Meet the Farmers (Ben Eagle, RuralPod Media)

Today we’re marking the 5th anniversary of Just Farmers, which if you don’t know it, is a unique communications project for British agriculture. It was founded by agri journalist Anna Jones following her Nuffield Scholarship and has seen dozens of farmers pass through its doors. So today we’re going to reflect back on those 5 years, ask what Just Farmers is all about, how it helps farmers and the media and ask what it’s future might be? Ben is joined by its founder Anna Jones as well as rural affairs journalist and broadcaster Tom Heap and two farmers who have been through the Just Farmers programme – Charles Goadby (who was in the first group) and Ceri Squire (who was in the most recent, seventh group). 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Show References

Image credit: Just Farmers

Just Farmers website - Connecting you with independent farmers - Just Farmers

Mercer Family Charitable Foundation

Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust

The Royal Countryside Fund

Central Region Farmers Trust

We’re heading to the US today and meeting the stars of the Discover Ag podcast – New Mexico dairy farmer Tara Vander Dussen and Nebraska based rancher Natalie Kovarik. Discover Ag sets out to discuss ‘agriculture you can relate to’, connect listeners with farmers and explore the food system. As well as the podcast Tara and Natalie formed Elevate Ag which helps producers to tell their story online .

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Today we’re in south Wales near Abergavenny and Ben is meeting Huw Evans who runs Three Pools Farm. Three Pools is a 141 acre farm made up of a mixture of pasture and woodland. Located in the foothills of the Black Mountains, the farm is inspired by permaculture design. In addition to the farm enterprise Huw organises a number of different events to get more people onto the farm. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Huw Evans

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:16 Huw comes in.

02:00 Huw talks about the landscape around the farm.

03:12 How did Huw get into permaculture?

05:05 Huw buys the farm.

05:18 Huw's first year on the farm.

05:53 What is permaculture?

06:42 Permaculture on a larger scale.

07:23 Permaculture outside of the UK.

08:02 What is being produced on the farm?

09:47 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural

10:33 Aspirations for the future.

12:18 Vision for going forwards.

14:00 Perception.

16:00 Rural Pod Media message.

16:48 What are the similarities between permaculture farms?

19:30 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural.

20:01 What have Huw's learning points been?

21:12 Huw's message for the public.

22:10 Huw's message for farmers.

22:57 Huw shout out for Blind Boy Podcast

24:12 Ben rounds up the episode. 

List of all the winners from last year's Cream Awards available here. 

Huge thanks to all the farmers who took part in producing this episode. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Image credit: George Sturla

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

https://gallowaychillies.co.uk/

@SheenaHorner

You can find out more about Ben Taylor Davies on his website  regenben.com

Discover more about Nuffield Farming scholarships at Contact | Nuffield Farming Scholarships (nuffieldscholar.org)

00:18 Intro from Ben Eagle

03:18 How would Ben Taylor Davies desribe himself?

05:00 Ideas

06:55 Ben Taylor Davies talks about his friendship with James Smith

09:14 What is an average week for Ben Taylor Davies?

13:06 Ben's childhood on the farm

16:00 How does Ben see the trajectory of farming in the UK?

17:35 Ben's time at the University of Liverpool

18:30 Ben becomes an agronomist

19:38 Ben's way of thinking then and now

22:26 Ben's son Jobe has a severe accident involving a horse

30:47 The Ronald Macdonald House

35:00 The journey beyond the hospital

36:12 Ben's mental health suffers

38:17 Regenerating minds

41:30 Ben's Nuffield adventure

47:23 Life after Ben's Nuffield

51:00 Ben's clients start to change

52:46 The future of chemistry

55:26 Productivity of soils

58:25 Ben's new book Moreon

1:00:10 Ben's message for the public

1:01:10 Ben's message for farmers

1:02:10 Ben's recommendation for a podcast - John Kempf

1:03:26 Ben Eagle rounds up. 

Ben delves into the Meet the Farmers archive and digs up 2 previous episodes.

Episode Notes

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Today on the show we’re meeting Lancashire based beef and arable farmer Amy Wilkinson who farms with her family on 285ha of tenanted land. As well as their arable rotation the Wilkinsons raise 650 dairy crosses up to finishing. Amy is also a columnist with Farmers Guardian. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Show References

Image credit: Amy Wilkinson

https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/

Image credit: Rupert Shinner

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

We’re heading to Ceredigion in Wales today to meet dairy farmer, consultant, writer and Nuffield Scholar. Indeed Anna Bowen’s CV is pretty impressive and she clearly makes the most of her time. She is a director of Symbiotic Farming Ltd – which is contract based and they milk 300 cows on a grass based spring block calving system. She’s also a freelance writer and journalist and has written for a range of rural, equestrian, farming, sustainability and women’s lifestyle magazines and websites as well as doing some PR work. She is also a consultant with the Andersons Centre specialising in dairy but also covering sheep and beef grassland systems. Her Nuffield Scholarship is titled ‘Can the UK improve the ethics of its dairy calf management while retaining profitability?’ 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Anna Bowen

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

02:00 Anna comes in.

