managed the pig unit at Plumpton College in East Sussex.

Flavian moved to the UK at the age of 15, having grown up in Kenya. The plan was to go to university to study veterinary medicine, but instead he ended up taking a year out after his A-Levels. After completing a week’s placement on a farm, he was offered a job and ended up working there for his gap year. He hasn’t looked back since.

He holds a BSC in Animal Management and Animal Sciences and an MSc in Animal and Livestock Husbandry and Production. He’s currently the Vice Chair of the Young National Pig Association, Deputy Chair of the North East Hampshire branch of the NFU, the South East rep for the NFU’s Next Generation Forum and a trustee of the charity Jamie’s Farm. He’s also one of the most prominent voices calling for greater diversity in British agriculture.

Follow him on instagram here or on twitter here .

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Show References

Episode with Sarah Langford

Episode with Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones

Pub Yields Podcast

It's In Our Roots Podcast

Timestamps

00:00:27 Ben introduces the show

00:02:32 Flavian comes in.

00:03:25 Why pigs?

00:05:22 Flavian describes his first experience working with pigs.

00:07:02 What two characteristics about Flavian do we need to know to understand him as a person? - 'driven' and 'optimistic'

00:10:22 Sponsor message

00:11:08 Flavian's early years in Kenya.

00:15:29 What did Flavian want to do when he grew up (as a career)?

00:18:20 How did Flavian see rural? [comparison between rural in Kenya and in the UK]

00:21:47 Flavian drives a landrover for the first time.

00:23:32 Why farming for Flavian?

00:27:00 Flavian gets the job at Plumpton College

00:30:05 The pig unit that Flavian currently works on - a hybrid system.

00:32:00 It has been a tough time for the pig sector - what is Flavian's view about the challenges that the pig sector has been facing?

00:35:37 The public need to have a reason to support UK farmers.

00:36:45 What could farmers do to engage more with the public?

00:39:00 7 million people have viewed some of Flavian's TikTok videos.

00:40:12 A message about our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

00:40:44 Challenges in the industry - Flavian talks about the 'lacklustre attitude' towards change when it comes to diversity in agriculture.

00:43:22 Flavian recalls some experiences and conversations about what people say and the words they use.

00:47:10 Ben and Flavian discuss 'casual racism'.

00:49:28 Flavian describes the time when he was asked to do something to 'tick a box'.

00:52:00 'Diversity has become a trigger word in farming'

00:52:35 The analogy of the roast dinner.

00:53:47 The murder of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter movement.

00:56:00 Flavian describes a difficult experience in Brighton.

01:00:41 'I look at this as motivation'.

01:02:44 Flavian's message to the public.

01:03:22 Flavian's message for farmers.

01:03:58 Flavian's recommendations for podcasts.

01:05:42 Ben rounds up the show.

Putting Down Roots - with Sarah Langford

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sarah Langford, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Putting Down Roots with Sarah Langford

Sarah Langford is a best selling author, communicator and public speaker. For a decade she worked as a defence barrister but in 2017 she moved to Suffolk and, together with her husband, Ben, took on the running of his family’s small farm. They have converted the farm to organic production and have planted hundreds of metres of new hedgerows.

The paperback version of her book Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution (pub. Penguin), comes out on 2nd March.

Sarah has also written The Sunday Times bestseller, In Your Defence: Stories of Life and Law (pub. Penguin 2017), a narrative non-fiction account of her decade as a criminal and family barrister.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.

Open Farm Sunday LEAF Breakfast Meetings

Re the Open Farm Sunday shout Out click here to find out more about the breakfast meetings.

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces today's show.

01:39 Ben begins conversation with Sarah

02:00 At the beginning of the book Sarah writes that 'farming is not just a job, it's an identity' - how does Sarah perceive this?

04:13 How does Sarah see her own identity?

05:45 Ben turns to the topic of Sarah's grandfather and asks her to talk about her grandparents and their influence on her.

07:40 Childhood in the countryside

10:05 Connected to place

11:25 Ben introduces the show's new primary sponsor: A Plan Rural Insurance.

12:20 Why was Sarah so determined to embrace a city life?

13:54 How did Sarah come to Suffolk?

16:18 The search for home.

18:50 Village life.

19:12 A shout out for farmers interested in taking part in Open Farm Sunday.

20:17 How has Rooted gone down with the urban audience?

24:50 'Don't be fooled by the shininess - there are plenty of people out there who have wisdom that can help your life'.

25:22 Sarah's fear of the response in the rural audience.

26:40 How did Sarah select the farmers that she wrote about?

29:50 Did the way that Sarah perceives farming alter by going through the research process for the book?

32:19 Food is at the root of health, of the environment and of community.

35:52 More information about A Plan Rural

36:15 Ben and Sarah go outside for a field walk.

27:38 Cover crop trials.

38:00 You will never control it all.

42:05 Does Sarah feel like a farmer?

42:47 Sarah's message for the public.

44:14 Sarah's message to farmers.

45:07 Ben rounds up the episode.

How to Fail at Farming - with Josh Heyneke

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Josh Heyneke, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

How to Fail at Farming

Ben speaks to Josh Heyneke in this episode who farms ducks for eggs with his wife Abi in Pembrokeshire. Josh and Abi left their city lives to go farming, and have experienced many trials since then. Last year Josh made a video called How to Fail at Farming and launched a crowd funding campaign to save the farm. This is his story.

Parc Carreg is the farm.

The link to their youtube channel - here.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Timestamps

00:00:27 Ben introduces the show.

00:03:00 Josh comes in

00:03:28 Ben asks Josh to tell us about his roots in South Africa, how he came to London and met Abi.

00:08:04 Josh adjusts to a new kind of life working alone

00:09:00 Josh and Abi decide they want to farm

00:10:09 Were Josh and Abi actively looking for farmland? And Josh and Abi take a trip to South Africa.

00:13:20 Josh and Abi get some bad news.

00:15:22 One Planet Developments

00:21:35 The business plan and the start of ducks

00:24:15 the only organic duck egg producers - why is that?

00:28:46 2022 was a tough year for Josh and Abi

00:30:10 The How to Fail at Farming video

00:35:00 Cashflow issues. Josh and Abi didn't have enough cash to buy their next load of feed.

00:37:47 Monetisation on youtube.

00:43:15 How does the crowdfunder help Josh and Abi in the long run?

00:44:15 Insect production.

00:47:07 There are two ways of seeing everything.

00:52:05 Ben talks about failure.

00:57:30 The perception of farmers in the public.

01:02:22 Josh's message to the public.

01:02:58 Josh's message to farmers.

01:03:55 How to follow Josh and Abi.

01:04:51 Ben wraps up the episode. A lesson in resilience.

Farming and Schools with Luke Abblitt

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Luke Abblitt, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Luke farms at Daintree Farm in the Cambridgeshire fens, just outside of Ramsey. He grows wheat, barley, oil seed rape, potatoes and sugar beet.

Luke on Twitter here

Luke on Instagram here.

00:18 Introduction from Ben.

