The Farmers Weekly Podcast

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.

This week’s Farmers Weekly Podcast comes from the Groundswell show in Hertfordshire, where Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tells farmers she wants their ideas for a new rural policy.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, Ms Badenoch says future policy should be shaped by farmers and land managers – not just by officials in Westminster and Whitehall.
We also examine whether private finance can help pay for greener farming, as Lloyds Bank launches the Food and Nature Resilience Fund with Wildfarmed, Severn Trent Water, Affinity Water and AXA.
Plus, Farmers Weekly editor Andrew Meredith joins Hugh Broom and Louise Impey to discuss Defra, countryside stewardship higher tier, harvest progress, private finance and the mood at Groundswell.
And finally, we hear from Groundswell co-founder Alex Cherry as the UK’s leading regenerative farming event marks its 10th anniversary.
This episode is brought to you by Certis Belchim – crop protection specialists.
Special Guests:
* Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party
* Ben Makowiecki, agriculture sustainability director, Lloyds Bank
* Alex Cherry, co-founder, Groundswell
* Andrew Meredith, editor, Farmers Weekly
Chapters
00:00 – Episode introduction from Groundswell
01:03 – Hugh Broom opens the show
01:22 – Kemi Badenoch visits Groundswell
09:07 – Andrew Meredith joins the discussion
11:47 – Countryside stewardship higher tier changes
16:37 – Lloyds Bank launches Food and Nature Resilience Fund
17:06 – Ben Makowiecki explains private finance for regen farming
23:49 – Can private money really support farmers?
27:10 – Harvest report
29:23 – Donald Trump and regenerative farming
30:31 – Contaminated meat and World Cup anti-doping tests
31:47 – Off-grid living, guinea pigs and pigeon meat
32:42 – Sir Peter Kendall calls for more farming optimism
34:23 – Markets: beef, sheep, pigs, cereals and diesel
36:33 – Groundswell marks its 10th anniversary
42:31 – Final reflections from the show
Useful links
Farmers Weekly
Groundswell
Conservative Party
Lloyds Bank Agriculture
Wildfarmed
Soil Association Exchange
Woodland Trust
Defra
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Hugh Broom.
We love to hear from you: -
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.

This week, we examine whether the government’s long-awaited 25-year Farming Roadmap will deliver the certainty, confidence and investment farmers need.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw gives his reaction to Defra’s plan, while we discuss profitability, agri-environment funding, climate resilience and the value of farming to the wider economy.
We debate the impact of hot weather and this month's record-breaking temperatures on farm enterprises.
We also examine Defra’s refreshed bovine TB strategy, including new testing approaches and the prospect of cattle vaccination by 2030.
With the UK marking 10 years since the Brexit referendum, Cheffins chairman Bill King explains how leaving the EU has changed the trade in second-hand farm machinery.
And we visit Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire, winner of a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
This episode is brought to you by Certis Belchim – crop protection specialists.
Special Guests.
* Tom Bradshaw, president, NFU
* Paul Tompkins, deputy president, NFU
* Josh Swain, farm animal vet, Synergy Animal Health
* Bill King, chairman, Cheffins
* Dr Johnny Wake, managing partner, Courteenhall Estate
Chapters
00:00 Intro and headlines
01:13 Defra unveils 25-year farming roadmap
01:45 Tom Bradshaw on whether the roadmap goes far enough
05:42 Louise and Hugh analyse the plan
12:09 Certis Belchim partner message: managing take-all risk
13:48 Defra refreshes bovine TB eradication strategy
14:59 Josh Swain explains new TB testing technology
16:30 Hugh and Louise discuss TB testing, vaccination and farm impact
24:24 Hot weather, harvest prospects and climate adaptation
26:30 Brexit: 10 years on for farm machinery trade
27:04 Bill King on export friction after Brexit
31:25 Hugh and Louise assess Brexit’s farming legacy
36:45 This week’s commodity prices
38:31 Courteenhall Estate wins King’s Award for sustainability
42:41 Looking ahead to Groundswell
Useful links
* Defra farming roadmap
* Defra bovine TB strategy update
* Cheffins farm machinery auctions
* Courteenhall Estate
* King’s Awards for Enterprise
* Groundswell
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
We love to hear from you: -
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.