02:10 Anna grew up on a dairy farm in Carmarthenshire. Anna's life growing up.

03:06 Anna has moved towards a different farming system but she never expected to work in agriculture. 

05:14 Where did Anna think she would head? Initially she was going to be a vet but she decided to not go ahead.

06:20 Anna's time at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.

07:11 Anna did a masters in Sustainable Ag and Food Security. 

09:19 Anna started working in marketing and sales for a large veg importing firm. 

11:18 Sponsor message about A Plan Rural.

12:03 Anna's farming side as a contract dairy farmer today. 

14:27 Consultancy - Anna works for the Andersons Centre as a Farm Business Consultant. 

15:55 Anna's writing.

18:19 Everything that Anna does works together.

20:15 Rural Pod Media message.

21:04 Anna's Nuffield on the ethics of dairy calf management. 

23:45 Some of Anna's visits and takeaways. 

26:30 What changes does Anna predict in dairy ethics moving forwards?

28:52 Perception of ethics in different countries. 

30:46 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural.

31:10 How did covid impact on Anna's travels?

33:49 The influence of Anna's Nuffield on her and how she takes it forwards?

35:33 What is next for Anna?

37:17 A piece of advice that Anna would give her younger self.

39:14 Anna's message to the public.

39:52 Anna's message to farmers. 

40:45 Podcast recommendation - Pasture Pod. Also Invisible Women. 

42:00 Ben rounds up. 

Will Oliver, a fourth-generation arable and poultry farmer, discusses his farm in Leicestershire and the challenges and diversifications he has undertaken. The farm grows wheat, maize, and winter beans, and also has a poultry enterprise with 175,000 chickens. Will emphasizes the importance of efficiency, risk-taking, and diversification in running a successful farm. He talks about the benefits of integrating arable and poultry farming, including utilizing manure and growing feed crops. Will also discusses the challenges of growing affordable food, navigating through bird flu pandemics, and managing costs and margins in the poultry industry. He highlights the importance of biosecurity and the welfare of the birds. Will shares his passion for arable farming and the regenerative practices they are implementing. He also touches on the history of the farm, the impact of climate change, and the challenges of labour and rising interest rates. Will Oliver, an arable farmer and owner of Dandelion Hideaway, discusses his involvement in agricultural boards and the importance of influencing policy. He also talks about his glamping enterprise and the value of getting people on the farm. Will shares his approach to diversification and the need for sustainability in farming. He emphasizes the importance of cost of production and profitability, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Will's message to the public is to buy local and support farm shops, while his message to fellow farmers is to share their stories.

Takeaways

• Efficiency, risk-taking, and diversification are key to running a successful farm.
• Integrating arable and poultry farming can have benefits such as utilizing manure and growing feed crops.
• Growing affordable food while maintaining high welfare standards is a challenge in the poultry industry.
• Biosecurity is of utmost importance in poultry farming to prevent disease outbreaks.
• Regenerative farming practices can help improve soil health and sustainability.
• The history of the farm and the impact of climate change are factors to consider in farming.
• Labor and rising interest rates are challenges faced by farmers. Involvement in agricultural boards allows farmers to influence policy and have an impact on the sector.
• Diversification, such as glamping, can provide additional income and opportunities to engage with the public.
• Sustainability in farming involves protecting the land for future generations and making the best use of resources.
• Cost of production and profitability are crucial considerations for a sustainable farm business.
• Buying local and supporting farm shops is important for the survival of these businesses.
• Farmers should share their stories to increase understanding and appreciation of agriculture.

Image credit: Will Oliver

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Image credit: Avery Wrigglesworth

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Image credit: David and Cora Cooper

Link to Land Alive event - LandAlive | NEW Food & Farming Conference | 22-23 Nov '24

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Ben has teamed up with the Forestry Commission once again to make this mini-series focussed on trees on farms. In this series we are asking three questions focussed on the ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ of farm woodland management. In the first episode we asked why we need to improve our management of farm woodlands in the UK in the first place? Then in episode 2 we had a question time format asking ‘what farmers need to know about managing trees?’, and in the third and final episode we are asking how farmers can manage their farm woodlands better, using the practical example of a woodland management plan. 

