The Farmers Guardian Podcast

Experimenting with regen – one arable farmer's story

<p>Suffolk arable farmer, Andrew Maddever and his family, have been running a pretty conventional system until fairly recently, through their 2,000ha operation and contracting business. But a trip to a regenerative farm in Argentina a few years ago got Andrew thinking. Since then he&apos;s been using parts of his land to experiment with no till, catch crops, and cover crops, as he edges his way to a more regenerative/ agro-ecological way of farming. Key for him is doing this gradually, to protect his and his clients&apos; finances. He talks candidly to Jez Fredenburgh about the challenges and wins, what his neighbours think, not being a typically &apos;neat&apos; farmer anymore, and the buzz of seeing his soils come back to life.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Dairy market moves: What is in store for 2023?

<p>Dairy analyst Chris Walkland and dairy farmer and NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes discuss the latest moves in the farm gate milk price and where prices might go in the new year.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Regen farming &amp; profitability

<p>Does &apos;farming green&apos; mean your business will be in the red or black financially? Jez Fredenburgh catches up with Gary Markham, director of Land Family Business, for a whistlestop chat about this. Gary has been advising farming families on their finances for decades, and has most recently run a 4-year benchmarking exercise comparing thousands of acres of conventional v regenerative farmland. Listen in as Gary covers everything from consistency of profitability, to family wellbeing, yields, and collaboration opportunities. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Over the Farm Gate presents: At home with the Nicholson family (Cannon Hall farm)

<p>In the second episode of At Home With, Farmers Guardian&apos;s features editor Emily Ashworth speaks with Richard Nicholson and his dad Roger about their family farm Cannon Hall. Cannon Hall is one of the most well-known farms in the country, especially after appearing on channel 5&apos;s highly popular &apos;On The Farm&apos; series. Her we talk all things family, farming, food and, of course, Christmas. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Fertiliser and livestock: What&#39;s going on in the market?

<p>Alex Black discusses the latest moves in the livestock and fertiliser markets and how we got here with Scott Donaldson at H&amp;H and Jo Gilbertson at AIC</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

New entrant and British Farming Awards silver winner talks about starting farming business

<p>How do carve out a career for yourself in farming? How can the industry attract more talent? How do you get your foot on the farming ladder? New entrant Paul White from Lancashire talks to Features Editor Emily Ashworth about his successful journey into agriculture, and roping in his sidekick, Conor Walsh, who is from a non-farming background, in to help him. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Why on-farm diversification interest is booming

<p>In this special edition of Over the Farm Gate, Farmers Guardian editor Ben Briggs reports from the Farm Business Innovation event at the NEC, Birmingham. Speaking to exhibitors and speakers, he finds out why interest in on-farm diversification is booming at a time of wider energy market and financial turmoil.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Remembrance Day history special: A Lancashire Land Girl&#39;s story and one woman&#39;s mission to preserve the legacy of Cumbria&#39;s farmers

<p>This week&apos;s Over The Farm Gate focuses on the industry&apos;s rich history, and Emily Ashworth speaks with two incredible women. First you will hear part of Marjorie Walker&apos;s story, from her time in the Women&apos;s Land Army in Lancashire. And lastly, the story of farming photographer Amy Bateman who has recently released her brand-new photography book, Forty Farms, based on farms in Cumbria. What is the importance of farms in this historic area? How will life change for these farms going forwards? Do people know how integral farmers are the preservation of this iconic area? Amy met some incredible people on her journey and only fell more in love with where she lives in the process. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Storm Arwen - One year on

<p>In this episode, one year on, we look back on the damage and devastation caused by Storm Arwen in the North East of England, how repairs are going and advice about the best ways to prepare for any future storms.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Over the Farm Gate presents: At home with Amanda Owen

