In this episode, failure to test illegal meat imports could leave livestock farmers exposed to animal disease, say food safety experts.

Sheep producers face a government clampdown on tail docking and lamb castration – how you can have your say on animal welfare.

And why farming needs better leaders: how a professional approach could help recruit more people into agriculture.

To have your say on lamb welfare, visit the Defra consultation on on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods.

The Society of Agriculture website is soc-ag.org.

The white paper by Paul Harris about putting people first in farming can be downloaded from https://real-success.co.uk/white-paper-2/ (you will be asked to submit your email address).

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

Contact or follow Johann (X): @johanntasker

Contact or follow Louise (X): @louisearable

Contact or follow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarm

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly

To contact 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.

In this episode, questions are raised over agriculture's Net Zero ambition after the NFU makes two climate change experts redundant.

With cereal margins under pressure, can independent agronomists help make arable farming profitable again?

Farm leader Tom Bradshaw faces a leadership challenge from NFU deputy president David Exwood: we preview next month's union elections.

And we examine the prospects for the farmland market in 2026.

A reminder that the deadline to enter the Women in Agriculture Awards is 30 January 2026. Join the Women in Agriculture Network by downloading the StayPost app for iOS or Android.

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

Contact or follow Johann (X): @johanntasker

Contact or follow Louise (X): @louisearable

Contact or follow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarm

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly

To contact 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.

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time Event at the 2026 Oxford Farming Conference.

Recorded in front of a live audience on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, farmers and other conference delegates quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues.

Our panel is:
- Tom Bradshaw, NFU president
- Henry Tufnell, Labour MP for Mid- and South Pembrokeshire
- Kelly Hewson-Fisher, head of rural research, Savills
- Peter Craven, head of agriculture, Natural England
- Emma White, FairShare & The Felix Project

This Farmers Weekly Question Time is sponsored by Savills.

Farmers Weekly Question Time is hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker. To attend or sponsor future Farmers Weekly Question Time events, visit fwi.co.uk/questiontime.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.