Farm Gate

Antibiotics are critical medicines for humans and livestock - but profligate use has led to rapidly increasing resistance, which is a threat for animal and human health.

How then do we replace, reduce and refine the use of antibiotics in farm settings? And what are the opportunities for livestock producers?

ffinlo Costain is joined two southwest dairy farmers - Sophie Alexander from Hemsworth Farm, and Karolina Klaskova from Higher Mere Park Farm - and by two livestock vets, Rebecca Price and Lucy Hepworth, both from Friars Moor Livestock Health.

Brazil has lifted 40 million people out of food insecurity in just two years.

This historic achievement was driven by political choices that put family farmers and food access first.

ffinlo Costain is joined by Elisabetta Recine, the President of the Brazilian National Food and Nutrition Security Council - and by Raj Patel, a professor of food systems from the University of Texas.

Integrated pest management is about establishing a farm as a connected ecosystem. To investigate the subject ffinlo Costain is joined by horticulturalist, Andy Dibben, the head grower at Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester - by Patrick Barker an arable farmer from Lodge Farm near Westhorpe in Suffolk - and by Angus Walton, a livestock producer from Peelham Farm in the Scottish Borders.

Martin's Farm: February.

ffinlo Costain finds out about integrated pest management and a hedge-laying competition run by Martin Lines at Papley Grove.

Martin and ffinlo are also joined by Peter Craven, head of agriculture at Natural England, who’s talks through Natural England's new strategy and what it means for farmers and food production.

• ffinlo Costain is the editor of 8point9.com and producer of the Farm Gate podcast.
• Martin Lines is Chief Executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network.

Dr. Jonathan G Lundgren is an agroecologist, the founder and director of the Ecdysis Foundation, and Chief Executive of Blue Dasher Farm. He's the author of 107 peer-reviewed journal articles, he received the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering at the White House, and served as an advisor for regulatory agencies on pesticide and GM crop risk assessments.

On GM, Lundgren says, "I'm not saying ban stuff. As soon as you say, 'Farmer, I'm taking something away from you...', it's like, 'Oh yeah, get ready...' But if you say, 'Why're you buying all that crap - that's dumb,' then suddenly that gets their attention - because they don't want to be used by anybody, certainly not the government, but also not by large corporations. "

In this month's Wheat from the Chaff, ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) and Joe Stanley (GWCT Allerton Project) discuss:

• Venezuela, Greenland and world security
• Minette Batters' Farm Profitability Review
• Sustainable Farming Incentive back in June
• Inheritance tax climb down
• RFK's call to 'Eat real food'
• Farmers back nature-friendly farming

Farm Gate is the world's highest ranking food security podcast, and we're part of 8point9.com, the land use news channel.

8point9 is supported by First Milk, Pelican Ag, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Friar's Moor Livestock Health, Agrolo and individual donors.

Search for ‘Farm Gate’ wherever you get your podcasts - and visit https://8point9.com/https://8point9.com/

Stuart Rogers has found the sweet spot - by focussing on herd health and the overall health of his system, Rogers' dairy herd at Longmoor Farm in Dorset is both high yielding and regenerative. Listen now to find out how he does it.

This is the latest in our Farm Gate Leaders series in which ffinlo Costain meets remarkable regen food and farming innovators.

Farm Gate is part of 8point9.com, the land use news channel, which is supported by First Milk, Pelican Ag, Friars Moor Livestock Health, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Agrolo and individual donors.

ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) talks to Martin Lines (Nature Friendly Farming Network) to find out what's happening this January at Papley Grove farm.

The pair also meet Alice Groom (RSPB) and Vicki Hird (The Wildlife Trusts) to review what's happened in food, farming and nature policy in 2025 - and to peer into the crystal ball for 2026.

ffinlo Costain (8point9.com) and Joe Stanley (GWCT Allerton Project) meet for Farm Gate’s monthly news discussion programme.

This time:

• Christmas round-up
• Succession planning, IHT and SFI
• COP30 and food systems
• Backsliding on environmental policy
• Soil carbon
• Finding lights in a dark age

What's it like living next door to Britain's most notorious rewilder?

The new movie, Derek vs Derek investigates.

In this programme ffinlo Costain meets the two Dereks - rewilder, Derek Gow, and dairy farmer, Derek Banbury - alongside the film's director James Dawson.

#derekvsderek