Meet the Farmers

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.

Ben speaks to ever inspiring dairy farmer Andy Farrow who is based in Shropshire.

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...

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.

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.

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.

https://gallowaychillies.co.uk/ @SheenaHorner    

https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Divide: The Relationship Crisis Between Town and Country' is available to buy from March 3rd, or pre-order now. 

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.

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.

Ben meets last year's Farmers Weekly Poultry Farmer of the Year, Aberdeenshire based turkey farmer, Craig Michie.

Ben meets Janet Hughes who is in charge of Defra's Future Farming and Countryside Programme.

Ben speaks to Emily Norton about the Oxford Farming Conference from this year and Sam Siva about the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

Ben is joined by Guy Smith, Emily Norton and Gareth Wyn-Jones to review the year and for the traditional quiz.

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.

Ben speaks to Farmers Weekly's Beef Farmer of the Year for this year - Carmarthenshire based Aled Evans.

https://www.spiritofyorkshire.com/

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.

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.