The Farmers Weekly Podcast
Farmers Weekly
Recent Episodes
In this episode, we examine Defra's latest raft of new policies to boost farm profitability.
Just exactly how new are they?
We scrutinise the keynote speech delivered by Defra secretary Steve Reed at the NFU's annual conference in London.
We preview the Pancake Day Rally against government plans to impose 20% inheritance tax on farm assets worth more than £1 million.
To register for the rally, click here.
And we speak to the new group of succession planning experts who have formed the Succession Alliance to help farmers pass their farms on to the next generation.
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
Follow Johann (X): @johanntasker
Follow Louise (X): @louisearable
Follow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarm
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly
To contact 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.
Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time Event at Plumpton College in East Sussex
Recorded in front of a live audience on Thursday, 20 February 2025, farmers and other conference delegates quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues.
Our panel is:
- James MacCleary, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes & Lib Dem Europe spokesperson
- Flavian Obiero, the Kenyan Pig Farmer, of Tynefield Farm
- Kelly Hewson-Fisher, head of rural research, Savills
- Amy Jackson, agricultural communications specialist, Oxtale PR
- Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, found and president, The Rural Policy Group
This Farmers Weekly Question Time is sponsored by Savills and Lantra, the skills and training organisation for the land-based sector.
Farmers Weekly Question Time is hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker. To attend future Farmers Weekly Question Time events, visit fwi.co.uk/questiontime.
In this episode, we discuss the possible outcomes after government finally agrees to talks with farm leaders on inheritance tax.
Have things gone too far? Were farming protestors right to force Keir Starmer to cut short a prime ministerial visit to Milton Keynes?
And should farming be higher or lower on the government's pecking order?
We speak to Aberdeenshire farmer Andrew Connan – NFU Scotland's newly president – and ask him about his priorities.
And Louise meets the aerospace engineer who finds out that farming is harder than rocket science.
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
Follow Johann (X): @johanntasker
Follow Louise (X): @louisearable
Follow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarm
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly
To contact 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.
In this episode, we look at the LEAF Marque - the farm assurance scheme that delivers benefits for consumers and the environment – as well as for farmers.
We find out what makes it work, why it is becoming so popular – and why supermarkets are so keen to work alongside LEAF food producers.
We speak to Oxbury Bank – the latest lender offering a special deal to farmers who want to farm more sustainably.
We visit an upbeat DairyTech event at Stoneleigh – and talk to the winner of the NMR Gold Cup, presented by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.
We've all the latest market prices – and we discover why it's so important to join this month's Big Farmland Bird Count.
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
Follow Johann (X): @johanntasker
Follow Louise (X): @louisearable
Follow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarm
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly
To contact 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.
In this episode, we look at government plans to reduce the area of UK farmland – and use it instead to restore nature and create wildlife habitats.
The government's Land Use Framework for England – which is out for consultation – will earmark different areas of land for different uses.
Objectives include food production, building 1.5 million homes this parliament, and helping to mitigate climate change.
We examine what this means for key areas such as the Fens, with a visit to the Fenland Soil Conference in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
With beef prices reaching record highs, we look at the prospects for the sector for farmers – and the price of steak for consumers.
And as the battle over inheritance tax continues, we look at how banks say they are trying to support growers and livestock producers.
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
Follow Johann (X): @johanntasker
Follow Louise (X): @louisearable
Follow Hugh (X): @sondesplacefarm
For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow @farmersweekly
To contact 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.