Live from Groundswell: How can we build a more resilient farm business?

Part 1
Farmers are increasingly impacted by policy changes - from regulation to subsidy reform. But what’s on the horizon? And what does it mean for on-farm decisions and long-term business planning?

Guests:

• Ed Barker, Head of Policy and External Affairs
• Vicky Robinson, Head of Sustainability
• Neil Harper, Agronomist
• Mike Gooding, Farming Systems Director, AHDB

Part 2
Later in the podcast, we’ll explore practical tips to build better farm resilience. This episode offers a simple checklist to help farmers take action.

Guests:

• Tom Perrott, Fertiliser and crop inputs specialist
• Libby Richards, RHIZA crop inputs specialist

CPD points:
Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening. Email [email protected] with your membership number, full name, postcode, date of birth and the podcast title.

Today we’re joined by Agrii’s Technical Manager, John Miles, David Schafer, Wheat Breeder at RAGT, and Hugh Harley, BIPO representative. As farmers and agronomists weigh up wheat variety choices for the season ahead, we’ll explore Hexton – a new wheat variety – its potential fit for your farm, and how an existing seed royalty scheme could benefit your business. 

 The Agrii 2025 Autumn Yearbook is available now. Visit yearbook.agrii.co.uk 

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we’re joined by Agrii’s Tom Perrott, Fertiliser and Crop Inputs Specialist, and Dave Thompson, Farm Manager at Eastbury Estates in Dorset. In this episode, we explore soil health, crop nutrition and how ‘stacking the benefits’ – using alternative sources of nutrition to better support the crop – can, with an innovative approach, strengthen the whole farm operation.

To find out more about crop nutrition from Agrii, visit agrii.co.uk/our-services/fertiliser

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we are joined by Agrii's David Leaper, seed technical specialist, and Sarah Hawthorne, head of arable products for DSV in the UK. With the area of OSR being grown down this year, crops currently in the ground are looking very good.
We are going to reexamine how to get the best out of this crop. What are the latest seed breeding developments and agronomy views? 

Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening to this podcast. Email [email protected] with your membership number, full name, postcode, DOB and title of podcast.

Your guide to the best WOSR varieties has just landed. Visit yearbook.agrii.co.uk. View the latest national seed yearbook now.  

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

The malting barley blueprint, aligning breeding, farming and market needs: big questions and vital for the malting barley industry. To help answer those questions, we have David Griggs, technical director from Crisp Malt, Charlie Catto, agronomist with Agrii and Paul Bury, barley breeder from Secobra Research. We are at the perfect location to ask those questions, recording live at Secobra's spring barley research site in Norfolk.

For more information on Agrii's spring barley varieties, visit www.agrii.co.uk/your-crops/cereals/spring-barley

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today’s topic of discussion is sustainable grain programmes, focussing on a new offer from Agrii, Viterra and Whitworth Brothers Flour Millers. We are delighted to be joined by Amy Watkins from Agrii, Sam Chambers from Viterra and William Butler from Whitworth. We will explore how sustainable grain programmes can benefit both farmers and supply chain partners economically, enhance industry sustainability and offer consumers value through quality and traceability. 

Agrii can help you future proof your farming by growing a diverse range of crops together with compressive advice on environmental and sustainable business opportunities. For more information visit agrii.co.uk/sustainability

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we are joined by Agrii's Jamie Lyttle, agronomist, and Greg Taylor, area business manager and agronomist. Our focus is tackling a real challenge - black-grass - and how, through identifying the problem, field-scale trials were able to find real solutions. Let’s hear from the agronomist on that farm about how possible solutions were identified to help manage this persistent problem. 

Join us at the Tusmore demo event on 10th June. Book here from 1st May www.agrii.co.uk/events/

 Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we are joined by Agrii’s David Leaper, seed technical specialist, and Poppy Bunting, crop inputs specialist. In this episode, we are taking a technical dive into seed treatments. Exploring traditional seed treatments and their viability alongside the new biological offerings, understanding soil borne pathogens, seed borne insects, diseases and pests. We also delve into exclusive seed treatments, backed by Agrii’s extensive R&D trials programme and discuss how we can grow healthy crops. 

Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening to this podcast. Email [email protected] with your membership number, full name, postcode and DOB. 

For more information, visit www.agrii.co.uk/our-services/seed/agrii-seeds/

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. 

Today we are joined by Agrii’s Adam Simper, national grass, roots and environmental seeds manager and Simon Hobbs, national cover crop, environmental and wildflower seeds technical manager. In this episode our focus is SFI. Is it much more than simply taking the payment? How can SFI also benefit the farm business in terms of both productivity and financial performance.

For more information, look out for our 2025 cover crops brochure and autumn seed yearbook which can be found in the Agrii library. Visit here.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. 

Today we are talking with Annabel Hamilton from Bee Edge farm in the Scottish borders and Greig Baird head of agronomy teams in Scotland for Agrii. In this episode we are checking in with Bee Edge farm which is also an Agrii iFarm, to see how the season is faring so far, what can be learnt from the previous harvest year and what are the top tips as we start a busy season on farm. 

To find out more about Agrii's summer iFarm events and how to book, visit here.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.