To kick start the new series, host Peter Green looks back on 2024 with Jeremy Oatey, owner of the mixed farming business, Agricola Growers, and Robin Jackson, Director of the Rural Business School (Duchy College). The conversation also looks ahead to 2025, exploring the latest innovations, sustainable practices, and the evolving landscape of British agriculture.

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. 

If you'd like to send us an email you can contact us at [email protected]

Timestamps

Today on the show Peter Green is joined by Cornish Mutual's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Beaumont, to look back on 2024 and reflect on the year for farmers and Cornish Mutual. 

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. 

If you'd like to send us an email you can contact us at [email protected]

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

00:55 Peter welcomes Peter.

02:10 Peter Beaumont begins to reflect on the year. 

03:26 How can Cornish Mutual support members?

04:04 The headlines for Cornish Mutual in 2024

07:05 What have been the biggest challenges for members in 2024?

08:30 Farming has the operational side but also administrative side. 

11:17 The aftermath of the budget - succession and planning for it. 

12:20 Mutual v insurance company

14:10 Rising costs - how has Cornish Mutual been reacting?

15:55 Farm walks and supporting members. 

17:27 Health and safety 

20:00 Collaboration.

21:54 Risks and Opportunities for members.

23:13 SFI

24:18 What has been the biggest achievement for Cornish Mutual this year? 

27:25 Peter Green wraps up. 

Today on the show we take a look back on series 4 and glean any learning points from the episodes. Host Peter Green is joined by Tom Tolputt, founder of TerraFarmer, and Rebecca Tonks, CEO of St Ewe Free Range Eggs. 

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. 

If you'd like to send us an email you can contact us by using [email protected]

Timestamps

00:01 Cornish Mutual jingle

00:14 Peter Green introduces the show.

1:03 Tom Tolputt introduces himself.

1:23 Rebecca Tonks introduces herself. 

1:44 We begin to look back on the series. 

2:10 Chris Berry talks about the farming year 2023-24

2:57 Peter asks Tom about the farming situation at the moment. 

4:55 Rebecca talks about the changes that we are seeing at the moment.

6:19 We look back on episode 4 and the matter of farm incomes. 

6:53 Professor Matt Lobley excerpt. 

7:49 Discussion on farm incomes. What might the impact be if farm incomes continue to fall? 

10:05 Tom Tolputt follows up. 

13:45 We turn to the topic of soil health with Sally Ann Spence.

14:49 Tom talks about the change that has taken place over the past few years with regards to soil health. 

17:47 We talk about careers and the wide variety of careers in the broad ag sectors. Dan Grist talks about the breadth of backgrounds of members of Devon Young Farmers. 

19:34 What skills sets is Rebecca looking for as an employer?

21:44 In episode 8 we were talking about thinking differently - one of the themes was the ways that farmers and food businesses engage with consumers.  Abby Allen elaborates. 

23: 27 Has our food system changed beyond recognition?

26:16 Rebecca - where is the relationship between the consumer and their food?

29:20 Final clip is from episode 9 - Kevin Hoare talks about the methane project taking place on their farm. 

31:22 Rebecca explains how the poultry sector has adapted in previous years. 

35:16 What are Rebecca and Tom excited about in terms of the future of farming in the south west?

38:39 Where can listeners go to find out more?

40:00 Peter rounds up. 

Make sure you listen to episode 9 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

01:00 Katie explains what happened. 

03:20 Katie talks about the event itself. 

06:18 Many people are involved in agriculture because they love it. 

08:05 A message to young women in agriculture. 

10:02 Peter rounds up. 

Today on the show we’re talking about farm sustainability, slurry management and methane capture (and we promise that it won’t be a lot of hot air!). Peter is joined by Cornish dairy farmers Kevin and Katie Hoare to learn about the work they have been doing to use their farm’s captured methane gas as fuel on farm. 

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.

00:55 Katie Hoare introduces their farm.

01:50 The investments that have been made since they came to the farm. Kevin Hoare introduces the slurry storage as it was. 

03:12 What was the motivation to look into methane capture?

04:08 Katie talks about the lagoon.

05:34 How the store works in practice. 

7:28 How big is the lagoon?

10:22 Store is anaerobic. 

11:20 The cost is fertiliser saving. 

13:15 Costs of installing methane systems on dairy farms.

14:35 Tiles for existing lagoons. 

17:14 New developments in future. 

17:50 Methane powered tractor from New Holland.

19:50 comparing diesel v methane tractors. 

21:15 What are the advantages to the business of going down the biomethane route?

22:35 The financials.

24:24 The personal piece of the benefits. 

26:10 Farming is circular. 

27:40 Tips to farmers.

28:48 Peter's showstoppers.

30:48 Peter rounds up

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.