Ben is joined by his Forestry Commission co-host Jon Burgess who is a Woodland Resilience Officer based in the south west. 

In this episode Ben and Jon are joined by Karina Ponton who is a Regional Woodland Advisor for FWAG South West and farmer Dan Holmes. 

Forestry Commission: gov.uk/manage-woodland

FWAG: The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (fwag.org.uk)

Wonky Horn: Wonky Horn Organic Meat Company

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Christmas is coming so Ben heads to Essex to speak to turkey farmer Paul Kelly of Kelly Turkeys. 

Ben last visited Paul in episode 8 of the podcast in June 2017. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Today we’re on the Isle of Man for the first time, to speak to father and son Ean and Harry Parsons. The Parsons’ sheep and beef farm is at Laxey on the eastern side of the island. It’s around 5000 acres in area with 3500 of that moorland. Ean is also the current President of the Manx NFU, and a former Chair of its Meat and Livestock Committee. Harry is a student at Harper Adams studing for a BSc in Agriculture with Farm Business Management. He’s currently on his placement year working as a trainee Rural Business Advisor with SRH Agribusiness.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Pasture Pod It's about time

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:56 Ean comes in.

2:11 Harry comes in. 

2.25 An intro to the Isle of Man

3.32 What is the island like for younger people and growing up on the island

4:41 Harry explains about his time growing up on the island. 

6:01 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance

6:46 Farming on the Isle of Man.

7:50 The north of the Isle of Man is eroding. 

9:04 Specific challenges for the Isle of Man.

10:50 What does Harry see are the major differences between the UK and the Isle of Man in terms of ag policy.

13:58 The four pillars of the Isle of Man farming policy.

15:00 How does the Isle of Man work in terms of the regulators.

16:14 How long has Ean been involved with the Manx NFU?

16:50 Labour issues on the Isle of Man.

17:42 Have many of Harry's friend's stayed on the Island or moved elsewhere?

19:07 Ean explains how younger people will return to the island when they want to start a family.

19:38 Any movement across to Ireland?

20:20 About the farm at Laxey.

22:40 Dairy farming on the Island. 

23:30 Harry explains the strong sense of identity on the Isle of Man. 

24:02 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

24:25 The opportunities for the Parsons going forwards.

26:10 Harry explains about his placement. 

27:48 Harry going back to Harper.

29:20 Cost of inputs and will it drive innovation?

31:30 The impact of rising costs on Manx farmers.

33:02 Harry says that this will drive farmers to see themselves as rural businesses.

33:35 Concerned farmers approaching Ean.

34:28 Harry and Ean's messages to the public.

36:43 Harry and Ean's messages to farmers.

38:26 Recommendations for blogs and podcasts - Pasture Pod About Time series; Defra blogs; Grassmen on YouTube. 

Pigs are back on the podcast today and Ben is joined by Mark Jagger who is based in Suffolk and works as Assistant Grower Farms Manager for BQP. BQP breeds and rears over a million pigs a year using a number of different systems including outdoor born, straw finished, RSPCA Freedom Food Assured, free range and organic. They have around 30 per cent of the UK market share making them the largest pig farming business in Britain. Mark works to help new farmers set up their buildings and operations ready for pig enterprises. Mark has worked in the pig sector for over 30 years in all areas from farrowing to finishing. In 2021 he was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Pig Welfare prize at the RSPCA Assured Pig and Poultry Awards. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Mark Jagger

http://nfyfc.org.uk/

Don't forget to take advantage of the free zoom sessions with a Savills consultant.

Email Sarah Palmer for more details - sarah.palmer@nfyfc.org.uk

This podcast was produced for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs in association with Savills and was funded by Defra. 

How to Fail at Farming

Ben speaks to Josh Heyneke in this episode who farms ducks for eggs with his wife Abi in Pembrokeshire. Josh and Abi left their city lives to go farming, and have experienced many trials since then. Last year Josh made a video called How to Fail at Farming and launched a crowd funding campaign to save the farm. This is his story. 

Parc Carreg is the farm. 

The link to their youtube channel - here. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Timestamps

00:00:27 Ben introduces the show.

00:03:00 Josh comes in

00:03:28 Ben asks Josh to tell us about his roots in South Africa, how he came to London and met Abi.

00:08:04 Josh adjusts to a new kind of life working alone

00:09:00 Josh and Abi decide they want to farm

00:10:09 Were Josh and Abi actively looking for farmland? And Josh and Abi take a trip to South Africa.

00:13:20 Josh and Abi get some bad news.

00:15:22 One Planet Developments

00:21:35 The business plan and the start of ducks

00:24:15 the only organic duck egg producers - why is that?

