Best AHDB Podcasts (2025)

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Roots to Resilience 04 19:11

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2d ago19:11

19:11

Amy Hughes catches up with farmers who've taken part in AHDB Beef & Lamb's flagship knowledge exchange programme, Roots to Resilience. In the last episode of this short series, Amy finds out why Alan Robinson, who farms over 550 acres across two sites on the Yorkshire/Cumbria border, got involved and what impact it's had on the way he works. Useful…

1
Beanstalk Global / AHDB Talking Leaders Series – Global Leadership, Local Impact: Visionary Voices Shaping the Future of Agribusiness with Ingo & Nina Plöger. 1:02:08

7d ago1:02:08

1:02:08

We know how important it is to be inspired by both big businesses and individuals, which is why we are excited to present Talking Leaders, a monthly initiative from the AHDB which will see a series of inspirational speakers share their life experiences and deliver impactful stories to the AgriLeader community. In the August episode of Talking Leade…

1
AHDB harvest error, alternative inheritance tax plan, Vivergo bioethanol plant, drought, & electronic ID for cattle 48:15

13d ago48:15

48:15

A data error means the latest harvest progress report over-estimates yields – and triggers an investigation by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Why wasn't the report right in the first place? Industry leaders give a mixed reaction to the latest inheritance tax proposals. And one of Britain's biggest livestock auctioneers voices c…

1
Beef price elasticity, Graham Wilkinson and milk market indicators 37:11

1d ago37:11

37:11

The Agonomics team welcome their boss David Swales to discuss beef price elasticity and what it means for consumers and processors. They also catch up with their even bigger former boss, departing CEO Graham Wilkinson, to chat about his time at AHDB. Plus, what do milk price indicators AMPE, MCVE and MMV mean? And find out who had a memorable (for …

1
Roots to Resilience 03 19:57

2d ago19:57

19:57

Amy Hughes continues to catch up with farmers who've taken part in AHDB Beef & Lamb's flagship knowledge exchange programme, Roots to Resilience. In this third episode of our four-part series, Amy finds out why Emma Graves, a beef farmer from Northamtonshire, got involved and asks if she's made any changes as a result. Useful links Roots to Resilie…

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Roots to Resilience 02 26:37

3d ago26:37

26:37

In this four-part series, Amy Hughes catches up with farmers who've taken part in AHDB Beef & Lamb's flagship knowledge exchange programme, Roots to Resilience. Amy's joined by Angus, Duncan and Joe Nelless, who run their family farm in Northumberland, to find why they got involved and any changes they've made as a result. Useful links Roots to Res…

1
Roots to Resilience 01 18:43

2d ago18:43

18:43

In this four-part series, Amy Hughes catches up with farmers who've taken part in AHDB Beef & Lamb's flagship knowledge exchange programme, Roots to Resilience. Amy finds out why Richard Stanbury, a fourth-generation beef and sheep farmer on the edge of Exmoor, got involved and any changes he's made as a result. Useful links Roots to Resilience wor…

1
Future-Proofing Forage Against Weather Extremes 20:00

2d ago20:00

20:00

This episode focuses on the challenges farmers are facing with forage this year. After a wet winter and a dry summer, concerns are growing around forage shortages for livestock. We are joined by Ben Lowe, Agrii’s National Forage Product Manager, and Amy Hardwick, Sustainability and Environmental Services Manager, to discuss the current situation, t…

1
Oilseed rape - surprise crop of the year? Sugar beet price, food price inflation, more on electronic tagging, and tributes to David Richardson 48:10

6d ago48:10

48:10

Harvest has been hugely variable this summer – with many growers in prime arable areas reporting terrible cereal yields. But has one crop bucked the trend? After years of decline and disappointment, oilseed rape is having a bit of a moment. Could it, perhaps, be crop of the year? Is £30/t an acceptable price for sugar beet? We find out. We’ve more …

1
UK agri-food exports, trade with the EU and abattoir numbers 34:17

8d ago34:17

34:17

Despite being able to negotiate free trade agreements, the EU remains the UK's most important trading partner. AHDB's Amandeep Kaur Purewal joins the Agonomics team to discuss what it means for exports of red meat and dairy. The spotlight also falls on abattoirs and cold storage facilities to understand how the structure of the beef and lamb proces…