01:41 Luke enters.

02:27 Luke talks about his part of Cambridgeshire.

04:26 Luke talks about Cambridgeshire County Council tenant holdings and how he got his own tenancy.

06:06 Luke talking about the X factor during his interview.

10:55 Luke discusses his life growing up on his dad's farm.

12:37 Luke had never seen a cow up close before.

13:20 'The Shez'

16:05 Luke's Farm Business Tenancy (FBT)

18:00 Potatoes

20:30 Ben and Luke discuss declining potato acreage.

22:15 Red diesel cost last year.

24:00 Luke is reducing nitrogen application this year.

25:42 Luke's school talks and how they began.

30:20 Ask me questions, Luke asks the kids at the school.

31:00 Children in school ask about net zero.

31:54 Do children watch the news?

38:55 Farmer Clive.

40:30 Luke's message for the public.

41:33 Luke's message to farmers.

43:24 Health and safety on farms and the cost.

46:45 Luke's social media shout outs. NFU Education; Becca and Lizzie; Bizza Walters; R2KCast.

48:47 Ben wraps up the show.

Regenerating Farming and Minds with Ben Taylor Davies

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Taylor Davies, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

You can find out more about Ben Taylor Davies on his website regenben.com

Discover more about Nuffield Farming scholarships at Contact | Nuffield Farming Scholarships (nuffieldscholar.org)

00:18 Intro from Ben Eagle

03:18 How would Ben Taylor Davies desribe himself?

05:00 Ideas

06:55 Ben Taylor Davies talks about his friendship with James Smith

09:14 What is an average week for Ben Taylor Davies?

13:06 Ben's childhood on the farm

16:00 How does Ben see the trajectory of farming in the UK?

17:35 Ben's time at the University of Liverpool

18:30 Ben becomes an agronomist

19:38 Ben's way of thinking then and now

22:26 Ben's son Jobe has a severe accident involving a horse

30:47 The Ronald Macdonald House

35:00 The journey beyond the hospital

36:12 Ben's mental health suffers

38:17 Regenerating minds

41:30 Ben's Nuffield adventure

47:23 Life after Ben's Nuffield

51:00 Ben's clients start to change

52:46 The future of chemistry

55:26 Productivity of soils

58:25 Ben's new book Moreon

1:00:10 Ben's message for the public

1:01:10 Ben's message for farmers

1:02:10 Ben's recommendation for a podcast - John Kempf

1:03:26 Ben Eagle rounds up.

JB Farming Life - Ben meets Jen Braithwaite

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jen Braithwaite, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Link to JB Farming Life on youtube - click here

00:18 Ben introduces the show

01:40 Jen comes in

01:48 Jen talks about her life in Lincolnshire

02:26 Jen explains the challenges of their arable rotation over the last few years.

06:10 How did James and Jen meet?

08:00 How has Jen's perception of farming changed, having not coming from a farming background?

10:58 Jen talks about her career in PR and motor sport before the farm.

15:55 Journalists covering motorsport before technology improved.

17:13 How Jen came to work with her brother.

20:22 Jen talks about their youtube channel JB Farming Life

21:50 Youtube as a tool for farmers to get their messages across to the general public.

23:30 Diversification on the farm.

24:30 Jen's message for the public.

25:09 Jen's message for farmers.

27:18 Jen's shout out for @wifeonthefarm on Instagram

29:15 Round up.

Image credit: Jen Braithwaite, JB Farming Life

Regenerative Farming, Rewilding and Mindset Change - with Russ Carrington

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Russ Carrington, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Regenerative Agriculture - Knepp

Pasture for Life – Certified 100% grass-fed meat, milk and dairy

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett | No.1 Podcast

Meet the Young Dairy Farmer of the Year 2022

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Heydon Dark, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

List of all the winners from last year's Cream Awards available here.

Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference 2023

Mon, 9 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Home | Oxford Farming Conference (ofc.org.uk)

Oxford Real Farming Conference (orfc.org.uk)

Big Farming Quiz of the Year 2022

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Ben is joined by Emily Norton, Guy Smith, Gareth Wyn-Jones and Sophie Gregory to look back on the year in farming and have a bit of fun along the way with the annual quiz!

From Chef to Farmer with Karl Franklin

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Karl Franklin, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Karl Franklin aka 'The Pretend Farmer' on Instagram, who left his career as a chef to take up sheep farming.

Trees on Farms Mini-series: Episode 3 ''Agroforestry and Trees in Regenerative Farming Systems''

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Brass, Andy Gray, Jon Burgess, Ben Eagle) — Fri, 9 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Farmwilder.co.uk

The Lakes Free Range Egg Company

Forestry Commission

Trees on Farms Mini-series: Episode 2 ''Making Money from Trees''

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sam Whatmore, Jemima Letts, Jon Burgess, Ben Eagle) — Wed, 7 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Forestry Commission

Grascott Farm Case Study

Chatsworth Estate Case Study

Tree planting and woodland creation overview

Read some inspiring woodland creation case studies

Find out more about England Woodland Creation Offer

www.chatsworth.org

Trees on Farms Mini-series: Episode 1 ''Woodlands and Wildlife''

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jon Burgess, Clive Thomas, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 5 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Soil Association

Forestry Commission

Woods for Nature Fact Sheet - How woodland creation can help biodiversity

Tree planting and woodland creation overview

Read some inspiring woodland creation case studies

Find out more about England Woodland Creation Offer

Christmas is Coming at the Logie Estate

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Alec Laing, James Dawson, Ben Eagle) — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000

This episode is a bonus episode produced with A-Plan Rural Insurance.

Farm and Estate Insurance, Rural Motor Insurance, Rural Home Insurance and Much More | A-Plan Rural (aplan.co.uk)

Logie Estate

What makes good leadership? - with Toby Simpson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Toby Simpson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 20:55:14 +0000

The podcast Toby mentions is The Centre for Army Leadership podcast.

'Enjoy the Adventure' - with James Edwards

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (James Edwards, Ben Eagle) — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Link to James' website

Link to Michael Blanche's Nuffield report.

Image credit: Kingsclere Estates

A Somerset Farm Looking to the Future - with Emily Addicott-Sauvao

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Emily Addicott-Sauvao, Ben Eagle) — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 20:01:16 +0000

Ben travels to just outside of Bath to meet Somerset arable (and wine) farmer Emily Addicott-Sauvao.

Never Give Up to achieve your Goal - with Jim Beary

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jim Beary, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:37:06 +0000

Ben meets Jim Beary who farms beef, sheep, pigs and chickens in the Westmorland Dales which is in Cumbria but part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Meet the Yorkshire Shepherdess - Amanda Owen

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Amanda Owen, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 07:44:08 +0000

Link to Amanda''s latest book Celebrating the Seasons with the Yorkshire Shepherdess

Link to the Meet the Farmers Patreon Page - to support the podcast

Timecodes:

00:20 Ben introduces Amanda

02:12 Amanda comes in

03:14 Ben and Amanda talk about reading and writing

07:50 Young people with the farming dream

09:25 Writing books

15:07 Ben and Amanda discuss her most recent book Celebrating the Seasons with the Yorkshire Shepherdess - why are people so fascinated by the story of hill farmers?

