Podcasts about Oxford Farming Conference

Today we welcome Ben Williams onto the R2Kast!

Today we welcome Barbara Bray onto the R2Kast. Barbara's career in food and nutrition is nothing short of extraordinary, spanning global consultancy, policy work, and leadership in the agri-food sector.

Today, as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series, we chat to Emily Norton, a passionate advocate for climate-focused policy and the future of farming.

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 January edition of AHDB Talking Leaders, we were excited to explore the topic of “Mental Fitness” with Sheena Horner, delving into how to Push Limits while Finding Balance.Sheena diversified into chilli farming and through that business she developed a growing network of food and drink businesses throughout Scotland. It is through the chilli growing business that Sheena developed a growing network of food and drink businesses throughout Scotland. She is a firm believer in collaboration and helping one another which led her to setting up Food from Farming, a second business to enable her to do this.She believes strongly in the locality and seasonality of food and drink, which is founded from her farming background and passion for sustainability and the benefits this brings to local and rural economies. These skills are currently being used in her role as the regional food and drink coordinator in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Manager of the Farming Community Network.In the summer of 2020 Sheena founded #Run1000, a fundraising event held throughout January highlighting the positive effects that both running and walking have on your mental as well as physical health while raising funds for rural mental health charities. She continues to run and enter events regularly, pushing herself out of her comfort zone and challenging herself.She is a director of the Oxford Farming Conference, the vice-chair of The Crichton Trust board, a trustee of The Solway Firth Partnership, a graduate of the Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme and a member of the Dumfries and Galloway Local Employability and Skills Partnership.Sheena shared insights on how to effectively navigate the New Year, with a particular focus on “Blue Monday” — the third Monday in January, often considered the most depressing day of the year and linked to the January Blues. She explored Mental Fitness, offering strategies to push limits while maintaining balance during this challenging month.

The Food Foundation's Executive Director Anna Taylor reports back from the 2025 Oxford Farming Conference where she presented a joined-up horticulture and healthy food strategy, making the link between the UK's poor diet with social inequity. She argued that the UK's increasing reliance on highly processed cheap food has led to a dangerously weak fresh produce sector and a downward spiral for health.Here she takes us through what she sees as the opportunities for securing more minimally processed foods from farms produced in Britain. She explains that this could deliver benefits for both farmers and consumers at the same time, and help to tackle some of these crisis at either end of the supply chain.Click here for the Food Foundation Manifesto and here to sign up for the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK closes its borders to imports of German meat, as the authorities there tackle an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Farmers here are told to be vigilant.Each of devolved nations is designing a new post-Brexit farm payment scheme, to replace the old EU system. They're all moving towards rewarding farmers not for the land they farm, but for providing better habitats for wildlife, flood mitigation, improving soils and carbon at the Oxford Farming Conference.This week we're taking a look at machinery, a vital but very expensive commodity on the farm. To keep costs down many farmers are now part of the national network of machinery rings, where those with kit can loan it out to other farms that need it. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Reporting from the Oxford Farming Conference 2025 - what did the Defra Secretary have to say? Should neonicotinoid treatment for sugar beet seed be banned? Is there too much (imported) soya in animal feed? Are there opportunities for UK farmers? How are the markets doing and what does the weather have in store this week? All these questions answered with Steve Orchard.

Farming Today This Week comes from Oxford where two big conferences have been taking place: the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The first is traditionally seen as attended by the established and larger farms, and the Real Farming Conference has wider scope with more smaller farms, organic producers and artisan food producers. Both together represent UK farming as a whole.A convoy of tractors and farmers with placards staged a protest in Oxford City Centre as Defra Secretary Steve Reed gave his speech to the Oxford Farming Conference. They're angry at plans to change the rules around inheritance tax. This wasn't the focus of Steve Reed's speech; instead he promised a plan for change. He told delegates this must have three things: food production at its core, diversification of income, and restoration of nature as part of farming. He also announced speeding up the planning process for farm buildings. Agriculture's a devolved issue, and farming ministers for the devolved nations gave speeches about what's happening in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.We also report from The Oxford Real Farming Conference, where have similar concerns about the future of their businesses. We speak to the manager, interview an upland farmer about whole farm profitability, and drop in on a session about inheritance tax.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

With tractors protesting outside the Oxford Farming Conference, what will the Defra Secretary say to farmers? Inheritance tax wasn't the focus of Steve Reed's speech, instead he promised a Plan for Change. He told delegates this must have three things: food production at its core, diversification of income, and restoration of nature as part of farming. He also announced speeding up the planning process for farm buildings. In contrast to the more established OFC which has been representing the industry since 1936, the Real Farming Conference, which started 15 years ago, attracts a huge range of farming enterprises. Its conference has 2000 delegates meeting across 19 venues, and has wider scope with more smaller farms, organic and artisan food producers. But the farmers there have similar concerns about the future of their businesses. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

In this episode, UK environment secretary Steve Reed pledges a better future for Britain's farmers. Is it a New Deal? Or is it a raw deal?Mr Reed's speech to this year's Oxford Farming Conference made much mention of food security and the need to increase agricultural productivity and profitability.Meanwhile, farmers say they will ramp up protest against government plans to impose 20% inheritance tax on farm asset worth more than £1 million.As the UK's first case of glyphosate-resistant weeds are confirmed on a farm in Kent, we look at the implications for growers – especially regenerative farmers.This episode is co-hosted by Farmers Weekly podcast editor Johann Tasker, arable specialist Louise Impey and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom.To contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, please email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In England, you can also message us by texting the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

Anna Hill is in Oxford for two major conferences: the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The first is traditionally seen as attended by the established and larger farms, and the Real Farming Conference has wider scope with more smaller farms, organic producers and artisan food producers. Both together represent UK farming as a whole. The theme at the OFC this year is 'facing change, finding opportunity'. With farmers under pressure with new farm payment schemes, challenging harvests and changes to inheritance tax, Anna asks what's the mood at the conferences.Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

