The Farmers Guardian Podcast

Blur bassist Alex James on his transition from rockstar to Cotswolds farmer

<p>Having lived a rock and roll lifestyle as a member of one of the world&apos;s most loved bands, Blur bassist Alex James spoke to Chris Brayford about his transition from city dweller to a country farmer.<br/><br/>The band, headed by Damon Albarn, released hit singles including &apos;Country House&apos; and &apos;Parklife&apos; as they clashed with Liam and Noel Gallagher&apos;s Oasis for chart dominance in the 1990s during what was christened the &apos;Battle of Britpop&apos;. After falling in love with his wife in the Cotswolds roughly 20 years ago, Alex has found his niche in producing fruit and vegetables as well as cheese for Morrisons and Britpop sparkling wine. He said the popularity of food and cooking programmes such as The Great British Bake Off had helped to stimulate the nation&apos;s interest in farming.<br/><br/> He also praised Jeremy Clarkson&apos;s impact on farming with Amazon Prime&apos;s Clarkson&apos;s Farm which had helped garner a wider appreciation for the industry, as well as the public&apos;s adoration for his co-star Kaleb Cooper. <br/><br/>Alex now calls Diddly Squat Farm&apos;s Jeremy Clarkson a neighbour on his 200 acre Chipping Norton farm which will host this year&apos;s Big Feastival - combining Alex&apos;s love of food, music, and good times. Listen to how Alex diversified his farm, organising a festival which is expected to welcome more than 30,000 people, Mitchelin star chefs, comedians and musicians such as Rick Astley, Tom Grennan, Blossoms and Sigird all headlining the three-day event during the August bank holiday. <br/><br/>And with Farm 24 2023 a huge success, the Farmers Guardian team look back at the event which garnered support from farmers and celebrities, including Radio 1&apos;s Greg James, Radio 2&apos;s Sara Cox, Countryfile&apos;s Adam Henson and JLS star JB Gill</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Royal Countryside Fund: How it truly helps farming communities

<p> After changing its name to The Royal Countryside Fund, Emily Ashworth speaks to Heather Hancock, chair of trustees for the charity, about the support it gives to those in the rural community, particularly family farms - and the continued support of His Majesty The King. We also hear from Demelza Fish-Jenkins, a Welsh farmer who took part in the fund&apos;s farm resilience programme. She credits the fund for &apos;changing her life&apos; and urges others to really look at their farm business to see how they can make it more resilient. <br/><br/>For more information go to: <a href='https://www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/'>https://www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Farm 24 special: Kelvin Fletcher on his new farming life

<p>In a special episode ahead of Farmers Guardian’s 24 hours in farming event, Alex Black spoke to actor turned farmer Kelvin Fletcher on why he swapped city life for a peak district farm and why he is supporting the Farm 24 campaign on August 3</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Building a career as a farm vet and a passion for dung beetles

<p>Coming from a non-farming background in Liverpool, Dr Claire Whittle is a farm vet, a Nuffield Scholar and a dung beetle enthusiast, who is passionate about regenerative agriculture and healthy ecosystems. Dr Whittle spoke to the Farmers Guardian team about becoming a vet, her career journey so far and her passion for cows as well as why dung beetles are so important for farming here in the UK and what farmers need to know about them. Dr Whittle is also a farm ambassador for Farmers Guardian’s upcoming Farm 24 event on August 3.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Farm Safety Week: Paralympian Sammi Kinghorn on the farm injury which changed her life

<p>On Farm Safety Week, Britain&apos;s fastest ever female wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn spoke about the life-changing injury she had on farm aged just 14 and building her sporting career. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Nigel Owens - Switching life on the rugby pitch to life on the farm

<p>Farmers Guardian’s chief reporter Rachael Brown sits down with former international rugby referee turned farmer, Nigel Owens, to talk about the challenges facing farmers right now, the threat of bovine TB in Wales and calls for &apos;honest and balanced discussions&apos; around wildlife. He also gives his prediction on who will win the Rugby World Cup. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Labour and organic: Review into workforce released and organic market trends

<p>With labour a massive issue for every sector of the farming industry, Alex Black speaks to John Shropshire at the launch of the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain and OF&amp;G Chief exec Roger Kerr speaks to Rachael Brown on the opportunities for organic farming and the sector&apos;s ambition to secure 25% of the market.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Unlikely friendship: Kiran Sidhu on giving up her London life and moving to rural Wales

<p>Farmers Guardian’s chief reporter Rachael Brown sits down with author Kiran Sidhu to talk about how her unlikely friendship with sheep farmer inspired her new book ‘I can hear the cuckoo’. Finding herself in the Welsh countryside was not Kiran’s initial plan, but a chance encounter with a farmer and a passion for her new way of living has given her a new outlook on life.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

