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The Farmers Weekly Podcast

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

Written by: Farmers Weekly
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The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Every Friday.

2026 © 2025 The Farmers Weekly Podcast
Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Relaunched SFI - what it means for you, High Court and abattoirs, Red Tractor, & Open Farm Sunday
    Jun 5 2026

    This week, Defra confirms England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive will reopen for applications on 30 June – but only for some farmers, and with questions over budget.

    Farm business adviser Katie Hilton explains the key changes in SFI 26, including land-use caps, no-till rules and revised payment rates.

    We also examine a High Court ruling which could mean lower meat inspection charges for abattoirs, processors and livestock producers.

    And royal recognition for Open Farm Sunday which celebrates its 20th anniversary – and why even small events can help reconnect the public with farming.

    Podcast guests:

    * Katie Hilton, director, Cheffins
    * John Royle, NFU chief livestock policy adviser
    * Rachel Risdon, Devon farmer and Open Farm Sunday host

    Chapters

    00:53 – Sustainable Farming Incentive
    12:59 – High Court ruling on meat inspection charges
    17:18 – Why small abattoirs matter to livestock farmers
    24:19 – Listener feedback on Red Tractor reform
    27:32 – Farmers Weekly Podcast Live at Cereals
    30:23 – Sainsbury’s white eggs and trailer safety
    33:53 – Market prices
    36:16 – Open Farm Sunday celebrates 20 years
    40:23 – Why public engagement matters
    43:11 – Closing remarks

    Useful links

    • Sustainable Farming Incentive guidance
    • Cheffins
    • National Farmers Union
    • Association of Independent Meat Suppliers
    • British Meat Processors Association
    • Food Standards Agency
    • Open Farm Sunday
    • LEAF
    • Tilly Pass trailer safety
    • Farmers Weekly stage at Cereals

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Carbon cash delays, farm assurance frustration, Minette Batters book, & the rise of regenerative supply chains
    May 31 2026

    This week, farmers report delays receiving payments from soil carbon scheme Agreena – with some growers saying they are owed thousands of pounds.

    We examine the latest Farm Assurance Review and ask whether Red Tractor and other schemes can deliver fairer treatment for UK grain producers facing competition from unassured imports.

    We review Harvest, the new book by former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters.

    And we visit the Green Farm Collective’s Soil to Slice conference in Harrogate, where farmers, millers, wholesalers and bakers are working together to build more value into regenerative supply chains.

    Chapters

    00:00 Welcome and headlines
    00:51 Agreena payment delays spark farmer frustration
    09:40 Farm Assurance Review – what happens next?
    19:56 Minette Batters’ new book Harvest
    25:29 Sugar beet with a clover understorey
    28:33 Rural crime falls by 21%
    33:53 Markets: lamb breaks £9/kg, diesel dips below £1/litre
    36:48 Soil to Slice: building value through regenerative supply chains
    47:15 Podcast wrap-up

    Guests

    * George Dunn, Chief Executive, Tenant Farmers Association
    * Michael Kavanagh, Green Farm Collective
    * Verity Megginson, Yorkshire regenerative farmer
    * Natalia Spinetto, Director of Impact & Strategy, Collective Food
    * George Herbert, Hobbs House Bakery

    Useful links

    * Agreena
    * Tenant Farmers Association
    * Red Tractor Assurance
    * Green Farm Collective
    * Collectiv Food
    * Hobbs House Bakery

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • Hare-coursing clampdown, tariffs cut on food imports, Beef Expo, & fertiliser from thin air
    May 25 2026

    This week, police pledge tougher action on hare coursing after an Essex farmer suffers almost 200 incidents in eight months.

    The government unveils plans to slash tariffs on 100 food items imported into the UK. We examine the impact of food price controls on UK farmers.

    Beef sector leaders call for fairer pricing as the market eases ahead of the Beef Expo industry showcase at Melton Mowbray livestock market.

    And we meet the farmer testing “firewater” – a Defra-funded ADOPT project aiming to make nitrogen from air, water and electricity.

    Guests

    Tom Bradshaw – NFU president
    Neil Shand – chief executive, National Beef Association
    Hugh Brown – chief executive, Gillstream Markets / Melton Mowbray Market
    Matthew Register – Essex farmer
    Robyn Munton – NFU vice-president
    Tim Ellis – farmer involved in the Firewater ADOPT project

    Chapters

    01:04 – Food tariffs and price caps
    01:43 – Tom Bradshaw warning
    03:24 – Food import controls analysed
    14:36 – Beef market analysis
    27:30 – Hare-coursing crackdown
    30:34 – Red diesel thefts and fuel duty
    34:30 – Markets update
    36:46 – Fertiliser from air and water

    Useful links

    • Targeted food tariff cuts
    • NFU update on hare-coursing sentencing guidelines
    • NBA Beef Expo 2026
    • Adopt Project on firewater
    • Farmers Weekly Market Prices

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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