In this episode of Brash Ag, hosts Raymond King and Kit Franklin dive into a packed January news round-up covering UK agricultural engineering, global farming challenges, and where the next generation of ag talent will come from.

🔧 We start with UK machinery shake-ups, including:

• Chafer Machinery entering administration and re-emerging as Chafer Nexus under new leadership

• Kidd Farm Machinery expanding its fencing portfolio with the acquisition of Bush Pig and the WRAG Machinery brand

• What this means for UK manufacturing, IP, and agricultural engineering jobs

🤖 We then head east to Japan, discussing projections from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) that up to 30% of farmland could be abandoned by 2035 — and why this presents a major opportunity for automation, robotics and precision agriculture, with references to:

• Kubota

• Iseki

• Hokkaido University

• Kyoto University

• Pioneering work by Professor Noboru Noguchi and Professor Naoshi Kondo

🌱 Back in the UK, we reflect on conversations sparked at the Oxford Farming Conference, including:

• Alex Hardy (Harper Adams University) on the journey from Tractor Ted to technologist

• The role of Tractor Ted, Young Stock Magazine (Emma’s work), and media like Clarkson’s Farm in shaping perceptions of farming

• Whether UK agriculture needs a dedicated policy think tank — and where agricultural engineers fit into that conversation

📈 We also zoom out globally, looking at Mahindra’s staggering tractor sales figures in India and what they tell us about scale, horsepower, and productivity — with a nod to UK market data from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA).

This episode is a reminder that engineering, policy, media, and optimism all matter if agriculture is going to attract talent, remain productive, and stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.

🎧 Listen now, follow the podcast, and share with someone who should be thinking about a future in ag-tech.

#BrashAg #AgEngineering #AgTech #FarmMachinery #UKManufacturing #Robotics #Autonomy #OxfordFarmingConference #HarperAdams #Kubota #Mahindra #FutureOfFarming

In this episode of the Brash Ag Podcast, Raymond King and Kit Franklin are joined by Simon Pearson — farmer’s son, ag-engineer, academic, commercial operator, and now MBE for services to agri-engineering after receiving a nomination by DEFRA.

Simon’s career cuts across every part of the ag-tech system:

From glasshouse engineering and patents at University of Reading

To global supply chains and technology leadership at Marks & Spencer

To building one of the UK’s most influential ag-robotics ecosystems at University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology

We get into:

🚜 Why farming problems are engineering problems (and always have been)

🤖 What ag-robotics gets wrong when it ignores real farms

💸 Why UK ag-tech struggles to scale compared to the US — and how that could change

🌱 Translating research into companies like Saga Robotics and FruitCast

🧠 Why AI won’t replace farmers — but will change how decisions get made

If you care about ag-tech, robotics, AI, productivity, or the future of farming, this one’s essential listening.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

#AgTech #AgriEngineering #Robotics #AIinAgriculture #Innovation #FarmingFuture #UKAgTech #ResearchToReality #BrashAg

In this news-led episode, Raymond King and Kit Franklin dig into what really matters as UK agriculture heads into a turbulent new year.

We unpack: 🚜 What the Farm Profitability Review actually means for ag-tech, machinery, and engineers

📉 Why policy uncertainty is freezing on-farm investment (even when changes are “positive”)

🤖 Where real opportunities exist for automation, robotics, and compliance tech

🐖 How animal welfare reforms could drive – or derail – practical innovation

⚙️ And why selling more horsepower might be the wrong metric for the future of farming

Along the way, we ask hard questions about ROI, interoperability, scale-up gaps, and whether engineers are missing from the rooms where decisions get made.

If you care about farm profitability, ag-tech adoption, or the future of UK agricultural engineering, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now and join the debate.

#BrashAg #AgTech #AgEngineering #FarmProfitability #UKFarming #AgPolicy #Robotics #Automation #Machinery #Innovation

In this end-of-year Brash Ag episode, Raymond King and Kit Franklin sit down with Myles Ray, a mechanical engineering student on placement at Holbrook Engineering, to talk about what actually makes a good engineer — and why hands-on experience still matters in ag-tech.

We cover:

🔧 From Harper Adams University workshops to real-world fabrication, welding, CAD, plasma cutting, and on-farm problem solving

🚜 A real example of “Bale-Spikeology” in action — turning a farmer need into a working silage pusher using existing parts and smart design

🏭 The quiet strength of UK manufacturers like Holbrook Engineering, balancing bespoke builds, repairs, and scalable products

🧠 Why mechanical engineering skills translate across agriculture, food, and manufacturing — mindset beats job title

🌍 Reflections on 2024 highlights including World FIRA, Agritechnica, and conversations sparked by companies like GUSS Automation, Carbon Robotics, John Deere, and voices such as Chris Laudando (Laudando & Associates / L&aser)

📈 Where Brash Ag Podcast goes next: more news, more factory visits, more showcasing of UK engineering capability

If you’re interested in agricultural engineering, ag-tech careers, farm innovation, or how ideas actually get built — this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

💬 Tell us what you’d like to hear more of in 2025

🏭 UK manufacturers: if we should come and visit you, get in touch

#BrashAg #AgTech #AgriculturalEngineering #MechanicalEngineering #FarmInnovation #UKManufacturing #BaleSpikeology #EngineeringCareers #HarperAdams #AgRobotics #FromCADtoField

Can micro-tractors replace an aging workforce in rural India? Can micro-entrepreneurs help finance the “robots as a service” dream?

