As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode focuses on how animal health and welfare is key to improving the sustainability of farming systems and the importance of adopting a mindset of 'if you look after your livestock they will look after you'. Northern Ireland dairy farmer and McDonalds Progressive Young farmer at Dawn Meats Nathan McClure, Hertfordshire livestock and arable farmer and farm vet technician Molly Mead and Herefordshire mixed farmer Jack Lyke look at the importance of disease control, livestock's role in sustainable and regenerative farming practices and the role of technology and grants to support long term investment 

Message us

As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode shares helpful on-farm tips to improve water and waste management, whilst looking at some of the practical challenges including infrastructure and investment. Livestock farmers Lizzie Halton-Harrop and Rob Havard, LEAF technical co-ordinate Megan Whatty and Berkshire arable farmer and former winner of BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion Eleanor Gilbert look at how to balance production, profit and ecological gain across the land, and how nurturing our ecosystems can help improve water and waste management. 

Message us

As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at some practical on-farm examples of improving biodiversity whilst building resilience into farm businesses. Oxfordshire arable farmer and consultant Ben Adams, McDonalds Progressive Young Farmer at Moy Park Darcy Johnson and Wiltshire mixed farmer and former NFU student and young farm ambassador Mike Wilkins explore the benefits of enhanced biodiversity on-farm, looking at both the environmental and financial gains.

Message us

In this episode the Farmers Guardian news and business team give their analysis of what farming can expect from the new Labour Government and the priorities of the new Defra Secretary Steve Reed and his Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner. The team reflects on Labour’s manifesto and the calls from the industry for more clarity on farming policies, budget and the future direction of British agriculture under Sir Keir Starmer’s new Government 

Message us

As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at how healthy soils underpin resilient and sustainable farming systems. Arable agronomist and farm consultant with Ceres Rural, Louise Penn, beef and sheep farmer and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds representative Izzy Eames and regenerative farmer, coach and consultant at Grassfed Farmer Silas Hedley-Lawrence dig deeper into the role of soil in tackling climate change, improving nature and health, whilst looking at how adopting a more regenerative farming approach can help restore, enhance soil health, ecosystems and communities. 

Message us

Cumbrian sheep farmer Alistair Mackintosh sits down with Farmers Guardian chief reporter Rachael Brown to chat about his new role as Red Tractor interim chair. He talks about how he looks to rebuild farmer confidence in Red Tractor after frustration across the industry following its handling of the Greener Farms Commit module. He said effective communication of the value of Red Tractor for farming business was critical, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility across the supply chain.
He said he was confident there would not be a vote of no confidence and any disquiet will be put to rest', reiterating they were listening to farmers and making changes to audit process to offer a 'leaner' approach. He recognised there was challenges when it came to Red Tractor membership in both the beef and lamb sector, but he was confident he could bring them back on board. 

Message us

As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at understanding and measuring social sustainability within agriculture. Tenant organic dairy farmer Sophie Gregory from Dorset, Hampshire tenant pig farmer Flavian Obiero and Leonora Meehan from McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer at Noble Foods unpick how sustainable agriculture can contribute to vibrant communities; the importance of connecting food and farming with the wider general public and how farmers can be empowered to influence public policy and change societal narrative around agriculture, food and sustainability.  

Message us

On this week’s podcast, news reporter Chris Brayford is joined by a host of guests including farmers and politicians to discuss the implications of a General Election to farming communities and some of the priorities they want to see from the next UK Government.  Our guests include NFU vice-president David Exwood, ‘Pretend Farmer’ and sheep farmer Karl Franklin, Buckinghamshire arable and beef farmer Richard Heady, Staffordshire arable farmer Clive Bailye and Oxfordshire farmer Ben Adams. With a General Election just around the corner, farmers will be heading to the polls on July 4 to decide which candidate and, ultimately, which party they would like to see lead the UK Government. Political parties and candidates have been making their pitches to farming communities over the past few weeks, but which party will gain the hearts and minds of rural voters? Will it be the Conservative Party led by Rishi Sunak? Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour? Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats? Nigel Farage’s Reform UK? Adrian Ramsay’s Green Party? Only you can decide. Enjoy the podcast.

Message us

Ag in my Land is a Farmers Guardian series which looks at farming across the globe, and for the first time ever, we have turned it into a podcast. In this episode, online editor Emily Ashworth talks to Greg Hart who farming in Hawkes Bay in New Zealand at Mangarara Farm. With a huge focus on stripping the business back and focusing on regeneration of the land, he has taken the farm in a whole new direction - including a partnership with Air New Zealand which enabled him to plant thousands of native trees. From the soil to the farm's mainstay which is the livestock, Greg is taking every opportunity he can to excite others about the world of agriculture. 

Message us

It is the third week of the General Election campaign and political parties have now published their manifestos. The Farmers Guardian news and business  team take a closer look at the parties pledges for farming and rural communities. We look at budget, bovine TB policy, planning reform, food and the environment, and what the opinion polls look like at the half way stage.

Message us