This week, as the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference open their doors to discuss the role of farming in modern British life, Gilly talks sustainable meat with Pipers Farm's Abby Allen.The Pipers Farm Sustainable Meat Cookbook came out in 2022 but is one of Gilly's favourite reads and recipe resources. It's a manifesto for the role of family farms in climate change and a reminder of all the principles that guide Gilly's world, with some of the most delicious ways to enjoy the food that comes from them. Abby and her husband Will took over his father, Peter Greig's vision of how farming can be 14 years ago, and have continued to raise his bar, stimulating a conversation about sustainable meat that has made them important changemakers as we rethink food and farming.Head over to Gilly's Substack for Extra Bites of Pipers Farm with recipes of Abby's food moments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time Event at the 2025 Oxford Farming Conference.Recorded in front of a live audience on Wednesday the 8th of January 2025, farmers and other conference delegates quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues.Our panel is: Minette Batters, cross-bench peer & immediate past president, NFU Graham Wilkinson, chief executive, Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board Alice Groom, head of sustainable land management, RSPB Matt Lobley, professor of rural resource management, Exeter University Oli Fletcher, farmer, rural historian & Farming Explained YouTube channel hostFarmers Weelkly 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 look at the prospects for farming in 2025 – and discuss the opportunities for growers and livestock producers.We examine the outlook for profitable UK food production, ways to generate income from the farmed environment and the likely direction for government policy.First, though, we preview the Oxford Farming Conference (8-10 January) – which has a reputation for setting the political agenda for the farming year.This year's conference will see a keynote speech by Defra secretary Steve Reed following a series of controversial policy announcements.Does the (still) fledgling Labour government really understand farming? And, if so, why has it imposed inheritance tax on farm assets worth more than £1 million?Contributors include:Oxford Farming Conference chairman Geoff SansomePolicy analyst Emily Norton, Farm ForesightGraham Redman, The Andersons CentreTim Isaac, Ceres RuralListeners in England can obtain free farm support advice until March 2025 under Defra's Farm Resilience Fund – subject to eligibility criteria.This episode is hosted by Johann Tasker.To contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, please email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In England, you can also message us by texting the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

A look ahead to the Oxford Farming Conference with its new Chair, Geoff Sansome. A look back at the finances of 2024 with Virgin Money's Head of Agriculture, Brian Richardson. A festive message from agricultural chaplain, Canon Alan Robson. The markets and a bit of festive agronomy advice from Sean Sparling. The Christmas week in agriculture, with Steve Orchard.

Today we are going to be talking with Will Evans, who was the chair of the 2024 Oxford Farming Conference. We are going to be asking Will about the key theme at this this years conference 'the power of diversity', what does that mean and what are the key challenges for our people, our farm businesses and the wider industry. To hear Will's opening speech at the OFC or view other reports visit https://www.ofc.org.uk/.Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. Got a podcast idea or want to get involved? Email us on info@agrii.co.uk. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave us a review in the app!

This week's podcast is a very special insight into diversity and inclusivity in farming from the Oxford Farming Conference. News reporter Chris Brayford sat down with Inclusive Farm co-founder Mike Duxbury and dairy farmer Rory Christie from Dumfries during the conference to discuss the issues surrounding diversity in farming and the positive inroads being made to do even more. Mike, who was registered blind at the age of six-years-old, provided an inspirational key-note speech at the Oxford Farming Conference to showcase how anything can be achieved regardless of your background through hard-work, dedication and support in an industry we call our own. He challenged the industry to do even in an industry where people should be recognised for their commitment, rather than by what they cannot do. The team from Farmers Guardian - including Chris, chief reporter Rachael Brown and editor Olivia Midgley - were all at the conference last week to listen to a jam-packed programme on the power of diversity. We gained reaction and thoughts from farmers and industry leaders who participated in some thought-provoking and challenging debate around the issues impacting diversity in farming. There are still many challenges the industry faces in becoming more diverse - not just its people, but in its thoughts and actions. But we cannot forget the positive steps the farming profession has made in becoming one of the most welcoming and adaptable professions in the world. We should be proud of this industry and the in-roads it is making to learn, adapt and overcome the barriers to farming. We really hope you enjoy this week's podcast.

Reports from the Oxford Farming Conference; celebrating some big agricultural anniversaries in 2024; details of a new sustainable farming scholarship; a social group for women in ag; plus the livestock & grain markets, farming news and weather for the week ahead.

We report from the farming conferences in Oxford. From the Oxford Farming Conference, we hear from the Environment Secretary and his Labour shadow on food and farming in England, and talk to the chairman of the OFC about this year's conference theme - the power of diversity. We talk to one of the founders of the Oxford Real Farming Conference and speak to delegates there. We also join a session on dating - not to find a partner in love, but to match people with land and those wanting to farm it.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

From the Oxford Farming Conference, we hear from the Environment Secretary and his Labour shadow on food and farming in England. And from the Oxford Real Farming Conference, how big ag influences food and farming policy.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

In this episode, the government unveils a big expansion of its Sustainable Farming Incentive for England – including a 10% payment hike.But is the new scheme compatible with food production?As cross-compliance is abolished and delinked payments are introduced for English farmers, who are the winners and losers?The Oxford Farming Conference theme is the Power of Diversity – in all its forms. What does that mean for farmers?We introduce the latest Farmers Weekly campaign. Called Level the Field, it seeks to secure an equitable future for women in agriculture.And the Oxford Real Farming Conference hosts the film premiere of Six Inches of Soil – a feature-length documentary about regenerative agriculture.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hsoted by Johann Tasker and Scottish farmer Sandy Kirkpatrick.Additional reporting by Phil Clarke, Phil Case and Abi Kay.You can contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast by emailing podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.

On the first day of the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference, we talk about problems in the food supply chain and diversity in farming.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rebecca Rooney.

