Meet the Farmers

00:51:00

Farming Under Pressure: SFI Closes in 6 Hours (Big...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/09/25

In episode 23 of The Big Debate Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory discuss a busy week in UK agriculture, from the rapid closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive application window and the pressures it created for farmers and agents to drought-related potato losses and new investment in Scotland’s beef sector. They share updates from their own farms, consider how funding and food production fit alongside environmental goals, and finish by exploring how farming films can help audiences

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00:44:58

After the Drought: What Needs to Change on UK Farms?...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/09/11

The rain has returned, but after two incredibly challenging summers, can farming afford to simply move on?In our latest episode of The Big Debate, Ally and Sophie discuss what the drought could mean for the decisions they make on their own farms - from forage and future cropping choices to water security, land availability and reducing their reliance on the weather. And there's plenty more in the episode. They revisit your responses to the £1 million question, discuss the potential feed and forage

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00:33:58

Reasons to Be Confident About the Future of Farming

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/09/04

Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by Virgin Money's UK Head of Agriculture Brian Richardson and Head of Agriculture in Scotland Stephen Buchan to take a broad look at UK agriculture over the past few months.🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcastMeet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found

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00:38:41

What Would You Do With £1 Million on Your Farm? Big...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/08/28

If someone handed you £1 million to invest in your farm, what would you spend it on? That's the question Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory tackle in this week's Big Debate. From buying land and securing the future of the business to investing in water storage and diversification, they explore whether £1 million is really enough to transform a modern farm – and whether they're investing for themselves or the next generation.Also in this episode, they discuss the latest dairy market news and

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00:51:48

The Reality of Farming in Britain's Drought. Big...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/08/14

Join Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory for the first-ever in-person episode of The Big Debate. They discuss the UK's worsening drought, the spread of bluetongue, harvest pressures, life on their own farms, and the challenge of juggling farming with family life during the school holidays. They also explore how British farms are adapting through diversification and changing farming practices as the climate continues to shift.Link to newsletter sign up -Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media 🎧

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00:01:10

Ben shares some news

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/08/10

Ben shares some news in this short episode. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @mtf_podcast for more content. 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 at https://www.ruralpodmedia.co.uk/podca... By accessing this Podcast, you acknowledge that RuralPod Media Limited makes no warranty,

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00:46:08

EMERGENCY EPISODE - Wild Fires, Grazing, Rewilding...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/08/03

Summer wildfires are happening all over the UK, France, Spain, Europe and the rest of the world. Can anything be done to prevent or manage them? In this emergency podcast episode Ben is joined by Alex Crawley (Director, Grazing Management Ltd), Michael Priestley (Policy Manager, National Sheep Association), Craig Hope (National Resilience Wildfire Capability Advisor for the National Fire Chiefs Council) and Emma Douglas (grazier from the Gower Peninsula in south Wales) to debate whether grazing or

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00:56:40

Harvest 2026 and Reviewing the Road to Farm...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/07/24

In this episode of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate Ally and Sophie are joined by Ben Briggs to discuss politics, the new Burnham government, the Farming Roadmap and the response to the Farm Profitability Review. Ally also gives his thoughts on his harvest experience so far and they discuss the weather and Farm Safety Week 2026. Hosted as always by farmers Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair.Link to newsletter sign up -Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media 🎧 Please subscribe to the show and

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00:34:00

Derek vs Derek The Film - meet the Dereks

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/07/20

In this episode Ben speaks to Derek Banbury and Derek Gow - two Devon farmers who star in a new documentary film called Derek v Derek, made by James Dawson. Each Derek takes a different approach to managing their land - Derek Banbury is a dairy farmer and Derek Gow a rewilding and species reintroduction advocate. However as we see in this interview there is more that brings them together than may at first appear. Ben also speaks to the film's producer James Dawson. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers

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00:26:22

Answers to YOUR Questions on Farm Diversification and...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/07/17

In this episode, host farmers Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair put some listener questions about farm diversification and viticulture, to Annabelle Rout, a lawyer from Birketts LLP. Annabelle is also Birkett's Head of Viticulture. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found

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00:44:51

Are Cover Crops Worth Planting?

