The Farmers Guardian Podcast

Boomer and Millie Birch join Farmers Guardian’s Ellie Layton and Tom Ryder for the latest episode of For Flock’s Sake

In this episode, set in Staffordshire the couple tell us how a shared passion for livestock has developed into pedigree and commercial breeding enterprises.

Both working within the cattle industry, they bring their experience and knowledge into their own breeding operation, where they run the High Sky Shorthorn, Sky High Hereford and Boomer British Blue herds.

They talk about the highs and challenges of breeding cattle, their approach to selecting genetics, why there should be a balance between phenotype and data in the industry, and their successes in the sale and show rings. They also explain why efficiency is key when working with limited space, and how their industry careers influence the cattle they breed at home.

With big ambitions for the future, including expanding their herds and increasing scale, Boomer and Millie reveal what drives them to keep pushing their cattle operation forward.

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What do you do when a £12,000 loss on a potato contract forces you to rethink the farm's future? Yorkshire arable farmer Callum Stark has transformed a 3,000-tonne potato store into a padel facility, creating a completely new income stream for the business in just three months. 

In this episode, Callum explains what prompted the diversification, how much the project cost, the planning and practical challenges involved, and whether the numbers are stacking up. We also discuss the wider financial pressures facing the family farm, including planning for a potential multi-million-pound inheritance tax liability.

If this podcast has sparked some ideas, be sure to head to the Farm Business Innovation show taking place on November 4th and 5th 2026. It is the UK’s only event dedicated entirely to farm diversification, helping farmers and landowners turn land, assets, and ideas into sustainable new income streams.

https://www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk/ 

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Our chief reporter Rachael Brown speaks to farmer, psychologist and one of this year’s Nuffield scholars, Sharon May to discusses her research into mental health within the farming community, the importance of relationships and what can be learnt from other countries around the world

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After Window 2 of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 closed after just six hours, Farmers Guardian's news team discuss what happened, farmer reaction and what needs to happen now

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Recorded at UK Dairy Day, this episode tackles the big questions facing dairy farmers today - from milk prices to the new Sustainable Dairy Pathway.

Farmers Guardian Editor, Katie Jones, caught up with Michael Halliwell (Holstein UK), Lyndon Edwards (AHDB) and Ian Harvey (NFU) on what’s next for a sustainable dairy future

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China is the world’s biggest pork producer and consumer — but what does that mean for UK pig farmers?

In this week’s Farmers Guardian podcast, Katie Fallon hears from industry experts at the World Pork Conference in Qingdao, China to understand China’s influence on the global pork trade, the threat of African swine fever and what the UK can learn from China’s experience, with insights from the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss.

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Actions speak louder than words. Despite new PM Andy Burnham telling MPs he will focus on farming, and Reform members pledging to ‘back farmers to the hilt’, deputy editor Alex Black, head of news and business Jane Thynne and chief reporter Rachael Brown discuss whether all these warm words will bring a positive change for farming.

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Sam Stables and Louise Layton join us for an honest conversation about the tougher side of farming. Why in some cases, we are still not always very good at talking about mental health, the importance of opening up when things get difficult, and why simply telling a mate you are struggling can make all the difference. 

Mental health is not always the easiest subject to talk about in farming, but Sam Stables and Louise Layton know first hand why those conversations matter. 

In this September episode of For Flock's Sake, the Farmers Guardian podcast, hosts Tom Ryder and Ellie Layton are in Herefordshire to hear from farmer and co-founder of We Are Farming Minds, Sam Stables, and charity volunteer Louise Layton. 

Sam talks openly about his farming system, mental health struggles and what led him to set up the charity, while Louise shares her experience of supporting her husband Richard through his mental health struggles before his death by suicide. 

There is plenty of farming in the conversation, from Sam's route into farming and his Duchy tenancy while Louise shares how as a family they have raised over £100,000 in Richard's memory.  

Together, they explore the realities of mental health in agriculture, the impact it can have on individuals and families, and what can be done to ensure people do not feel they have to face their struggles alone.  

Mental health and suicide support 

If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available.  

PAPYRUS HOPELINE247

For people under 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned about a young person. Call 0300 102 2470 or text HOPE to 88247. Available 24/7. 

Samaritans

Free, confidential support for anyone who needs someone to talk to. Call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Mind

Information, advice and support for people experiencing mental health problems. Mind's support line is 0300 102 1234, open Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm. 

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

Support for anyone who is struggling or affected by suicide. Call 0800 58 58 58, 5pm–midnight every day. 

We Are Farming Minds

Free, confidential support for the farming community in Herefordshire. Call 0808 802 0070 or text 07786 203 130. The support line is available 24/7. 

RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution)

Provides practical, financial and emotional support to people in farming. Call 0800 188 4444, free and available 24/7. 

RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution)

Provides practical, emotional and financial support to people working in Scottish agriculture, including farmers, crofters and farm workers. Call 0808 1234 555, free and available 24/7. 

The DPJ Foundation

Provides confidential mental health support to people working in agriculture in Wales through its Share the Load service. Call 0800 587 4262 or text 07860 048799.  

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What if you could grow a second crop on half the area and still produce 80% of the yield of a conventional crop? That is the intriguing result from arable farmer Ben Adams’ first year of his relay cropping trial, where winter barley grown on just 50% of the area produced 80% of his average yield. 

Join Ash Ellwood to find out the practicalities of relay cropping, what Ben has learnt from the trial and whether the results suggest relay cropping could have a place in a commercial arable rotation.

We also catch up with Thomas Slattery, engagement lead for the Adopt Support Hub discussing what is available through the funding and how growers can access it.

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Deputy editor Alex Black and chief reporter Rachael Brown sit down with farmers and NFU representatives Clare Wise and Ian Harvey, as well as NFU Scotland vice president Robert Neill to discuss the latest situation in the rise in Bluetongue across the UK, where we are with vaccine supply, why an emergency fund for fallen stock is needed urgently by Government, as well as an honest discussion on what lessons can be learnt from across the sector including government agencies to ensure we do not have a repeat of the scale of this disease next year. 

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