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Pork outlook, demand and trust in farmers 27:32

15d ago27:32

27:32

Pork is the focus in this episode as the Agonomics team are joined by AHDB colleagues Freya Shuttleworth and Vanessa Adamson to discuss the outlook for the market alongside current demand. They also look at public trust in farmers and what it means for buying British. Plus, find out who has never set foot in in a Greggs bakery. Some useful links: P…

1
Kemi Badenoch hits out on inheritance tax, dairy farmer crowdfunds renewable energy project, harvest update & deep dive into autumn weed control 47:49

20d ago47:49

47:49

In this episode, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch visits an Essex farm – meeting farmers to talk about inheritance tax. We’ve an exclusive interview. We meet the Yorkshire dairy farmer who is starting a renewable energy company – and powering up the local community. And we take an in-depth look at autumn weed control. This episode of the Farmers Weekly Po…

1
Beef outlook, demand and predictions 28:54

22d ago28:54

28:54

In an (almost) all-female episode, AHDB Senior Analyst Becky Smith and Retail and Consumer Insight Manager Emma Wantling are in to take us through the current outlook for the beef market, along with demand, predictions and how things are going in retail and food service. CEO news, dodgy puns and teasers for future guests are also on the cards. Usef…

1
Resilient Farming in Action: Live from the AgriiFocus Panel 20:00

23d ago20:00

20:00

Today we’re recording live here at AgriiFocus, an Agrii iFarm, at North Farm near Marlborough, Wiltshire. Arable farming is facing an increasingly challenging environment. Improving the resilience of soils, crops and businesses is key to delivering productivity gains. The question is: what action can you take on farm, and what technologies can you …

1
Live on Farm: The Ripening Story of British Blackcurrants in a Changing Climate 20:00

24d ago20:00

20:00

Today we’re recording live from West End Farm in Somerset, home to RAJ Morris and their recent blackcurrant harvest. We’re here in the field with Harriet Prosser, agronomist for Ribena, and Matt Greep, fruit and horticultural agronomist with Agrii. Together, we’ll be exploring the unique challenges of growing blackcurrants – from changing weather p…

1
Donald Trump on farm inheritance tax, 4WD electric pickup 'gamechanger', Clarkson's Farm goes down with bovine TB, & farmer leaves £500k to charity 48:50

28d ago48:50

48:50

In this episode, Donald Trump leaves UK prime minister Keir Starmer in stony silence as he explains why American farmers don’t pay inheritance tax. But would British farmers really be better off if President Trump was in charge of UK agriculture? Is it time to get an electric farm pickup – we look at the latest fully electric truck as it goes on sa…

1
Lamb market outlook update, yoghurt bucks trend and milk-to-feed-price ratio 29:26

29d ago29:26

29:26

AHDB Analyst Grace Bolton joins the Agonomics team to talk through the headlines from the Lamb market outlook's mid-year update, with new season lambs coming through later, lighter and in slightly fewer numbers. Charlotte highlights yoghurt's positive performance in the home while Hannah and Tom help explain the importance of the milk-to-feed-price…

1
'Godfather' of regenerative agriculture Gabe Brown on future of farming, support for nature-friendly food production, & plan to monetise farm data 49:39

1M ago49:39

49:39

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the future of regenerative agriculture and examine whether it is right for your farm. We have a special interview with American farmer Gabe Brown, described as the 'god father' of regenerative agriculture, as he visits the UK. We discuss the role of government support when it comes to agro-ecology and na…

1
Emily Norton: Welcome to the new AHDB chair 37:34

1M ago37:34

37:34

New AHDB Chair, Emily Norton, joins the Agonomics team to discuss her appointment as well as her aspirations for the organisation and farming in general. Emily says she's not here to fight for a "single version of any particular future" of agriculture and intends to make sure AHDB continues to serve all levy payers. Plus, find out how the recruitme…

1
Emily Norton: Welcome to the new AHDB chair 39:13

1M ago39:13

39:13

New AHDB Chair, Emily Norton, joins the Agonomics team to discuss her appointment as well as her aspirations for the organisation and farming in general. Emily says she's not here to fight for a "single version of any particular future" of agriculture and intends to make sure AHDB continues to serve all levy payers. Plus, find out how the recruitme…

