Meet the Farmers

Host Ben Eagle is joined by Brussels based agri-food journalist Natasha Foote to discuss how the Common Agricultural Policy may change in 2027 and what farmers across Europe should be aware of.  🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the...

Ben Eagle is joined by Jez Pile from Telus Agriculture & Consumer Goods to discuss his entrepreneurial journey of founding, growing and exiting from his start up business Muddy Boots.  With thanks to our sponsor TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods. Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods:  telus.com/FarmSmarter Image credit: Jez Pile 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wh...

This Big Debate episode covers a wide range of topics from eggs and poultry to Great British Beef Week, Sophie's recent trip to the Netherlands, the London Marathon, Essex greenhouses and much more. The debate this week turns to public engagement and on farm education. Hosted as always by dairy farmer Sophie Gregory and arable farmer Ally Hunter Blair.  Link to newsletter sign up - Sign-up to our...

Ben Brooke farms in Cambridgeshire as well as running a number of other businesses. He is a member of the Hawkstone Farmers Choir that recently got Amanda Holden's 'Golden Buzzer' on Britain's Got Talent.  With thanks to our episode sponsor TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods. Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods:  telus.com/FarmSmarter Image credit: Ruth Downing 🎧...

In this episode host Ben Eagle is joined by Dr Johnny Wake - a doctor turned farmer, who is Managing Partner of Courteenhall Farms in Northamptonshire. Before taking over the family agriculture business full-time, Johnny was a doctor working in the Department of Health, his local hospital and a GP practice. Under his stewardship since 2013, Courteenhall Farms has doubled in size to over 4,000 acre...

In today's episode Ally and Sophie give their Spring update from their farms. They also discuss the food on the Artemis 2 Moon mission, rewilding, organic trade with Japan and much more.  What to do for the TELUS giveaway [THIS IS AN AD] (deadline: 23:59 on 9th May 2026):   1) Subscribe to the show wherever you are listening 2) Comment below (wherever you are listening) with 'TELUS GIVEAWAY'  3) S...

Today we’re heading to the Cotswolds to meet Henry Astor who runs Bruern Farms. Henry took on the reigns of the family farm from his father in 2017 and decided that creating diversity on the farm was the way to meet the challenges of the post Brexit farming landscape. The farm’s arable enterprise was joined by a herd of English long horns, saddleback pigs, chickens, and a host of building diversif...

Today host Ben Eagle is joined by Cambridgeshire tenant farmer David Wheatley who has recently taken social media by storm with his Petite Peonies account. They discuss David's farming journey, arable farming, diversification, Christmas trees, peonies and how to make the most of social media as a farmer.  With thanks to our sponsor TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods. Explore smarter farming tools...

Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory turn their attention to the pig sector this week and are joined by mixed farmer Fred Allen, who farms near Newark, and Mark Haighton who is Pork Sector Director for AHDB. They ask about the current state of the sector and what its future might look like? Also on the agenda for this week are news stories including growing underground, cattle rus...

In this special bonus episode we learn about the Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme which is based in the Cotswolds. RAAP is an innovative initiative for farmers and advisors who want to deepen their understanding of regenerative and agroecological principles – and learn how to apply them in practice to produce nutritious food, improve soil health, boost biodiversity, and build farm re...

Artificial intelligence in agriculture - what's the potential for the future? Ben Eagle is joined by Ben Hatton from Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods and Matt Dobbs from Agsenze to discuss the potential.  With thanks to our sponsor Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods. Explore smarter farming tools from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods:  telus.com/FarmSmarter 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers...

RuralPod Media and Meet the Farmers have collaborated with Emergent Generation to create a two-part podcast documentary about the future of food and farming to show anything is possible when young people are involved. Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food details how group members think and feel about the future, how they imagine it can be and what they are doing to realise their v...

RuralPod Media and Meet the Farmers have collaborated with Emergent Generation to create a two-part podcast documentary about the future of food and farming to show anything is possible when young people are involved. Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food details how group members think and feel about the future, how they imagine it can be and what they are doing to realise their v...

In this episode, Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair explore the complexities of seasonal farm employment in the UK, featuring insights from Sacha Wooldridge, an immigration lawyer at Birketts LLP. They discuss licensing, visa caps, the employer pays principle, and any potential upcoming legal changes affecting seasonal and casual employment. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your...

RuralPod Media and Meet the Farmers have collaborated with Emergent Generation to create a two-part podcast documentary about the future of food and farming to show anything is possible when young people are involved. Emergent Generation: Young Voices in Farming and Food details how group members think and feel about the future, how they imagine it can be and what they are doing to realise their v...

As conflict continues across the Middle East Sophie and Ally ask what it means for agriculture, especially as fuel prices rise? Aside from the humanitarian impact of the conflict there has been significant impact to the flow of materials. From oil to raw materials for fertiliser the agricultural supply chain has been significantly disrupted which will have consequences for farmers. Also in this ep...

In this episode, Tom Morphew shares his inspiring journey from a young gardener to the founder of Full Circle Farms and the Garden Army CIC. He discusses his unique approach to regenerative farming, the challenges he faced in his entrepreneurial journey, and his commitment to creating a sustainable and community-focused farming model. Tom emphasizes the importance of mental health and community en...

This week Ben heads to county Longford in Ireland to meet  Phil Stewart aka Farmer Phil on youtube. Phil’s farm has been in his family for over 80 years. Farming 633 acres and rearing dairy beef calves the business is wide ranging and includes agri-contracting and a Farm Shop. Image credit: Liv Stewart.  🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media...

Following a discussion on this week's NFU Conference Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by three farmers to ask : ‘Is the Cereals Sector Fit for the Future?'  Guests include: Chris Baylis – Director of Farming at Sir Richard Sutton Limited which has farms in Lincolnshire and Berkshire. Andrew Court – Arable and beef farmer on 110 hectares (274 acres) in Staffordshire,...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Josh Misselbrook, who has worked on various dairy farms across Devon and is a farming YouTuber. Josh shares his journey from early experiences of farming to his current role. He discusses his educational path, including an apprenticeship in agriculture and his time working at Rothamsted Research. Josh expresses his passion for dairy f...

Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by Virgin Money's UK Head of Agriculture Brian Richardson and Head of Agriculture in Scotland Stephen Buchan to take a broad look at UK agriculture today.  🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast  Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media.  Pleas...

This week Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are asking : ‘Should we be taking food security more seriously in the UK and is investing in farming the answer?’ This is following the publication of a report by the UK government last month titled ‘Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security: A national security assessment’. Their guests include ffinlo Costain...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Steve Penberthy, a sheep farmer from West Cornwall, who shares his journey into farming, the challenges he faces, and the importance of public perception in agriculture. Steve discusses his farm's unique characteristics, the impact of weather on farming, and his experiences with lambing. He also highlights the diversification of his b...

In this bonus of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate, host Ally Hunter Blair puts listeners' questions to legal experts Chris Coupland and Annabelle Rout from Birketts LLP to discuss critical topics surrounding inheritance tax, succession planning, and land sales. The conversation emphasizes the importance of wills, lasting powers of attorney, and trusts, while also addressing the complexities of fai...

In this episode Big Debate hosts Ally and Sophie discuss various topics related to farming, including their personal journeys in agriculture. They also share insights from their recent trip to Scotland and engage with listener feedback, highlighting the importance of community in the agricultural sector. They discuss various aspects of farming, including the challenges and opportunities faced by y...