No return to cheap milk: Arla’s Graham Wilkinson discusses the market for dairy

<p>Farmers Guardian&apos;s Rachael Brown sat down with Arla&apos;s Global Vice President of Agriculture Graham Wilkinson to chat about trends in the global dairy market, the current economic climate for dairy farmers and the cost pressures on-farm, and how reverting back to cheap milk cannot be an option. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

British Farming Awards: Digital innovators

<p>Entries are open for the 2023 British Farming Awards. Alex Black spoke to last year&apos;s Digital category winners Ewan Irvine and Emma Gray their online dog training business which is reaching clients around the world from Scotland and the impact of winning the award.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Open Farm Sunday: Thrimby Farm welcomes the public on-farm

<p>Over 170,000 people flocked to more than 250 farms around the UK on Open Farm Sunday. Alex Black visited Matthew and Dani Blair at Thrimby Farm in Cumbria, best known for their appearance on BBC&apos;s This Farming Life, as they opened up the gates to the public on June 11.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

False claims on red meat: why is an inaccurate report published in high profile medical journals influencing policy 4 years on?

<p>Farmers Guardian&apos;s Rachael Brown sat down with Professor Alice Stanton to talk about her continued campaign to remove incorrect claims around excessive red meat consumption and why farmers more than ever need to be supported by the government to produce sustainable red meat.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Land Girls: How thousands of women saved farming during WW2

<p>In this week’s podcast, Farmers Guardian’s head of news and business, Alex Black, speaks to FG’s features editor, Emily Ashworth, about her brand-new book all about the Women’s Land Army. These women - over 200,000 from 1939 to 1950 - took the place of men away at war and worked the land in Britain’s countryside to ensure food production did not cease. They were not, however, recognised, and in this new book, through a collection of Land Girl memoirs, Emily hopes to sine a whole new light on a force of women who deserve to go down in farming history. </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 Milly Fyfe

<p>In this month&apos;s episode of the Farmers Guardian&apos;s At Home With series, hosted by Features Editor Emily Ashworth, Milly Fyfe talks about her brand new e-cookery book, No Fuss Meals For Busy Parents. You will no doubt have heard of Milly - she is a true advocate for the farming industry and in her book she encourages people to seek out local, British produce. Not only does this benefit our health, it benefits UK farmers and local jobs, communities and people.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Tom the young farmer - BBC Radio One, YFC and his new life in New Zealand

<p>Most of you will probably know Tom Everall as Tom the young farmer, a name that stuck after multiple appearances on BBC Radio One with renowned DJ, Greg James. Tom now writes a monthly blog for Farmers Guardian, after heading off on his travels to New Zealand. In this episode, Features Editor Emily Ashworth talks to Tom all about farm life on the other side of the world, his passion for Young Farmers and how travelling has reignited his passion for farming back home. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Mental Health Awareness Week: Dan Goodwin shares why he took a break from farming to protect his mental health

<p>During Mental Health awareness week, Farmers Guardian&apos;s Rachael Brown sat down with Dan Goodwin, an arable farmer and Farm Safety Foundation ambassador, to talk about why he took a break from farming to prioritise his mental health and the news and business team give their reaction to this week&apos;s Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Bovine TB: Lesley Griffiths discusses the situation in Wales

<p>Farmers on the Welsh border are feeling frustrated and like they are not being listened to by Welsh Government on bovine TB, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Farmers Guardian’s Rachael Brown put farmers’ concerns to Rural Affairs and North Wales Minister Lesley Griffiths.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Coronation Special: The King of the countryside

<p>Ahead of the celebrations for the coronation on May 6, Farmers Guardian’s Alex Black and Ben Briggs discuss King Charles III and his passion for the farming community and we hear from the Prince&apos;s Countryside Fund, founded by His Majesty in order to protect and support rural communities.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Labour policies and Great British Beef Week: Adding value to beef and Daniel Zeichner talks bTB and right to roam

<p>With the local elections looming next week and Labour well ahead in the national polls, FG&apos;s new chief reporter Rachael Brown spoke to Shadow Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner about his farming priorities and in Great British Beef Week, senior livestock reporter Hannah Morgan and Jilly Greed look back at the early days of the campaign</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Avian Influenza: Housing measures lifted but biosecurity remains paramount

<p>Farmers Guardian&apos;s livestock reporter Katie Fallon talks with the UK&apos;s Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss following the lifting of mandatory housing measures placed on bird keepers in England to prevent Avian Influenza. </p><p>With the virus over-summering for first time ever across Europe and the UK, it created an unprecedented situation with over 330 cases recorded since October 2021. </p><p>While housing measures have been lifted, the risk of infection still remains and biosecurity within both large commercial sites and small backyard flocks is key to preventing further outbreaks. </p><p>Both industry and government are keeping a close eye on the status of the virus over the coming months, as ongoing spread and infection could potentially lead to the Avian Influenza becoming endemic within the UK&apos;s bird population. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

