Pasture Bedtime

Farmer's daughter Amy Hughes explains how she came to set up her own business helping farming families tackle the difficult conversations that can often make the difference as to the survival of the business. Find out more about Amy's services at www.empowerag.co.uk

In this additional series, I talk to Miranda Poulson from AHDB about how her initial dream of being a vet would ultimately set her on a different career path. Follow this mini-series every fortnight as we hear how getting the right support can transform careers. Find out more at TwoCanMentor.co.uk

My guest today grew up on a beautiful farm in the lush, fertile state of Massachusetts, USA. Dan Kittredge would work on the family’s organic farm, as a boy and then as a young man, simply not wishing to do anything else. But, as he said, ultimately he was on a ‘quest’…to find some purpose and meaning to his life, one that would ensure he could remain on the farm but that would also earn him and h...

In this episode, I talk to 1st generation farmer Eden Hill who, when all seemed lost,  used social media to promote a side hustle that would go on to save the farm. Purchase all your beef, lamb, mutton & pork requirements from a pack of mince to half a cow at meatboxfamily.co.uk. Check out their regular raffles and follow ‘the meat box family’ on all the usual socials.

In this episode I talk to John Bates & Beth Proctor from TwoCan Mentorship about their mentoring journey. Follow this mini series every fortnight as we hear how impactful support can transform careers and provide professional bonds of friendship for years to come.

Herefordshire farmer turned industry advocate Martin Williams, discusses what it means to support the industry and still retain your identity. How a life changing conversation with a fellow farmer and good friend would set him on a different path.

On today's episode I'm joined by 4th generation farmer Charlie Whitehouse who farms a mixed system in the beautiful Herefordshire/Gloucestershire borders. Listen in as we talk about how grateful Charlie is to be doing a job he loves and how he sees the future.

In this additional series, I talk to mentors and their mentees from TwoCan Mentorship about their mentoring journey. Follow this mini series every fortnight as we hear how impactful support can transform careers and provide professional bonds of friendship for years to come.

On the show today I speak to Ally Mitchell who provides marketing & operational support for rural businesses up & down the country. To find out more about the support she offers, you can find her here at AllyMitchell | LinkedIn or by visiting the website www.smartwavesupport.co.uk

Meet Will Sanders, a Dairy Farm Manager with his feet firmly on the ground and a keen sense of what's most important infarm management - it's the "human skills". Originally destined for the fire service, Will found a love for farming and a respect for everyone in it, starting with the people that work alongside him. He's now developed a sidebusiness coaching others in farming...

In this additional series, I talk to mentors & their mentees from TwoCan Mentorship about their mentoring journey. Follow this mini series every fortnight as we hear how impactfulsupport can transform careers and provide professional bonds of friendship for years to come.

Tom Fairfax has transitioned his 1,200 acre mixed farm in Northumberland to operate under organic & regenerativeprinciples. Passionate about measuring the impacts of change, his farm is frequently used for educational visits sharing best practice around agroecological farming. Find out more about visits to the farm at www.mindrumestate.com

On today's episode, I chat with Iain McDonnell, Senior Environment Officer with the Environment Agency. Iain's experience in farming encompassed travels to Australia & America where he learned how to be a 'Jackaroo' as well ascombining stretches of crops measuring 3 miles wide. Today he advises on many aspects of farming best practice as well as overseeing grant applications aw...

Join me as I chat to Helen about her experience of growing up on the farm and working in the agricultural sector. Helen explains how returning to work after maternity leave left her feeling a bit lost so she pursued a Nuffield Scholarship to create a mentoring support network for the industry, supporting hundreds of people on their own career path. Find out more about TwoCan Mentor at www.twocanme...

My guest today is Joe Stanley, columnist, author and Head of Sustainable Farming at The Allerton Project. A recognised voice in the farming community as an advocate for stainability in farming, Joe wasn’t always a fully paid up member of the natural capital society. But in our conversation he shares his journey in and out of farming, and his sympathetic views on how we have reached a tipping point...

Meet David Christensen, a dairy farmer with a passion for farming in all its guises. In this episode we discuss not only dairy but many of the challenges facing the agricultural sector as a whole. Representing farmers on various bodies, David's collaborative and practical approach comes as standard and here he explains some of his background and thoughts on farming in a changing landscape.

This week, I’m talking to Dairy Beef farmer and NuffieldScholar Laura Awdry. Laura’s paper entitled ‘Every calf has a value, but is every calf equal?’ is summarised in her presentation to the Nuffield Conference in December 2025. You can watch it here:   https://youtu.be/jz4rdHE8l4c?si=hDeZyBqd3waOxmHT

In this conversation with Paul Christian, Managing Director at Sentry Ltd, Paul explains what it means to face adversity with innovation and keep a steady hand on the tiller during turbulent times. Learn more about the work that Sentry do at www. Sentry.co.uk

Author of the Oxford Farming Conference 2026 paper 'UK Farming; grasping the opportunities', Dr Louise Manning PhD joins me to dissect her research and put forward her ideas on how to find solutions to some of the challenges faced by British farmers today. You can watch Louise's presentation of the paper on YouTube at https://youtu.be/AdzoYNcvas0?si=5T5VvX5SR2k8TMiP

Join me as I hear from IT specialist turned regenerative agriculture enthusiast Michael Owen about farm life inNorway. Listen out for details of the festival he and and a dedicated team are putting together this August, you can find all the details at jordfestival.com

Ben Taylor oversees the Iford Estate,3,000 acres of sublime farmland nestled in the South Downs National Park. Among his many responsibilities is the setting aside of land for the creation of UK biodiversity. Aiming to become an exemplar landscape restoration project, creating new habitat. and space for nature, allowing our diversity of species to expand over the whole estate, whilst still retaini...

Harriet Bunning is a Beef Cattle Geneticist with a real passion and skill for using the data to find real world solutions and innovative ways of applying the science. Taking the opportunity to seek out and quiz a revered author in the field of livestock breeding, would lead Harriet to apply for and realise her PhD dream at SRUC. You can find Harriet on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/harri...

Welcome to the 'funny farm' where Ben takes a light hearted view of farming but with a serious message about our foodsystem and the choices consumers have ...or don't have. You can find Ben on YouTube  ⁨@radmorefarm⁩  or on Facebook& Instagram using the same handle. Also, check out  ⁨@MeetTheFarmersPodcast⁩  episode 328 for a different interview with Ben by my good friend Ben Eagle...

Hear how Rodrigo & Kirsten Navarro left London life to run an organic poultry farm producing pasture raised eggsfor direct sale. Find out more about their business and life with 500 chickens by clicking the links below: www.wanderingfeathers.co.uk @wanderingfeathersltd

Lincolnshire arable farmer David Hoyles talks about his foray into olive growing that has earned the accolade of being the most northerly olive grove in the world. Learn more about his Mediterranean adventure as well as the successful family farm at these websites: https://www.englisholive.co.uk/ https://www.ghhoyles.co.uk/