00:28:46 2022 was a tough year for Josh and Abi

00:30:10 The How to Fail at Farming video

00:35:00 Cashflow issues. Josh and Abi didn't have enough cash to buy their next load of feed.

00:37:47 Monetisation on youtube.

00:43:15 How does the crowdfunder help Josh and Abi in the long run?

00:44:15 Insect production.

00:47:07 There are two ways of seeing everything. 

00:52:05 Ben talks about failure.

00:57:30 The perception of farmers in the public.

01:02:22 Josh's message to the public.

01:02:58 Josh's message to farmers.

01:03:55 How to follow Josh and Abi. 

01:04:51 Ben wraps up the episode. A lesson in resilience. 

Putting Down Roots with Sarah Langford

Sarah Langford is a best selling author, communicator and public speaker. For a decade she worked as a defence barrister but in 2017 she moved to Suffolk and, together with her husband, Ben, took on the running of his family’s small farm. They have converted the farm to organic production and have planted hundreds of metres of new hedgerows. 

The paperback version of her book Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution (pub. Penguin), comes out on 2nd March. 

Sarah has also written The Sunday Times bestseller, In Your Defence: Stories of Life and Law (pub. Penguin 2017), a narrative non-fiction account of her decade as a criminal and family barrister.

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Open Farm Sunday LEAF Breakfast Meetings

Re the Open Farm Sunday shout Out click here to find out more about the breakfast meetings. 

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces today's show. 

01:39 Ben begins conversation with Sarah

02:00 At the beginning of the book Sarah writes that 'farming is not just a job, it's an identity' - how does Sarah perceive this?

04:13 How does Sarah see her own identity? 

05:45 Ben turns to the topic of Sarah's grandfather and asks her to talk about her grandparents and their influence on her. 

07:40 Childhood in the countryside

10:05 Connected to place

11:25 Ben introduces the show's new primary sponsor: A Plan Rural Insurance.

12:20 Why was Sarah so determined to embrace a city life?

13:54 How did Sarah come to Suffolk?

16:18 The search for home. 

18:50 Village life.

19:12 A shout out for farmers interested in taking part in Open Farm Sunday. 

20:17 How has Rooted gone down with the urban audience?

24:50 'Don't be fooled by the shininess - there are plenty of people out there who have wisdom that can help your life'. 

25:22 Sarah's fear of the response in the rural audience.

26:40 How did Sarah select the farmers that she wrote about?

29:50 Did the way that Sarah perceives farming alter by going through the research process for the book?

32:19 Food is at the root of health, of the environment and of community. 

35:52 More information about A Plan Rural

36:15 Ben and Sarah go outside for a field walk. 

27:38 Cover crop trials.

38:00 You will never control it all. 

42:05 Does Sarah feel like a farmer?

42:47 Sarah's message for the public.

44:14 Sarah's message to farmers.

45:07 Ben rounds up the episode. 

Home | Oxford Farming Conference (ofc.org.uk)

Oxford Real Farming Conference (orfc.org.uk)

Image credit: Kirsty and Aimee Budge

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

We’re in Wales today meeting dairy farmer Gwyndaf Thomas. Gwyndaf owns and runs a 430-acre dairy farm in the rolling hills of Carmarthenshire in West Wales. The herd consists of 270 outdoor run autumn calving cows - mainly Friesian, but also a few Jersey crosses; and the cows are grazed rotationally on grass. Gwyndaf grew up on what is now his brother’s farm and he moved to his family’s other farm once the family had expanded. He has four teenage children and there’s also one full time employee on the farm in addition to Gwyndaf. On top of this he’s a partner in another local dairy farm. In 2016/17 he lost all his cows to TB and had to establish a new herd from scratch, a truly difficult time.

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Gwyndaf Thomas

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:53 Gwyndaf comes on.

02:29 Gwyndaf talks about Carmarthenshire. 

03:03 Gwyndaf talks about his business and the herd.

05:55 The farm where Gwyndaf grew up.

08:03 Gwyndaf went to Aber to do a degree in agriculture but his father had an accident so he had to return to the family farm. 

12:04 Gwyndaf's dad's accident. 

14:51 A Plan Rural Insurance sponsor message.

15:37 Gwyndaf grew and developed the business and eventually moved to the other farm.

20:45 Eastern European labour. 

24:03 A Plan Rural Insurance sponsor message.

25:29 Gwyndaf's message for the public. 

26:32 Gwyndaf's message to farmers. 

28:49 Ben rounds up. 

