Farming Focus

Make sure you listen to episode 8 to get the most from this bonus episode. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter introduces the bonus

00:33 How do we define community and what value does community have for Bertie?

03:30 How have Bertie and Abby used social media to build their communities?

06:45 Create a space where communities feel that they can be open with the business.

08:36 Peter closes the show.

Today on the show we’re talking about ‘thinking differently’, perhaps outside the box, and different ways to connect with consumers and build communities. Host Peter Green is joined by Abby Allen from Pipers Farm in Devon, renowned for its commitment to sustainable and ethical farming practices, and Bertie Matthews, Managing Director of Matthews Cotswold Flour based in Oxfordshire, an eighth-generation family business celebrated for having the widest range of specialist flour in the UK from conventional and regenerative farming systems.

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Send us an email to [email protected]

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

01:24 Abby introduces Pipers Farm and explains how they are thinking differently as a business.

05:10 Bertie introduces Matthews Cotswold Flour and again explains how they are thinking differently as a business.

09:42 'Partners' rather than customers and a commitment to stick with it for the long term.

10:14 Advice to south west farmers and businesses who want to take a different approach. 

13:10 Finding what aspect of the business that you enjoy. 

14:00 What 3 things do you really want to get rid of in your job and what three things do you want to do more of. 

14:26 What led to the pivot towards the Baking Club for Bertie?

16:14 How can we think differently about the stories we tell. The importance of storytelling. 

20:03 Bertie's view on storytelling and marketing. 

21:25 Where is the value of working together?

24:00 Showstoppers.

25:47 Peter wraps up the episode. 

Make sure you listen to episode 7 to get the most from this bonus episode. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter introduces the bonus

00:38  Peter talks about his experience at Groundswell. 

01:30 Benefits of growing a more diverse sward. 

02:43 The science behind the impact that mob grazing has on the soil. 

04:22 Is there an optimal frequency for grazing or leaving? 

06:05 Using a plate meter

06:45 Ben's rotation.

08:26 What inspired Ben to start mob grazing?

12:35 What has been the impact for Ben?

15:00 Peter starts to round up. 

15:25 Finish.

Today on the show we’re talking about mob grazing, what it is, its benefits and how to do it most effectively. 

Peter is joined by Cornish farmer Ben Thomas who farms beef cattle on the edge of Bodmin Moor and Hannah Jones who is a carbon and soils advisor with the Farm Carbon Toolkit. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Send us an email to [email protected]

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

00:54 Ben introduces himself. 

04:30 What is the lasting impact of 6 Inches of Soil film?

06:30 Hannah Jones introduces herself.

07:53 Mob grazing - what is it and how does it differ from other ways of grazing?

09:30 What does mob grazing look like in practice for Ben?

13:10 Stocking density.

15:25 Follow up with Hannah.

17:20 How quickly can farmers expect to see changes to their soil health when starting with mob grazing?

19:30 Is most of the benefit from reduced compaction and rest or trampling and leaving some plant matter behind?

20:50 Challenges with a mob grazing system. 

24:08 Mob grazing is when we go in with higher levels of cover. What is true mob grazing? How much cover to leave?

25:25 Soil types.

26:11 Practical tips and messages to farmers.

31:12 Showstoppers

33:15 Peter rounds up. 

Make sure you listen to episode 6 to get the most from this bonus episode. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter introduces the bonus

00:46 Are young people aware of and sufficiently able to access information on careers in the wider agricultural space?

02:30 Is there any friction on farms? Is there too much pressure placed on young people to take on a family farm?

05:43 Appointing on merit?

08:37 Are we outward looking enough when it comes to attracting new people to the industry from outside farming?

10:55 What are the most common obstacles that face people who want to start farming?

14:45 Dan finishes up. 

16:28 Peter rounds up. 

Today we’re taking a look at the different directions that people take in the farming sector. Some grow up in farming and choose it as a career, some move into a related or supporting industry, some move away from farming completely and some come into the industry from other backgrounds. Today we’re exploring all of these paths and underlining how important it is to find your own particular route in life. 

