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The Farmers Weekly Podcast

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

By: Farmers Weekly
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The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Every Friday.

2026 © 2025 The Farmers Weekly Podcast Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Cereals 2026 at Clarkson's Farm: Does it still pay to grow combinable crops?

    Cereals 2026 at Clarkson's Farm: Does it still pay to grow combinable crops?
    Jun 12 2026
    This live Cereals 2026 episode tackles one big question: with high input costs and mediocre grain prices will planting cereals this autumn be financially worthwhile? The discussion starts with markets and margins, including break-even wheat prices, grain carryover, milling wheat premiums and the risks of holding out for higher prices. Part Two looks at how growers can reduce risk through variety choice, BYDV resistance, hybrid wheat, yellow rust resilience and AHDB decision-support tools. Finally, we asks whether the public and politicians really understand farming — and how Clarkson’s Farm has changed the conversation about food security and farm profitability. Guests Andrew Williamson – Shropshire farmer and NFU Combinable Crops Board vice-chairAndrew Dewing – Dewing Grain chief executive and grain traderClare Leaman – NIAB cereal variety specialistSacha White – AHDB crop protection scientistPatrick Galbraith – Daily Telegraph rural affairs writerCharlie Ireland – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons FarmGeorge Badger – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons Farm Chapters 00:00 – IntroductionLive from Cereals 2026 at Diddly Squat Farm. 01:15 – Are cereals still worth drilling?Andrew Williamson outlines the pressure on arable margins. 04:12 – Grain markets and break-even pricesAndrew Dewing assesses wheat values, cost of production and selling opportunities. 05:30 – Feed prices and livestock linksHugh Broom looks at what low grain prices mean for livestock producers. 09:04 – Fertiliser costs and possible supportThe NFU’s call for help if fertiliser prices spike. 11:44 – Feed wheat, milling wheat and riskLouise Impey and the panel discuss whether milling wheat still stacks up. 16:37 – Grain marketing strategyWhen should growers lock in prices for harvest 2026 and 2027? 19:20 – Growing a cost-effective cropClaire Lehman and Sasha White join the discussion. 20:10 – BYDV-resistant varietiesWhy barley is moving faster than wheat on BYDV tolerance. 21:30 – Hybrid wheatCould new hybrid wheat varieties change the market? 23:13 – Yellow rust resistanceHow breeders are responding to resistance breakdowns. 24:24 – AHDB’s new BYDV toolSasha White explains how the tool can help growers decide whether spraying is worthwhile. 28:28 – Decision support and SFI toolsHow AHDB is helping growers weigh up complex agronomic and business choices. 32:04 – Resilience over yieldWhy variety choice is increasingly about consistency and risk management. 34:45 – Does the public understand farming?Patrick Galbraith, Charlie Ireland and George Badger join the final panel. 35:52 – Telling farming stories in national mediaHow farming issues are explained to non-farming audiences. 37:17 – Behind the scenes at Diddly SquatWhat Clarkson’s Farm gets right about farming life. 42:27 – Food security and public awarenessWhy the link between shoppers and producers remains fragile. 44:32 – Reasons for optimismMixed farming, SFI, land opportunities and long-term business thinking. 49:09 – How farming is perceivedPatrick Galbraith on public sympathy, politics and why farming should keep pushing its case. This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker. We love to hear from you: - Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/ Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/ Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/ For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    52 mins
  • Relaunched SFI - what it means for you, High Court and abattoirs, Red Tractor, and Open Farm Sunday

    Relaunched SFI - what it means for you, High Court and abattoirs, Red Tractor, and Open Farm Sunday
    Jun 5 2026

    This week, Defra confirms England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive will reopen for applications on 30 June – but only for some farmers, and with questions over budget.

    Farm business adviser Katie Hilton explains the key changes in SFI 26, including land use caps, no-till rules and revised payment rates.

    We also examine a High Court ruling which could mean lower meat inspection charges for abattoirs, processors and livestock producers.

    And royal recognition for Open Farm Sunday which celebrates its 20th anniversary – we find out why even small events can help reconnect the public with farming.

    Podcast guests:

    * Katie Hilton, director, Cheffins
    * John Royle, NFU chief livestock policy adviser
    * Rachel Risdon, Devon farmer and Open Farm Sunday host

    Chapters

    00:53 – Sustainable Farming Incentive
    12:59 – High Court ruling on meat inspection charges
    17:18 – Why small abattoirs matter to livestock farmers
    24:19 – Listener feedback on Red Tractor reform
    27:32 – Farmers Weekly Podcast Live at Cereals
    30:23 – Sainsbury’s white eggs and trailer safety
    33:53 – Market prices
    36:16 – Open Farm Sunday celebrates 20 years
    40:23 – Why public engagement matters
    43:11 – Closing remarks

    Useful links

    • Sustainable Farming Incentive guidance
    • Cheffins
    • National Farmers Union
    • Association of Independent Meat Suppliers
    • British Meat Processors Association
    • Food Standards Agency
    • Open Farm Sunday
    • LEAF
    • Tilly Pass trailer safety
    • Farmers Weekly stage at Cereals

    This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

    We love to hear from you: -

    Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

    Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

    Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

    For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

    To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Carbon cash delays, farm assurance frustration, Minette Batters book, & the rise of regenerative supply chains

    Carbon cash delays, farm assurance frustration, Minette Batters book, & the rise of regenerative supply chains
    May 31 2026

    This week, farmers report delays receiving payments from soil carbon scheme Agreena – with some growers saying they are owed thousands of pounds.

    We examine the latest Farm Assurance Review and ask whether Red Tractor and other schemes can deliver fairer treatment for UK grain producers facing competition from unassured imports.

    We review Harvest, the new book by former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters.

    And we visit the Green Farm Collective’s Soil to Slice conference in Harrogate, where farmers, millers, wholesalers and bakers are working together to build more value into regenerative supply chains.

    Chapters

    00:00 Welcome and headlines
    00:51 Agreena payment delays spark farmer frustration
    09:40 Farm Assurance Review – what happens next?
    19:56 Minette Batters’ new book Harvest
    25:29 Sugar beet with a clover understorey
    28:33 Rural crime falls by 21%
    33:53 Markets: lamb breaks £9/kg, diesel dips below £1/litre
    36:48 Soil to Slice: building value through regenerative supply chains
    47:15 Podcast wrap-up

    Guests

    * George Dunn, Chief Executive, Tenant Farmers Association
    * Michael Kavanagh, Green Farm Collective
    * Verity Megginson, Yorkshire regenerative farmer
    * Natalia Spinetto, Director of Impact & Strategy, Collective Food
    * George Herbert, Hobbs House Bakery

    Useful links

    * Agreena
    * Tenant Farmers Association
    * Red Tractor Assurance
    * Green Farm Collective
    * Collectiv Food
    * Hobbs House Bakery

    This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

    We love to hear from you: -

    Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

    Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

    Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

    For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

    To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
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