This week Kit and Ray go transcontinental to interview entrepreneur Trivikram Kumar, founder of Xmachines a robotics start-up focused on providing solutions for agricultural and landbased applications.

Vikram shares his thoughts on the recent FIRA event in California and why Xmachines decided to attend and Kit plays match maker recommending friend of the pod Tom Beach to help Vikram find a way in to the UK market.

Vikram also shares his background as an engineer and how he started the company after moving back to India after studying in Hong Kong and what inspired him to start the business. The pair gain a fascinating insight into how ICRISAT helped to incubate and support Vikram in his mission and how he has tuned the Xmachines business model to work in both the domestic and international markets.

Vikram also explains the surreal story of how applying for a bank account led him to be on Indian Shark Tank and ultimately landed him the financial backers, Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwa to help him grow his business domestically and internationally.

This is an extra special episode and worth tuning in for…

What do we want from autonomy? Are farm robots the answer to on farm safety or are they an accident waiting to happen?

This week Kit and Ray catch up with seasoned agricultural engineer and entrepreneur, Andy Newbold. We hear about how Andy carved out a niche in agricultural compliance and safety work at the tender age of 28, how he has also managed to pursue agricultural journalism and even found time for farm work, among other things. Andy explains the presentation he gave at the IOSH Rural Reflection Conference and how safety needs to be baked into the culture of any organisation not just reliant on manufacturers safety features.

The pair also take the opportunity for a “fire side” chat with Andy about his thoughts for the future of agritech and on farm autonomy, what the implications are for safety and how robotics could be part of the answer towards better mental health for farmers.

Have Monarch Tractors over-promised on ag autonomy and electrification? With a pending lawsuit one dealership in the US seems to think so…

This week Kit and Ray catch up after a few weeks of travelling to take stock on the current state of agtech? What trends are defining agtech? Will the next steps be evolution or revolution? How will AI find a place amongst the growing range of products for farmers?

The pair also discuss the pending lawsuit for Monarch tractors? Have they bitten off more they can chew in their bid to revolutionise agriculture or can they pivot to become the technology provider of choice for agricultural machinery manufacturers looking to incorporate electrification and autonomy in their tech stack.

#agritech #agtech #agriculturalengineering #robotics #monarchtractors #techstack #tractor #electrification

Are we seeing a quiet shift in the world order of farm machinery? Can EV tractors provide a foot hold for Chinese tractor makers or will the sheer volume of the domestic Indian tractor prove the real game changer for Tafe?

This week Kit continues grilling Ray about his recent trip to Agritechnica. We hear from:

Tom Carnell from Regenovation on their innovative pump technology capable of delivering a range of liquids to the soil to support a more regenerative way of farming.

Sudarsan R and Sriraman S on growth of Tafe on the global stage and how the 4 E’s philosophy is helping them to ensure their products hit the mark for western markets

Yongjun Chen on their pioneering twin motor technology allowing their EV tractors to deliver horse power to the drive train and PTO seamlessly.

Will Chinese manufacturers steal a march on the big tractor makers? Are all agricultural robots just marketing fluff? Can the Germans run a train timetable as well as the British?

This week Kit grills Ray on his recent trip to Hannover and the world's largest Agricultural Machinery event. We hear from:

Juha Heikkila from Agco Power with their innovative new battery technology for tractors. Are they leading the field or hedging their bets?

Fabio Isaia from Field Bee could this be another “balespikeology” product and how can vision systems be included in retrofit technology.

Micheal Weis from AI.Land on how AI and disembodied robot arms allow fields to become food stores?

The pair also discuss the new Agxeed robot, is bigger really better when it comes to ag autonomy and should more implements be “autonomy ready” like the flail toppers from Müthing.

FIRA USA 2025; The robots have taken over FIRA — but where are the farmers?

This week we hear part two of Kit's tour of FIRA USA in California and catch up with some of the hottest new developments in agritech. We hear from:

Taylor Wetil of Soflintec on their solar powered, autonomous spot spraying robot, that promises to use automated refilling equipment to keep spraying without human input.

Gary Thompson of Guss Automation and their dedicated spraying robot for orchard applications, an early player in the farm automation start-up scene with a good news story courtesy of John Deere.

Chris Laudando of L&aser and Laudando and Associates and his thoughts on opening up his laser weeding tech to smaller manufacturers as part of his ongoing legal tussle with Carbon robotics.

Xiong Chang of Tensorfield and their bleeding weeding technology, utilising high temperature oil to kill and control weeds without applying chemicals.

Professor Simon Pearson of Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology and Lincoln University and his thoughts about the FIRA event and the enviable funding opportunities of Silicon Valley based agritech companies.

Ray and Kit also ask, where are the farmers? Is FIRA more for technologists, geeks and engineers or is there a place for farmers to learn and maybe even invest in new machinery.