22:06 Amanda talks about the Swaledale breed

24:17 How was the farm impacted by foot and mouth?

27:05 Dogs

32:08 Is Amanda a people person?

35:18 Do what you love in life

40:00 Farmers getting the blame for everything

43:26 Amanda's message for the public

44:40 Amanda's message for farmers

Apples and Hops with Ali Capper

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ali Capper, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Ali's farm website - Ali Capper - Stocks Farm

Past, present and future on a family pig farm

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kate Moore, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

01:35 Kate comes on

02:17 discussion on the current state of the pig sector

03:57 Is this pig crisis any different to previous crises?

07:48 Intro to Kate's farm and how it has changed over time.

11:50 The Morgan family used to have an outdoor unit. Here it is discussed.

13:35 The farm's diversifications

16:05 Kate moves from University to the world of work

16:45 When and why did she move back to the family farm?

18:50 Running and hockey

19:36 Kate talks to the media quite a bit...but why?

21:10 Bite into British campaign

28:00 Message to the Public

28:48 Message to farmers

Dan's Story for World Mental Health Day

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Emma O'Donnell, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Link to the website of The DPJ Foundation - Mental Health Farming Charity | Home | The DPJ Foundation

00:00:11 Ben introduces the podcast and today's guest Emma O'Donnell

00:03:17 Emma O'Donnell, today's guest, enters the conversation.

00:07:45 Emma explain's how she and Dan first met.

00:15:50 Emma talks about how she began researching mental health

00:19:56 Emma explains the events in July 2016 immediately leading up to Dan's suicide.

00:31:30 Emma explains how people didn't know how to react around her.

00:34:56 Emma explains how the DPJ Foundation came into being

00:38:48 Emma searches for counselling

00:51:26 Emma's advice to people who are supporting others.

00:53:45 Starting to round up. Emma's message to farmers and message to the public.

Adventures of a Shepherdess

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Bizza Walters, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 3 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000

If you'd like to sponsor Bizza for running the London Marathon and make a donation to Farm Africa click here.

You can follow Bizza on Instagram by clicking here. (@adventuresofashepherdess)

Instagram accounts mentioned by Bizza:

@samonthefarm_1 (Sam Walton)

@downondaintreefarm (Farmer Luke)

To find out more about Ben visit benjamineagle.co.uk

To support Meet the Farmers on patreon and join the Meet the Farmers Supporters Club visit patreon.com/meetthefarmers

Thank you!

Meet The Black Farmer - Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones) — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

You can find out more about The Black Farmer by visiting their website.

To find out more about Wilfred's 'New Faces of Farming' initiative with Writtle University College click here.

To support Meet the Farmers please visit our PATREON PAGE where you can join the Meet the Farmers Supporters Club and access bonus content. Visit patreon.com/meetthefarmers . As Ben mentions in this podcast we are also now on the look out for podcast sponsors. Please get in touch with Ben if this is of interest for your business and we can send you a podcast sponsorship pack.

Thank you for listening!

Image credit: Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones; The Black Farmer

From Farm to Fork with Ollie White

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ollie White, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Ollie White started his farming journey over ten years ago and now farms on a Somerset County Council farm near Ilminster.

Visit farm2fork.co.uk for more information.

Forces Farming

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jeremy Gibbs, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 08:23:25 +0000

Jeremy Gibbs had a career with John Deere, principally in Germany, before returning to the UK where he launched Forces Farming as a bridge between the armed forces and agriculture.

We talk about the armed services, mental health, the machinery sector, careers and Jeremy's own life path.

Forces Farming website

Meet Rebecca Wilson from Boots and Heels

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rebecca Wilson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 5 Sep 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Boots and Heels on Farmers Weekly

That Welsh Farmer

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ioan Humphreys, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Follow Ioan on Instagram @that_welsh_farmer

Harvest 2022

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben hears from 8 farmers from England and Wales about their experience of harvest this year.

Dairying in Dorset with Tom and Sophie Gregory

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sophie Gregory, Tom Gregory, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben heads to Dorset for an afternoon of milking with Tom and Sophie Gregory who milk 360 cows, farming across two tenanted units of 900 acres in total. They sell their milk through Arla.

Large Scale Veg with Jack Pearce

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jack Pearce, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Aug 2022 08:00:00 +0000

http://www.alfredgpearce.co.uk/

@jack_grows (Instagram)

First Time Turkeys with Jade Stock

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jade Stock, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 07:49:06 +0000

https://outandaboutpoultry.co.uk/

Jade's Instagram

A Visit to the Quantocks

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Hermione Warmington, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Go and camp at the Cothelstone estate - click here to book

Pasture for Life page for Cothelstone Estate

Instagram - @cothelstoneestate

From Helicopters to Farming with Stephen Ware

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Stephen Ware, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 08:00:00 +0000

https://www.thronefarm.co.uk/

A call to action for the River Wye and other stories with Sarah James

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sarah James, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 Jul 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Powys sheep, beef and poultry farmer and entrepreneur Sarah James about her growing her business and about her efforts to bring various groups together to tackle the River Wye pollution issue.

Groundswell 2022

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Groundswell in Hertfordshire is the biggest regenerative agriculture event in the UK. Two days of festival feel networking, speaker sessions and machinery demonstrations. In reality, one big party that brings the movers and shakers of regenerative farming, and those interested, together.

Making the Most of your location - with Rees Keene

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rees Keene, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Rees Keene runs Over Farm on the outskirts of Gloucester, employing around 50 people on a heavily diversified business.

What's it like to farm 4 Miles from Clarkson's Farm?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matthew Izod, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Meet Matt Izod, an arable farmer (with a few sheep) who farms in the Cotswolds, just 4 miles from Jeremy Clarkson. Ben and Matt talk about regenerative agriculture, life after subsidies, the farming year as an arable farmer and much more.

Ever Thought of Becoming a Dairy Farmer? Andy Farrow will Convince You

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andy Farrow, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to ever inspiring dairy farmer Andy Farrow who is based in Shropshire.

How to sell meat to 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' and other stories with Tim Dobson

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tim Dobson, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 30 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Goat Farmer and former dairy farmer Tim Dobson, who farms in Cheshire. Among other things Tim has been: Acting Chair of the Association of Dairy Farmers in 2001; From 2004-2010 he was a Council Member for the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers; he was runner up in the Farm Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, and a finalist in the British Farming awards Diversification Innovator category in 2018.

How will you grow your business in 2022? A visit to Cultivate

Mon, 23 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the Cultivate Conference near Macclesfield. Hear from keynote speakers: business coach Marcus Child; co-CEO of COOK Rosie Brown; 'The Black Farmer' - Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones; and Winter Olympian and presenter of Ski Sunday - Chemmy Alcott. Get inspired.

