Agonomics

Find out what's been happening in the dairy markets, why it's been record breaking, what's driving prices, and how it's impacting the farmgate coffers as David's joined by AHDB Lead Analyst for Dairy, Susie Stannard. The pair also look at milk production and demand. And will the humble Yorkshire Pudding have a place in your Christmas Dinner? Back to all things dairy: Dairy markets | AHDB UK farmga...

Halal meat accounts for 30% of lamb sales, according to AHDB's recent consumer insight work. Joining David Eudall to look at whether farmers could benefit from finding out more about the sector and its requirements are Senior Halal Sector Manager, Awal Fuseini, and Retail & Consumer Insight Manager Vanessa Adamson. Plus, would you be happy if someone bought you a ladder? Anyway, back to the im...

With the help of expert colleague Hannah Clarke, David walks us through some new AHDB research indicating a drop in beef and sheep meat production by the year 2030.  They address concerns around this and explain why and how we’ve done the project. Plus, good luck spotting this week's mystery music act. Further reading material: Beef & lamb 2030 series | AHDB Agri Market Outlook | AHDB AHD...

With the help of his AHDB colleagues, David looks at the complexities surrounding the changes to the farm inheritance tax announced in the Autumn Budget. There's discussion about the future of delinked payments and more on the Sustainable Farming Incentive too. Plus, good luck spotting this week's mystery music act. Further reading material: AHDB response to Budget 2024 | AHDB Total farm support e...

In this episode, recorded at AHDB's Grain Market Outlook briefing in Birmingham, David talks to colleagues to discuss what's driving cereals and oilseeds markets both domestically and abroad. Plus further analysis is made of the Sustainable Farming Incentive. And there's also a nod to foxes and tractor boys. Some more on GMO and SFI: Cereals and Oilseeds markets | AHDB Could the US election impact...

David's joined by AHDB colleagues Zoe Kingham and Izzy Shohet to take a granular look at the cost of production for both beef and lamb. Together, they cover efficiency and how our Farmbench tool can help, as well as discussing ways in which the markets could pan out. And David drops the C-bomb, not once, but at least three times! Useful links for farmers and producers: Beef: Cost of production and...

AHDB's Head of Economics, Sarah Baker, joins David to explore the influence of geopolitics on our farming markets to help levy payers understand and mitigate their impact. Among the areas of concern up for discussion are Ukraine, the China-EU dispute, and the latest on fuel costs. And would the character of B.A. Baracus from the A-Team make a good US president? Anyway, back in the real world: Fuel...

David's joined by senior livestock analyst Freya Shuttleworth to run through the pork market outlook. The pair cover off topics like price stability and expectations for breeding herds, as well as touching on imports, exports and a trip to the Philippines. Plus who is Marc Pugh? And what's he ever done for AHDB? More on our important pork work: Pork market outlook | AHDB Pork markets | AHDB Recipe...

How is the consumer landscape changing and what are the key trends impacting farmers, processors, retailers and the wider supply chain? Ahead of AHDB's Retail and Consumer Insights Conference in Solihull on 17 October, David also finds out if farming is deemed a trustworthy profession by the general public. Plus, is it okay to eat your children's Easter eggs? Some key links: Retail and Consumer In...

Jack bows out by joining David on a tour of the AHDB sectors to see how the markets and their dynamics have changed since the podcast began back in June. The pair also lift the curtain to reveal how the shows are cobbled together. Some useful links: Cereals and Oilseeds markets | AHDB Pork markets | AHDB Dairy markets | AHDB Beef markets | AHDB Lamb markets | AHDB If you want to get in touch with...

David and Jack are joined by AHDB Senior Analyst Olivia Bonser to go over the final harvest. They cover wheat, oats and barley, how crops have faired against this year’s weather, and the current situation compared with earlier predictions. Plus, testing each other’s – and your – knowledge of the Gen Z vocabulary. More analysis and information on the harvest: Harvest progress across Great Britain,...

David and Jack are joined by AHDB's Head of Animal Health and Welfare, Mandy Nevel, to discuss the impact the bluetongue virus is having on cattle and sheep, with some premises in England under restrictions. There's also a look at recent movements in the beef market. Plus Jack tries to convince David to ditch all conspiracy theories about this year's harvest. More information on the really importa...