Today on the show we're talking sheep and Ben is meeting Matt Blyth who is a livestock advisor and has many years of experience managing sheep. Born and bred in Lincolnshire, Matt did a course at Northumberland College specialising in sheep and beef and then went on to work with a number of sheep flocks - from assisting a shepherd on an 1800 ewe flock in Hampshire to running a 540-ewe flock near Basingstoke, to running a flock for 15 years in west Sussex. Further, in 2021 he began a Nuffield farming scholarship evaluating the potential cost benefits of electronic data recording for UK sheep and beef farms. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Show References

Image credit: Matt Blyth

This episode was made in collaboration with the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

Ben has teamed up with the Forestry Commission once again to make this mini-series focussed on trees on farms. In this series we are asking three questions focussed on the ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ of farm woodland management. In the first episode we were asking why we need to improve our management of farm woodlands in the UK in the first place? In this second episode we have a question time format asking ‘what farmers need to know about managing trees?’, and in the third and final episode we’ll be asking how farmers can manage their farm woodlands better, using the practical example of a woodland management plan. 

Ben is joined by his Forestry Commission co-host Jon Burgess who is a Woodland Resilience Officer based in the south west. 

In this episode Ben and Jon are joined by Simon James who is Woodland Management and Policy Senior Manager at the Small Woods Association and James Ramskir-Gardiner who is the national agroforestry advisor at the Forestry Commission. 

Forestry Commission: gov.uk/manage-woodland

Small Woods Association: https://www.smallwoods.org.uk/ and  Sustainable Woodland Management Course – Course Calendar (smallwoods.org.uk)

Link to LEAF reference that James Ramskir-Gardiner mentions - https://leaf.eco/farming/resources/ash-dieback

Simon James refers to the Sustainable Woodland Management Course – Course Calendar (smallwoods.org.uk) and the Tree Council’s Guidance Canopy decline Tree-Council-Ash-dieback-tree-owners-guide-FINAL.pdf (treecouncil.org.uk)

Ash dieback resources: https://leaf.eco/farming/resources/ash-dieback

Tree Council’s guidance on canopy decline Tree-Council-Ash-dieback-tree-owners-guide-FINAL.pdf (treecouncil.org.uk)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Image credit: Rebecca Tonks

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

This podcast was presented and produced by Ben Eagle for RuralPod Media. To find out more about our work visit ruralpodmedia.co.uk or find our podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 

Special thanks to everybody who contributed to this series including Gabriel Kaye, Bernard Jarman, Berni Courts, Alison and John Chapman,Emma Hams, Gala Bailey Barker, Louisa Ellerker, Peter Darwell and Cattherine Powell. Thanks also to Hawkwood College and the Biodynamic Association. 

This music for the series was from Flying Heads and CW Music Productions. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

https://outandaboutpoultry.co.uk/

Jade's Instagram

Today we’re in Wales highlighting a farming publication that has been in circulation for over 30 years. Ben is joined by publisher and former dairy farmer Mike Donovan, who may be better known as the editor and founder of Practical Farm Ideas Magazine. The magazine is published four times a year and features leading edge innovations developed by farmers and engineers which can be used as inspiration for its farmer readers. Mike launched the magazine in 1992 and since then he has covered everything from min till to biogas plants, sexed semen to robotic milking and mobile handling to implement innovations, often long before these became at all mainstream on farms. Mike started his career as an editor at The Economist Intelligence Unit before moving on to the Financial Times. He had a farm upbringing however and did a degree in Agricultural Economics, so farming was never far from his life and interests. In the late 70s he and his wife left their home in London for West Wales where he became a dairy farmer, and this is where his real interest in practical and machinery innovations was kickstarted. The rest they say is history. Since February 2017 he has also been the editor of Direct Driller Magazine. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Mike Donovan

Image credit: Michael Balls

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Today we're heading to Monmouthshire in south Wales to meet Dan Smith who is Farm Manager at Jamie’s Farm in Monmouth. Jamie's Farm have a four-winged approach – farming, family, therapy and legacy and they have 6 farms across England and Wales on to which they invite these young people to stay on the farm with the team for five days. Dan himself grew up on various farms across England and Wales as his father was a farm manager. Before joining Jamie’s Farm he ran a business in the Cotswolds specialising in farm maintenance, conservation management and farming cover. He has a passion for sharing his experience and helping others to appreciate the countryside. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Jamie's Farm

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:50 Dan comes in.

2:06 Dan tells Ben about Monmouthshire.

3:55 What is Jamie's Farm, what does it stand for and what does it do?

7:18 How did Jamie's Farm start and who is Jamie? 

9:07 How did Dan first get involved with the charity?

10:15 Covid, cost of living and the 'demand' for the service.