From NHS children&#39;s nurse to farmer: one woman&#39;s journey into agriculture

<p>Chloe Lucas was formerly a children&apos;s nurse, but when the pandemic hit, she found herself under a new unimaginable pressure. After taking some time off, she found a new passion for the outdoors and eventually for farming. Here she speaks to features editor Emily Ashworth about her change of career and why she thinks the industry is full of opportunities.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Easter special: Lamb sales boost and recipe tips for the perfect feast

<p>In a Good Friday special, Alex Black speaks to HCC&apos;s Rachael Madeley-Davies about the lamb markets and farmer Ed Swan about sales ahead of the holiday while cookbook author gives her top tips on creating an Easter feast</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

FG Take the Lead: Dog attacks causing misery for sheep farmers

<p>With spring in the air and tourists getting ready to head to the countryside for their Easter holidays meaning farmers are on high alert for dog attacks, Alex Black speaks to Lake District farmer Rachel Tennant about the impact of livestock worrying on her flock and Alice Dyer looks at the latest progress on gene editing.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Safe farm, safe driver, safe vehicle: Simple ways to keep safe on farm

<p>Incidents involving vehicles are the number one cause of death on British farms, killing 48 people in the past five years. Alex Black spoke to the Health and Safety Executive as they launch a new campaign highlighting the simple changes farmers can make to stay safe on farm.</p><p>Working with Work Right (a campaign by the Health and Safety Executive), we want to make 2023 a safer year on British farms.</p><p>For more on the campaign, visit <a rel='noreferrer noopener' target='_blank' href='https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/agriculture/'>https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/cam... </a></p><p>And for more on #FarmingCAN, visit <a rel='noreferrer noopener' target='_blank' href='https://www.fginsight.com/farmingcan/farmingcan'>https://www.fginsight.com/farmingCAN</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Beef fraud and farmland birds

<p>Farmers Guardian’s news team talk about the latest in the food fraud scandal of South American beef being branded as British at a UK supermarket and Olivia Midgley speaks to RSPB chief executive Beccy Speight about farming policy and leaving land for nature </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

National Careers Week: Farming in London and celebrating FG&#39;s new editor

<p>It’s National Careers Week, and the agricultural industry has a lot to offer those looking for a rewarding career.</p><p>Farmers Guardian’s new editor Olivia Midgley speaks about her plans for the magazine and her career to date and Tom Davis, manager of Mudchute farm in the heart of East London tells us about his experience of coming into the industry from a non-farming background. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

One year on: How has the Ukraine war affected UK farming?

<p>The invasion of Ukraine in 2022 affected every sector of the agriculture industry in the UK. Farmers Guardian&apos;s Alex Black and Cedric Porter discuss the impact of the war and grain analyst Rupert Somerscales discusses the ups and downs of the grain markets since the war began.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Stirling bull sales roundup: How have the early pedigree sales faired in the current strong beef market

<p>In this week’s episode senior livestock reporter Hannah Park catches up breed society representatives after the first and second round of Stirling bull sales earlier this month. After what looked to be a strong start to the pedigree trade for the year, we ask whether the current strong beef trade has extended to the pedigree market and what the trade means for the pedigree sales coming up later in the year.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

How to save money on your farm energy bills

<p>FG’s deputy editor Olivia Midgley speaks to Knight Frank&apos;s Mark Topcliff and NFU Energy&apos;s Jon Swain for their top tips on how farmers can save money on their energy bills. From something as simple as cleaning out your buildings&apos; fans to make them more efficient, to which renewable energy technology is the best fit for your business. Plus, with planning barriers expected to be relaxed to help the country meet its net zero targets, it might be the perfect time to look at installing a wind turbine. We also bring you the latest on the solar energy market, an update on batter storage and advice on renegotiating your energy tariff.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>

Dog attack spotlight: New laws in the pipeline would give police more power

<p>Dog attacks on livestock take their toll on everybody involved and sadly it is an issue that continues to plight the countryside. </p><p>In this episode Hannah Park speaks to Wales rural and wildlife police crime co-ordinator Rob Taylor who outlines what new laws could mean for those affected. He explains how these would give police more powers when it comes to dealing with dog owners who repeatedly allow their dogs to chase livestock, including tougher penalties and putting restrictions on dog ownership. </p><p>We were also joined by Nicola Noble at the National Sheep Association, a body that continues to bang the drum for change through evidence gathering and lobbying for a change to the law. </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>