First Generation Farming in the Cotswolds - with Matt Elliott

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Elliott, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben meet first generation tenant farmer Matt Elliott who farms Hereford cattle for beef in the Cotswolds. Matt used to be a police officer in Bristol - hear about how he left city life for farming.

From Egg Farming to BBC Breakfast with Dan Brown

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Daniel Brown, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 9 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Suffolk based egg and arable farmer Dan Brown built his first chicken shed in 2004, with another following in 2015. He now keeps around 44,000 chickens and farms around 600 acres of arable crops. Also hear the story of how he made his first media appearance on the Today Show.

Meet Rural Champion Sheena Horner

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sheena Horner, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 2 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000

https://gallowaychillies.co.uk/

@SheenaHorner

Six Inches of Soil: the film

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:00:00 +0000

https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/

Open Farm Sunday 2022

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Annabel Shackleton, Lucy Nott) — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to LEAF's Open Farm Sunday Manager Annabel Shackleton and arable farmer Lucy Nott who did Open Farm Sunday for the first time last year.

'The Dairy Farming Conservationist' - Ruth Grice

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ruth Grice, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Leicestershire dairy farmer Ruth Grice who also works part time for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Ruth farms in partnership with her parents and milks around 180 pedigree Holsteins, selling milk to Long Clawson Dairy just 5 miles away from the farm to make world famous Stilton cheese.

Nikki Yoxall and 'The Wee Mob'

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Nikki Yoxall, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 Apr 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Abedeenshire based new entrant farmer and grazier Nikki Yoxall. With a background in further education Nikki, alongside her husband James, now uses holistic management and agroecological techniques to develop the business on their own land and with neighbours.

Globetrotting and Coming Home with Charlie Beaty

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Charlie Beaty, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Charlie Beaty is a young farmer with bags of drive. She has worked in Australia and traveled Down Under working on farms before coming home to the family farm in the Midlands. Now farming alongside her dad and uncle in Warwickshire, Charlie is also a Farmers Weekly columnist and involved in FarmerTime. She’s also county Chair of Warwickshire Young Farmers.

For the Love of the Land with Jenny Jefferies

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jenny Jefferies, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to cookbook author Jenny Jefferies about her book 'For the Love of the Land' which profiles 40 different farmers from across the UK and their favourite recipes.

Exploring 'the Relationship Crisis Between Town and Country' - with Anna Jones

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Anna Jones, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Divide: The Relationship Crisis Between Town and Country' is available to buy from March 3rd, or pre-order now.

Flying the Flag for Dairy with Becki Leach

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Becki Leach) — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ben is joined by Senior Consultant at Kite Consulting, Becki Leach to talk about her life and varied career as well as running and a few tips for the reading list if you're interested in leadership and people.

Everybody's Favourite Dairy Market Analyst

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Will Evans, Chris Walkland) — Mon, 7 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +0000

This week guest host Will Evans (!!) and Ben speak to 'everybody's favourite dairy market analyst' Chris Walkland who can be found every Friday over on the Kite Podcast. As well as hearing about Chris's career there is some straight talking about the industry and politics.

Meet the Poultry Farmer of the Year

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Craig Michie, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets last year's Farmers Weekly Poultry Farmer of the Year, Aberdeenshire based turkey farmer, Craig Michie.

Meet Janet Hughes from Defra

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Janet Hughes, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Janet Hughes who is in charge of Defra's Future Farming and Countryside Programme.

Round Up of OFC and ORFC 2022

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Emily Norton, Sam Siva) — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Emily Norton about the Oxford Farming Conference from this year and Sam Siva about the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

MTF Big Farming Quiz of the Year 2021

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Gareth Wyn-Jones, Emily Norton, Guy Smith) — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Ben is joined by Guy Smith, Emily Norton and Gareth Wyn-Jones to review the year and for the traditional quiz.

Farmer of the Year 2021

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Edward Vipond, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to the winner of this year's Farmers Weekly Awards Farmer of the Year - Edward Vipond who is an arable farm manager from Suffolk.

Beef Farmer of the Year 2021

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Aled Evans, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Farmers Weekly's Beef Farmer of the Year for this year - Carmarthenshire based Aled Evans.

Whisky from Yorkshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Mellor, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

https://www.spiritofyorkshire.com/

East of England Farming Conference 2021

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Tom Martin, Joe Stanley and Teresa Meadows after the East of England Farming Conference. Plus a brief interview with Prof Tim Lang.

Farm Business Innovation Show 2021

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode Ben heads to the Farm Business Innovation Show in Birmingham to look at some of the diversification opportunities for farmers and landowners that are out there at the moment.

COP26 and Rethink Farming

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Martin Lines) — Mon, 8 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to UK Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network Martin Lines about COP26 and NFFN's recent 'Rethink Farming' campaign.

From the Stage to Sheep Farming with Matt Styles

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Styles, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode Ben meets first generation sheep farmer Matt Styles who farms in the Cambridgeshire fens.

Tenant Farming with Chris Cardell

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Chris Cardell) — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Cornish dairy farmer Chris Cardell. Chris runs a herd of pedigree Jerseys supplying milk to Arla. He is also Chair of the NFU’s Tenant Forum and a representative on Defra’s Tenancy Reform Industry Group.

A Visit to Wakelyns

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Henrietta Inman, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 6 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Wakelyns do a number of courses and you can also stay at the farm - visit wakelyns.co.uk for more information

Farming Means Business

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Chris Clark) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Devon based farmer and business consultant, and the England Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Chris Clark.

Harvest 2021 Special

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andrew Wilson, Ben Eagle, Tom Clarke, Tom Martin) — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Tom Clarke, Tom Martin and Andrew Wilson give us their harvest updates for this year.

From Soil Science to the Sustainable Food Trust

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Adele Jones) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 18:33:41 +0000

Ben meets the Deputy CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust, Adele Jones.

From Farming to the Civil Service and Back Again - Stuart Roberts

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Stuart Roberts) — Mon, 9 Aug 2021 13:33:39 +0000

Ben speaks to Hertfordshire farmer and current Deputy President of the NFU Stuart Roberts.

The National Food Strategy

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Stuart Roberts, Sue Pritchard, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 19:49:47 +0000

https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/

A View from Across the Pond

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Bill Northey, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Ben heads to the US to speak to Iowa farmer and former Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the USDA, Bill Northey.

A Trip to Visit George Young and Groundswell

Mon, 5 Jul 2021 17:52:00 +0000

George's Agricology page

Dung Beetles for Farmers

FFCC Collaboration 4 - Direct to Your Door

Mon, 31 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Growing Communities

Better Food Traders

Helen's Bay Organic Farm

Pipers Farm

FFCC Collaboration 3 - Local Food and Public Procurement

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Simon Wright, Rosie Jack) — Mon, 24 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

This episode was made in collaboration with the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

FFCC Collaboration 2 - The Dietary Shift for Climate, Nature and Health

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (George Young, Tom Hunt, Barbara Bray, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Ben joins forces with the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission again to link different voices in food and farming. This time he's joined by nutritionist Barbara Bray MBE, chef Tom Hunt and farmer George Young to discuss 'the dietary shift'.

