The Farmers Guardian Podcast

A farmer’s son from Yorkshire, Young farmers has been an integral part of John Houseman’s upbringing. While sat in a tractor on his placement year with Harper Adams in 2019, he heard the news that the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs ( https://www.nfyfc.org.uk/) had decided to cancel their annual AGM. After setting up a Facebook event to create his own event, it snowballed and he became...

As an upland tenant farmer the NFU’s new vice-president Rachel Hallos will be a powerful voice as the union navigates unprecedented change. She may be new to the role, but NFU vice president Rachel Hallos was keen to let members know she was not afraid to ‘speak openly', promising to bring some 'straight-talking northern charm' to the leadership team. Ms Hallos runs an upland beef a...

Shadow Defra Secretary Steve Reed admits previously the Labour party had lost connection with the countryside and farming communities and said he hoped to turn it around in the next General Election later this year, adding he wanted to 'give farmers their future back', recognising that Labour was started to 'get a hearing' in rural seats, but acknowledging that the job 'wa...

Newly elected council chair of National Federation for Young Farmers clubs (NFYFC), Drew Bailey is from a non-farming background and joined NFYFC when he was 15 years old.  In his new role he is passionate about ensuring NFYFC is a place for everyone who wants to be involved regardless of their background, sexuality or ethnicity. The sense of belonging, the community, and the friendships he has ga...

Farmers Guardian editor Olivia Midgley speaks to Soil Association chief executive Helen Browning and Overbury Farms regenerative farming manager Jake Freestone who were speaking at the Low Carbon Agriculture show, organised by Farmers Guardian's parent company Agriconnect.  The two-day conference and expo saw a range of high-profile speakers debate hot topics from the benefits of adding sheep...

Sophie Gregory is a dairy farmer in Dorset, and over the years her thousands of followers - all 12k of them - have followed her on her journey into agriculture. Not from farming, she called herself 'farmer in training' and has used her platform to talk about farming, milk and her life as an organic Arla dairy farmer. This year she has become a Nuffield Scholar, opting to research the org...

In this week's episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast, online editor, Emily Ashworth, speaks to the first ever recipients of the Kaleb Cooper Bursary, which aims to support students from non-farming backgrounds in association with the Royal Agricultural University. Caitlyn Bartlett and Caitlin Oxton are both currently studying and are hoping to make the most of Kaleb's support, especial...

Andrew Dakin is a local Derbyshire farmer whose entire livelihood is at risk. As a third generation farmer at Kidsley Park Farm, Andrew’s family have farmed in the village of Smalley near Heanor for 94 years. Unfortunately Andrew had to take up the reigns of running the farm business after his father suffered a stroke in the 1980s. Farming has been his main passion and love ever since he was a chi...

What has it really been like to be the NFU's first female president? After six years at the top, Minette Batters reflects on the highs and lows of her time in the top job, what the future holds for the union and her biggest worry for the farming industry going forward, as well as her top tips for the next president and why they should keep their distance from social media. Message us

This week’s podcast is a very special insight into mental health in farming. This week marks the Farm Safety Foundation’s Mind Your Head campaign - an initiative to promote mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today. So our guests for the podcast are two of the most inspirational people I have had the pleasure of interviewing. They are none other than Warwickshire based farme...

Ahead of this year's NFU elections, Farmers Guardian's news and business team spoke to the candidates standing to be president, deputy president and vice-president.   Tom Bradshaw, David Exwood, Rachel Hallos, Michael Oakes, Thomas Binns, Matt Culley and Mark Jeffrey share their views on Red Tractor, member engagement and diversity. Message us

In this week’s Farmers Guardian podcast, Emily Ashworth sits down with Louisa Clutterbuck at Eat Wild – formerly British Game Assurance – to speak about how game meat, from pheasant to venison, is a sustainable option. Through Eat Wild, Louise is looking to bring game meat into the mainstream and educate people on why they should be eating more of it. Message us

In this Farmers Guardian podcast episode, we are reporting live from LAMMA Show 2024. You can listen to head of Machinery, Toby Whatley, talk all about the mood at LAMMA and the outlook for the machinery market, while online editor, Emily Ashworth, reports live from the careers zone where this year, for the first time ever, 30 children were brought to the show to learn all about the farming world...

