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Defra Farming Podcast

The Defra Farming Podcast is produced by Defra’s Farming and Countryside team. Each episode brings together farmers and people from across the sector to share real experiences, explore practical challenges, and talk about what government support and policy changes mean on the ground. It’s a spa

New episodes: Now and then
Typical length: 33 min
Latest: 7 Jul 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Jul 2026 · 26 min

How government funding is supporting innovation on farms - Chris Lyons, Dominic Swan, David Prior Hope

In episode 21, Chris Lyons from Innovate UK speaks to two successful recipients of government innovation funding to find out how it has helped them test new ideas, reduce risk and deliver results on-farm. Dominic Swan from Catalyst Farming explains how four Norfolk farming businesses used a Research Starter project to explore computer crop modelling to improve nitrogen-use efficiency. The work has now secured further support through ADOPT to scale up trials across more farms, soil types and m...

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Earlier episodes 20 most recent

20 Apr 2026 · 33 min
Farming for the Future: building resilience through soil and water management - Hannah Barrett, Charlie Ennals, Thomas Gent
In episode 20 of the Defra Farming podcast, guest host Hannah Barrett—a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser in the East of England—speaks with Norfolk farmer Charlie Ennals and Cambridgeshire farmer Thomas Gent. Together, they explore how working with nature can help farms become more resilient in the face of changing weather patterns, rising costs and increasing uncertainty. Charlie shares how gradual changes—such as cover cropping, introducing livestock and improving soil organic matter—hav...
5 Feb 2026 · 37 min
How farmers can access the government’s ADOPT innovation fund to test ideas on-farm - Thomas Slattery, Bryony Graham, Peter Southwell
The government’s Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund helps farmers access funding to test practical ideas on their own farms, from new crops and soil systems to technology and collaborative trials. It is part of the Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. In episode 19 of the Defra Farming Podcast, we’re joined by two farmers with live ADOPT projects to explore what practical innovation looks like on-farm. Bryony Graham, an arabl...
4 Dec 2025 · 49 min
How to build a fairer, more transparent supply chain - Richard Thompson, Paul Tompkins, Michael Masters
Episode 18 of the Defra Farming podcast is hosted by Richard Thompson, the UK’s first Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA). He is joined by Paul Tompkins, NFU Dairy Board Chair, and Michael Masters Head of Milk Supply & Operations at Barber’s Cheesemakers. Richard explains his role in enforcing the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 (FDOM24) and how he can support farmers improve transparency and contractual fairness. Together, they discuss how the new regulati...
14 Oct 2025 · 37 min
How to profit from soil health on mixed, arable and upland livestock farms - Neil Pickard, Stuart Johnson, Kyle Richardville
In episode 17 of the Defra Farming podcast, host Neil Pickard—a farming adviser with more than 45 years’ experience in livestock and mixed farming—speaks with Soil Farmer of the Year 2023, Stuart Johnson, and Understanding Ag farming adviser, Kyle Richardville. Stuart, a tenant farmer in Northumberland, explains how he has shifted his family’s mixed sheep and cattle farm away from conventional high-input practices towards a system focused on soil health. Kyle brings the scientific perspective...
22 Apr 2025 · 31 min
Tom Allen-Stevens, Martin Lines, Ed Schofield - How IPM works for us: a farmer and agronomist’s perspective
Episode 16 – How IPM works for us: a farmer and agronomist’s perspective In this episode of the Defra Farming Podcast, guest host Tom Allen-Stevens—an arable farmer in Oxfordshire and founder of the British On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN)—is joined by Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines and agronomist Ed Schofield. Martin and Ed share with Tom how they are applying integrated pest management (IPM) on-farm to reduce reliance on chemical inputs while maintaining productivity and supporting bi...
8 Mar 2024 · 41 min
Martin Jenkins, Karen Halton, James Russell - Improving animal health and welfare on your farm
Defra Animal Health and Welfare lead Martin Jenkins talks to North West dairy farmer Karen Halton and vet James Russell about the support that is available from government to help livestock farmers drive down disease and improve animal health and welfare on their farms. Guidance for farmers and apply now - Guidance for farmers - Annual health and welfare review of livestock (defra.gov.uk) AHDB material for vets - What is the Annual Health and Welfare Review? | AHDB
30 Jan 2024 · 26 min
Robin & Christopher Milton, Michael Sturla - How SFI works with our beef and sheep farming business on the Exmoor uplands
In episode 14 of the Defra Farming podcast, Michael Sturla talks to Robin and Christopher Milton, a father and son team farming beef and sheep on the Exmoor uplands, who have recently signed up to SFI. Robin and Christopher share how they found the SFI application process and the SFI actions they have signed up to that suit their farming system, including clover and herbal leys, hedgerows, nutrient management, integrated pest management and vet visits. Find out more about how to apply for S...
3 Oct 2023 · 20 min
Andrew Powley, Richard Wordsworth, Richard Findlay - Everything you need to know about the Defra Farming Resilience Fund
In episode 13 of the Defra Farming Podcast, Defra Productivity and Innovation Lead Andrew Powley spoke to Richard Wordsworth, NFU Senior Adviser (Support Schemes), and North Yorkshire beef and sheep farmer Richard Findlay. The group's in-depth conversation covers everything you need to know as a farmer to access business support through the government's Farming Resilience Fund. Find out more on GOV.UK about how to get free business advice for your farm through the Defra Farming Resilience Fu...
29 Aug 2023 · 29 min
Jonathan Marsden and Claire Robinson - How to get ready for SFI 2023
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers for actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment. In 2023, the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be bigger and more flexible with 23 pick and mix actions for farmers to choose from, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland. For episode 12 of the Defra Farming Podcas...
23 Feb 2023 · 35 min
Lisa Warne, John and Charlie Renner - Next steps for environmental land management