1
Former British Lion Tom Youngs talks rugby and farming, progress on national food strategy, Sustainable Farming Scheme for Wales, & variable catchy harvest 54:55

1M ago54:55

54:55

In this episode, former British Lion Tom Youngs shares his thoughts on farming and rugby. We run the rule on the government’s latest iteration of a national food strategy - and discuss the implications for farmers. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones voices concern about the newly announced Sustainable Farming Scheme for Wales. And we look at the ups an…

1
Beanstalk Global / AHDB Talking Leaders Series – Melanie Siggs: Food Systems, Natural Capital & the Future of Farming. 1:05:50

1M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

We know how important it is to be inspired by both big businesses and individuals, which is why we are excited to present Talking Leaders, a monthly initiative from the AHDB which will see a series of inspirational speakers share their life experiences and deliver impactful stories to the AgriLeader community. In the July episode of Talking Leaders…

1
Record low tractor registrations, earliest harvest in years and carcase balance 31:08

1M ago31:08

31:08

UK tractor registrations have fallen significantly to their lowest level in over two decades and the Agonomics team discuss what may have caused this sharp drop. They also look at AHDB's first report of the earliest harvest for at least 19 years and this week's big question is around the importance of carcase balance. Plus, could we be expecting a …

1
Live from Groundswell: A Plain English Policy Update with AIC, AHDB and Agrii 30:00

1M ago30:00

30:00

Live from Groundswell: How can we build a more resilient farm business? Part 1 Farmers are increasingly impacted by policy changes - from regulation to subsidy reform. But what’s on the horizon? And what does it mean for on-farm decisions and long-term business planning? Guests: Ed Barker, Head of Policy and External Affairs Vicky Robinson, Head of…

1
Drought and wildfire warning, new Tesco boss backs farmers, parts suppliers frustration, growing olives in Lincolnshire 50:34

2M ago50:34

50:34

In this episode, as drought is declared in Yorkshire, we look at the impact of the dry weather across the country. Scotland faces a wildfire warning – following a 30,000 acre blaze which saw farmers and game-keepers come together to fight the flames. Tesco's new chief executive Ashwin Prasad gets out on farm – just a week into the job – saying he w…

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What is Groundswell? 33:48

2M ago33:48

33:48

The Agonomics team take a look back at Groundswell, the regenerative agriculture festival, where Charlotte was part of one of the discussion panels. From AI in farming to wireworms, Charlotte's report from the two-day event brings you a flavour of what took place at Lannock Farm in Hitchin. Tom also looks at the difference between land sparing and …

1
Groundswell 2025: £150m in capital grants for farmers, former Defra adviser on farming future, how to unlock nature markets, big business invests in farming, AHDB chief exec plans for farm levies 49:16

2M ago49:16

49:16

In this episode, a former Defra adviser says the government must win back farmers' trust if it is serious about successful agriculture. The government unveils £150m in capital grants for farmers – we look at what the money is likely to fund and how it will work. We find out about new funding opportunities for farmers – thanks to private investment …

1
Crop conditions, national craft butchers and diseconomies of scale 33:12

2M ago33:12

33:12

As early harvesting begins, the Agonomics team are joined by AHDB's Lead Analyst for C&O, Millie Askew, to look at the latest crop conditions across the UK. Charlotte and Tom report back from the National Craft Butchers event in Nottingham as well as explaining what diseconomies of scale refer to. Plus, find out which presenter is rather proud of w…

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Early start for harvest 2025, moisture meters, why it's gone quiet on inheritance tax, Fram Farmers trials day, & CowPie Country Show 51:34

2M ago51:34

51:34

In this episode, we preview the early start to harvest 2025 as the first combines roll into barley crops. One year after the Labour came to power, we ask why farm leaders have gone so quiet on government plans to impose inheritance on farmers. We visit a Fram Farmers trials day in Suffolk – and Hugh goes to his local Cowpie Country Fair. This episo…

1
Cattle slaughter age, Easter food trends and swimming pools of milk 29:45

2M ago29:45

29:45

Tom's joined by AHDB Senior Analyst Becky Smith to discuss the trends of cattle slaughter ages in GB, with dairy-beef generally finishing later than suckler-bred animals. Charlotte runs through her review of Easter looking, in part, at how beef and lamb fared. And Hannah's question about how many Olympic-sized swimming pools of milk we produced las…