Farmer and BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson talks about rural mental health and the personal reason behind setting up his new rural mental health podcast 'Keeping on Track' after losing a farming friend to suicide. He not only talks about the importance of the farming community coming together, but the need to reconnect again with consumers; for the country to value and better under...

This week’s podcast is a very special insight into diversity and inclusivity in farming from the Oxford Farming Conference. News reporter Chris Brayford sat down with Inclusive Farm co-founder Mike Duxbury and dairy farmer Rory Christie from Dumfries during the conference to discuss the issues surrounding diversity in farming and the positive inroads being made to do even more. Mike, who was regis...

Following a CLA survey which looked at the social value provided by its members, Alex Black spoke to Judicaelle Hammond from the CLA, Johnny Wake at Courteenhall Farms, Ellen Francis at Quy Hall Estate and Rachel Rutherford at Northumberland Estates about their role in the local community and the value farms and estates add to rural Britain, which is often overlooked by policymakers and politician...

Many will know Will Young as Farmer Will, the farming TikTok sensation. His social media has blown up and it has since seen him become of farming's most loved characters. What is he really passionate about though? In this Farmers Guardian podcast, online editor Emily Ashworth pays Will as visit, to talk about education, family farming and the passion he has for the industry - and showing it f...

Farmer and BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson talks about rural mental health and the personal reason behind setting up his new rural mental health podcast 'Keeping on Track' after losing a farming friend to suicide. He not only talks about the importance of the farming community coming together, but the need to reconnect again with consumers; for the country to value and better under...

Hannah Jackson AKA the Red Shepherdess has always been at the forefront, championing farming and all those who work in it. Seven months ago life changed, and Hannah and husband Danny welcomed baby Blake. In this Farmers Guardian Christmas special, online editor Emily Ashworth visits Hannah to talk all about her new role as a mother and the growing farm. And, of course, Hannah's love of the fe...

Farmers Guardian machinery editor Toby Whatley and Agriconnect publisher Ben Briggs report from the German tractor and farm machinery show Agritechnica, which took place in November. Discussing the machinery market, this is a timely look ahead to LAMMA Show, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, on January 17-18, 2024. Message us

Justine Fulton who is better known as 'Rack of Glam' on social media, is pretty new to the butchery industry. Having entered as a novice, she has worked her way up and has found her dream career. In this episode she talks about challenging stereotypes, skills and the need to support local businesses like your butchers in order for them to thrive. Message us

Michelin-trained chef Poppy O'Toole known as 'The Potato Queen' has become a Tik Tok sensation sharing her absolute love for the humble potato. She gave her top tips for making the best roast potato for your Christmas dinner and explained why she is passionate about supporting farmers and British grown produce, and why buying local and supporting British farmers is so important. And...

In this Farmers Guardian podcast, livestock reporter, Katie Fallon talks to the founders of The Wool Library, John Atkinson, Maria Benjamin and Zoe Fletcher about their aspirations to champion British wool within the UK's fashion industry. With a mixture of farming, art and fashion backgrounds John, Maria and Zoe have joined forces to try and create more opportunities for British sheep farmer...

On September 3, 1939, Great Britain declared war against Germany. A day in British history which will never be forgotten, and a day which changed the life of one little girl from Sunderland. In this Remembrance Day special podcast, our livestock reporter Katie Fallon, sits down with her grandmother, Norma Earnshaw, to reminisce on her childhood during the war and how her experiences as an evacuee...

UK dairy industry is going through an unsettling period. The environment for UK dairy farmers is changing at a rapid pase with increased investment demands from regulation and a noticeable decline in sector confidence, it is why Muller’s chief executive says milk output can 'no longer be taken for granted' and why they are closely monitoring future supply. Our chief reporter Rachael Brow...