The Farmers Weekly Podcast

As drought conditions worsen across England, MPs demand urgent government action to safeguard water supplies for food production.
South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough says farmers need more flexible abstraction licences, simpler rules for building reservoirs and adequate support.
We examine Defra’s new £1.5m Farmer Welfare Grant and ask whether improving personal resilience can help farmers navigate increasingly volatile weather, markets and government policy.
Meanwhile, grain marketing consultant Richard Whitlock warns growers to carry out due diligence when selling grain as profitability among merchants comes under pressure.
And we celebrate 150 volumes of the Aberdeen Angus Herd Book – and ask how genetics and data could shape the breed’s next 150 years.
Guests
* Ben Goldsborough – Labour MP for South Norfolk
* Samantha “Sammy” Seaman – farm leadership, mindset and resilience coach
* Richard Whitlock – grain marketing consultant
* Robert Gilchrist – chief executive, Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society
Chapters
00:55 – Farmers demand their fair share of water
01:25 – Ben Goldsborough: “Drier than Jerusalem”
02:28 – Abstraction licences and regulation
03:16 – Food security versus data centres
03:48 – What farmers can do
05:35 – Is Defra listening?
08:17 – What help do drought-hit farms need?
10:57 – A climate “doom loop”?
14:37 – Bayer Autumn Drilling Update
16:55 – £1.5m Farmer Welfare Grant
17:20 – Samantha Seaman on handling pressure
20:01 – Building resilient farm businesses
23:25 – Can farmers bounce back?
26:31 – Bluetongue situation worsens
30:57 – Sustainable Farming Incentive update
32:27 – Harvest quality surprises
34:47 – Be careful who buys your grain
36:47 – Checking your grain buyer
38:30 – Commodity markets
41:27 – Aberdeen Angus at 150
42:29 – Why Aberdeen Angus endures
43:17 – Genetics, DNA and lower emissions
49:30 – Closing remarks

Useful links
- Rural Payments Agency extreme weather guidance
- Defra Farmer Welfare Grant
- Samantha Seaman Coaching
- Richard Whitlock – grain merchant analysis
- Bayer Crop Science weed management
- Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/
Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/
Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheep farmers are being urged to consider vaccination as a surge in bluetongue cases causes serious losses across south-west England.
We have the latest on the worsening outbreak, the risks associated with livestock movements and whether vaccination makes financial sense.
We also examine the impact of extreme heat and drought on this year’s harvest.
Soil scientist Danni Robb explains why high temperatures can damage grain yields, how warmer nights affect crops and what growers can do to improve resilience.
Plus, we discuss forage shortages, chickpea prices, straw and wool insulation, and the latest farm commodity prices.
And Louise visits the winner of the 2026 Silver Lapwing Award – and sees how farming goes hand-in-hand with outstanding environmental management in Gloucestershire.
This episode is brought to you by crop protection specialists Certis Belchim.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:57 – Surge in bluetongue cases hits sheep farms
01:19 – Philippa Page and Phil Stocker assess the outbreak
03:03 – Should farmers vaccinate before tupping?
04:55 – Hugh Broom on sheep losses in south-west England
07:48 – Certis Belchim message: managing take-all in cereal crops
09:29 – Heat, drought and poor harvest yields
11:06 – How warm nights affect wheat yields
12:16 – Which crops have performed better?
13:28 – Varieties, soil health and climate resilience
24:11 – Podcast updates and listener feedback
25:40 – Chickpea prices and imported competition
27:03 – Warning over adding moisture to stored grain
27:38 – The environmental impact of free-range eggs
31:09 – Hugh tries British wool insulation
33:06 – This week’s farm commodity prices
35:24 – Frampton Court Estate wins the Silver Lapwing Award
36:05 – Peter Clifford on agroforestry and farm partnerships
37:35 – Funding environmental work in the future
42:07 – Closing remarks
Guests
* Philippa Page, president, Sheep Veterinary Society
* Phil Stocker, chief executive, National Sheep Association
* Dani Robb, soil scientist, Ceres Research
* Peter Clifford, Frampton Court Estate
Useful links
* Bluetongue guidance
* Bluetongue vaccination guidance
* National Sheep Association
* Sheep Veterinary Society
* British Society of Soil Science
* Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
* Silver Lapwing Award
* Frampton Court Estate
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/
Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/
Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does Dame Angela Eagle’s appointment as Defra secretary mean for UK agriculture?
This week, we examine the new secretary of state’s priorities, political influence and ability to secure the long-term budgets farmers say they need.
We also hear from NFU Sugar chairman Kit Papworth following British Sugar’s proposal to stop processing beet at its Cantley factory in Norfolk.
At the Royal Welsh Show, farmers respond to a three-year, £340m-a-year funding settlement for the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
We pay tribute to NFU livestock board chairman David Barton, hear how the drought is affecting harvest and examine rising farmgate prices.
And during Farm Safety Week, combine fire survivor Andrew Williamson explains why machinery can be replaced—but people cannot.
This episode is brought to you by seed breeder KWS.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:51 – What will Angela Eagle mean for farming?
05:58 – A farmer-friendly appointment at Defra?
07:37 – Cantley sugar factory faces closure
12:30 – Can Britain rebuild its rural economy?