FFCC Collaboration 1 - The Chefs Who Grow

Mon, 10 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

https://wakelyns.co.uk/

https://www.the-free-company.com/

https://www.fitzroycornwall.com/

How has Covid impacted food and farming education?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Ben is joined by LEAF's CEO Caroline Drummond, the Country Trust's CEO Jill Attenborough, Farms for City Children's CEO Vanessa Fox and Farmer and founder of Farmer Time (and seasoned guest of the show) Tom Martin to discuss the impact of lockdown and Covid on food, farming and countryside education and engagement.

The one about the beetles that like dung...yes, dung beetles.

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Bruce Thompson, Ben Eagle, Claire Whittle) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Visit www.dungbeetlesforfarmers.co.uk to find out more.

Cows on Tour and Much More with Abi Reader

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Abi Reader) — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Ben meets dairy farmer Abi Reader MBE and they talk about the dairy sector, tb, Cows on Tour and much more.

An introduction to Kuhn Farm Machinery (UK) for Young Farmers

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kate Hughes, John Lovell, Sian Pritchard, Ben Eagle) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

This is the first podcast in a series of three from Kuhn Farm Machinery UK, and is presented and produced by Ben Eagle for The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs. It features Sian Pritchard, John Lovell and Kate Hughes. In this podcast, members of the Kuhn team introduce the company and share advice on career development.

The Suffolk Farmer and 40,000 Birds

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Graham Denny) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Suffolk farmer Graham Denny who has ringed over 40,000 birds on his farm. Graham has also taken part in the only ELMs arable trial since 2017.

Meet the Estate Manager

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, David Hill) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Berkshire based estate manager David Hill who also founded the Online Agricultural Show in 2020.

'Farming ain't a bad way to earn a living'

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Richard Bramley, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 8 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Yorkshire arable farmer Richard Bramley.

Farming for Health: An Introduction to Gut Health

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Dr Lucy Williamson, Dr Sally Bell, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Resources from Lucy -

Insta lucywilliamsonnutrition

Twitter LucyWNutrition

facebook lucywilliamsonnutrition

www.lwnutrition.co.uk

Look out for Gut Cafe webinars on SM for practical tips on nurturing gut health, from my kitchen to yours!

Resources from Sally -

You can find out more on my website www.drsallybell.com

If you would like more details about my work why not sign up for my newsletter - sign up here

Or why not join me on one of my live on-line courses detailed below?

Using this discount code SPRING2021 you can get 25 % off. Each is a 6-week course is guided by me, Dr Sally Bell. We keep the numbers small so that the content can be personalised to your life. Each session includes a short presentation by me, practical applications for each week and a time to answer your questions.

Cancer recovery course 8th Apri 2021l : follow this link for more details

The happy gut course 31st March 2021: follow this link

WTF: Moving from weight loss to health gain courses 8th April follow this link

Alternatively, if you would like to further personalise your care and invest in your health pension, come and see me in clinic and let me and my health coaches guide you back to health. For more details, drop me an email on admin@drsallybell.com

Meet the Farm Vet

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Navaratnam Partheeban) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000

This week Ben speaks to Navaratnam Partheeban about his vet career, about diversity in veterinary and agriculture and about his Nuffield scholarship.

How to Start a Food or Drinks Brand

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Richard Horwell) — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben discusses food and drinks branding with Managing Director of Brand Relations Richard Horwell.

The Three Legged Stool

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, David Butler) — Mon, 8 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000

This week Ben meets Wiltshire based mixed farmer (dairy, arable, beef), David Butler, and learns about how he keeps his business sustainable through a multi-enterprise approach.

Farming for Change - Mapping a Route to 2030

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sue Pritchard, Becky Speight, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 1 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Sue Pritchard, CEO at the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, and Becky Speight, CEO at the RSPB about the FFCC's new report: 'Farming for Change'.

The Regenerative Dairy Farmer

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Dan Burdett) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets West Sussex dairy farmer Dan Burdett who recently did his Nuffield scholarship on 'Increasing productivity through increasing diversity on UK dairy farms'. Dan worked away from the farm in London for several years and travelled the world before joining the family business.

Oxford Real Farming Conference 2021 - Going Global

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Ben is joined by a panel of guests including Essex farmer George Young, founder of Tried and Supplied Domini Hogg and Georgia farmer Will Harris to discuss the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2021. Ben also chats to ORFC's Programme Director Fran Price and Vijay Kumar, who is the advisor to the government of Andhra Pradesh in India for Agriculture & Cooperation, and is in charge of implementation of natural farming in the State.

Oxford Farming Conference 2021 - Meet the Directors

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Will Evans, Sally Williams) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In the first episode of 2021 we focus on this year's Oxford Farming Conference and Ben speaks to this year's Conference Chair, Sally Williams (also a Scottish dairy farmer), and incoming Director Will Evans (also a Welsh arable and beef farmer and podcaster).

Big Farming Quiz of the Year 2020

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Ben is joined by Emily Norton, Guy Smith, Johann Tasker and Gareth Wyn-Jones to talk through the year's events and for the very first Meet the Farmers Big Farming Quiz of the Year. Who will triumph?

Meet the Listeners

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Tom Bland, Juliet Scott) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

We've made it to 100 episodes and so in celebration of this Ben is joined by Tom Bland and Juliet Scott to look back through the first 99 episodes.

Discussing Farm Assurance with SAI Global for NFYFC

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Robin Levin) — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

This podcast was produced for the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs in partnership with SAI Global. SAI Global is honoured to partner with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) to collaborate with a project supported by Defra on the importance of farm assurance in building a resilient future for the industry and environment. This podcast is the first in a series of multimedia content that will be released across 2021.

Past, Present and Future Farming with Joe Stanley

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Joe Stanley) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Leicestershire arable and beef farmer Joe Stanley. Joe is also a trustee of the Henry Plumb Foundation. He’s on the steering committee for the East of England Farming Conference. He’s the NFU branch chair for North West Leicestershire and the NFU county Vice-Chair for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Rutland. You might also know him as a regular columnist for Farmer’s Weekly, Farm Business, Farmers Guardian, Agronomist & Arable Farmer and NFU Countryside. In 2020 he was awarded the NFU’s Meurig Raymond Award.

How to Talk about Farming and Other Stories with Jane Craigie

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Jane Craigie) — Mon, 7 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Jane Craigie from Jane Craigie Marketing, a marketing, media and communications business, based in Scotland and focused on the rural sector and food and farming businesses. Jane is a Chartered Marketer with over 25 years’ experience in marketing within the agri-food sector. She is a member of the executive board of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and the council of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (and a former Chair). She also co-founded the Rural Youth Project.

The Ups and Downs of First Time Farming

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Alex Heffron) — Tue, 1 Dec 2020 16:00:06 +0000

Ben meets first generation dairy farmer Alex Heffron who farms with his wife Sam in Pembrokeshire.