The Oxford Real Farming Conference and the Oxford Farming Conference take place this week. They attract hundreds of people, connected to farming, conservation and rural policy-making. This year, the Oxford Farming Conference's theme is diversity and all week we'll be exploring how agriculture is bringing more diversity into the industry. Today we speak to Mike Duxbury who set up Inclusive Farm in Bedfordshire. It's thought to be unique in the UK, as the only one being run by a blind farmer.As the latest storm sweeps across the UK, farmers are counting the cost of months of wet weather. In Yorkshire some winter crops are already rotting, while many with livestock have seen grazing land turned to mud. We hear from a sheep farmer who's worried about the health of his flock - and the impact the weather could have on pregnant ewes.New rules have come in governing the packaging of English sparkling wine, meaning bottles will no longer have to have a mushroom-shaped cork with wire and foil closures, if the wine is semi-sparkling. However some manufacturers say they will stick with tradition, because customers still want to hear that pop. This year will see farmers receiving between 50 and 75 per cent less of their direct payments from government, as the transition from the pre-Brexit payment system switches to the new payments under the Environmental Land Management schemes. Even though farmers can apply for payments under the new scheme, many are still falling short. We hear from two farming families in the uplands who've diversified to help them overcome that.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

De-mystifying carbon and carbon credits and looking forward to the Oxford Farming Conference. Plus agronomy advice, the markets, weather and week's farming news.

www.ofc.org.ukFarmers weekly Survey

From very near Wrexham, Will Evans laid the foundations for people like myself who have found themselves in the agricultural podcasting game. Having the struggles of having to record a Skype call to a landline it's fair to say he had it much harder than we have these days. Will keeps himself busy running the home farm alongside his wife and father, being chair of the OFC, writes for Farmer's Weekly and much more...oh and did I mention that he has 4 girls to look after as well!...4 future employees? Will's wife Sarah has started a very successful diversification in the form of home grown veg boxes being sold direct and indirect in the local area. Will was also one of the people on the pitch at that famous pitch invasion vs Notts County a few months back with Wrexham! Some story! This is a discussion with a man I could learn a lot from as could you! I know I'll be doing what I can to be at the OFC next year. Enjoy

Another hundred episodes has gone past and we've been all over the British Isles from the north of Scotland to Cornwall and the Isle of Man to Sussex and met farmers from pretty much every sector - dairy, pigs, poultry, horticulture, cereals, potatoes, sheep and beef. We've discussed the environment, politics, culture, new entrants, challenges, inputs, policy, trade and profiled some amazing personal stories. We've championed some fantastic farmers, which is what this podcast is all about. In this episode we look back through the archive at some of the last hundred episodes.  Ben is joined by Will Evans – who is an arable and beef farmer from north Wales, the current Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference, Farmers Weekly back page columnist and Ben's co-host over on the Kite Podcast. Will started the Rock and Roll Farming podcast at about the same time that Meet the Farmers started in 2016. About BenBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.  Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here A-Plan Rural InsuranceThis episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.  Show ReferencesImage credit: Will Evans Timestamps00:27 Ben introduces the show.2:00 Will comes in.2:14 Will talks about his farm and how farming this year has been so far. 4:00 Ben explains the context for this week's episode.5:00 Episode 102 example with Sally Williams and Will Evans.7:00 Ben asks Will to tell him about his early days as a Director of the Oxford Farming Conference and how the conference has changed over that time. 12:30 Abi Reader discusses TB14:45 Ben and Will discuss TB.18:48 Bill Northey talking about carbon and climate.20:30 Ben and Will discuss carbon and climate. 24:35 Sponsor message from A Plan Rural Insurance.25:19 Ben introduces the episode with Chris Clark.25:55 Chris Clark on the link between nature and farming and putting nature on the balance sheet. 27:24 Ben and Will discuss Chris's comments.30:40 Ben and Will discuss agflation and the rise in the cost of inputs.33:46 Janet Hughes 35:54 Ben and Will discuss Janet Hughes' influence. 38:54 Ioan Humphreys and his message to the public and message to farmers. 41:25 Ben and Will discuss the egg crisis, supermarkets and Ioan's comments. 45:19 Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones and personal purpose. 46:17  Ben and Will discuss mindset.49:48 Emma O-Sullivan talking about the death of Daniel Picton-Jones. 51:40 Will and Ben discuss mental health. 55:26 Russ Carrington talking about mindset shift in regenerative agriculture.58:42 Ben and Will discuss regenerative agriculture and whether we talk about it too much?01:00:30 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.01:00:54 Ben introduces Jess Langton01:01:14 Jess Langton on getting the next generation involved in policy direction.01:02:26 Ben and Will discuss positivity and Jess's comments. 01:04:42 Will's message to the public.01:05:49 Will's message to farmers.01:07:15 Ben rounds up the episode.   

Home | Oxford Farming Conference (ofc.org.uk)Oxford Real Farming Conference (orfc.org.uk) 

From politics to poetry...from farming to feminism. In this programme, Charlotte Smith brings you all the latest developments from two of the biggest events in the food and farming calendar. The Oxford Farming Conference started in 1936 and takes place in the Examination Schools where it has become part of the farming establishment. Down the road at the Town Hall is the Oxford Real Farming Conference, which started in 2010 and sees itself as a radical alternative to the OFC. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

Food and agriculture policy is devolved - at the Oxford Real Farming Conference, Charlotte Smith hears how the approach to farming is evolving differently across the UK. Meanwhile down the road at the Oxford Farming Conference, Anna Hill grills the Farming Minister, Mark Spencer, and hears response from farmers. Presented by Anna Hill and Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Beatrice Fenton and Heather Simons