In episode 11 of the Defra Farming podcast, Defra payments lead Lisa Warne talks to father and son John and Charlie Renner, who farm on the border of the Northumberland National Park between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Alnwick. Lisa gave an update about what's happening next in the growth and rollout of our environmental land management schemes. John and Charlie talked about how the new farming payments will fit in with the management of their farm and had plenty of questions about the new ...
19 Oct 2022 · 37 min
Matt McGuire, Charlotte Garbutt, Charlie Beaty, Ed Dungait - National Young Farmers' Week 2022
In episode 10 of the Future Farming podcast, to celebrate National Young Farmers' Week 2022, Matt McGuire welcomes 3 up-and-coming young people in farming to the podcast. Charlie Beaty, Ed Dungait and Charlotte Garbutt discuss how to get started in farming, the importance of education and the range of roles in agriculture. They also discuss the benefits new talent can bring to the sector. #YoungFarmersWeek Charlotte @ThisIsGarbs works in agronomy and sales for an agri-chemical company...
15 Aug 2022 · 24 min
Briony Turner, Harry Greenfield (CLA) and Lynette Steel (TFA) - How tenants and landlords can get the best out of new environmental schemes
In episode 9 of the Future Farming podcast, Defra farming strategy lead Briony Turner talks to CLA (Country Land and Business Association) land use advisor Harry Greenfield and TFA (Tenant Farmers Association) farm advisor Lynette Steel about new public and private sector environmental schemes. CLA and TFA have been working together to produce a set of guidelines to support tenants and landlords in applying for the schemes. Harry and Lynette explain the thinking behind the collaboration, and...
24 Jul 2022 · 35 min
Jonathan Marsden and Martin Lines - Everything you need to know about the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
The Sustainable Farming Incentive is now open for applications. Through SFI, farmers will be paid for looking after the natural environment while they're farming. This year, we’ll start paying farmers for taking care of their soil or assessing the condition of moorland. From next year, we’ll be expanding the range of SFI actions farmers can get paid for. For episode 8 of the Future Farming Podcast, we brought together Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines and Defra Sustainable Farming Incentive ...
21 Feb 2022 · 26 min
Tim Mordan and Rui Andrês - Government-funded innovation
In the seventh episode of the Future Farming podcast, Tim Mordan, Defra’s Head of Farming Innovation, Productivity and Science talks to Rui Andrês, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics, about their innovative raspberry robot picker. Listen to find out how the project was developed, initially at Plymouth University, and then with the help of government innovation funding to bring it to market. Find out more about government innovation funding for farming: How we're encouraging innovation in farming UKRI:...
9 Dec 2021 · 14 min
Janet Hughes and Sarah Evered - All about the Farming Investment Fund
In the fifth episode of the Future Farming podcast, Defra Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director Janet Hughes talks to policy lead for the Farming Investment Fund Sarah Evered. Listen to find out how the team designed the fund, what we've learned from launching it and what's coming next.
6 Dec 2021 · 34 min
Janet Hughes and Tim Parton - Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and nutrient-dense food
In the sixth episode of the Future Farming podcast, Janet talks with British Farming Awards Arable Innovator of the Year Tim Parton. Tim is Farm Manager at Brewood Park Farm, Staffordshire, where he manages 300 hectares using regenerative agriculture methods. Listen in to find out how Tim has moved to no-till, reduced insecticide and fungicide use and brewed his own nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Follow Tim @parker419 and Janet @JanetHughes on Twitter.
12 Nov 2021 · 37 min
Janet Hughes and Clive Bailye - Answering farmers' questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive
In September 2021 the Farming Forum held a two-part Q&A session with Janet Hughes, Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director. Farmers were invited to submit their questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Clive Bailye, Director of the Farming Forum, put the most-asked questions to Janet. The original videos can be watched here and here. We are making this version available as slightly abridged highlights version on the podcast.
11 Apr 2021 · 38 min
Janet Hughes and Gabe Brown - The six principles of soil health
In our third Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Gabe Brown. Gabe has been named one of the twenty-five most influential agricultural leaders in the United States. He is one of the pioneers of the soil health movement and author of the book, “Dirt to Soil, One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture.” He farms at Brown’s Ranch, a diversified 5,000 acre farm and ranch in North Dakota, with his wife Shelly and son Paul. Gabe is a partner in the regenerative farming co...
15 Mar 2021 · 23 min
Janet Hughes and Nic Renison - Rotational grazing and regenerative farming
In our second Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Nic Renison. Nic farms with her husband Paul on the edge of the North Pennines in Cumbria, where they produce cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are part of a growing movement towards regenerative farming that has been picking up pace since 2014. Nic is on the steering group for the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and is part of the Carbon Calling @carboncallfarm regenerative conference organising team. In this p...
16 Feb 2021 · 23 min
Janet Hughes and Neil Heseltine - Producing healthy food and benefiting nature
In our first ever Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Neil Heseltine. Neil is a farmer and the Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. He works with The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA), The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and Land Workers Alliance. Janet and Neil discuss how working with nature can not only safeguard it but can be more profitable. Neil was born and grew up on Hill Top Farm at Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park...

About Defra Farming Podcast

Defra Farming Podcast is a English news podcast from Defra. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Defra
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Now and then
Typical length: 33 min
Latest episode: 7 Jul 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1553902468

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