How losing £12,000 on a potato contract sparked a rethink on one Yorkshire farm | The Farmers Guardian Arable Podcast

About this episode

<p>What do you do when a £12,000 loss on a potato contract forces you to rethink the farm&apos;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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>https://www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk/ </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>