The Farmers Weekly Podcast

In this episode, we discuss the possible outcomes after government finally agrees to talks with farm leaders on inheritance tax. Have things gone too far? Were farming protestors right to force Keir Starmer to cut short a prime ministerial visit to Milton Keynes? And should farming be higher or lower on the government's pecking order? We speak to Aberdeenshire farmer Andrew Connan – NFU Scotland's...

In this episode, we look at the LEAF Marque - the farm assurance scheme that delivers benefits for consumers and the environment – as well as for farmers. We find out what makes it work, why it is becoming so popular – and why supermarkets are so keen to work alongside LEAF food producers. We speak to Oxbury Bank – the latest lender offering a special deal to farmers who want to farm more sustaina...

In this episode, we look at government plans to reduce the area of UK farmland – and use it instead to restore nature and create wildlife habitats. The government's Land Use Framework for England – which is out for consultation – will earmark different areas of land for different uses. Objectives include food production, building 1.5 million homes this parliament, and helping to mitigate climate c...

In this episode, we look at how a group of 'Pulse Pioneers' are sowing the seeds for a revival of Britain's pea and bean crops. Pulse crops have many benefits. They include better soil health, less reliance on chemical fertilisers and lower dependency on pesticides. But inconsistent performance can make them difficult to grow profitably. We look at possible answers – and the bigger picture. For mo...

In this episode, we discover how machinery manufacturers are making it easier for farmers to get their hands on the latest kit and technology. We visit the 2025 LAMMA farm machinery show – the two-day extravaganza bringing 40,000 visitors to the Birmingham NEC. We speak to farmers, machinery manufacturers and auctioneers – and get the lowdown on the prospects for the sector for the year ahead. As...

In this episode, UK environment secretary Steve Reed pledges a better future for Britain's farmers. Is it a New Deal? Or is it a raw deal? Mr Reed's speech to this year's Oxford Farming Conference made much mention of food security and the need to increase agricultural productivity and profitability. Meanwhile, farmers say they will ramp up protest against government plans to impose 20% inheritanc...

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time Event at the 2025 Oxford Farming Conference. Recorded in front of a live audience on Wednesday the 8th of January 2025, farmers and other conference delegates quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. Our panel is: - Minette Batters , cross-bench peer & immediate past president, NFU - G...

In this episode, we look at the prospects for farming in 2025 – and discuss the opportunities for growers and livestock producers. We examine the outlook for profitable UK food production, ways to generate income from the farmed environment and the likely direction for government policy. First, though, we preview the Oxford Farming Conference (8-10 January) – which has a reputation for setting the...

In this episode, we visit the AgriTechE REAP conference – the annual showcase for the latest innovations in agriculture. We find out how simple innovations can make farming more profitable – enabling farmers to work smarter rather than harder. From completing Sustainable Farming Incentive applications at the push of a button to using semen analysis to breed better livestock. We talk to start-up ag...

Hundreds of tractors descend on central London as farmers ramp up protests against the government's autumn Budget. As 500 tractors park outside Downing Street, we speak to farmers and protest organisers – and scrutinise the latest government announcement. Farmer and agricultural historian Oli Fletcher, from the Farming Explained YouTube channel , puts the protests in their wider context. We also a...

In this episode, could ban on autumn manure-spreading applications be the next body blow to hit Britain’s farmers? Well, quite possibly, as industry representatives are summoned to meet Defra officials following two legal challenges over the issue. We delve into the controversy over the decision by dairy processor Arla to use a new feed additive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cows....

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at Harper Adams University in Shropshire. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. This episode focuses on the impact of the autumn 2024 Budget decision to impose 20% inheritance tax on farm assets worth...

Thousands of farmers gather in London to lobby MPs and protest against changes to inheritance tax rules. From April 2026, agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be liable for 20% inheritance tax – leaving many farmers fearing for their livelihoods. Some 15,000 farmers descended on Westminster to oppose the changes, worried that the autumn Budget decision will force them to leave the land. Jo...

In this episode, Jeremy Clarkson is set to join thousands of farmers protesting against the government’s decision to impose inheritance tax on farmland. The TV celebrity and star of Clarkson's Farm is expected to address farmers as they gather in London on Tuesday 19 November. Farm business consultants are continuing to wade through the government’s budget documents - looking at ways to mitigate t...

In this episode, industry leaders urge farmers not to take direct action following the government’s decision to impose inheritance tax on farmland. Thousands of farmers are expected to descend on London after the Budget announcement sent shockwaves through the industry. The protest will coincide with what the NFU is describing as a ‘mass lobbying’ of MPs to get the government decision reversed. Th...

A special episode after an autumn Budget which promises huge changes to farm businesses – and indeed for farming families. The Budget saw Chancellor Rachel Reeves announce major changes to agricultural property relief and inheritance tax rules relating to farming. From April 2026, farmers will be subject to 20% inheritance tax on agricultural and business assets worth more than £1 million pounds....

In this episode, as the government's Budget looms we ask three experts what farmers should expect in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement. We find out why the Sustainable Farming Incentive is fuelling interest in hedgerow management in England – and how farmers can obtain payments. We visit the Lake District, where upland farmers fear they are being left behind by the government's flagship environmen...

UK agriculture faces a huge skills gap – with lots of opportunities for people wanting to work in the sector or start their own agri-business. In this episode, we find out how UK farming is encouraging new entrants into the industry – and how to carve a career in agriculture. We visit the New Scientist Live festival of ideas at London's ExCel centre, where food and farming innovation is centre sta...

In this episode, as the wet autumn continues, we look at flood management – and payments for farmers to protect communities by storing flood water. We have the latest on the NFU's campaign for a fair Autumn Budget for farming – and what is needed to deliver UK food security. We've an update on the phase-out of the Basic Payment Scheme in England – and take a look at Scotland's fledgling farm suppo...

In this episode, we ask who is to blame for Defra's reported £358m underspend on farming – and can it really be justified? A better year ahead? After a challenging time, the latest forecasts suggest UK dairy has finally turned the corner. We get to grips with the latest developments on precision breeding – which could pave the way for UK farmers to grow gene-edited crops. We find out how blended f...

In this episode, after a week of torrential rain and floods washes away newly drilled cereal crops, we ask: will it really be another wet autumn? We find out why Defra policy is on hold ahead of the Autumn Budget – in a special interview with NFU president Tom Bradshaw. We discover how farmers are measuring their environmental and social impact –and making their businesses more profitable as a res...

In this episode, we look at the future for farm support following a UK cereal harvest said to be among the worst in living memory. We travel to London for Back British Farming Day as growers and livestock producers meet MPs to get the farming message across to politicians. We look at NFU calls for an increase in the UK budget for agriculture – and industry calls for recognition of the wider benefi...

In this episode, we look at the future of the UK potato sector with a special visit to the Potato Days UK event at Dyson Farming. With the crop under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, we find out how potato growers and processors are reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We discuss the role regenerative agriculture has when it comes to potato production – a crop which involves moving huge amou...

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at Cookstown in Northern Ireland. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues. Our panel is: - John Gilliland , Professor of Practice in Agriculture & Sustainability, Queens University Belfast - John McLe...

In this episode, Queen guitarist and wildlife campaigner Brian May is under fire after calling for an end to badger culling in England. The complaints come head of a  BBC TV documentary in which Sir Brian argues that badgers are wrongly blamed for spreading bovine tuberculosis. We look at why British holidaymakers have been banned from bringing back feta cheese from Greece this summer. The mo...