Farming Focus

In this episode host Peter Green is joined by sheep and beef farmer Phil Heard and sheep farmer Mark Rees to hear about how they have diversified their businesses. Phil farms on Dartmoor and has diversified into cattle driving holidays. Mark farms Gotland sheep and has diversified into gin making. In this episode we hear the ins and outs of their stories and how they have got to where they are tod...

Make sure you listen to episode 1 to get the most from this bonus episode.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk For our podcast disclaimer click here .  Timestamps 00...

In this episode of Farming Focus, host Peter Green interviews two farmers, Graham Eggins and Chris Berry, to discuss the challenges and opportunities they face in the Southwest region. Graham farms on the island of Brier in the Isles of Scilly, while Chris farms near Exeter. Graham talks about the logistical challenges of farming on an isolated island, including the transportation of livestock and...

Make sure you listen to episode 1 to get the most from this bonus episode.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk For our podcast disclaimer click here .  Timestamps 00...

In this episode of Farming Focus, host Peter Green explores the topic of breeding the perfect cow. He is joined by James Dixon, a farmer who raises stabilizer cattle in Cumbria, and Professor Mike Coffey from SRUC. They discuss the benefits of composite breeds like stabilizers, the history of cattle genetics, and the use of genomics in breeding. They also touch on the importance of feed efficiency...

In this episode, Peter is joined by Catherine Mead OBE who is the owner of Lynher Dairies, the home of Cornish Yarg cheese; and David Fursdon who is the Chair of both Dyson Farming and The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture as well as a trustee of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission and the Royal Countryside Fund. David recently joined the board of Cornish Mutual. In this second s...

In this episode Peter speaks to Dr Amy Jackson, founder and director of Oxtale Communications about animal health and welfare, including the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more informati...

In this episode, Peter is joined by Amy Jackson who founded Oxtale Communications. Peter and Amy discuss the topic of communication through the lens of animal health and welfare.  In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the question 'does my farm have a future?'. Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or...

In this bonus episode we hear more from last week's guests Pete and Jenny Olds.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk For our podcast disclaimer click here .  Timestam...

In this episode, Peter is joined by Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries Sourcing at M&S to discuss connecting with the public. What can farmers and retailers learn from each other? In the middle of the show Peter speaks to Cornish farmers Pete and Jenny Olds from Cornhill Farm to discover their secrets of connecting with the public.  In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking...

In this episode Ian Baggs, a Dorset dairy farmer and Nuffield scholar, talks to Peter about his Nuffield scholarship which was entitled:  'Sustainable Forage Cropping for Dairy Cattle in the Face of Climate Change Challenges'.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has a...

In this episode Peter talks to Dorset dairy farmer Ian Baggs and Adele Jones, Executive Director of the Sustainable Food Trust to discuss different ways of farming to adapt to a changing climate.  In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the question 'does my farm have a future?'. Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside...

In this bonus episode Rachel and Chris Knowles and Tim Fussell speak more about their businesses and about adding value.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk For our...

In this episode Peter talks to Tim Fussell from Fussel's Fine Foods in Somerset and Rachel and Chris Knowles from Trink Dairy in Conrwall about 'adding value' and the journeys that each respective business has been on.  In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the question 'does my farm have a future?'. Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is releva...

In this episode George Dunn, Chief Executive of the Tenant Farmers Association speaks more about tenancies and the wider farming industry.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmut...

In this episode Peter talks to George Dunn, CEO at the Tenant Farmers Association and Ben and Josh Nicholls, Cornish dairy farmers who won last year's Cornwall Young Farmer of the Year award.  They discuss the future of land access and how new entrants can get on the farming ladder from securing a tenancy to thinking outside the box.   In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the questi...

Simon Haley is a rural business adviser based in the north west of England.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming.  For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk For our podcast disclaimer click here .  Timestamps 0...

In this episode rural business adviser Simon Haley comes on the show to talk about diversification.  Peter also speaks to Somerset farmers Rob Addicott and Jeremy Padfield. In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the question 'does my farm have a future?'. Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed...

Linked to episode 3 of the show, this bonus episode features bonus material with Chris Manley, who appeared in episode 3 of the series.  In the episode Chris talks about the 'Walk with Me' campaign to help break the stigma of talking about mental health in the farming community.  Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the regio...

In this episode host Peter Green speaks to Nuffield scholar Chris Manley (who started the #WalkWithMe campaign) and Linconshire arable farmer (and FCN ambassador) Charles Anyan to discuss physical and mental health.  In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the question 'does my farm have a future?'. Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant...

Linked to episode 2 of the show, this bonus episode features bonus material with Peter Craven, who appeared in episode 2 of the series.  In the episode Peter explains 'the family charter' . Link to Peter Craven's Nuffield report - Peter Craven | Nuffield Farming Scholarships (nuffieldscholar.org) Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers out...

In this episode host Peter Green speaks to Nuffield scholar Peter Craven about family succession on farms and how to do it well. Listen to next week's bonus episode for more information on the 'family charter' which Peter refers to throughout this episode.  Peter Green is also joined by Richard Darke, who farms with his sons Matt and Sam in south Devon.  In this second series of Farming Focus we'r...

In this second series of Farming Focus we're asking the question 'does my farm have a future?' We're going to reflect on what lies ahead and on some of the exciting solutions being put forward.  For the opening episode host Peter Green is joined by Helen Browning, a Wiltshire farmer who is also CEO of the Soil Association, and Jake Freestone who manages Overbury Farms in Worcestershire.  Farming F...

Series 2 of Farming Focus is coming soon...

Throughout this series we have been encouraging farmers across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset to ask how resilient their businesses are going forwards, and see what we can all do to make them more resilient? From soil health to farm safety and communications to bovine tb, we’ve put a wide variety of topics through the resilience lens. I  this episode we take a step back and review the big pi...