Podcast · Tech & Science
by Ben Eagle, RuralPod Media · English · Tech & Science
Meet the Farmers profiles farmers and gives you an insight into food and farming and the people behind it. Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate covers farming news, current affairs and discussion on the big issues that matter for rural people in Britain and across the world.
12 Oct 2026 · 41 min
In the final episode of series one of The Big Debate Ally, Sophie, and producer Ben look back on a year of farming discussions, reflecting on the industry’s challenges, what they’ve learned, and what could bring resilience and optimism for the future.
25 Sep 2026 · 51 min
Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair discuss the fast-closing SFI application window, UK potato crop losses, and new investment in Scotland’s beef sector, alongside updates from their own farms. They also explore how farming films can shape public understanding of agriculture.
11 Sep 2026 · 45 min
The rain has returned, but after two incredibly challenging summers, can farming afford to simply move on? Ally and Sophie discuss this and more in this week's Big Debate episode.
4 Sep 2026 · 34 min
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.
28 Aug 2026 · 39 min
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.
14 Aug 2026 · 52 min
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.
E350 · 10 Aug 2026 · 1 min
Ben will be away for a little while and shares some news in this short update.
E349 · 3 Aug 2026 · 46 min
For this emergency episode Ben is joined by a panel to discuss wild fires and how land management can help
24 Jul 2026 · 57 min
Ally and Sophie are joined by Ben Briggs to discuss the Farming Roadmap and the government response to the Farm Profitability Review. Also chat about the dry weather, Ally's experience so far of harvest 2026 and Farm Safety Week.
E348 · 20 Jul 2026 · 34 min
Derek v Derek is a 2026 documentary about two neighbouring Devon farmers whose opposing approaches to managing the land make sparks fly between them! Here we meet the Dereks and see how they are actually more similar in their views than may at first appear.
17 Jul 2026 · 26 min
Do you have questions about viticulture or diversification? In this bonus episode of The Big Debate, hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory put some listener questions to Annabelle Rout, a lawyer from Birketts LLP.
E347 · 13 Jul 2026 · 45 min
Ben is joined by Sophie Gregory and Tom Gregory, Dorset farmers alongside Alex Pearson from DLF Seeds to discuss cover crops, what they are, their benefits and the trials that Tom and Sophie are undertaking on their farm.
10 Jul 2026 · 41 min
Organic farmer John Pawsey joins Ally and Sophie live at Groundswell festival to discuss the future of organic farming.
E346 · 6 Jul 2026 · 40 min
A live podcast recording from Groundswell with Suffolk farmer Tom McVeigh, talking family farming, nuts and Nuffield.
26 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
From record heat to the Farming Roadmap, political upheaval and the relationship between farmers and the Environment Agency - there is lots to cover in this week's Big Debate.
E345 · 22 Jun 2026 · 58 min
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? How did she get there and what's the future?
17 Jun 2026 · 26 min
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?
12 Jun 2026 · 45 min
In the latest Big Debate episode Sophie and Ally discuss the recent Milburn report into young people and work. With over a million 16-24 year olds not in employment, education or training, could farming be part of the answer?
E344 · 8 Jun 2026 · 40 min
Ben is joined by arable farmer Tom Hawthorne who farms in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire borderlands.
E343 · 1 Jun 2026 · 30 min
Ben speaks to Cambridgeshire arable farmer Michael Sly, who has been holding an Open Farm Sunday on his event since the start in 2006.
29 May 2026 · 50 min
Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory cover a lot of news stories and big picture pieces this week from fuel prices to trade deals, golden eagles to chicken campaigns and agricultural shows to Tractor Ted.
E342 · 26 May 2026 · 58 min
Ben speaks to Joe Howard who is responsible for the carrot and beef enterprises on a mixed farm business in Nottinghamshire.
22 May 2026 · 29 min
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.
E341 · 18 May 2026 · 35 min
Ben heads to New Zealand this week to speak to dairy farmer George Dodson who in 2024 was named the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
15 May 2026 · 47 min
This week's Big Debate topic is 'does farming in Wales have a bright future?' Hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory also discuss wool prices, stolen egg stands and much more.
E340 · 11 May 2026 · 46 min
Ben is joined by Brussels based agri-food journalist Natasha Foote to discuss the future for the Common Agricultural Policy and the big picture for farming in the EU.
E339 · 4 May 2026 · 38 min
Ben meets the co-founder of Muddy Boots Jez Pile to talk about his business journey.
1 May 2026 · 51 min
From eggs and poultry to Great British Beef Week, Essex greenhouses to Dutch dairy and the London Marathon - Ally and Sophie cover a lot of ground in this episode. The focus for the Big Debate is public engagement and whether ALL farmers should be doing something to engage with the public?
E338 · 27 Apr 2026 · 27 min
Cambridgeshire farmer Ben Brooke talks more about his farm and his journey with the Hawkstone Farmers Choir on Britain's Got Talent.
E337 · 20 Apr 2026 · 35 min
In this episode we meet Dr Johnny Wake - a doctor turned farmer, who is Managing Partner of Courteenhall Farms in Northamptonshire. The family have farmed there for 350 years and the business is diverse but based around arable, poultry and beef enterprises, as well as a significant area of countryside stewardship.
Meet the Farmers profiles farmers and gives you an insight into food and farming and the people behind it. Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate covers farming news, current affairs and discussion on the big issues that matter for rural people in Britain and across the world.
Meet the Farmers is a English tech & science podcast from Ben Eagle, RuralPod Media. 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.
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