Hundreds of farmers are gathering in Oxford this week for two major conferences - the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The first was set up in 1936 to exchange ideas among farmers. The second, was founded some 15 years ago as an 'antidote' with more of a focus on organic and re-generative practices. The Oxford Farming Conference has published a report calling for the whole food supply chain to share the higher costs of food production, and for a stronger commitment by all those involved to work together to cut energy use and become more efficient. We speak to people from both conferences about some of the report's recommendations. It wants more secure contracts for farmers; co-ordinated action from wholesalers, distributors and supermarkets to cut carbon emissions; and more joined-up policy thinking across government, to enable better efficiency in food supplies from farm to fork, across the country. With the cost of living crisis upon us all, community spaces have opened up to let people spend a few hours away from home to stay warm without the heating bills. In one Devon village, they've gone a step further, and the village hall is serving a free lunch as well.  It's been running since the end of July, and the volunteer organisers say people have found many more benefits than simply saving money.  Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Satish Kumar is one of the absolute titans of the Regenerative movement in the UK.  In 1962, he and and one of his fellow Jain monks made an 8,000 mile mendicant peace pilgrimage around the world, stopping in the capitals of what the nuclear nations of the earth: Russia, USA, China, France and the UK.  He settled in the latter and soon became known for his work in connecting people and ideas. He founded the Small School in Devon and went on to found Schumacher College, deeply rooted in his ideas that education should engage head, hands and heart. In 1973, he founded Resurgence Magazine (now: Resurgence and Ecologist Magazine) and for the next forty three years, was its Editor in Chief, stepping down on his  80th birthday. This week, Accidental Gods teamed up with the Oxford Real Farming Conference, to speak with Satish as he prepares to head to Oxford where he'll lead a meditation for farmers on the morning of Friday 6th.  We explore more deeply his concepts of education, food and farming and the re-connection of people to the living web of life. He ends with a meditation, similar to the one he will lead live in the conference. Now entering its thirteenth year, the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) is the unofficial gathering of the agroecological farming movement in the UK, including organic and regenerative farming, bringing together practising farmers and growers with scientists and economists, activists and policymakers in a two-day event every January. Working with partners, the conference offers a broad programme that delves deep into farming practices and techniques as well addressing the bigger questions relating to our food and farming system.Working with partners in the UK and internationally, the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) brings the real food and farming movement together, attracting people from around the world who are interested in transforming our food system. In 2021 and 2022, the conference went entirely online, but the physical gathering has traditionally been in Oxford (it was set up as an alternative to the Oxford Farming Conference, which happens at the same time) and this year, there will again be a physical programme.ORFC has always been the place to share progressive ideas. Subjects include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, organic farming and indigenous food and farming systems. The broad programme delves deep into farming practices and techniques as well as addressing the bigger questions relating to our food and farming system.Crucially, it has always been the participants who provide the ORFC programme. The sessions reflect their diversity, ranging from the intricacies of soil microbiology to new kinds of marketing; setting up a micro-dairy to the value of introducing mob grazing and agroforestry to the farm; from the joys and tribulations of farming to the kind of economic structure we need to support the kind of food system we need. It is this diversity of participants and interests that keeps ORFC alive and growing.Online tickets are available. The ORFC works with the interpretation collective, COATI, to make sure sessions are accessible.Follow the conference on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for all the latest news and speaker announcements.Online Programme https://orfc.org.uk/orfc-2023-online-programme/ 

How much impact will the drought of 2022 have on the food system in the UK, Europe, and around the world? The summer of 2022 will be remembered for a lack of rain, wildfires, and extreme temperatures. For the first time since records began, Britain endured temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius. Records were broken across Europe too, with a high of 47 degrees recorded in Portugal. Rivers dried up and wildfires broke out in 19 European countries, including England, France, Spain, and Greece. The high temperatures were compounded by a lack of rain. For the UK, 2022 is the driest in nearly 50 years. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we ask: how is the extreme weather affecting food production? With climate change promising more summers like this, what does it mean for the future of the global food system? And what might the long-term impacts be of some the challenges we are beginning to face today? Professor Tim G. Benton, Research Director, Environment and Society Programme, Chatham House Professor Tim G. Benton joined Chatham House in 2016 as a distinguished visiting fellow, at which time he was also dean of strategic research initiatives at the University of Leeds. From 2011-2016 he was the ‘champion' of the UK's Global Food Security programme, which was a multi-agency partnership of the UK's public bodies (government departments, devolved governments and research councils) with an interest in the challenges around food. He has worked with UK governments, the EU and G20. He has been a global agenda steward of the World Economic Forum, and is an author of the IPCC's Special Report on Food, Land and Climate (2019), and the UK's Climate Change Risk Assessment (2017, 2022). He has published more than 150 academic papers, many tackling how systems respond to environmental change.  His work on sustainability leadership has been recognized with an honorary fellowship of the UK's Society for the Environment, and a doctorate honoris causa from the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium Jack Ward, Group CEO, British Growers Association Jack Ward is the Group CEO and he has a prestigious background in the sectors having previously held roles such as Regional Director for the NFU, Director for the Oxford Farming Conference, Chairman & Trustee for Nuffield Farming Scholarship, CEO of the City & Guilds Land Based Services before becoming CEO of British Growers in 2014. As he states “We aim to raise the profile of UK Fresh Produce and horticulture by encouraging a greater understanding of the industry and its importance to the UK economy.  The sectors are a major employer, an important source of investment and an integral part of the UK food supply chain.  We believe that raising the profile is an ongoing process and our ability to bring together a diverse cross sector of the industry enables us to provide a focal point for the Fresh Produce and horticultural industry.” Sylvie Wabbes, Resilience Advisor, Emergency and Resilience Office, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

This is enormous.  Its the biggest and longest.  Don't be scared. Alex Brewster is a fascinating chap whatever your own farming philosophy.  In my opinion he is one of the best communicators in UK agriculture. A Soil Farmer of the Year, a Nuffield Scholar and someone who stole the show at the Oxford Farming Conference. You will soon know him as Beanie due to some sort of mystical unexplained force makes you ditch his real name.  Try and play along with Beanie Bingo which involves drinking alot each time the phrase "Point of Balance" is used.    

Teresa Wickham, produce doyenne and retail phenomenon, is the archetypal pioneer. In 1979 she declared war on French apples and co-founded the Women's Farming Union, which ran a successful campaign to revitalise the UK fruit industry. By 1990 she was the first woman divisional director of UK retailer Safeway, where she developed the Strathclyde Food Project, bringing together farmers, growers, manufacturers and retailers to close the UK's trade gap; and later became an adviser to Sainsbury's board on their £1 billion corporate responsibility programme. Since then, she has held numerous roles managing and developing areas of business, primarily in food, agribusiness and the retail industry, including governor of the Royal Agricultural College, chairman of the Oxford Farming Conference and non-executive director of New Covent Garden Market Authority. All culminating in the ‘Woman of the Decade in Food Farming and Innovation' accolade, awarded in India by the Women's Economic Forum in 2018. Today, although no longer consulting and into her 70s, she continues to energise and influence the industry as president of the National Fruit Show (NFS), as member of the Harvard PAPSAC Committee, and as a regular broadcaster for the BBC on retail and consumer issues. Wickham's trail-blazing journey in produce began when she married Kent fruit farmer, Robin, at 21, having trained as a Cordon Bleu cook and just embarked on a teaching career at Le Cordon Bleu London. The transition to rural life in Brenchley in the late 1960s was nonetheless a joyful one for the young Wickham, the second-eldest of nine children to entrepreneurial Irish parents. “A farm is such a lovely environment to live in. It was wonderful,” she says. “My husband worked for his father, growing every soft fruit and top fruit under the sun. My mother-in-law was Swedish and a fabulous horticulturalist. I worked on the farm and ran a 100-strong fruit picking team. It was idyllic, and my in-laws were hugely supportive.” Women typically worked behind the scenes in English farming in those days, says Wickham. So, in 1979, when she and two female fruit-grower friends, Anne Humphreys and Margaret Charrington, decided to “declare war on French apples”, co-founded the Women's Farming Union and organised mass protests in London and Brussels from her kitchen table, they hit national headlines. “The UK had joined the European Common Market (EEC) and British apple growers hadn't realised what impact that would have and were now under threat,” Wickham explains. “The large and well-organised French grower cooperatives could send their fruit to the UK without quotas, and Britain's burgeoning supermarket sector was delighted to be able to procure such large volumes of homogenous fruit. The smaller-scale British growers, on the other hand, weren't up on quality control and needed time to adjust. Meanwhile, British growers were convinced that French growers were getting financial help from their government, which under EEC rules was illegal. “Anne, Margaret and I launched a campaign fighting French apples on several fronts,” she continues, speaking from her apple farm near Tonbridge that she helped save. “We gathered evidence that the French apple growers were indeed cheating and presented it to the MEPs; we set up a consumer campaign promoting British apples; we implemented two surveillance schemes – one at wholesale and one at retail level – where we recruited grower and consumer volunteers to monitor and report back on the quality and availability of British apples; and we organised [Women's Farming Union] protests. “Margaret was brilliant on TV, Anne had the ideas, and I led the demos,” Wickham adds with delightful nonchalance. “It was the early 80s, and people weren't used to seeing farmers' wives demonstrating, so we made The Nine O'Clock News and Not The Nine O'Clock News. We'd joke that, at school, my children would often say ‘Mummy can't pick us up today because she's...

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 bi-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. On this broadcast we discuss the workplace - "It's not a problem it's a cure - Driving equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace". We are joined by: Sharon Blyfield OBE, Head of Early Careers and Apprenticeships GB. Sharon has been in the business for 28 years in a variety of functions and roles. She joined the HR team 17 years ago, covering all elements of Supply Chain and now heading up the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Early Careers agenda for Great Britain. Having spent the majority of her career developing young talent at the start of their careers, her current remit fits perfectly with her passion to create opportunities to support the next generation of young leaders. As part of her commitment, Sharon strives to work with strategic partners who challenge organisation's approach to under representation of young people across all communities and works to create a level playing field in the recruitment process that might unconsciously deselect from those groups. Sharon's dedication and commitment to CCEP's apprenticeship programme has been recognised by CCEP's leadership team, as well as her peers and apprentices alike. She has received praise for her outstanding leadership of the programme, which has continued to grow and expand in line with the business' Early Careers agenda. As well as recognition from the leadership team, Sharon is adored by the apprentices themselves, who see her as a trusted advisor and mentor. Sharon joined the HR team 17 years ago, covering all elements of HR and now heads up the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Early Careers agenda for Great Britain. Having spent the majority of her career developing young talent at the start of their careers, her current remit fits perfectly with her passion to create opportunities to support the next generation of young leaders. Barbara Bray MBE, Food Safety Expert & Nutrition Strategist For The Food Industry. Barbara is a TEDx speaker and director of her own consultancy, Alo Solutions Ltd, delivering food safety and developing sustainable nutrition strategies for food businesses. A Registered Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition, she has an MSc in Human Nutrition. She is a Fellow of the Institute for Food Science and Technology (IFST) with a BSc in Food Technology and an MSc in Postharvest Technology. The Co-Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference, trustee of the Nutrition Society and 2017 Nuffield Farming Scholar, Barbara is passionate about diet and food. She was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to food and nutrition.

Ben speaks to Emily Norton about the Oxford Farming Conference from this year and Sam Siva about the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

For many years farmers have been asking for the law surrounding illegal hare-coursing to be tightened. The current legislation dates from the early 1800's and according to the police and farmers alike, is unworkable. Now, under amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, there are proposals to introduce unlimited fines, and up to 6 months imprisonment. The Oxford Real Farming Conference and Oxford Farming Conference would normally have brought hundreds of visitors to the city of dreaming spires this week, but Omicron has decided differently. Both have now been moved fully online. Glued to their screens, delegates will still be able to access a huge range of discussion and debate about the future of farming, land use and food. Our coverage of both begins.... Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

In this first episode, Dougie Vipond discusses food production and the challenge of carbon emissions for Scots and UK farmers. His guests are Steven Thomson, Senior Agricultural Economist at SRUC, Scotland's Rural College; Sally Williams, former Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference; and Dave Reay, Professor of Carbon Management and Education at Edinburgh University. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's podcast, Food and Nutrition Consultant; Barbara Bray MBE joins her fellow Oxford Farming Conference council member and our podcast co-host; Will Evans alongside Ben Eagle and Chris Walkland. To coincide with World School Milk Day earlier this week, and after hearing that over 2.5 million children are at risk of food insecurity, they discuss the nutritional benefits of dairy for children along with the political, social and behavioural aspects of food consumption and nutrition. Chris Walkland gives a very positive milk market update and wishes Becki all the best with her London Marathon efforts this weekend.

In our ever-increasing and highly regarded interview series, 20on20 – “20 minutes with inspirational people from the international fresh food sectors” we are delighted to be joined by Anna Hill - Presenter of Radio 4's Farming Today. Anna started her broadcasting career at BBC Radio Sussex, in Brighton, just in time for the great Hurricane of 1987. Working as a reporter and producer she covered local news and made a one-hour documentary about the making of the Sussex Landscape. She then worked at Radio Kent, and Radio Surrey before taking a sideways step into Radio 4 as a continuity announcer and Newsreader. Anna joined Farming Today as a presenter in 1994/5. Since then she's covered the twists and turns in long-running farming issues such as Bovine TB; and the devastating impact of BSE and then Foot and Mouth.  Over the last 26 years Anna has talked to hundreds of farmers and politicians across the UK. She's also reported from Kosovo for Farming Today and Countryfile, been the first broadcast journalist allowed to meet the reclusive Mennonite farming community in Bolivia, and spent time with farmers in the Falklands.  Anna was been a Director of the Oxford Farming Conference (2017-2020), and has chaired many conferences around the country for farming organisaton's. Since the pandemic, Anna has been working from home in Norwich, where she has built up a new relationship with her ironing board, which is now her desk! Anna is happiest when out interviewing farmers in the field, kayaking on Norfolks rivers, or hanging out the washing in the early morning under the apple trees in her garden.

Today I am joined by Barbara Bray MBE- a TEDx speaker and director of Alo Solutions - a consultancy driving and delivering food safety in food supply chains and that helps develop sustainable nutrition strategies for food businesses.Prior to consultancy Barbara worked in the Ugandan agri-business sector after graduation and then spent fourteen years in the chilled foods sector in the UK and France. Her roles covered food procurement, technical innovation and implementation of food safety systems.As well as being a registered nutritionist, she is; Co-founder of the multi-disciplinary platform Healthy and Sustainable Food; Director of the Oxford Farming Conference; Member of the food and nutrition group at the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST); and Trustee of the Nutrition Society. In 2019 Barbara was awarded an MBE for services to food nutrition.As part of her Nuffield farming scholarship her project ‘Vegetable Production For Specific Nutritional Need' looked at international food policies and private initiatives to promote consumption of vegetables which benefit our health. On the show today we talk about:Regenerative farmingOrganic vs InorganicBetter farming techniques and the use of AgrichemicalsWhat healthy sustainable diets look like in other countriesHow we can shape our food landscapeThe role of government versus the consumerCheck out The Doctor's Kitchen website for full show notes on this and all other episodes See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The https://www.ofc.org.uk/ (Oxford Farming Conference (OFC)) is an annual conference for the UK Farming Sector that takes place in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford (Oxford), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom (United Kingdom), in the first week of January. The OFC will return to Oxford from 5 to 7 January 2022 in person bringing together speakers from across the world, who will inspire, challenge and inform your thinking. To highlight the conference and the great work that the OFC undertakes, we have gained the Joint Chairs to tell us more. On with Beanstalk Global we will have Co-chairs: Barbara Bray MBE and Sarah Mukherjee MBE. Barbara Bray is a food safety consultant and registered nutritionist driving and delivering food safety in food supply chains and developing nutrition strategy for businesses. With a passion for educating people about food and nutrition, Barbara is a trustee for International Affairs with the Nutrition Society and sits on the food and nutrition committee for the Institute of Food Science and Technology. A professional speaker and 2017 Nuffield Farming Scholar, Barbara speaks at food and agriculture events and gave a TEDx talk at the University of Chester in February 2020. She was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to food and nutrition. Sarah Mukherjee is Chief Executive of IEMA, the membership organisation for environment and sustainability professionals. She read law at university and worked in PR and consultancy at the House of Commons before becoming a BBC Environment correspondent on TV and radio. More recently she was Director of Environment at Water UK and Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association. She brings with her valuable experience working with people in different parts of the industry; farmers, regulators, politicians and academics, as well as 20 years' experience as an award-winning national and international journalist. She sits on the National Food Strategy Advisory Panel, and is a governor of Harper Adams University.

The hugely well thought of and recognised British Growers Association is a grower owned, grower led, not for profit umbrella group. They comprise a range of organisations operating in the key UK horticulture industry and fresh produce sectors. Their  membership includes Crop Associations, Producer Organisations, marketing groups and professional membership groups.  The organisation is run by a Board of Directors drawn from all sectors of the fresh produce industry with a great team running the day to day operations and communications. Their mission is very straight forward - to support their growers to do what they do best.  Jack Ward is the Group CEO and he has a prestigious background in the sectors having previously held roles such as Regional Director for the NFU, Director for the Oxford Farming Conference, Chairman & Trustee for Nuffield Farming Scholarship, CEO of the City & Guilds Land Based Services before becoming CEO of British Growers in 2014. Joining Max and Jack will be Barbara Bray MBE and Coral Clark, Horticultural Crop Association Executive at British Growers. Also joining us will be Rikesh Panchmatia  – Client Manager for Kantar - to give us an current overview of the UK Fresh Produce Sector.

For almost a generation, the Oxford Farming Conference and the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust have been working together. In the latest podcast from the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), Co-Chair Sarah Mukherjee speaks to Christopher Bourchier, Chair of the trust, about the longstanding partnership between the two charities. The discussion covers the trust's founder, stand-out lectures, and how the partnership was formed. Grab yourself a cup of tea and have a listen.

The hugely well thought of and recognised British Growers Association is a grower owned, grower led, not for profit umbrella group. They comprise a range of organisations operating in the key UK horticulture industry and fresh produce sectors. Their membership includes Crop Associations, Producer Organisations, marketing groups and professional membership groups. The organisation is run by a Board of Directors drawn from all sectors of the fresh produce industry with a great team running the day to day operations and communications. Their mission is very straight forward – to support their growers to do what they do best. Jack Ward is the Group CEO and he has a prestigious background in the sectors having previously held roles such as Regional Director for the NFU, Director for the Oxford Farming Conference, Chairman & Trustee for Nuffield Farming Scholarship, CEO of the City & Guilds Land Based Services before becoming CEO of British Growers in 2014. With the Monthly Broadcast with Beanstalk, Jack wishes to explore and discuss key elements of the day. Joining them on this months' broadcast is Dan Parker of Veg Power and Rikesh Panchmatia – Client Manager at Kantar. Dan has worked in marketing and advertising for 25 years. As Chief Executive and Executive Creative Director of marketing innovation agency Sponge, he pioneered online, mobile and location marketing for the world's largest food, restaurant, grocery, media, and technology brands, He is the project lead and Chief Marketing Officer of Veg Power, a not-for-profit organisation which inspires kids to eat more vegetables. Veg Power is best known for the Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign for kids which reached into the homes of 40m people in 2019.

The hugely well thought of and recognised British Growers Association is a grower owned, grower led, not for profit umbrella group. They comprise a range of organisations operating in the key UK horticulture industry and fresh produce sectors. Their membership includes Crop Associations, Producer Organisations, marketing groups and professional membership groups. The organisation is run by a Board of Directors drawn from all sectors of the fresh produce industry with a great team running the day to day operations and communications. Their mission is very straight forward - to support their growers to do what they do best.  Jack Ward is the Group CEO and he has a prestigious background in the sectors having previously held roles such as Regional Director for the NFU, Director for the Oxford Farming Conference, Chairman & Trustee for Nuffield Farming Scholarship, CEO of the City & Guilds Land Based Services before becoming CEO of British Growers in 2014. As he states “We aim to raise the profile of UK Fresh Produce & horticulture by encouraging a greater understanding of the industry and its importance to the UK economy. The sectors are a major employer, an important source of investment and an integral part of the UK food supply chain. We believe that raising the profile is an ongoing process and our ability to bring together a diverse cross sector of the industry enables us to provide a focal point for the Fresh Produce and horticultural industry.” With the Monthly Broadcast with Beanstalk, Jack wishes to explore and discuss key elements of the day. First up there is sure to be conversation to be had around the Grower funded R&D in the wake of the AHDB Horticulture ballot and the whole element of immigration and seasonal workers and what will occur in 2021 and beyond.

Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses. Founded in 2011 by Christine Tacon CBE, the group started back in 2011 with just five women and has now grown to over 400 members. Christine is known to many as the first Grocery Code Adjudicator and head of the Co-op's farming business, she has just been appointed Chair of Assured Food Standards which operates the Red Tractor Assurance scheme amongst other roles. In our current strange times, Beanstalk is very proud to offer our extensive platforms to allow Women in Food and Farming to continue their conversation and debate and to encourage new members ongoing to join them, be that on a virtual Broadcast basis. Guest speaker: Emily Norton - Director and Head of Rural Research at Savills, talking on “The future of farming – making sense of Brexit, covid, carbon and food.” Emily is responsible for generating and guiding the production of high-quality insight and commentary on rural property, agricultural policy and sustainability topics across England and Scotland for Savills. She is highly recognised for her presentations and talks on key rural topics and provides policy and investment advice. She is a 2018 Nuffield Scholar, and a director of the Oxford Farming Conference for 2020-2023.

The Agriculture Act has been regarded as the first landmark piece of post-Brexit legislation by the UK Government. Passed in November, the act sets out how farmers and land-owners in the country will be rewarded for adopting sustainable food production practices. What impact will it have, and how is the act viewed by farmers and land-owners? Will the new legislation change farming and food production for the better? We’ve assembled a panel to discuss these points and more. Joining host Stefan Gates are Professor Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, Vicki Hird, Head of Sustainable Farming, Food and Farm Policy, Sustain, Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research, Savills UK and Mark Coulman, Chair, Tenants Farming Association. About our panel Professor Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute Professor Jane Rickson has over 30 years’ experience of research, consultancy and teaching in soil and water engineering, specialising in soil degradation processes and sustainable land management. Her work has focused on better understanding of soil functions and their role in the delivery of ecosystems goods and services, including water regulation, agricultural production and carbon storage. She uses multi-disciplinary approaches to integrate fundamental and applied land resources science at a range of spatial and temporal scales. Her work is directed at Research Councils, industry, farmers and policy makers. Recent projects include: Development of a Soil Management Information System (AHDB); Better understanding of the soil protection landscape (Defra); Developing a conceptual framework for a soil impact metric for agricultural and commodity supply chains (Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge; CISL); Review of the England and Wales soils evidence base (Welsh Government); Provision of research to develop the evidence base on soil erosion (Committee on Climate Change, Adaptation Sub Committee); and The total costs of soil degradation in England & Wales (Defra). Vicki Hird, Head of Sustainable Farming, Food and Farm Policy, Sustain Vicki Hird is an award winning author, expert, strategist and senior manager who has been working on environment, food and farming issues for over 25 years. As part- time Sustainable Farm Campaign Coordinator at Sustain, Vicki manages the farm policy and related campaigning and provides comment and guidance on these issues. Prior to this role, she was director of Campaigns and Policy At War on Want. Previously she was the Senior Campaigner heading up the Land use, Food and Water Programme for Friends of the Earth and Policy Director of Sustain. She was Policy Director of Sustain, 1999 – 2004 and has been an expert consultant for NGOs and institutions (including for RSPB, WSPA, The Sustainable Development Commission, Greenpeace, The Plunkett Foundation and HEAL). She has launched many major food and environment campaigns, from local to global in scope, has blogged frequently and published numerous reports and articles on the sustainability of food systems and published Perfectly Safe to Eat? (Women’s Press 2000). She has an academic background in pest management and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and the RSA. Vicki is on the board of Pesticides Action Network, and the Keo Foundation, was chair of the Eating Better Alliance and has sat on numerous government advisory groups over the years. She also runs an independent consultancy undertaking campaigning and research. Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research, Savills UK Emily heads up the Savills UK Limited Rural Research team, guiding the creation of insight and analysis into rural policy, data and benchmarking for Savills and its clients across the U.K. She consults for clients and government on rural policy and corporate strategy, with a particular focus on rural asset investment and strategic sustainability and climate response. Emily is a director of the Oxford Farming Conference for 2021-2023 and a Nuffield Scholar 2018. Mark Coulman, Chair, Tenants Farming Association Mark Coulman has been a TFA member for over 20 years, serving as East Midlands Regional Chairman, National Vice-Chairman and now Chairman on the retirement of James Gray in March 2020. Having graduated in Agriculture and Food Marketing from Newcastle University, and undertaken consultancy roles and sales and marketing roles within the agricultural software industry, Mark returned to the family farm in 1993, succeeding as tenant in 1997. Farming 235 hectares of arable land, cropping wheat, rape, sugar beet, peas amongst other things, as well as flower growing which diversified into a successful flower import, packing and distribution business. Mark has managed several diversified businesses and believes in the ability of farmers to be successful entrepreneurs. Currently, the farm is involved in developing a care & social farm enterprise, providing opportunities for adults and children dealing with challenges to improve their health and well-being. The opportunity to develop this offer within the public money for public good framework is a particular interest. Mark is a firm believer in the ability of the tenanted sector to deliver successful, sustainable farm businesses which both produce quality food and environmental sustainability for the good of the wider rural community.

