Defra Farming Podcast

In episode 21, Chris Lyons from Innovate UK speaks to two successful recipients of government innovation funding to find out how it has helped them test new ideas, reduce risk and deliver results on-farm. Dominic Swan from Catalyst Farming explains how four Norfolk farming businesses used a Research Starter project to explore computer crop modelling to improve nitrogen-use efficiency. The work has...

In episode 20 of the Defra Farming podcast, guest host Hannah Barrett—a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser in the East of England—speaks with Norfolk farmer Charlie Ennals and Cambridgeshire farmer Thomas Gent. Together, they explore how working with nature can help farms become more resilient in the face of changing weather patterns, rising costs and increasing uncertainty. Charlie shares how gr...

The government’s Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies ( ADOPT) Fund helps farmers access funding to test practical ideas on their own farms, from new crops and soil systems to technology and collaborative trials. It is part of the Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. In episode 19 of the Defra Farming Podcast, we’re joined by two farmers with li...

Episode 18 of the Defra Farming podcast is hosted by Richard Thompson , the UK’s first Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) . He is joined by Paul Tompkins , NFU Dairy Board Chair, and Michael Masters Head of Milk Supply & Operations at Barber’s Cheesemakers .  Richard explains his role in enforcing the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 (FDOM24) and how he can support fa...

In episode 17 of the Defra Farming podcast, host Neil Pickard—a farming adviser with more than 45 years’ experience in livestock and mixed farming—speaks with Soil Farmer of the Year 2023, Stuart Johnson, and Understanding Ag farming adviser, Kyle Richardville. Stuart, a tenant farmer in Northumberland, explains how he has shifted his family’s mixed sheep and cattle farm away from conventional hig...

Episode 16 – How IPM works for us: a farmer and agronomist’s perspective In this episode of the Defra Farming Podcast, guest host Tom Allen-Stevens—an arable farmer in Oxfordshire and founder of the British On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN)—is joined by Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines and agronomist Ed Schofield. Martin and Ed share with Tom how they are applying integrated pest management (IP...

Defra Animal Health and Welfare lead Martin Jenkins talks to North West dairy farmer Karen Halton and vet James Russell about the support that is available from government to help livestock farmers drive down disease and improve animal health and welfare on their farms. Guidance for farmers and apply now - Guidance for farmers - Annual health and welfare review of livestock (defra.gov.uk) AHDB mat...

In episode 14 of the Defra Farming podcast, Michael Sturla talks to Robin and Christopher Milton, a father and son team farming beef and sheep on the Exmoor uplands, who have recently signed up to SFI. Robin and Christopher share how they found the SFI application process and the SFI actions they have signed up to that suit their farming system, including clover and herbal leys, hedgerows, nutrien...

In episode 13 of the Defra Farming Podcast, Defra Productivity and Innovation Lead Andrew Powley spoke to Richard Wordsworth, NFU Senior Adviser (Support Schemes), and North Yorkshire beef and sheep farmer Richard Findlay. The group's in-depth conversation covers everything you need to know as a farmer to access business support through the government's Farming Resilience Fund. Find out...

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers for actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment. In 2023, the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be bigger and more flexible with 23 pick and mix actions for farmers to choose from, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland...

In episode 11 of the Defra Farming podcast, Defra payments lead Lisa Warne talks to father and son John and Charlie Renner, who farm on the border of the  Northumberland National Park between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Alnwick. Lisa gave an update about what's happening next in the growth and rollout of our environmental land management schemes. John and Charlie talked about how the new farming p...

In episode 10 of the Future Farming podcast, to celebrate National Young Farmers' Week 2022, Matt McGuire welcomes 3 up-and-coming young people in farming to the podcast. Charlie Beaty, Ed Dungait and Charlotte Garbutt discuss how to get started in farming, the importance of education and the range of roles in agriculture. They also discuss the benefits new talent can bring to the sector. #Yo...

In episode 9 of the Future Farming podcast, Defra farming strategy lead Briony Turner talks to CLA (Country Land and Business Association) land use advisor Harry Greenfield and TFA (Tenant Farmers Association) farm advisor Lynette Steel about new public and private sector environmental schemes. CLA and TFA have been working together to produce a set of guidelines to support tenants and landlords i...

The Sustainable Farming Incentive is now open for applications. Through SFI, farmers will be paid for looking after the natural environment while they're farming. This year, we’ll start paying farmers for taking care of their soil or assessing the condition of moorland. From next year, we’ll be expanding the range of SFI actions farmers can get paid for. For episode 8 of the Future Farming Po...

In the seventh episode of the Future Farming podcast, Tim Mordan, Defra’s Head of Farming Innovation, Productivity and Science talks to Rui Andrês, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics, about their innovative raspberry robot picker. Listen to find out how the project was developed, initially at Plymouth University , and then with the help of government innovation funding to bring it to market. Find out more...

In the fifth episode of the Future Farming podcast, Defra Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director Janet Hughes talks to policy lead for the Farming Investment Fund Sarah Evered. Listen to find out how the team designed the fund, what we've learned from launching it and what's coming next.

In the sixth episode of the Future Farming podcast, Janet talks with British Farming Awards Arable Innovator of the Year Tim Parton . Tim is Farm Manager at Brewood Park Farm, Staffordshire, where he manages 300 hectares using regenerative agriculture methods. Listen in to find out how Tim has moved to no-till, reduced insecticide and fungicide use and brewed his own nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Foll...

In September 2021 the Farming Forum held a two-part Q&A session with Janet Hughes, Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director. Farmers were invited to submit their questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Clive Bailye, Director of the Farming Forum, put the most-asked questions to Janet. The original videos can be watched here and here . We are making this version avai...

In our third Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Gabe Brown. Gabe has been named one of the twenty-five most influential agricultural leaders in the United States. He is one of the pioneers of the soil health movement and author of the book, “ Dirt to Soil, One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture .” He farms at Brown’s Ranch , a diversified 5,000 acre farm and ranch in North D...

In our second Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Nic Renison. Nic farms with her husband Paul on the edge of the North Pennines in Cumbria, where they produce cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are part of a growing movement towards regenerative farming that has been picking up pace since 2014.   Nic is on the steering group for the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and is part...

In our first ever Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Neil Heseltine.  Neil is a farmer and the Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. He works with The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) , The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and Land Workers Alliance.  Janet and Neil discuss how working with nature can not only safeguard it but can be more profitable.  Neil w...