Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time event at Harper Adams University.

Recorded in front of a live studio audience, farmers, students and other guests quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues.

Our panel is:

• Defra farm minister Mark Spencer
• Harper Adams vice chancellor Michael Lee
• Vicki Hird, head of farming at Sustain
• Merseyside farmer and YouTube influencer Olly Harrison

Questions include:

• What is the best way to encourage farmers to take part in Defra's Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme?
• How can the outcomes and value of ELM be measured without any baselining before the scheme starts?
• With land expensive and finance scarce, what is the best way for youngsters to get into farming?
• Will trade deals between the UK and other countries be good or bad for the sustainability of UK agriculture?
• Does the panel agree with the principle that consumers must pay the real cost of food?
• What should be done to secure UK food production from the loss of agricultural land for large-scale tree-planting projects, including the purchase of family farms for carbon offsetting by large corporations?
• Is Jeremy Clarkson still a good ambassador for UK agriculture? Or should he be cancelled?

Sponsored by Lloyds Bank and AB Agri, this Question Time event was recorded on Thursday, 2 February 2023.

Hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker.