Welcome to Shed Talks

In this episode, Bizza Walters and Luke Cox tackle one of the most important topics in British agriculture, farm safety. It is a subject often overlooked until something goes wrong, but as this episode shows, the smallest actions can have life-saving consequences.

The main feature focuses on real experiences from farmers who know how quickly everyday situations can turn serious. Callum Lindsay, a hill farmer from the Isle of Arran, shares how a quad bike accident in 2023 left him with severe injuries and a long recovery, and why he is now calling for a culture change around ATV safety. Ed Caudwell, an Oxfordshire farmer, reflects on the workshop accident that nearly cost him his life while working in New Zealand and the vital lessons it taught him about training, preparation and risk awareness.

In the Westminster segment, the External Affairs team bring listeners up to speed on what has been happening in Parliament and on farm. They explain what departmental oral questions are, why they matter and how the NFU works with MPs in the lead-up to them. The team also reflect on the Farming Minister’s recent visit to Derbyshire and how visits like this help ministers see the realities of farming first-hand. With just a month to go until the Budget, they share the latest on NFU lobbying and what they are pushing for to support farm businesses across the country.

To close, the Global Ag View takes us to Hanover in Germany, where the world’s largest agricultural machinery show, Agritechnica, is in full swing. Matt Tilt, editor of Farm Contractor and Large Scale Farmer magazine, joins us from the event to share his insights into the latest machinery trends, innovations and technologies set to influence UK farming.

Key themes and takeaways:

• Farm safety is everyone’s responsibility, the smallest actions can save lives
• Take 5 To Stay Alive, simple habits can prevent serious accidents
• Real-life stories from Callum Lindsay and Ed Caudwell show how quickly situations can change
• Building a safety-first culture is vital for the future of farming
• The NFU continues to influence policy through parliamentary engagement, ministerial visits and Budget lobbying
• Agritechnica showcases how global innovation is shaping the next generation of farm machinery
• Behind-the-scenes insights from the world’s biggest agricultural machinery show

Listen now on the NFU App, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.