Brash Ag

In this news feed episode Kit gives his report from the day and shares some of the conversations he had with fellow attendees. The co-hosts discuss their personal feelings and emotions regarding the proposed tax changes that sparked the rally and discuss how investment in new technology and agricultural engineers could be affected in the future.

In this cash cow episode Ray and Kit talk about the origins of data gathering in farming and how simple statistical analysis of data has evolved into the processing of vast amounts of information from farms into insights and data driven decisions making. The pair discuss if there is such a thing as a data utopia and whether farmers are the only beneficiaries from the data captured on farms. Finall...

This news feed episode finds the pair fresh off the back of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers 2024 Landwards conference. With the topic of “What we want from agricultural engineers?” and a range of insightful speakers from across the agriculture and food supply chain, Ray and Kit have plenty to digest and discuss while considering where engineers fit into the food production puzzle. The co...

In this news feed episode the Co-hosts talk about the recent agreement between Kubota and Agrointelli and what it means for the two companies and the agtech ecosystem as a whole. The pair also give some thoughts on the impact of the recent UK budget and what implications the various changes to taxes and spending might have for farmers, innovators and agricultural engineers. Kubota Automation Demo:...

In this first ever interview episode the Co-hosts welcome Callum Chalmers to the Podcast to hear more about his background, the business of Farmscan Ag and its origins. Ray and Kit also get Callums' take on the future of agricultural technology and the opportunities he sees starting to appear in agriculture for autonomy and robotics. Callum also shares his experiences about starting and running a...

In this digging deep episode the Co-hosts try not to lose their way while meandering through the topic of navigation in agriculture. Kit explains how GPS works, the reason that accurate navigation is so important and how tractors are now able to get such repeatable results while working in a field. The pair explore the important distinction between navigation and localisation. Ray explains the his...

In this news feed episode the co-hosts talk about recent developments in the ongoing legal battle between AGCO and TAFE. Kit explains some of the history between the two companies and talks about some of his personal experiences working with TAFE. Ray explains some of the ongoing legal battle and what it might mean for each of the firms. The pair also talk about the recent layoffs at JCB and what...

In this cash cow episode the co-hosts go head to head to debate the value of startups in agricultural technology. Ray explains the origins of startup businesses and how the venture capital industry evolved and talks about his experience working in multiple UK based startups. Kit talks about his interactions with startup companies through the Hands Free Hectare project and how he thinks maybe it's...

In this digging deep episode Kit unearths the history and ethos behind the hands free hectare. Ray explains how the research work of Professor Simon Blackmore inspired the founders of Small Robot Company to get started. The co-hosts discuss some of the huge opportunities that autonomy can offer soil heath, input precision, energy consumption, economics and time and how self driving farm machinery...

In this Digging deep episode, Kit and Ray discuss how the farming operations of the future might be powered from electricity and batteries to methane and hydrogen. Ray explains how farming of the past was powered and how there could be some unexpected parallels with the farming of the future and Kit discusses the role that automation can play in enabling new fuels and power sources in agriculture...

In this ‘Cash cow’ episode, Ray and Kit discuss service based business models in agriculture, explaining what Farming as a Service means for both farmers and technology manufacturers and where the pitfalls and benefits can be found for both sides of the deal. Ray draws on his experiences in a robotics start-up and Kit explains his thoughts about the rise of ‘as a Service’ models in farming and how...

In this Digging Deep episode, Kit and Ray discuss non-chemical crop protection, from what farmers did before agrochemicals to the way in which agrochemicals proliferated into agriculture during the ‘Green revolution’ and how consumers are starting to put pressure on farmers to move away from agrochemicals. Kit and Ray explore some of the challenges and opportunities that agricultural engineers and...

Kit takes the hot seat and Ray interviews Kit. Kit talks about how his background and experiences on the family farm lead him to pursue a masters in agricultural engineering and how he saw the chance to make a difference in the world through academia and the role he played in launching the Hands Free Hectare project at Harper Adams.

Kit takes the reins and interviews Ray about his career, all the way from school to today. Ray shares some of his motivations behind becoming an engineer and how his career has taken him around the world. Ray talks about what drew him back to agricultural engineering after working in aerospace engineering and what it was like working for the robotics start-up Small Robot Company.

Ray and Kit introduce themselves and the Brash Ag podcast, and give a flavour for 'What its all about'. In coming episodes Kit and Ray will be getting their hands dirty, "Digging deep" into the technology of new agtech, "Chewing the cud" with guests, and exploring "Cash cow" business models.