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/07/13

Ben is joined by Sophie Gregory and Tom Gregory, Dorset farmers alongside Alex Pearson from DLF Seeds to discuss cover crops and the trials that Tom and Sophie are undertaking on their farm. This episode was sponsored by DLF Seeds. #AD 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode and want us to make more, please subscribe to the show and follow us on socials @MTF_podcast. Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not

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00:40:45

Is ORGANIC FARMING the Answer? Big Debate ep18 LIVE...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/07/10

In this LIVE version of The Big Debate Sophie and Ally are joined by Suffolk based organic farmer John Pawsey to discuss the future of organic farming. How does John see the future of his farm? Hosted as always by farmers Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair. With thanks to the Sustainable Food Trust for hosting the podcast tent at Groundswell where this was filmed. It was made possible by Groundswell Festival and the Rothschild Foundation. Link to newsletter sign up -

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00:40:05

The Thirteenth Generation Farmer on a Mission to Get...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/07/06

In this special Live at Groundswell special episode Ben Eagle speaks with Tom McVeigh, a 13th generation farm who farms at Kenton Hall in Suffolk. Tom describes his journey coming back to the family farm, and also his ambitions to grow hazelnuts. With thanks to the Sustainable Food Trust, Groundswell and the Rothschild Foundation for enabling the Podcast tent at Groundswell. 🎧 If you enjoyed this interview and want us to make more, please subscribe to the show and follow us on socials

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01:03:52

Starmer RESIGNS, Record Heat Hits Britain and...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/06/26

Lots to cover in this week's Big Debate episode from record breaking heat to political upheaval, the publication of the Farming Roadmap and government response to Minette Batters' Farm Profitability Review, farm safety and an interview with Nicola Appleton, Deputy Director for Agriculture and Land at the Environment Agency covering the relationship between the Environment Agency and farmers. Hosted as always by farmers Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair. Link to newsletter sign up - Sign-up to our

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00:58:07

Baroness Minette Batters - What was being NFU...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/06/22

Baroness Minette Batters DL is arguably one of the most influential voices in British agriculture in a generation. In 6 years as President of the NFU she worked with four Prime Ministers and six Secretaries of State at Defra. She faced Brexit, Covid, the War in Ukraine and many other challenges. But what was it really like to lead the NFU, especially as the first woman to be President? What does leadership mean to her and what does she think about progress regarding her Farm Profitability Review

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00:25:40

Smarter Farming: What is it and what's the future?

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/06/17

Farming has never been more complex. More decisions, more data and less time. Ally Hunter Blair headed to Cereals 2026 to ask farmers a simple question: what does smarter farming actually mean for you? This episode explores the vision, the reality and the opportunity. How can tech and data help farmers hit their goals, reduce the load and free up time for what matters most? With thanks to featured farmers Rebecca Roper, Ed Horton and Graham Potter. With thanks to our sponsor TELUS Agriculture &

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00:45:11

1 million young people not in Employment, Education...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/06/12

In the latest Big Debate episode with Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory, they discuss tech, farm safety, regen ag, World Milk Day and NEETS (young people not in employment, education or training) and how agriculture can help – that’s in the light of the publication of the interim report from Alan Milburn about young people and work. Could farming be part of the answer?Also featuring special guest Charlotte Kingham, Head Butcher at the Farmers Dog Pub in the Cotswolds. Link to newsletter sign up

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00:40:22

Farming Profitability, Contracting and a Forward...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/06/08

Today Ben is in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire borderlands meeting Tom Hawthorne who is farm manager for Flawborough Farms, farming 3200 hectares of cereals, forage maize and whole crop silage both for the home farm and contracting for 13 other landowners. The Hawthorne family have been farming at Flawborough since 1956 when Tom’s grandfather Charles inherited the farm from his godfather. With heavy land winter crops are the mainstay for the farm including Oilseed rape, Wheat, and

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00:30:21

Open Farm Sunday, Mustard, Sugar and more with...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/06/01

Today on Meet the Farmers host Ben Eagle is joined by Michael Sly who heads up the Park Farm team which farms 2000 hectares in north Cambridgeshire and south Lincolnshire. They grow wheat, peas, sugar and mustard. Michael was awarded an MBE in 2022. Michael has served as the chairman of English Mustard Growers and the NFU Sugar board. Michael has also welcomed tens of thousands of people through the farm gates since he started doing Open Farm Sunday in 2006. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers

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00:50:09

Drought, Fuel Costs and Tractor Ted: What's Next for...

Meet the Farmers ·

2026/05/29

This week Ally and Sophie cover several different stories from fuel prices to trade deals, drought in the US, golden eagles to chicken campaigns and agricultural shows to Tractor Ted. Hosted as always by dairy farmer Sophie Gregory and arable farmer Ally Hunter Blair. Link to newsletter sign up - Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media 🎧 Please subscribe to the show and follow us on social media @MTF_podcast Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate is produced by RuralPod Media. Please note that

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