12:33 Dan's day to day is varied.

15:02 Sponsor message about A Plan Rural Insurance.

15:48 Do the young people who come to the farm want to be there and do they experience a shift in their thinking?

18:45 Eating together. The importance of the table. 

19:50 What has Dan learnt? 

20:20 Farming industry not that open minded culturally. 

21:53 Rural urban divide - most people don't mix in both worlds - what is Dan's perspective? He believe the void between the two is huge. 

24:20 The farming industry is coming under a lot of attack in terms of environmental impact. 

25:25 The disconnect between where food comes from and what people are prepared to eat. 

26:05 What are the kids eating normally?

28:10 The perception of where food comes from. 

28:52 Buying local food post covid. 

29:42 Dan's journey to getting to this point. Life growing up. 

34:15 The love for the 'romantic' side of farming. 

35:36 Getting into agriculture without going down the further education route - creating structure. 

38:05 Building networks. 

38:27 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural. 

38:51 Challenges in the wider industry. Especially the challenge of mindset and not being prepared to be challenged. 

42:20 Dan's message for the public.

43:03 Dan's message to farmers.

43:25 Promo of how to follow Jamie's Farm.

45:16 Ben rounds up the episode. 

Ben speaks to Leigh Weston who farms in the Yorkshire Dales. Leigh is an ambassador for Curlew Action. 

Image credit: Leigh Weston

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

To mark Farm Safety Week we are discussing what is probably one of the most important topics in farming – keeping people safe and well on farms. Ben's guest is very well placed for this week with rich experience in occupational safety and compliance across a number of different sectors, which includes agriculture. Richard Wade is Director at Risk and Safety Compliance Services which provides health and safety auditing, management and training services across the UK.  Rich has a background in the armed services. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Image credit: Richard Wade

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

01:10 Richard comes in. 

01:26 Richard's background in the army medical corps.  

02:39 The history of health and safety.

04:58 Rich's link with farming.

06:12 Transition into civilian life.

07:30 Why is Farm Safety Week so important?

08:48 How does farming compare with other sectors in terms of how dangerous it is?

10:00 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural

10:46 Common issues that are perhaps quite simple to fix. 

12:30 Places will be looking at safety already and yet it's still happening - why?

15:27 RuralPod Media message.

16:15 What can be done and where to start?

18:58 There's always risk but it doesn't need to be deadly.

19:10 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural.

19:45 The issue of time.

20:59 Bringing it together - the importance of peer to peer discussions. 

23:06 Rich's message for the public.

23:48 Rich's message for farmers.

24:25 Health and Safety Executive website link. 

25:07 Ben rounds up. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Jeremy Gibbs had a career with John Deere, principally in Germany, before returning to the UK where he launched Forces Farming as a bridge between the armed forces and agriculture. 

We talk about the armed services, mental health, the machinery sector, careers and Jeremy's own life path. 

Forces Farming website

Farmers featured include:

Richard Heady (Buckinghamshire)

John Pawsey (Suffolk)

Martin Lines (Cambridgeshire)

Charles Anyan (Lincolnshire)

Andrew Wilson (North Yorkshire)

Ranald Angus (Caithness)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Today we’re in Devon with new entrant to farming Adam Short. Adam’s primary professional background is in the IT sector and indeed his primary line of work today, alongside life on the farm, is in agri-software, a subject that I’m sure will be of interest to many of you, which is partly why I’ve asked him on the podcast. He’s had a varied career prior to moving into the agricultural community and he moved to his small farm in Devon in 2016. He’s the current Registrar for the Old English Goat Society and achieved rare breed recognition for them in 2020. And, alongside Kim Brook and Flavian Obiero, Adam is the co-founder of the Pig Exchange Network, which aims to fill gaps around knowledge exchange for smaller scale pig producers. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

John Richardson and the Futurenauts podcast

Image credit: Adam Short

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

1:42 Adam comes in.

1:58 Week 6 of lambing.

2:20 Adam's life growing up - far away from farming.

4:26 Adam went to Aber to do a degree in software engineering. After this he met his first farmer near Brecon. 

6:30 Adam considers getting into agriculture. 

6:50 The challenge of getting into farming. 

8:00 Was it difficult being 'an outside' - did Adam feel this was an issue?

10:30 Adam's IT career.

15:00 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural Insurance.

15:46 Adam does IT freelance work. 

17:10 8 acres in Leicestershire - where does Adam go next?

20:35 Mental health.

21:25 Adam applies for farm management roles. 

24:15 Adam can afford to buy a smallholding. 

27:05 The farm in Devon.

31:00 Goats.