<p>In this brand-new monthly podcast, Farmers Guardian&apos;s Features Editor, Emily Ashworth, brings you the At Home With series. This month she chats to one of the country&apos;s most well-loved shepherdesses, Amanda Owen AKA The Yorkshire Shepherdess, about her latest book, Celebrating the Seasons, and talks all things food motherhood. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Behind the scenes at the British Farming Awards

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Unleashing the power of grasslands

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#FarmingCan special: Top questions kids asked farmers and bringing food production to life in the classroom

<p>From educational farming organisations to teachers in schools, as a sector we continually find new ways to inspire those outside the industry. In this episode, we speak to a secondary school teacher who is passionate about widening the conversation in her food science lessons to cover where food comes from and how it is produced. We also find out what it is children most asked of farmers from the Country Trust&apos;s Jill Attenborough, an organisation committed to getting children outside, into the countryside and onto farms.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Regen farmers – mixing things up with George Ford &amp; Jake Freestone

<p>This week Jez Fredenburgh talks to two more farmers about their regenerative journey and how they have gradually developed more mixed farm businesses based around natural processes – family farmer George Ford from North Somerset and farm manager Jake Freestone from Gloucestershire. George has transitioned his family’s intensive pig unit to a much more mixed business including a beef suckler herd, pasture-reared chickens, and soon-to-be pasture-reared Xmas turkeys. As manager of Overbury estates, Jake first started practicing min till over a decade ago, and has become well known for his work on soil health including long rotations, and companion cropping. He has more recently re-introduced livestock to the estate. They talk about what started their transition to more nature-based farming, how their businesses have changed as a result, and what they wished they’d known when they started. The chat also veers onto what Jake and George make of the current political climate in Westminster and what they’d like to see if PM Liz Truss ever had an epiphany about the need to support a transition to more agro-ecological farming practices.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Conservative conference special: What is the new Defra team’s vision for farming

<p>In this week’s episode of Over The Farmgate, head of news Abi Kay reports on the highlights of Conservative Party conference, and talks to Farming Minister Mark Spencer about the direction Defra is taking now it is under new management.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

A 300 year legacy: farming and forestry at Blenheim Palace

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How to manage complexity and biodiversity on your farm?

<p>If you’ve been listening to our Farming With Nature series (or reading about it in the mag) you’ll have heard us talk about seeing the farm as an ecosystem. In this episode we dig deeper into this concept and how to manage the complexity and diversity that this brings. Jez Fredenburgh talks to Caroline Grindrod, a former conservationist and previous tenant farmer in the Dales and Lakes, who has spent years exploring how to integrate farming and nature through systems. Caroline has trained in holistic management with the Savory Institute and is the founder of Roots of Nature, where she works with farmers as a regenerative farming consultant and coach. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Agricultural shows: Do they have a future?

<p>In this week&apos;s episode of Over The Farmgate, we are looking at agricultural shows. After two pandemic years, some smaller shows have folded, and others are in a precarious financial position. Those which remain have the daunting task of having to appeal to their traditional rural audience and an urban population, increasingly disconnected from farming. We explore what the future for shows is in the modern world.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Queen of the countryside: Remembering Elizabeth II’s reign

<p>In this special episode of Over The Farmgate, features editor Emily Ashworth and livestock reporter Hannah Park reflect on how The Queen supported agriculture during her 70 years on the throne. We also hear from members of the farming community who were lucky enough to meet her.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Native breeds – why matching livestock to land is so important

<p>In this week’s episode of Over The Farmgate, we hand back over to Jez Fredenburgh to explore whether farmers struggling in volatile times can turn to native breeds to lower their costs and improve the environment, while preserving a vital piece of the UK’s cultural heritage.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Supporting #LoveLambWeek: Why consumers should back British sheep farmers

<p>It is once again one that time of year to support one of the industry’s most loved campaigns, #LoveLambWeek. Emily Ashworth speaks to Olivia Shave about her farm to fork enterprise, and the importance of connecting to the consumer. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Regen Toolbox - Learn to read your soils and listen to weeds