Horizontal Farming in the Fens

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Clarke, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Clarke and they talk about how Tom's life was turned upside down when his father died and he was launched in at the deep end, heading back to manage the family farm in the Fens. They also talk sugar, soil, nature and much more.

A Forward Thinking Sheep Farm

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Jones, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Alongside the week's farming news Ben meets Tom Jones, a sheep and beef farmer from Montgomerishire in mid Wales. Tom has also been a contract shepherd and shearer and is a livestock focus farmer writer for Farmers Weekly.

Cider with Kate

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kate Beavan, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Monmouthshire farmer, lecturer, cider maker and NFU county chair, Kate Beavan, about her life and work as well as her tv appearances and her messages to the public and to farmers across the UK.

Farming on the Isle of Iona

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Andrew Prentice) — Thu, 5 Nov 2020 16:19:25 +0000

Ben meets Andrew Prentice who moved to western Scotland from Aberdeenshire 10 years ago to farm beef and sheep on the Isle of Iona.

Life is Short, Live It

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Pete Hynes, Ben Eagle, Paula Hynes) — Mon, 2 Nov 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Irish dairy farmers Paula and Pete Hynes. They talk about the ups and downs of the Hynes family's last few years, farming, life, death and mental health.

Taking a look at BIG Agriculture

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Robert Covell) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 08:00:00 +0000

In this longer than usual episode Ben heads to Russia to speak to international agri-business consultant Robert Covell to talk about BIG agriculture and the global prospects for the UK.

Meet the Soil Association's Head of Horticulture

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Ben Raskin) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 08:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Ben Raskin, who is Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry at the Soil Association. He's also written books for children and adults on gardening, plays in a folk band, walked 50 miles for his 50th birthday and once lived in Italy!

Farming, Cooperation and Collaboration

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Laura Buckingham, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:00:07 +0000

Ben meets Laura Buckingham who is arable manager and agronomist at Fram Farmers Cooperative which is based in Suffolk.

A Global View: From Monsanto to Bayer with Mark Buckingham

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Mark Buckingham) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:00:07 +0000

Ben talks to Bayer’s UK and Ireland Corporate Engagement Leader and former Public affairs Manager for Monsanto, Mark Buckingham

Online Farm Sunday - this coming weekend!

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Tom Martin, Annabel Shackleton) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:31:16 +0000

https://farmsunday.org/online-farm-sunday

#LOFS20

@OpenFarmSunday

Story of a Pint Sized Farmer

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Sally Urwin) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 08:00:15 +0000

Ben meets Sally Urwin who farms with her husband Steve in Northumberland and is the author of 'A Farmer's Diary: A Year at High House Farm'.

Thinking about Nutrition

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Barbara Bray) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 08:00:14 +0000

Alongside the latest news Ben speaks to food and nutrition consultant and Nuffield scholar, Barbara Bray.

Young Farmers Business and Tenancy Training with Savills

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Georgina Sweeting, Ashley Lilley, Ben Eagle) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 08:00:48 +0000

http://nfyfc.org.uk/

Don't forget to take advantage of the free zoom sessions with a Savills consultant.

Email Sarah Palmer for more details - sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk

This podcast was produced for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs in association with Savills and was funded by Defra.

The Future of Food, Farming and our Countryside

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Sue Pritchard) — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 08:00:05 +0000

https://www.ffcc.co.uk/home

https://ffcc.co.uk/library

Meet the Forester

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Luke Hemmings, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 08:00:06 +0000

Follow Luke on Twitter or Instagram @lwhemmings

British Flowers Rock!

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Cross, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:00:10 +0000

Ben speaks to West Sussex flower farmer and alstroemeria specialist Ben Cross, alongside the week's farming news.

The World Record Holding Monkey Bar Farmer

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Richard Heady, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 3 Aug 2020 08:00:11 +0000

Ben meets Buckinghamshire mixed farmer Richard Heady who has become well known on social media for his videos about life and work on his farm on the outskirts of Milton Keynes.

Wales, Countryfile and OCD

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sean Fletcher, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:00:25 +0000

Ben speaks to broadcaster, journalist and BBC Countryfile presenter Sean Fletcher. Sean was born in New York, raised in Essex and has lived in Wales and London. He is a prominent mental health campaigner, especially in the light of his son's OCD.

Meet Fred

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Fred Price) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 08:00:13 +0000

Fred Price farms pigs and arable crops in Somerset. He turned away from his conventional model a few years ago towards a regenerative holistic approach to farm management.

Meet Ernie the Shepherd

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Tomas 'Ernie' Richards) — Mon, 6 Jul 2020 08:00:19 +0000

Ben meets shepherd and Chair of Herefordshire Young Farmers, Ernie Richards who lives and works in Powys.

Who gives a fork?

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Jez Fredenburgh) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 08:00:03 +0000

Ben speaks to food and farming journalist and editor at Eat Farm Now, Jez Fredenburgh. Episode also includes some weekly farming news stories.

The Hunter-Naturalist

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Rob Yorke) — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 08:00:07 +0000

In this week's feature Ben speaks to chartered surveyor and rural commentator Rob Yorke who lives in the Black Mountains of South Wales. The conversation ranges from the agriculture bill to shooting and the proposed natural history GCSE to fishing and countryside communications.

Young Farmers in Lockdown

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Dewi Parry) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 08:00:13 +0000

Ben speaks to the current Chair of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Dewi Parry. What does lockdown mean for Young Farmers?

The sheep farmer turned broadcaster

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Gareth Barlow, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 8 Jun 2020 08:00:09 +0000

8th June 2020. Ben speaks to current BBC newsreader and former sheep farmer Gareth Barlow.

Goats, Firepits and COVID

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sam Steggles, Ben Eagle, Andy Gage) — Mon, 1 Jun 2020 07:55:32 +0000

Ben speaks to two East Anglian entrepreneurs - Sam Steggles in Norfolk and Andy Gage in Essex about their businesses and how they have been impacted by COVID and the lockdown.

Reflections on the Agriculture Bill and an introduction to seaweed farming

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Emily Norton, Wave Crookes) — Mon, 25 May 2020 07:39:47 +0000

Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research at Savills comes on the show to talk about the Agriculture Bill. Then, in Farmer Focus Ben speaks to Wave Crookes from Seagrown about seaweed farming off the Yorkshire coast.

Jeremy Buxton - from Norfolk to Paris and back

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jeremy Buxton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 18 May 2020 07:12:38 +0000

Ben speaks to Norfolk farmer and former EuroSport presenter Jeremy Buxton in this week's Farmer Focus.

Yorkshire to Devon

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andrew Wilson, Nicola Palfrey, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 11 May 2020 07:30:01 +0000

Ben speaks to Yorkshire farmer Andrew Wilson in this week's 'Farmer Focus' and also to Nicola Palfrey who is a Rural Surveyor and member of the NFYFC Agri Committee.

A View from Exmoor

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Swain, Robin Milton, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 4 May 2020 08:00:15 +0000

Ben speaks to Robin Milton, an Exmoor farmer who is also the Chair of the Exmoor National Park Authority and a former Chair of the NFU's Uplands Forum. Listen also for news and views and of course this week's 'Guess the Crop'.

