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The Farmers Weekly Podcast

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

By: Farmers Weekly
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The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Every Friday.

2026 © 2025 The Farmers Weekly Podcast Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Flaming June, Farming Roadmap, bovine TB, farm machinery 10 years post- Brexit, and green award for farm estate

    Flaming June, Farming Roadmap, bovine TB, farm machinery 10 years post- Brexit, and green award for farm estate
    Jun 25 2026

    This week, we examine whether the government’s long-awaited 25-year Farming Roadmap will deliver the certainty, confidence and investment farmers need.

    NFU president Tom Bradshaw gives his reaction to Defra’s plan, while we discuss profitability, agri-environment funding, climate resilience and the value of farming to the wider economy.

    We debate the impact of hot weather and this month's record-breaking temperatures on farm enterprises.

    We also examine Defra’s refreshed bovine TB strategy, including new testing approaches and the prospect of cattle vaccination by 2030.

    With the UK marking 10 years since the Brexit referendum, Cheffins chairman Bill King explains how leaving the EU has changed the trade in second-hand farm machinery.

    And we visit Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire, winner of a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.

    This episode is brought to you in partnership with crop protection specialists Certis Belchim.

    Guest speakers

    * Tom Bradshaw, president, NFU
    * Paul Tompkins, deputy president, NFU
    * Josh Swain, farm animal vet, Synergy Animal Health
    * Bill King, chairman, Cheffins
    * Dr Johnny Wake, managing partner, Courteenhall Estate

    Chapters

    00:00 Intro and headlines
    01:13 Defra unveils 25-year farming roadmap
    01:45 Tom Bradshaw on whether the roadmap goes far enough
    05:42 Louise and Hugh analyse the plan
    12:09 Certis Belchim partner message: managing take-all risk
    13:48 Defra refreshes bovine TB eradication strategy
    14:59 Josh Swain explains new TB testing technology
    16:30 Hugh and Louise discuss TB testing, vaccination and farm impact
    24:24 Hot weather, harvest prospects and climate adaptation
    26:30 Brexit: 10 years on for farm machinery trade
    27:04 Bill King on export friction after Brexit
    31:25 Hugh and Louise assess Brexit’s farming legacy
    36:45 This week’s commodity prices
    38:31 Courteenhall Estate wins King’s Award for sustainability
    42:41 Looking ahead to Groundswell

    Useful links

    * Defra farming roadmap
    * Defra bovine TB strategy update
    * Cheffins farm machinery auctions
    * Courteenhall Estate
    * King’s Awards for Enterprise
    * Groundswell

    This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

    We love to hear from you: -

    Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

    Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

    Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

    For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

    To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Verdict on SFI budget, fertiliser warning, Red Tractor responds, and Only Farmers

    Verdict on SFI budget, fertiliser warning, Red Tractor responds, and Only Farmers
    Jun 17 2026

    Defra has finally unveiled the budget for its flagship Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme – but is £240 million enough to meet demand from farmers?

    Former Natural England agriculture head Geoff Sansome gives his verdict – and explains why thousands of farmers could still be left in limbo when existing agreements expire.

    We also bring you an exclusive interview with new Red Tractor chief executive Paul McLaughlin, who responds to criticism of the farm assurance scheme.

    Just weeks into the role, Mr McLaughlin outlines plans for reform and explains how technology, AI and simpler audits could help rebuild trust with farmers.

    Recorded at the Cereals event at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, we discuss why this year’s show has been one of the most talked-about industry events in years.

    And we hear about the NFU’s call for government support to protect growers from soaring fertiliser costs.

    Finally, we meet the team behind Only Farmers – a new online platform designed to help farmers market products, share equipment, promote experiences and connect with customers.