Feed and raw materials, sustainable soy, straw prices and gas market anxiety are all covered, plus more besides, as David and Jack take a forensic look at how input costs are currently affecting UK farmers. And if there was ever to be an animal orchestra, David admits he's not so sure a pig would play the trombone. Back to the serious stuff: Markets and prices | AHDB Natural gas prices are rising...

David and Jack look at the bigger issues to understand how the likes of global GDP growth, currency and energy affect UK farmers. Should we be sweating the big stuff? Plus find out if the pair were among the many who took to panic buying toilet roll during the Covid pandemic. Useful stuff: Trade and policy: food, farming and agriculture | AHDB Food security and the externalities of food consumptio...

David and Jack are joined by Helen Plant, AHDB's senior analyst for cereals and oilseeds, to discuss how this year's harvest is progressing, with a nod to the impact of ergot. Plus, find out who managed to get sun and chemical burnt knees over the recent bank holiday. Useful links: How much wheat can we expect from harvest 24? Grain market daily | AHDB Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (R...

Grass growth and milk markets are in the spotlight as David and Jack use AHDB's Forage For Knowledge data to understand how this year's wet weather has affected grass quality before looking at market trends to see how it's impacted dairy production. The pair are joined by colleagues Katie Evans and Susie Stannard to run through the figures. Plus find out which farmers Jack follows on social media....

David and Jack delve into the world of agri benchmark, a global non-profit network of agricultural economists, advisors, producers and specialists, to understand how it helps farmers. How does the UK compare and what lessons can we learn from other countries? The pair also offer themselves up as agony uncles. And find out who always makes the cups of tea in Jack's house... More on agri benchmark:...

With cost the hot topic on many people's lips, both producers and consumers, David and Jack are joined by AHDB analyst Jess Corsair to discuss the cost of pig production. They talk markets, margins and look ahead to upcoming COP (cost of production) work. To find out more, visit: Pork: Cost of production and performance | AHDB Pig production costs calculators | AHDB Pork Cost of Production and Net...

The beef market outlook is AHDB’s forecast for the next 12 months, and potentially longer. David and Jack are joined by Hannah Clarke to discuss the most recent update. Looking at supply, demand and trade, they discuss prime cattle slaughter figures, UK beef production, expected imports and exports, and the reduction of dairy and suckler herds. To read the beef market outlook: Beef market outlook...

As applications for the expanded offer of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) open, David and Jack take a look at what it could mean for your farm business. The pair have come up with five top tips to help when you're considering which SFI actions are most appropriate. You can also find out what Jack used to get paid to do on his dad's farm and discover why employees of one particular supermar...

Farmbench, an online benchmarking tool that allows you to compare your farm to similar businesses, is put under the spotlight as David and Jack take their usual chat beyond just market analysis. The hosts are joined by AHDB's lead Farmbench manager, Julie Clark, to understand what's involved. Plus there's talk of Pig World, karaoke and Ikea furniture. More on Farmbench and other AHDB projects: Far...

The wet weather means we've seen a dramatic decline in cereals and oilseed rape this year - down to their lowest levels for over two decades in fact, according to the latest Planting and Variety Survey. David and Jack are joined by C&O analyst Matt Darragh to go through the report. Plus find out how Jack's been setting a new trend in footwear at AHDB's HQ. More on the important survey: Plantin...

The characteristics of the top-performing farms are scrutinised by David and Jack as they're joined by Sarah Baker, AHDB's head of economics (analysis). The results of this year's report are intended to help farmers raise the performance of their farm business, regardless of current profitability. Also up for discussion are the Muppets, Iain Dowie and a ham sandwich. And can you guess the mystery...

With the latest inflation figure out, David and Jack look at how it's affecting shopping behaviours. They're joined by members of AHDB's Retail and Consumer Insight Team to help identify other factors that are causing trends at the tills. Plus there's more barbecue talk and another suggestion for what fans of the show should be called. Back to consumer trends - here are some useful links: Retail a...

David and Jack are joined by red meat analyst Isabelle Shohet to go through the latest lamb market outlook which suggests total sheep meat production is expected to fall this year. The trio also discuss the lamb Down Under as volume in Australia grows. And there's a nod to barbecues, crocheting, Taylor Swift and building sheep sheds. All bases covered then! Important lamb stuff from the AHDB websi...