35:08 Pigs and the Pig Exchange Network. 

42:40 IT side of Adam's career - focus on data. Genetic diversity - why is that a focus? Where does Adam see this going?

52:10 Adam's message for the public.

52:25 Message for farmers. 

54:00 Adam recommends John Richardson and the Futurenauts

55:22 Ben rounds up. 

Image credit: Scottish Farmer (Craig Stephen); courtesy of Ed Munt

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Ben meets Cumbria based cheesemaker, sheep and goat farmer Martin Gott. 

St James Cheese

Episode Notes

We’re up in the Lake District today, in Cumbria to meet farmer and cheesemaker Martin Gott who runs Holker Farm and St James Cheese with his wife Nicola. Martin and Nicola have rented the Cumbrian farm since 2006 after moving up from Somerset. They established a flock of milking sheep and began making farmhouse artisan cheese. Previously Martin worked alongside two other cheesemakers both making cheese from raw milk, one with goats in Somerset and one making Lancashire cheese near Preston. Martin grew up in Lancashire and whilst he wasn’t raised on the farm, his father farmed pigs near Kendal in Cumbria. After working for four years as a butcher for his father he left to follow his passion in cheese and begin what would become his cheesemaking career. After 18 months in Lancashire Martin moved with Nicola to Somerset to work part time for legendary farmhouse cheese maker Mary Holbrook. It was during this period that they bought some sheep and starting experimenting with their own cheese which resulted in St James cheese. They returned north to take up their current tenancy on just 20 acres of land. Alongside their 100 or so sheep during covid they took on a load of goats and now make goats cheeses alongside the sheeps cheese. In 2018 Martin started a Nuffield scholarship on the subject of ‘the prevalence and importance of indigenous bacterial cultures in raw milk cheese’ which took him to US and among others he learnt about microbiology from a cheese making nun who held a PhD. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

St James Cheese

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show

02:48 Martin comes in

02:55 Where does Martin's interest in cheese come from?

06:12 Everyone tastes something different when they eat cheese.

09:10 Martin's memories of farmhouse cheeses

11:14 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural

12:03 Where is Martin in Cumbria?

13:19 Martin talks about the farm itself.

15:08 Martin and Nicola buy some goats.

18:28 How creative or scientific is coming up with a new cheese?

29:58 The quest to find the best milk

35:11 The US and cheesemaking

37:29 The cheesemaking nun with a PhD.

39:35 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural

39:58 Nicola.

43:47 Martin's experience at Kirkhams

48:52 Mary Holbrook

52:25 What does the future look like for Martin and Nicola?

58:24 Martin's message for the public.

01:01:20 Martin's message to farmers.

01:03:07 How do people follow - twitter or instagram (or Nicola on Facebook)

01:04:16 Ben rounds up. 

The Agroforestry Show was held on 6th-7th September 2023 and was organised by The Soil Association and the Woodland Trust. 

Many thanks to all of the contributors to this podcast episode including Helen Browning, Ben Raskin, Rhodri Owen, Liam Armstrong, Connor Kendrew, Chris Jones, James Ramskir Gardiner and Will Simonson. 

For more information on the Agroforestry Show click here.

For the Agroforestry Handbook click here. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Image credit: Cath Morley

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Find Zoe on Instagram here.

Today we’re heading across to the US, to Ohio to meet 8th generation farmer Zoe Kent. Zoe grows 2000 acres of corn and soybeans and she has amassed a whopping 420,000 followers across Facebook, Tiktok and Instagram sharing her farming life. She graduated from college in 2017 and worked for her dad Mickey as an employee before becoming a partner in 2019 and taking on the business fully in 2021 when her dad retired. She holds an ag business degree from Ohio State University.

Image credit: Zoe Kent. 

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.

Helen is the third generation of her family to farm at Longridge Farm in Gloucestershire, which is 100 acres in area. Originally a dairy farm along with sheep and traditional orchards, Helen now runs a 50 head sucker herd with Dexters, 120 breeding ewes, a dairy goat rearing system, a small pig rearing unit, 100 turkeys for the Christmas market, a livery yard and the orchard. She is also a part time lecturer in agriculture at Hartpury College where she mainly teaches livestock production. She has in the past worked there on a full time basis. In 2017 Helen’s dad died after a 5 year battle with cancer, and this was a real turning point for Helen and the business, encouraging her to go full throttle with it, especially the meat box enterprise.

You can follow Helen on Instagram here.

Or search for Longridge Farm on Facebook. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Produce and Provide UK

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show

01:58 Helen comes in

02:15 What gives Helen the drive to keep doing what she is doing?

03:00 History of the farm and Helen's grandfather.