18:21 – Imported cane sugar versus home-grown beet
23:09 – Welsh farmers receive funding certainty
27:48 – Has Wales found a better approach?
33:45 – Remembering David Barton
36:41 – Harvest and drought update
38:52 – Abby’s new investigative role
40:03 – Farm markets
42:38 – Combine fires and Farm Safety Week
46:02 – Why farm safety is not improving
Special Guests:
Dame Angela Eagle – secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs
Kit Papworth – Norfolk sugar beet grower and chairman of the NFU Sugar Board
Andrew Williamson – farmer and vice-chairman of the NFU Combinable Crops Board
The episode is presented by Johann Tasker, Abi Kay, Hugh Broom and Anne Dunn.
Useful links
⁠British Sugar’s announcement on the proposed Cantley closure
⁠NFU Sugar: Growers need certainty following Cantley proposal
⁠Welsh Government: £1bn multi-year funding commitment
⁠NFU Cymru response to the funding settlement
⁠Farm Safety Foundation – Yellow Wellies
⁠Farm Safety Week 2026
⁠Farmers Weekly: Level the Field – physical health in farming
⁠KWS UK
Email the podcast team at podcast@fwi.co.uk.
Listeners in the UK can text FARM, followed by their message, to 88440.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does an Andy Burnham government mean for UK agriculture?
This week, Westminster watcher Jeremy Moody examines the new prime minister’s farming credentials – and whether a land value tax could hit agricultural businesses.
We also examine the law on defending yourself and your property after prosecutors decide that a Derbyshire farmer who fatally shot an intruder will face no criminal charges.
Agricultural solicitor Aled Owen explains when force may be considered necessary and reasonable—and why picking up a firearm should always be a last resort.
Elsewhere, we bring you the latest harvest results, advice on handling exceptionally dry oilseed rape, this week’s livestock and arable prices, and an unusual field fire started by a buzzard.
And finally, could chickpeas become a profitable, climate-resilient break crop for UK growers? Louise Impey visits field-scale trials in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to find out.
This episode is brought to you by plant breeder KWS.
Special Guests
Jeremy Moody – secretary and adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
Matt Bull – product manager, KWS
Aled Owen – agricultural solicitor and partner, HCR Law
David White – Cambridgeshire arable farmer and chickpea trial grower
Josiah Meldrum – Hodmedod’s Wholefoods
Chapters
00:55 What does an Andy Burnham government mean for agriculture?
04:51 Could farmers face a land value tax?
08:45 Will rural Britain be heard?
11:47 Farmers Weekly Harvest Update with KWS
15:15 Farmer faces no charges over fatal shooting
15:52 What does the law allow householders to do?
19:44 Advice for farmers facing an intruder
26:10 Harvest results: wheat, barley, beans and oilseed rape
28:02 Adding moisture to very dry oilseed rape
29:23 Buzzard blamed for standing-crop fire
30:48 Church rejects blanket rewilding target
31:41 Environment Agency farm inspection findings
33:04 Should rural speed limits fall to 20mph?
35:31 Market update
38:11 Could chickpeas become a UK break crop?
45:18 Closing remarks
Useful links
⁠Farmers Weekly
⁠Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
⁠HCR Law agricultural regulatory team
⁠Crown Prosecution Service guidance on self-defence and crime prevention
⁠AHDB grain-storage moisture targets
United Oilseeds
⁠NIAB: UK chickpea production research
⁠Hodmedod’s
Farmers Weekly market prices
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is hosted by Johann Tasker with Abi Kay, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/
Contact or follow Abi: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130
Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/
Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A third summer heatwave is creating difficult harvesting conditions, with shrivelled grain, variable cereal yields and combines being forced to operate early in the morning or late at night.
We examine warnings against “grain washing” - adding water to very dry harvested grain before it goes into store - and consider the risks of hot spots, mould and contamination.
Elsewhere, MPs challenge Defra over whether its new 25-year farming roadmap contains enough detail, investment and ambition to improve profitability and food security.
And finally, Norwegian football star Erling Haaland explains why he buys raw milk, beef and honey from a Cheshire farm.
This episode is brought to you by crop protection specialists Certis Belchim.
Special Guests:
* Amy Caitlin, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds team
* Alistair Carmichael MP, Efra committee chairman
* Emma Reynolds MP, Defra secretary
* Erling Haaland, Manchester City and Norway footballer
* Helen Southworth, Cheshire dairy farmer, Greenoaks Farm
Chapters
00:59 Heatwave harvest challenges
01:27 Warning over grain washing
02:34 Early harvest results
04:09 Should growers add moisture?
07:17 Silage and maize conditions
09:47 Partner message: Certis Belchim
11:29 Is Defra’s farming roadmap credible?
11:54 Emma Reynolds challenged by MPs
13:28 Alistair Carmichael interview
23:32 Farming sentiment in Scotland
29:07 Harvest disrupts farm plans
30:14 Markets update
32:07 Erling Haaland backs British farm produce
33:39 The Haaland effect
36:52 England versus Norway
37:38 Closing remarks
Useful links
Farmers Weekly Podcast
AHDB grain storage guide
AHDB grain-cooling guidance
Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England’s Future
Defra Farming Roadmap summary
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Food Standards Agency: raw drinking milk
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/
Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/
Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.