How Now Brown Cow

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Oliver Lee, Will Ross, Ben Eagle) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 07:43:03 +0000

Discover more about How Now Dairy here - https://www.hownowdairy.co.uk/

Listen to the full interview with Oliver on YouTube.

Lockdown Continues

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle, Matthew Hawthorne) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 07:21:30 +0000

As we go into the next full week of lockdown here's another episode of the new format of the show to raise spirits. As well as looking at the week's farming news Ben speaks to Suffolk farm manager Matthew Hawthorne from the Euston Estate.

New Show!

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 08:02:41 +0000

It's the first episode of the new format of the podcast and Ben speaks to three previous guests from the show including Anna Bryant, Will Evans and Ally Hunter-Blair. Plus, play new game 'Guess the Crop'!

New Show...New Music

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Fri, 3 Apr 2020 14:44:08 +0000

A sneak peak into the new show format...including the new music

A MTF Podcast Announcement...

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Eagle) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:36:17 +0000

Ben has a message about the future of the show.

'Change in Dairy' mini-series - 4. Kerri Waters

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kerri Waters) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 18:57:06 +0000

Meet the Farmers specials look at a farming issue or subject in more depth and for this mini-series we are exploring potential changes in the dairy sector over the next few years from environmental policy to competition from plant based alternatives. In this final episode of the mini series which comes out throughout this week Ben speaks to vegan activist and political lead at Animal Rebellion, Kerri Waters. It is important to look at all perspectives in this series so we invited Kerri on to the podcast. Meet the Farmers is available on apple podcasts, spotify and soundcloud, as well as lots of other podcast providers. Subscribe today so that you never miss another episode.

'Change in Dairy' mini-series - 3. Dr Jude Capper

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jude Capper) — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 19:24:50 +0000

'Change in Dairy' mini-series - 2. John Allen

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (John Allen) — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 18:23:13 +0000

Meet the Farmers specials look at a farming issue or subject in more depth and for this mini series we are exploring potential changes in the dairy sector over the next few years from environmental policy to competition from plant based alternatives. In this second episode of the mini series which comes out throughout this week Ben speaks to dairy consultant John Allen.

'Change in Dairy' mini-series - 1. Matt Swain

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Swain) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 20:45:01 +0000

oday's guest Matt Swain is an expert in managing change and change is certainly something that the dairy sector has faced in the past and faces again today with numerous challenges and opportunities ahead. In this mini series we talk about the subject of change in relation to dairy, from environmental policy to plant based alternative products. This episode in particular introduces the subject of change and what happens when individuals and groups go through change.

Robin Asquith, North Yorkshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Robin Asquith) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 20:25:09 +0000

Robin Asquith is a farmer from Yorkshire. He's the Care Farm Manager for the Camphill Village Trust, was a 2016 Nuffield Scholar and in 2017 was named a Farmers Weekly Rising Star. He's also an all round great guy who is easy to get along with and that was evident when I went to meet him up in Yorkshire on a particularly windy day (although I was told it was pretty typical for the area). Robin sits on the board of trustees for Care Farming UK and is part of the executive group for the North York Moors Coast and Hill LEADER group.

Andy Howard, Kent

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andy Howard) — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 18:08:21 +0000

Ben visits arable farmer Andy Howard in Kent.

Mental Health, Farming and the Railways

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Steve Loeber, Dan Goodwin) — Sat, 4 Jan 2020 16:01:16 +0000

In the Meet the Farmers 'special' episode Ben speaks to Dan Goodwin who was the Suffolk Agricultural Apprentice of the Year in 2018 and Steve Loeber who works for Network Rail about mental health and the similarities between working on farms and working on the railways.

Will Evans, Wrexham

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Will Evans) — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 21:52:03 +0000

My final stop on my Welsh podcast road trip was to mixed farmer and fellow podcaster Will Evans who presents the Rock and Roll Farming podcast. We speak about social media, family, tb and why Will decided to step back from his podcast earlier this year. Huge thanks to Will for having me for an evening. He’s probably one of my favourite farmers!

Gareth Wyn Jones, Conwy

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Gareth Wyn Jones) — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 18:35:53 +0000

Ben visits Gareth Wyn Jones to talk about his farm, sheep, ponies, community, broadcasting and the future of hill farming.

Llyr Jones, Denbighshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Llyr Jones) — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 11:57:39 +0000

Ben continues his trip through north Wales and meets entrepreneurial farmer Llyr Jones. Llyr runs multiple enterprises on his farm including 1500 ewes, 30 cattle, an oil seed rape press, 16000 laying hens and a dead stock collection unit.

Emlyn Roberts, Gwynedd

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Emlyn Roberts) — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 20:21:54 +0000

Ben meets hill farmer Emlyn Roberts and talks about the future of the uplands.

Ben Andrews, Herefordshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ben Andrews) — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 16:44:51 +0000

Ben's next stop on his road trip is to Ben Andrews just outside of Leominster in Herefordshire. Ben is a tenant veg and beef farmer who has thousands of followers on Instagram showing people what he does on the farm every day. He's also involved with Agrespect, which aims to unite and celebrate LGBTQ+ people in the countryside and encourage inclusiveness in rural communities.

Ally Hunter-Blair, Herefordshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ally Hunter Blair) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 19:41:37 +0000

Ben heads to Herefordshire to speak to arable farmer Ally Hunter Blair.

James and Katie Allen, Oxfordshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (James Allen, Katie Allen) — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:30:47 +0000

Ben's next stop on his Cotswolds roadtrip is to James and Katie Allen, new entrants to farming who run sheep and cattle using a 'conservation grazing' strategy.

Rob Havard, Worcestershire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Rob Havard) — Sun, 1 Dec 2019 18:33:00 +0000

In the next stop on his latest road trip Ben visits beef farmer Rob Havard.

Jonty Brunyee, Gloucestershire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jonty Brunyee) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 18:33:00 +0000

Ben heads to the heart of the Cotswolds to speak to National Trust tenant and Nuffield Scholar Jonty Brunyee.

Andy Dibben and Kate Yells, Gloucestershire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kate Yells, Andy Dibben) — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 18:32:00 +0000

It's the start of another road trip and Ben's first stop is to Abbey Home Farm just outside of Cirencester in the Cotswolds. Ben is shown around by Andy Dibben, the Head of Growing and Kate Yells, the lead stockperson.

Emily McVeigh, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Emily McVeigh) — Thu, 7 Nov 2019 18:32:00 +0000

Ben visits the Kenton Hall Estate in Suffolk to speak to Emily McVeigh who together with her parents, sister and brother manages this true family business. Emily runs the events, weddings and glamping on the estate.

Fiona Siddall, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Fiona Siddall) — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:31:00 +0000

Ben visits Easton Farm Park, on of the oldest open farms in the country, to visit owner Fiona Siddall.