    Guests

    * Geoff Sansome – former head of agriculture, Natural England
    * Red Tractor chief executive Paul McLaughlin
    * NFU president Tom Bradshaw
    * Lisa Hogan – co-founder, Only Farmers
    * Wolfe Bentinck – co-founder, Only Farmers

    Chapters

    00:00 SFI budget finally confirmed
    01:45 Geoff Sansome on whether £240m is enough
    05:41 Industry reaction to the SFI announcement
    09:02 Exclusive: Red Tractor chief executive Paul McLaughlin
    11:36 Why assurance reform is taking so long
    14:05 Imports, standards and farmer frustrations
    16:38 Technology, AI and the future of farm assurance
    20:41 Panel reaction to Red Tractor’s plans
    24:49 Cereals 2026 from Diddly Squat Farm
    25:14 Has Jeremy Clarkson changed Cereals?
    30:51 NFU fertiliser resilience plan explained
    35:43 Markets: beef, sheep, pigs, cereals and diesel
    38:34 Only Farmers: a new platform for agriculture
    41:47 Can farmers benefit from Only Farmers?
    43:50 Final thoughts and goodbye

    Useful links

    Sustainable Farming Incentive

    Red Tractor

    National Farmers Union

    Cereals Event

    Only Farmers

    Natural England

    Farmers Weekly

    This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

    We love to hear from you: -

    Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

    Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

    Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

    For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

    To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Cereals 2026 at Clarkson's Farm: Does it still pay to grow combinable crops?

    Cereals 2026 at Clarkson's Farm: Does it still pay to grow combinable crops?
    Jun 12 2026
    This live Cereals 2026 episode tackles one big question: with high input costs and mediocre grain prices will planting cereals this autumn be financially worthwhile? The discussion starts with markets and margins, including break-even wheat prices, grain carryover, milling wheat premiums and the risks of holding out for higher prices. Part Two looks at how growers can reduce risk through variety choice, BYDV resistance, hybrid wheat, yellow rust resilience and AHDB decision-support tools. Finally, we asks whether the public and politicians really understand farming — and how Clarkson’s Farm has changed the conversation about food security and farm profitability. Guests Andrew Williamson – Shropshire farmer and NFU Combinable Crops Board vice-chairAndrew Dewing – Dewing Grain chief executive and grain traderClare Leaman – NIAB cereal variety specialistSacha White – AHDB crop protection scientistPatrick Galbraith – Daily Telegraph rural affairs writerCharlie Ireland – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons FarmGeorge Badger – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons Farm Chapters 00:00 – IntroductionLive from Cereals 2026 at Diddly Squat Farm. 01:15 – Are cereals still worth drilling?Andrew Williamson outlines the pressure on arable margins. 04:12 – Grain markets and break-even pricesAndrew Dewing assesses wheat values, cost of production and selling opportunities. 05:30 – Feed prices and livestock linksHugh Broom looks at what low grain prices mean for livestock producers. 09:04 – Fertiliser costs and possible supportThe NFU’s call for help if fertiliser prices spike. 11:44 – Feed wheat, milling wheat and riskLouise Impey and the panel discuss whether milling wheat still stacks up. 16:37 – Grain marketing strategyWhen should growers lock in prices for harvest 2026 and 2027? 19:20 – Growing a cost-effective cropClaire Lehman and Sasha White join the discussion. 20:10 – BYDV-resistant varietiesWhy barley is moving faster than wheat on BYDV tolerance. 21:30 – Hybrid wheatCould new hybrid wheat varieties change the market? 23:13 – Yellow rust resistanceHow breeders are responding to resistance breakdowns. 24:24 – AHDB’s new BYDV toolSasha White explains how the tool can help growers decide whether spraying is worthwhile. 28:28 – Decision support and SFI toolsHow AHDB is helping growers weigh up complex agronomic and business choices. 32:04 – Resilience over yieldWhy variety choice is increasingly about consistency and risk management. 34:45 – Does the public understand farming?Patrick Galbraith, Charlie Ireland and George Badger join the final panel. 35:52 – Telling farming stories in national mediaHow farming issues are explained to non-farming audiences. 37:17 – Behind the scenes at Diddly SquatWhat Clarkson’s Farm gets right about farming life. 42:27 – Food security and public awarenessWhy the link between shoppers and producers remains fragile. 44:32 – Reasons for optimismMixed farming, SFI, land opportunities and long-term business thinking. 49:09 – How farming is perceivedPatrick Galbraith on public sympathy, politics and why farming should keep pushing its case. This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker. We love to hear from you: - Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/ Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/ Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/ For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
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