AHDB Food & Farming

Our research has identified various key components for an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy to combat cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) and uses a traffic-light code to indicate the current reliability for control. In this podcast, AHDB pest specialist Charlotte Rowley, ADAS entomologist Sacha White and Richard Ling from Diss Monitor Farm discuss the results and unlock the secrets for effectively controlling this major oilseed rape pest.

Further details of our research can be found via the following links:

In a world that’s constantly competing with emerging food trends, diets and changing tastes – it becomes harder for farmers produce to rise above the noise and maintain the front and centre position, on the plate.

The marketing and advertising people do their utmost and headlines, a few weeks ago shouted Porky Brits now fatter than pigs – a topic of a separate podcast – which supports the work being done and the latest research, showing the fat levels in certain cuts of pork have now dropped.

LovePork is an AHDB marketing initiative fashioned to challenge consumer’s perceptions of pork – and in the latest results following the LovePork TV advert, 89% of consumers think Pork is now leaner and a healthier food choice.

John Bates, speaks to AHDB’s Strategy Director for Pork - Angela Christison, Retail Insight Manager - Kim Malley and Marketing Lead - Carrie McDermid. They will take us through how they changed consumer perceptions and how the campaign generated £12.4m of additional spend.

For further information discussed in the podcast visit: 

Listen to our exporting podcast or find out about our upcoming exporting activities

In our latest episode, AHDB's KE Manager for Soft Fruit and Tree Fruit Scott Raffle sat down with Louise Sutherland - Chair of the Raspberry Breeding Consortium, Nicki Jennings - Raspberry Breeder at the James Hutton Institute and Jeff Layton, a Fruit Agronomist .

They discussed each of their roles, the current state of play and how raspberry varieties may change in the future.

To discover more about AHDB's role in assisting in raspberry-based research through our NIAB EMR Centre, visit https://ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/WETCentre. 

After losing the approval for Diquat in 2019 growers are looking for alternative solutions for desiccation. Gozai and Spotlight, straight or in combination, along with flailing have shown good results in the 2019 trials.

Trials on desiccation will continue this year at our SPot farms. 

In the first part of this episode we will discuss with Mike Shapland, Strategic Potato Farm host in the East region, about how they will tackle desiccation this year. In the second part Dr Mark Stalham will talk about the desiccation trials which took place last year and he will also offer an update on this year’s trials.  

Guest speakers:

Mike Shapland – Farm Manager, James Foskett Farms

Dr. Mark Stalham – Head of NIAB CUF

Links:

https://ahdb.org.uk/potatoes

https://ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/james-foskett-farms

https://ahdb.org.uk/news/the-cost-of-desiccation-without-diquat

In this episode John Bates talks to Head of Market Specialists Chris Gooderham, and Duncan Wyatt, Lead Analyst, about the challenges faced by the beef, lamb, pork and dairy sectors in 2020 and what the future may hold. They discuss some of the winners and losers of the coronavirus pandemic, and touch on Brexit.

 

You can find more information on prices and consumer trends, both in the short- and long-term, on our Market Intelligence web pages or by reading the latest Agri-market outlook reports.

If you’d like to sign up to receive our regular e-newsletters, visit: ahdb.org.uk/keeping-in-touch and if you’d like to give feedback on our podcasts, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.

In March 2020 Nicholas Saphir was appointed by the Secretary of State to follow Sir Peter Kendall and become the new chairman of AHDB.

In this episode, John Bates questions AHDB's new chair, Nicholas Saphir on his future plans for the agriculture and horticulture industry. Bringing a strong set of new skills and experience, Nicholas shares the vision of where he wants AHDB to be in the upcoming years. Find out what the means for our industry, staff and allied stakeholders. 

Keep your eye peeled for our upcoming podcasts featuring Nicholas on AHDB's upcoming strategy and request for views

In this podcast, Katie Thorley, AHDB Beef & Lamb’s Knowledge Transfer manager talks to AHDB Beef & Lamb board member, Richard Sparey, about how he has successfully outwintered his stock, as well as advice and top tips on how you can do the same.

Making a success of outwintering cattle

Outwintering options for sheep

In this episode John Bates talks to AHDB Consumer Insight Analysts David Swales and Sarah Baker about the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in 2020 and what the future may hold for the industry.

 

You can find more information on prices and consumer trends on our Market Intelligence page or by reading the latest Agri Market Outlook report.

 

Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.

In this special edition agri-market podcast, we invite the AHDB Market Intelligence team to review the results from the Spring Planting Variety Survey. This annual survey provides estimates for the planted area in Great Britain ahead of harvest this year.

We look at the headline results from the years’ survey then analyse what this means for main arable crop sectors.

We look at the regional figures on wheat planting and discuss the impact on production potential and markets.

To compensate for the challenges in winter cropping this season, many growers switched to spring barley. Thinking about exports, we discuss what this means for global trade.

The survey shows a much smaller planted area for oilseed rape this year. We breakdown the results by region and talk about the impact of a sub 1Mt crop on UK markets.

We round off the episode by discussing the outlook for the rest of the season, both at UK and global level.

With thanks to:

To find the results from this years’ survey visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/planting-variety-survey

If you’re a cereals and oilseeds grower check out our webinar on Grain Marketing available at: https://ahdb.org.uk/cerealswebinars 

For market information on cereals visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/cereals-oilseeds-markets 

If you grow potatoes, you can watch our latest webinar on Potato Market and Marketing in which AHDB analyst Alice Bailey discusses the latest figures showing the potato planted area in the UK. Visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/potatoes-events-archive 

For market information on potatoes visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/potato/potato-markets 

‘Porky Brits now fatter than pigs’?

 

The Sunday Times published a front-page story written by science editor Jonathan Leake which read – While Britain’s have been getting heavier, pigs are no longer as fat. It may one day become a compliment to be told “You are as thin as a pig” 

 

In this podcast John Bates addresses how and why the fat levels in UK pork have dropped as new research has revealed, in the first official testing for nearly 30 years. With the support of our AHDB specialists and PHE, we find out in-depth information on how this new change benefits our UK pork levy payers. 

Speakers from AHDB: 

Related and useful links: 

Visit the AHDB for more information on our pork marketing campaigns