03:55 The farm enterprises.

05:54 Helen and Griff start buying stock. 

06:13 Did Helen want to farm when she was growing up?

08:08 Helen went to Hartpury College to do a vet nursing science degree.

09:35 In 2005 Helen and Griff take the leap to farm but Helen also gets a job as a full time lecturer in animal care at Hartpury.

11:24 This episode is being sponsored by A Plan Rural Insurance.

12:08 Helen working with her dad.

12:55 Starting out with selling direct: Helen's tips. 

15:25 It doesn't happen overnight but gradually you get repeat customers.

16:18 Social media takes time to build.

16:31 Would Helen expand or work with other producers?

18:35 Helen's day to day depending on the time of year.

20:35 Lambing 2023

22:42 More information on A Plan Rural Insurance.

23:04 The apples and orchards - what does Helen do with them?

24:46 Helen's dad gets cancer.

26:39 Flooding on the farm and wetter winters going forwards.

28:29 The future for the farm.

30:18 Goat meat is popular.

30:52 Challenges section - profitability and balancing cost of production versus profit. 

32:50 Helen's internal battle of passing costs on to her customers.

33:24 Helen's message for the public.

34:19 Helen's message for farmers.

35:28 Helen's shout out for Produce and Provide UK

36:09 How do you follow Helen?

37:06 Ben rounds up the show and what is happening next week? 

Image credit: Holly Moscrop

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Wakelyns do a number of courses and you can also stay at the farm - visit wakelyns.co.uk for more information

Today we’re heading to Derbyshire to speak to dairy farmer Jessica Langton. Despite only being in her 20s Jess already has an impressive CV and bags of passion, enthusiasm and drive for a career in agriculture. As well as working on the family dairy farm, she studied Animal Science at the University of Nottingham and is currently on a grad scheme with Genus who she worked with on a part time basis while doing her degree. She was a driving force for introducing Jersey and Norwegian Red genetics into her family’s pedigree Holstein and Friesian herd and she also has a strong interest in improving sustainability on the farm. This interest in sustainability goes wider and indeed when she was at Nottingham she was part of Enactus Nottingham, a not for profit organisation run by students and her social enterprise there worked with Arla to investigate feeding seaweed to ruminants as a way of reducing methane emissions. Jess was an NFU Student and Young Farmers Ambassador last year, she’s an appointee on the NFU Dairy Board, and in 2021 she was named Agricultural Student of the Year at both the British Farming Awards and the Farmers Weekly Awards. 

About Ben

Ben Eagle is a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist and podcaster. He also produces podcasts for a number of other rural organisations. You can find out more at benjamineagle.co.uk 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

A-Plan Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural. 

Show References

Becca and Lizzie: The Podcast 

Image credit: Jess Langton

Timestamps

00:27 Ben introduces the show.

2:00 Jess comes in.

2:37 What is Jess doing on her grad scheme with Genus?

4:20 Who are Genus and Promar? Genus is a bovine genetics company mainly looking at marketing bull semen with a big focus on sustainability.

5:45 Jess talks about her family's dairy farm with Lochlan pedigree Holsteins. 

8:11 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

8:57 What 3 words would Jess use to describe herself?

9:55 Jess enjoys doing lots of different things - she wanted to be a doctor for a while. 

10:55 Jess's time at Nottingham University.

12:15 A project on reducing methane emissions by feeding seaweed to cattle. 

14:48 Jess is involved in a lot of wider industry work, including with the NFU. Jess explains why it is important for her to get involved in the wider industry.

16:42 Where does Jess see herself in 10 years time?

18:04 Challenges in the industry - Jess sees labour as being the major issue at the moment. 

20:10 Ben and Jess discuss publicity of the industry and painting farming in a realistic way - but how to encourage skilled people into the industry? 

21:47 Challenges in the dairy sector - what is Jess's perspective on dairy for this year? 

23:24 Does the long term future look good for dairy? Jess thinks so. 

24:22 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.

24:53 Jess's message for the public: keep supporting farmers. Keep drinking milk and eat plenty of cheese!

25:16 Jess's message for farmers: we are a team. Look out for each other.

25:40 Jess does a shout of for the Becca and Lizzie Podcast. 

Link to James' website 

Link to Michael Blanche's Nuffield report. 

Image credit: Kingsclere Estates

Ali's farm website - Ali Capper - Stocks Farm

https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/

Niels Corfield is an agricultural consultant based in Norfolk. You can find out more by visiting his website - Home - Regenerative agriculture consultancy for farmers and landowners (nielscorfield.com)

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. 

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. 

About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. 

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. 

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

Howden Rural Insurance

This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.