Brash Ag

In this News feed episode, Ray and Kit dive into the latest in agricultural engineering and technology news. They reflect on an inspiring talk from industry veteran Paul Baskerville, exploring how past global careers in ag engineering might be mirrored in the rise of AgTech today.

Also on the docket:

🔧 Latest development with John Deere's Right to Repair – Is it a win for farmers or just another revenue stream?

🤖 AgroIntelli x Kubota x Autonomous Agri Solutions – The robotic farming revolution gains a powerful ally and maintains a strong foothold in the UK.

🌱 UK Ag Policy Shake-Up – The sudden cut to the Sustainable Farming Incentive and what it means for farmers and the industries that support agriculture.

📡 5G & Ag Robotics – Ireland’s push for better connectivity in autonomous farming.

Join the conversation and stay ahead in the world of ag innovation! 🌾🎧

https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/farm-maintenance/machinery-maintenance/john-deere-makes-it-easier-for-owners-to-repair-tractors

https://www.itarra.com/

https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/03/12/update-on-the-farming-budget/

In this episode hosts Ray and Kit, dig deep into the world of agricultural robotics in 2025. Did Kit’s predictions from a decade ago about farm robots come true, or was he just talking rubbish? From hands-free farming to the reality of autonomous machines in fields, the hosts debate whether robotics have truly revolutionized agriculture—or if we're still waiting for the future to arrive. Buckle up for a lively discussion filled with insights, bold claims, and maybe even a touch of friendly rivalry!

Tune in now and decide for yourself! 🎧🔥

[email protected]

https://waymo.com/

Hands Free Hectare Strip cropping: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/news/211222/watch-robot-harvest-investigates-how-autonomy-can-harness-strip-cropping-benefits#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Hands%20Free%20Hectare%20started,%2C%20spray%2C%20harvest%20these%20strips.

In this week's episode the pair hear from Matt Ryan, Chief Commercial Officer at Oxbury Bank. Matt shares his background and experiences of agriculture in New Zealand offering a fascinating glimpse into the changing economic landscape that faced New Zealand’s farmers in a post subsidy world. Matt also shares his journey through the agricultural banking sector in New Zealand and explains how he now finds himself as CCO at the UK's only dedicated agricultural bank. Ray and Kit learn more about Oxbury bank and how this new banking business is embracing technology to help its customers with carbon auditing as well as the role that Oxbury is playing in as a provider of vital capital to farmers for investment in new tech as well as supporting technology providers directly. This episode is not to be missed!

https://www.oxbury.com/

https://www.downforce.tech/

In this mid-February 2025 news update, Ray and Kit dive into the latest in farm innovation. They kick things off with a discussion about the R550 Spray Hawk bi-rotor, a retrofitted autonomous helicopter for spraying, and debate its hefty price tag and potential applications. Next, they explore JCB's new cabbed version of the 403 electric loading shovel and an articulated electric tractor with swappable batteries, highlighting the growing trend of electrification in agriculture. The hosts then delve into the Agco/Tafe conundrum, discussing recent deals with SDF and the complexities of the global agricultural manufacturing industry. Soil Essentials' sky spraying technology is also on the agenda, with insights into its AI system and customer-driven training capabilities. Plus, they share correspondence regarding manufacturer support for agricultural engineering apprenticeships. To wrap things up, they touch on John Deere tractors at the farm protests in Whitehall and Massey Ferguson's unconventional double-barrel baler.

Rotor Sprayhawk: https://rotor.ai/r550-sprayhawk

Certo Aerospace: https://www.certoaero.com/

JCB 403E ultra-compact: https://www.ivtinternational.com/news/agriculture/jcb-launches-403e-full-cab-ultra-compact-electric-loader.html

Traktorarvid: https://www.traktorarvid.se/

SDF Group press release: https://www.sdfgroup.com/en-us/news/agco_and_sdf_enter_new_partnership_to_strengthen_global_position_in_low_mid_horsepower_tractor_segment

Tafe Deutz Press release: https://www.deutz.com/en/news/press-releases/news-detail/deutz-inks-cooperation-with-tafe-indias-leading-agricultural-group/#:~:text=As%20the%20beginning%20of%20a,the%20Group%20across%20emission%20standards.

Farol Ltd (John Deere Dealership) LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matthew-vellacott-b0859161_supportukfarming-activity-7295002363998720002-fVNN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAuXFm8BV2A-sz6x5gQ_T8wx3M7sV5QYYuQ

Agco Double Small Square Baler press release: https://news.agcocorp.com/2025-02-11-Massey-Ferguson-Launches-Double-Small-Square-Baler

The second “bumper” episode from Kit’s recent trip to LAMMA show. This episode focuses on the latest thoughts, opinions and technology in the crop protection space. Ray and Kit hear from manufacturers such as Knight sprayers and Garford Farm Machinery as well as crop protection supplier Syngenta among others. The co-hosts also get into some of the details of how sprayer technology works and how to solve the problem of energy consumption for non-chemical weeding.

PWM spraying resource: https://sprayers101.com/pwm/

The first of two “bumper” LAMMA show special episodes. Kit and Ray listen back to a selection of the interviews that Kit recorded from his day at the event. The pair get a feel of sentiment for the ag machinery market in the UK right now as well as some of the latest products and developments in the Agtech space. The co-hosts hear from the likes of Fendt, Tafe, Trimble, Ontrack, Autonomous Agri Solutions, AgXeed and Te Pari. Ray also grills Kit to find out how he got on with his “Simple Agtech” side quest…

In this news feed Kit's talks Ray through his visit to LAMMA 2025 show. The pair discuss the thoughts and feelings of manufacturers at the show and what this means for the state of the UK market right now and importantly what the future could hold. Ray and Kit also take some time to discuss their side quest to find the most basic machinery at the show and whether these machines really are catching the eye of customers…

The first episode of 2025 and the start of the second series for Brash Ag! Join Kit and Ray for some big personal and professional announcements for the New Year. Ray talks through some of his thoughts and musings from the festive period and explains what Wallace and Gromit have to do with the future of farming. The co-hosts also dig into the Brash Ag inbox to answer some listener questions about the future of service and support for ag machinery and whether what farmers say they want is actually what they buy?

Join Ray and Kit back on the chilly terrace of the Farmers club to round off 2024 and the first 20 episodes of Brash Ag! The co-hosts explain in more detail about the support they have received from the Douglas Bomford Trust and say a massive thank you to the trust for helping them get the podcast off the ground. The pair also reflect on the journey they have been on with Brash Ag so far, sharing some behind the scenes history about the conception of the podcast and most importantly where they would like to take the podcast in 2025!

As ever if you want to get in contact with Kit and Ray the email is: [email protected]

In this extra special interview the Co-hosts made the journey to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament to catch up with Brian Mathew, Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devises. Brian shares his journey from a post graduate degree in Agricultural Engineering to working for aid organisations as a water, sanitation and hygiene specialist working all around the globe. Brian talks about his experience so far as a Liberal Democrat MP and explains with infectious enthusiasm, how seeing the world through the eyes of an engineer can be enormously beneficial to the role of a politician.

https://www.melkshamanddevizeslibdems.org.uk/meet-brian