Sally and Shan Bendall, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Sally Bendall, Shan Bendall) — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 17:31:00 +0000

Ben visits Hollowtrees farm in Suffolk which is an open farm welcoming thousands of visitors each year.

Silas Hedley-Lawrence, Oxfordshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Silas Hedley-Lawrence) — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 17:30:00 +0000

Ben visits beef farmer Silas Hedley-Lawrence and learns more about the Pasture Fed Livestock Association.

'SPECIAL' - Tendring Show 2019

Sat, 7 Sep 2019 17:30:00 +0000

Ben hosts a debate about the future of farming and the environment at the Tendring Hundred Show.

Alaistaire Brice, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Alaistaire Brice) — Sun, 1 Sep 2019 17:29:00 +0000

Ben heads to Suffolk to meet Alaistaire Brice from Havensfield Happy Hens.

Phil Jarvis, Leicestershire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Phil Jarvis) — Thu, 8 Aug 2019 17:29:00 +0000

Ben visited the Allerton Project in Leicestershire to meet Head of Farming Phil Jarvis.

Richard Bower, Staffordshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Richard Bower) — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Ben heads to Staffordshire to speak to arable and beef farmer Richard Bower. The Bowers have a number of interesting diversification projects.

Katie Anderson, Kent

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Katie Anderson) — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to young farmer, blogger and owner of Paddlesworth Produce, Katie Anderson.

Kit Papworth, Norfolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kit Papworth) — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 17:27:00 +0000

Ben meets arable farmer Kit Papworth and they talk about everything from sugar beet to coffee and mental health.

Helen Browning, Wiltshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Helen Browning) — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Ben meets mixed farmer and Chief Executive of the Soil Association, Helen Browning.

Patrick and Brian Barker, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Brian Barker, Patrick Barker) — Sun, 19 May 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits mid Suffolk and arable farmers and conservationists Patrick and Brian Barker, aka 'the Barker Boys'.

Georgie Bray, Cambridgeshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Georgie Bray) — Wed, 8 May 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the RSPB's Hope Farm in Cambridgeshire and speaks to farm manager Georgie Bray.

William Kendall, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (William Kendall) — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to the entrepreneur William Kendall.

Guy and Emily French, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Guy French, Emily French) — Mon, 8 Apr 2019 17:00:00 +0000

Pumpkins, Christmas trees and mud runs...Ben find out more when he visits Guy and Emily French.

Spencer Christy, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Spencer Christy) — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Ben visits a coastal farm that is embedded in the community.

Andrew Dewing

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Andrew Dewing) — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to fellow podcaster Andrew Dewing who presents the Dewing Grain podcast.

Jonny Crickmore, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Jonny Crickmore) — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Suffolk dairy farmer Jonny Crickmore and samples some of the famous Baron Bigod cheese.

Martin Lines, Cambridgeshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Martin Lines) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Ben heads to Cambridgeshire to speak to arable farmer and Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Martin Lines.

'SPECIAL' - Searching for Common Ground at the Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Ben visits both Oxford conferences in search of common ground.

Guy Smith, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 18:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Deputy President of the NFU, Essex farmer...and distant relative, Guy Smith.

Teleri Fielden, Snowdonia

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Williams, Teleri Fielden) — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:00:00 +0000

Ben teams up with presenter of The Wild Voices Project podcast, Matt Williams, to speak to Teleri Fielden, aka The Snowdonia Shepherdess in Wales.

'SPECIAL' - East of England Farming Conference 2018

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Martin, Bryan Barker, Emily Norton) — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 18:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the East of England Farming Conference, chaired by Tom Martin.

John Pawsey, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (John Pawsey) — Thu, 8 Nov 2018 18:00:00 +0000

Ben meets organic arable farmer John Pawsey.

Mark Hayward, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Mark Hayward) — Mon, 8 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben talks pigs and bees with Suffolk farmer Mark Hayward.

George Young, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (George Young) — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben travels to the south of Essex, near Basildon, to visit arable farmer George Young.

'SPECIAL' - Royal Highland Show 2018

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Kelvin Pate) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the Royal Highland Show, the flagship event in the Scottish agricultural calendar.

Martyn Bergius, Scottish Borders

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Martyn Bergius) — Tue, 7 Aug 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits Martyn Bergius, an organic farmer from the Scottish Borders.

Jim Shanks, Scottish Borders

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Ben stops off in the Scottish Borders to visit dairy farmer and tomato grower, Jim Shanks.

Matt Naylor, Lincolnshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Matt Naylor) — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:00:00 +0000

In his first 'road trip' Ben stops off in Lincolnshire to meet flower farmer Matt Naylor.

Stephen Briggs, Cambridgeshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Helen Cheshire, Stephen Briggs) — Wed, 2 May 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Ben meets agroforestry expert and arable farmer Stephen Briggs at Whitehall Farm in Cambridgeshire.

Gala Bailey-Barker, Sussex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben travels to Sussex to speak to Gala Bailey-Barker at Plaw Hatch Farm, which is a biodynamic farm.

'SPECIAL' - Nature Friendly Farming Network

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 17:54:00 +0000

Ben speaks to four farmers from different parts of the UK who are all members of the Nature Friendly Farming Network.

Tom Bradshaw, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Bradshaw) — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben meets arable farmer Tom Bradshaw who farms just outside of Colchester and has a large equestrian unit on the farm.

'SPECIAL' - Oxford Real Farming Conference 2018

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Mon, 8 Jan 2018 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

Eddie Andrew, South Yorkshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Eddie Andrew) — Sat, 6 Jan 2018 17:00:00 +0000

In this episode Ben travels to Yorkshire to meet dairy farmer Eddie Andrew who has transformed his family business with the help of social media.

Tom Martin, Cambridgeshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tom Martin) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Ben travels to Cambridgeshire to speak to arable farmer Tom Martin.

Fiona Provan, Suffolk

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the 'Calf at Foot Dairy' in Suffolk.

'SPECIAL' - The Royal Welsh Show 2017

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to young farmers at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys.

Paul Kelly, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Tue, 6 Jun 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Ben talks turkeys with Paul Kelly.

Ed Ford, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Ed Ford) — Mon, 22 May 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to Chair of Young Farmers, Ed Ford.

Tim May, Hampshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Tim May) — Fri, 7 Apr 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Ben heads to Hampshire to speak to Nuffield scholar Tim May.

Luke Hasell, North Somerset

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Luke Hasell) — Thu, 9 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits beef farmer Luke Hasell.

'SPECIAL' - Oxford Real Farming Conference 2017

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Ben visits the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

David Lord, Essex

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (David Lord) — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Ben speaks to arable farmer David Lord in north Essex.

Elm Tree Farm, Bristol

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (RuralPod Media) — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 17:00:00 +0000

In episode 2 of the podcast Ben travels to a care farm on the outskirts of Bristol.

Anna and Phil Bryant, Wiltshire

hello@ruralpodmedia.co.uk (Phil Bryant, Anna Bryant) — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Ben meets Anna and Phil Bryant on their farm near Trowbridge in Wiltshire.