<p>In today’s regenerative farming toolbox episode, we&apos;re getting our proverbial spades out to dig into soils. Jez Fredenburgh delves into the basics of soil health, looking at what needs to be unlearned and the principles of good management practices that will enable you to harness nature’s power and reduce costly inputs. She does this with Anthony Ellis, of South West Farm Consultants and Groundswell Agronomy, a family farmer and agro-ecological farm advisor, who moved away from a career as a commercial agronomist after becoming disillusioned with the industry and working in Australia. In the second part of the podcast, Jez speaks to Neils Corfield, an independent advisor and trainer specialising in regenerative farming, about how to read your soils and make sense of what weeds are telling you. Get your notebooks out!</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

#FarmingCAN be a diverse place to work

<p>In this week&apos;s episode of Over the Farm Gate, we delve into the topic of diversity in farming as part of this month&apos;s #FarmingCAN. Join us as we speak to Liz Tree who is carving a path for herself in farming after growing up in Croydon. Wilfred Emmanuel Jones AKA the Black Farmer also tells us about his new campaign to bring fresh faces into the sector</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Regen Farmers – John Pawsey &amp; Rich Thomas

<p>It&apos;s time for our once-monthly catch up with farmers on the regenerative path. This week Jez Fredenburgh talks to two farmers at different stages – Rich Thomas, from Herefordshire, is a sheep and pedigree beef farmer with apple orchards and arable crops, and who has been introducing mob grazing and agroforestry over the last 5-6 years, and has more recently eliminated nitrogen fertiliser. </p><p>John Pawsey, from Suffolk, is in Rich’s words, an organic farming ’rock star’, who has been organic and following a systems approach for around 20 odd years. Most of John&apos;s farm is under a six-year rotation, including varieties of wheat, oats and spelt for milling, barley for malting, beans, and some novel and speciality crops, including chia, lentils. He introduced sheep into the rotation a few years back.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Behind the scenes of #Farm24

<p>In this week&apos;s episode of Over the Farm Gate we take a look back at this year’s 24 Hours in Farming with the people who made it happen #Farm24</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Cultured meat: Does it spell the end for livestock farming?

<p>In this week’s episode of Over The Farmgate, head of news Abi Kay explores whether cultured meat spells the end for livestock farming as we know it. Across the world, billions of pounds of venture capital investment are being pumped into its development – but do farmers have anything to fear? </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Gabe Brown – heal your soil and your soul

<p>Gabe Brown, regenerative farming legend and pioneer, speaks to Jez Fredenburgh about the power of regenerative farming to heal your soil and your soul. After hail and drought destroyed his crops four years in a row, Gabe decided to farm differently. He went on a huge learning curve, changing his mindset entirely, and getting to know his farm in a way he never had before – as an ecosystem reliant on fundamental, universal ecological principles, rather than a &quot;chemistry set&quot;. He says he&apos;s happier as a result, produces more food, and turns a better profit.</p><p>Gabe&apos;s book, Dirt to Soil, about his journey to regenerative farming, has become a staple for anyone wanting to move in this direction. He now travels the world advising on regen farming, and has been named one of the 25 most influential agricultural leaders in the United States. He farms at Brown’s Ranch, a diversified 5,000 acre farm in North Dakota, with his wife Shelly and son Paul.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

#Farm Safety Week - Ten years on, why does farming continue to have the poorest safety record?

<p>In this week’s episode of Over The Farm Gate, news and business reporter Hannah Binns asks three farm safety champions what needs to be done to tackle the industry&apos;s poor safety record. It comes as new data from the Health and Safety Executive found 25 people killed on farms in Great Britain in 2021/22, including three members of the public. We also discuss the &apos;pester power&apos; of children and how they can play a pivotal role in helping improve safety on farms.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

How to get started on a regenerative farming journey

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Agroforestry – the future of farming?

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