Pasture Bedtime

My guest today is Joe Stanley, columnist, author and Head of Sustainable Farming at The Allerton Project. A recognised voice in the farming community as an advocate for stainability in farming, Joe wasn’t always a fully paid up member of the natural capital society. But in our conversation he shares his journey in and out of farming, and his sympathetic views on how we have reached a tipping point in the industry.

You can find a link to his book “Farm to Fork; The Challenge of Sustainable Farming in 21st Century Britain” here: https://amzn.eu/d/09IKnkWI

Find out more about the work of The Allerton Project here: The Allerton Project | Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Meet David Christensen, a dairy farmer with a passion for farming in all its guises. In this episode we discuss not only dairy but many of the challenges facing the agricultural sector as a whole.

Representing farmers on various bodies, David's collaborative and practical approach comes as standard and here he explains some of his background and thoughts on farming in a changing landscape.

This week, I’m talking to Dairy Beef farmer and NuffieldScholar Laura Awdry. Laura’s paper entitled ‘Every calf has a value, but is every calf equal?’ is summarised in her presentation to the Nuffield Conference in December 2025.

You can watch it here:  

https://youtu.be/jz4rdHE8l4c?si=hDeZyBqd3waOxmHT

In this conversation with Paul Christian, Managing Director at Sentry Ltd, Paul explains what it means to face adversity with innovation and keep a steady hand on the tiller during turbulent times.

Learn more about the work that Sentry do at www.Sentry.co.uk

Author of the Oxford Farming Conference 2026 paper 'UK Farming; grasping the opportunities', Dr Louise Manning PhD joins me to dissect her research and put forward her ideas on how to find solutions to some of the challenges faced by British farmers today.

You can watch Louise's presentation of the paper on YouTube at https://youtu.be/AdzoYNcvas0?si=5T5VvX5SR2k8TMiP

Join me as I hear from IT specialist turned regenerative agriculture enthusiast Michael Owen about farm life inNorway. Listen out for details of the festival he and and a dedicated team are putting together this August, you can find all the details at jordfestival.com

Ben Taylor oversees the Iford Estate,3,000 acres of sublime farmland nestled in the South Downs National Park.

Among his many responsibilities is the setting aside of land for the creation of UK biodiversity. Aiming to become an exemplar landscape restoration project, creating new habitat. and space for nature, allowing our diversity of species to expand over the whole estate, whilst still retaining food production over the most fertile land.

Learn more about the project at ifordbiodiversityproject.co.uk or the estate main site at ifordestate.com

Harriet Bunning is a Beef Cattle Geneticist with a real passion and skill for using the data to find real world solutions and innovative ways of applying the science.

Taking the opportunity to seek out and quiz a revered author in the field of livestock breeding, would lead Harriet to apply for and realise her PhD dream at SRUC.

You can find Harriet on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-bunning-777a3148/

Welcome to the 'funny farm' where Ben takes a light hearted view of farming but with a serious message about our foodsystem and the choices consumers have ...or don't have.

You can find Ben on YouTube  ⁨@radmorefarm⁩  or on Facebook& Instagram using the same handle.

Also, check out  ⁨@MeetTheFarmersPodcast⁩  episode 328 for a different interview with Ben by my good friend Ben Eagle. You can never have too many Bens.

Hear how Rodrigo & Kirsten Navarro left London life to run an organic poultry farm producing pasture raised eggsfor direct sale.

Find out more about their business and life with 500 chickens by clicking the links below:

www.wanderingfeathers.co.uk

@wanderingfeathersltd