Peter is joined by Dan Grist who is the current Chair of Devon Young Farmers and co-host of the It’s In Our Roots Podcast which celebrates people with countryside roots. He is also joined by Emily Peters who grew up on a family dairy farm in Devon before moving away and then returning to run her milk vending machine business The Udder Stuff. Emily won the Rising Star category in this year’s Devon Farm Business Awards. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

01:40 Dan introduces himself. 

03:50 Careers advice into farming. 

04:30 Emily introduces herself. 

07:27 Dan is chair of Devon Young Farmers - what variety of jobs does he see members going into?

10:40 Peter talks about his own experience. 

11:50 Was Emily always thinking of going back to the family farm?

14:40 Emily talks about the growth of her business.

15:40 How many young people who go back to family farms set up their own ventures?

17:40 Advice to others thinking of coming back to the family farm.

19:30 Tips on making a plan.

23:05 Mindset and mental health. 

24:50 What does it mean to have farming roots?

27:13 Showstoppers

29:15 Peter rounds up. 

Make sure you listen to episode 5 to get the most from this bonus episode. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter introduces the bonus.

00:35 How can invertebrates contribute to soil fertility?

04:08 Ants farming fungi.

05:54 Examples of seeing change from a thriving ecosystem on farms. Where does it work?

08:20 What timeframe can we see change in?

09:08 How can farmers integrate soil health strategies? Future soil health plans?

11:45 Tip for farmers thinking about improving soil. 

14:30 Cornish Mutual jingle

Today we’re looking at livestock beneath the soil. Host Peter Green asks his guests to make the case for why we should be thinking about life beneath the soil surface as much as our livestock above the ground. 

He is joined by entomologist and Wiltshire farmer Sally Ann Spence who is a champion for dung beetles and Joel Williams who is a leading independent plant and soil health educator. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

00:57 Sally Ann introduces herself.

01:44 Joel introduces himself. 

02:22 Why should farmers be considering livestock below the soil as well as those above it?

03:00 What about farmers' interest in soil and how attitudes have changed?

04:21 The balance between physics, chemistry and biology. What is soil biota and why is it so crucial for soil health?

07:30 Sally Ann responds

08:45 How can soil health link to the health of livestock?

10:04 The science behind this. 

12:20 Dung beetles and their role.

17:30 Member focus.

20:03 Thinking about soil biodiversity - some practical things that farmers can do. 

22:32 Classic blockers?

24:00 Suggestions from Sally Ann and farm cluster groups

 26:00 Insects as pests

29:00 Where to contact?

29:49 Showstoppers

32:00 Peter rounds up. 

Make sure you listen to episode 4 to get the most from this bonus episode. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the bonus.

00:40 Farming as a lifestyle and the non cash benefits.

02:20 Response from Matt. 

07:04 Moving away from subsidy - is there a danger that payments to farmers  just prop up loss making farms?

09:33 Should consumers be willing to pay more for food?

11:45 Thinking about wealth distribution - how can farmers get a greater share of the value of produce?

14:08 How can farmers influence policy?

16:28 Engage with others. 

19:40 What does the future look like in terms of the way farming looks?

20:50 Peter rounds up. 

What is the average farm income? Should farmers be receiving some form of basic income or living wage? This is the focus for our discussion today. 

Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. 

For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk

For our podcast disclaimer click here. 

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

01:08 Matt Lobley summarises the challenges of farmers and the background regarding farm incomes. 

03:08 What is the average wage for a farmer and how does this compare to the living wage?

04:48 Geoff Williams introduces himself. 

07:00 What are the primary factors for Geoff that pressurise farm income?

08:30 How does the concept of a living wage for farmers feed into sustainable agriculture?

09:47 Thinking about sustainability there is a direction of travel with ELMs for example with an emphasis on the environment - is this right?

12:50 To what extent do the public value farmers providing public goods?

17:30 Defra's communications.

18:02 Member focus feature with James and Sarah Richards

20:50 The concept of a universal basic income in relation to farming. 

22:10 What is the path forward to ensure that farmers receive a living wage?

24:10 Lots of different systems and what is happening in countries outside the UK?

25:00 The issue of new entrants.

26:40 Prospects for the future of the industry and barriers to entry. 

27:47 Showstoppers.

30:08 Peter rounds up the episode