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Wheat That Works: Hexton and the Value of Variety Investment 20:00

2M ago20:00

20:00

Today we’re joined by Agrii’s Technical Manager, John Miles, David Schafer, Wheat Breeder at RAGT, and Hugh Harley, BIPO representative. As farmers and agronomists weigh up wheat variety choices for the season ahead, we’ll explore Hexton – a new wheat variety – its potential fit for your farm, and how an existing seed royalty scheme could benefit y…

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Rooted in Nutrition: Soil Health and Smarter Inputs 20:00

2M ago20:00

20:00

Today we’re joined by Agrii’s Tom Perrott, Fertiliser and Crop Inputs Specialist, and Dave Thompson, Farm Manager at Eastbury Estates in Dorset. In this episode, we explore soil health, crop nutrition and how ‘stacking the benefits’ – using alternative sources of nutrition to better support the crop – can, with an innovative approach, strengthen th…

1
Red Tractor must avoid 'fudged' reform, bluetongue restriction havoc in Wales, Scottish beef at the Royal Highland Show, Farming Rules for Water, and more on skylarks at Cereals 42:19

2M ago42:19

42:19

In this episode, a former NFU combinable crops chairman sats the pace of change at Red Tractor is too slow to win back farmers' confidence. Cross-border bluetongue restrictions on livestock brought from England into Wales threaten to cause havoc, say farm leaders. We've the latest on muck spreading and Defra's Farming Rules For Water. And we visit …

1
Organic and protein-rich dairy, spending review and seasonal demand 29:29

2M ago29:29

29:29

When it comes to dairy products, just how well are the organic and protein-rich markets faring? Hannah, Charlotte and Tom find out as they're joined by AHDB analyst Annabel Twinberrow. Following the recent spending review the team recap what we know so far before looking at the importance of seasonal demand for our farmers. Plus, find out what's be…

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Verdict on government spending review, outrage at imported supermarket beef, bumper Cereals event, & top accolade for 21-year-old oat variety 42:40

3M ago42:40

42:40

In this episode, UK farm leaders voice dismay after three major British supermarkets start selling beef from Australia, Uruguay and New Zealand. Is the government's spending review really better than expected when it comes to farming and the environment? We discuss the implications of departmental cuts at Defra – and the impact for growers and live…

1
Planting and variety survey and AHDB's biggest ever red meat inward trade mission 30:44

3M ago30:44

30:44

The results from this year's Planting and Variety Survey are revealed as Charlotte, Hannah and Tom are joined by AHDB Senior Analyst Helen Plant to discuss them in more detail. We also hear what happened when 28 buyers from across the globe took part in our biggest ever inward mission for the red meat sector. And as 10 top tips for managing cabbage…

1
Spending review - likely impact on farming, Cereals event preview, and getting the message across on Open Farm Sunday 43:26

3M ago43:26

43:26

In this episode, we look at the likely impact of the government's spending review on UK farming and the environment. We have a sneak preview of this month’s Cereals event – and why reducing carbon emissions isn't as easy as people might think. And why it is so important to get the farming message across on Open Farm Sunday. This episode of the Farm…

1
Goodbye David 30:08

3M ago30:08

30:08

Charlotte, Hannah and Tom take over the reins as David looks at the economics of agriculture for one last time. Among the topics discussed are flexitarian diets, Donald Trump's tariffs and why AHDB reports on pricing. Plus, who makes the lousiest cup of coffee? More on the important stuff: Video – What does future red meat consumption look like? | …

1
The Malting Barley Blueprint: Aligning Breeding, Farming and Market Needs 20:00

3M ago20:00

20:00

The malting barley blueprint, aligning breeding, farming and market needs: big questions and vital for the malting barley industry. To help answer those questions, we have David Griggs, technical director from Crisp Malt, Charlie Catto, agronomist with Agrii and Paul Bury, barley breeder from Secobra Research. We are at the perfect location to ask …

1
Keep the Faith in OSR 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

Today we are joined by Agrii's David Leaper, seed technical specialist, and Sarah Hawthorne, head of arable products for DSV in the UK. With the area of OSR being grown down this year, crops currently in the ground are looking very good. We are going to reexamine how to get the best out of this crop. What are the latest seed breeding developments a…