From hoof health to sustainable innovations, we've gathered the best moments from Season 2 of "Farming Forward" 🚜✨

👣 James Wilson – Hoof Health Consultant & Researcher

Diving into the science behind lameness prevention and the importance of teamwork in dairy farming.

🩺 Vet Tonia Simms – Farm Vet

Sharing insights on reducing antibiotic use and enhancing herd fertility through nature and science.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Willie McHarrie – Scottish Dairy Farmer

Discussing his journey from starting fresh to managing a thriving herd at Broompark Farm.

🎪 Janet Simpson – Secretary of The Great Eccleston Show

Highlighting the growth of the show and her role in milk recording across local farms.

🧑‍🌾 Andrew Pemberton – Lancashire Dairy Farmer

Reflecting on generational changes in farming and the realities of modern dairy life.

🎧 Tune in to relive these inspiring conversations and celebrate the heart of dairy farming!

Lameness is one of the biggest welfare and productivity challenges in dairy farming, but what if we could tackle it with a smarter, science-backed approach? In this episode, we’re joined by James Wilson, Hoof Health Consultant at Herd Health Consultancy and post-doctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool.

James brings a unique perspective—combining hands-on experience as a herdsman, hoof trimming skills, and cutting-edge research into genetics and farmer engagement.

We’ll be diving into:

- The latest science on claw horn lesions and lameness prevention

- Why farmers, trimmers, and vets need to work together for better results

- How genetics could play a bigger role in tackling lameness

- Simple, practical steps every dairy farmer can take today

Whether you’re a farmer, a vet, a trimmer, or just passionate about cow welfare, this episode is packed with valuable insights you won’t want to miss!

Contact:

Linkedin page - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-16a3b4153/

Email - [email protected]/[email protected]

Website - https://www.herdhealth.co.uk/

Telephone - 07468495027

Links relating to the discussion:

UK Hoof Health Registry: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/sharing-hoof-health-data-to-improve-uk-herd-mobility

Lantra Approved Hoof Trimming Courses: https://hooftrimmerregister.co.uk/wp/services/

 Ruminant Health and Welfare - GB dairy cow lameness manifesto: https://ruminanthw.org.uk/new-lameness-manifesto-launched-for-british-dairy-industry/

 Cattle Lameness Academy: https://www.cattlelamenessacademy.co.uk/

 National Association of Cattlefoot Trimmers is a member's organization, but they also run CPD days and conferences for their trimmers and farmers to attend - https://nacft.co.uk/

 Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board offer the Level 4 qualification and LANTRA approved courses, as well as coaching for hoof trimmers - https://hooftrimmerregister.co.uk/wp/level-4-professional-foot-trimming/

The Healthy Feet Website - https://www.cattle-lameness.org.uk/

Lantra Professional Cattle Foot Trimming 4 day course - https://www.lantra.co.uk/product/35180

Healthy Feet Programme - to find out more about the programme or find your nearest mobility mentor - https://ahdb.org.uk/mobility-mentors

In this episode, we sit down with farm vet Tonia Simms to talk about how dairy farmers can work with nature and science to reduce antibiotic use, improve fertility, and create more efficient, sustainable systems. From improving genetic gain to shortening calving periods, and reducing carbon output through healthier herds, Tonia brings practical insight and grounded advice for farmers navigating the ever-changing demands of modern agriculture.

We explore how preventative approaches – like better housing, bacterial bedding products like Cobiotex, and smarter reproductive management – can support healthier cows and healthier margins. Plus, we’ll hear what a day in the life of a farm vet looks like, how Tonia balances family life, and what keeps her inspired in her work.

Today, we’re catching up with Scottish dairy farmer Willie McHarrie from Broompark Farm in Glenluce. We’ll hear about his journey—what it took to get started, the successes and challenges he’s faced along the way, his day-day life and his approach to managing a modern dairy farm. So wherever you are, sit back and enjoy this conversation!

We are delighted to introduce Janet Simpson, who is the secretary of The Great Eccleston Show. The show has continued to grow from strength to strength since she started running it a few years ago! Janet also runs a team of milk recorders for the National Milk Records for a lot of the local farms in the area - and is very well known!

In this episode of Farming Forward, we sit down with Lancashire dairy farmer Andrew Pemberton, known to many as the Ginger Warrior from his son Tom Pemberton’s hugely popular YouTube channel. But today, it’s all about Andrew the farmer—his journey, his family’s legacy, and his take on the ever-evolving world of dairy farming.

We’ll explore how farming has changed over the generations, what it’s really like to grow up on a farm, and the biggest challenges and rewards of working with cows every day. With his wealth of experience, Andrew offers a refreshingly honest look at dairy farming—one that blends tradition with the realities of modern farming.

In this episode, we’re joined by Liz Russell, founder and Managing Director of EnviroSystems, to explore her inspiring journey from her entrepreneurial beginnings in Garstang to becoming a driving force in sustainable farming. Liz shares how her passion for dairy farming motivated her to build EnviroSystems, a company dedicated to helping farmers with innovative, sustainable solutions.

We also delve into her personal story of determination, resilience, and the challenges she faced in the dairy industry. Plus, Liz shares the unforgettable moment she met the Queen while receiving the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2006.

This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and a heartfelt love for farming. Don’t miss it!

In this episode, we speak to farmer vlogger Tommy Parkinson from Lancashire, a tall man who milks a small herd of 60 pedigree Holsteins and Jerseys – hence the name!

Having grown up on the family dairy farm nearby, but not being the first successor, for the past 6 years Tommy has been making his own way as a tenant farmer. Tommy is becoming well known for his Youtube Channel where he films himself undertaking day-to-day farming tasks.

Here, Tommy shares his plans for the future and challenges he faces raising his family on a tenanted farm. All of this gives a unique insight into the feelings and aspirations of the person who’s usually behind the camera.

Tommy posts his videos regularly to his 2.6K subscribers and has made 152 videos to date. In his own words: “We share the good bits and the bad bits and sometimes the most saddest. From milking, calving, rearing and everything else in between.”

Get an insight into Tommy’s life as a farmer, behind the lens.

In this episode we speak to David Irwin, a 4th generation dairy farmer from Redhouse Holsteins who has a herd of pedigree Holsteins in Benburb, Northern Ireland.

In addition to running the dairy farm, David also manages a genetics business, helping other farmers across the UK and beyond improve their herds.

We discuss David’s farming story, challenges farmers are facing and his future plans for the farm to ensure it stays viable as a business.

Like many farmers currently, David has come up against lots of barriers and he’s more than happy to speak about them on our podcast in order to help get farmers’ voices heard.

David has always posted on Facebook and more recently moved into Tik Tok and his following is a mega 19.1K followers!

Links for David:

Facebook: Redhouse Holsteins / Redhouse Genetic Solutions

Tik Tok: redhouseholsteins

Website: redhousegeneticsolutions.com

Email: [email protected]

In this Farming Forward episode Sarah Alderton shares her journey into Ag Journalism and how her career has evolved over the past 17 years.

From working on the busy livestock desk at Farmers Weekly to freelancing and PR (for businesses like ours) and from 2025 her new venture in an agency.

Sarah didn't come from a farming background and she provides advice and tips for how you can pave the way in the agricultural field if this is something you’d love to do.

She says if you like writing and farming then it’s a great career path with lots of different avenues to go down.

Sound up your street? Take a listen on your favourite podcast platform.

Contact detail [email protected]

Tel 07739969198

X handle @farmingjourno