In the first episode of 2021 we focus on this year's Oxford Farming Conference and Ben speaks to this year's Conference Chair, Sally Williams (also a Scottish dairy farmer), and incoming Director Will Evans (also a Welsh arable and beef farmer and podcaster).

Gene-edited crops and  livestock could soon be permitted on farms in England under plans contained in a government consultation.The plan was unveiled by Defra secretary George Eustice at the Oxford Farming Conference – but Scottish rural cabinet secretary Fergus Ewing urges caution.Red tape is hampering trade in agri-food products between the UK and EU – we examine the impact of the Brexit deal for farmers.At the start of the New Year, 700 growers and livestock producers tell us what they hope 2021 holds for them – the opportunities and challenges.Police and campaigners call for tougher action against hare-coursers.We pay tribute to farm machinery pioneer Helmut Claas, who has died age 94.And we celebrate success with the Farmers Weekly award winner who scooped an MBE in the New Year Honours list.This episode co-hosted by Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker and Surrey farmer Hugh Broom, with Farmers Weekly executive editor Phil Clarke.

Defra Secretary George Eustice discusses an England-only consultation into allowing genetic editing. Mr Eustice discussed the issue at the Oxford Farming Conference where agriculture ministers from the devolved governments met and gave their reaction to the proposals to allow it. A new report published this week maps out the future for British farming. The Food, Countryside and Farming Commission wants to see a transition to agroecology by 2030, and has published research on how the industry might get there. Plus we see a new piece of kit in action - a robotic sprayer which has the potential to make the job much easier. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Natalie Donovan in Bristol

All this week Farming Today is looking at how the new EU trade deal is working out in practice for food producers. This morning - seed potato growers tell us that they are now unable to sell to their usual customers in Europe. They knew the change was coming, but they say it is causing growing uncertainty while they wait for the EU to grant the UK a derogation, to allow the last of this years sales to go ahead. Meanwhile, fishermen say they feel let down by the deal saying it is a disappointment. It follows analysis from the Scottish Government which suggests fleets will be able to land much reduced numbers of fish. Using water for power is becoming more popular on farms in mountainous areas. In the Scottish Highlands there are small and micro hydro schemes dotted across the region - but are they an environmental boon, or menace? And normally the first week of January would see the City of Oxford packed with farmers from all over the country, for the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. This year however it is all very different, the Coronavirus has forced both events online. We speak to the organisers to hear what they have in store. Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan

On Thursday 7th January, the Oxford Farming Conference will celebrate its 75th event since the first conference was held in 1936. In honour of the occasion OFC Honorary President HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne joined OFC Sarah Mukherjee on the OFC podcast to reflect on the conference including some of her highlights from the last ten years as well as looking forward on the future of food, farming and international connections. HRH will join the conference on 7 January when she will deliver her speech, but for now, sit back and enjoy this short podcast down memory lane. 

In 2019, Sir Lockwood Smith took to the stage at the Oxford Farming Conference to look to the future beyond Brexit. A farmer, former New Zealand agriculture and trade minister, former High Commissioner to the UK until 2017, and member of the UK Agriculture and Trade Commission, he has been at the forefront of change.   With just two weeks to go until we officially leave the EU, OFC Director Sarah Mukherjee has been speaking with him to reflect on where we are now and his predictions for the future.

Dairy Farmer, Mother, current Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference, and a host of other roles - Sally Williams is busy! Listen as we discuss robot milking, time management, leadership, dairy farming, and of course, the Oxford Farming Conference, in the Rock & Roll Farming Christmas Special.    CHECK OUT eatfarmnow.com FOR LOADS MORE AMAZING FARMING AND FOOD-RELATED PODCASTS, BLOGS & VLOGS.    Podcast Sponsor:  NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk       CHECK OUT eatfarmnow.com FOR LOADS MORE AMAZING FARMING AND FOOD-RELATED PODCASTS, BLOGS & VLOGS.    Podcast Sponsor:  NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

This episode will focus on data-driven agriculture and its potential to transform the ecosystem. With an extra 2.5bn of the population to feed by 2050, and grappling with increasing land degradation and water stress, set in the context of the climate challenge, we explore how data-driven agriculture can become more efficient whilst being better for environment and the economy. Data for and from farmers has become a growth area, driving expectations and investments in big data, blockchain, technology and precision agriculture. With new sources of information such as satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles and mobile weather stations providing mountains of data, how can farmers get value from this mass of intelligence? And what are the challenges to implementation? About our panel Calum Murray, Head of Agriculture and Food, Innovate UK Calum is currently Head of Agriculture and Food at Innovate UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk) . He has led substantial publicly funded programmes for applied research in the agrifood sector and sat on the X Whitehall Group that delivered the 2013 AgriTech Strategy. He was an Interim Challenge Director during 2018 jointly responsible for establishing the £90m Industrial Strategy Transforming Food Production Challenge. Calum currently sits on Defra’s external R&D panel, and the Agricultural Productivity Working Group within the Food and Drink Sector Council structure. Calum studied agriculture at Aberdeen University, started his career with the Ministry of Agriculture 1982 (ADAS) moving to David Anderson & Co in ‘85/86 then back north to SRUC in 1989. In 1995 he was appointed by Bank of Scotland as national agricultural specialist. Calum joined Innovate UK in Feb 2010. Dr Louise Sutherland, Director, Ceres Agri-Tech Louise Sutherland is Director of the Ceres (https://www.ceresagritech.org/) Agri-Tech Knowledge Exchange Partnership, a joint collaboration between five world-leading UK universities and three of the country’s top agricultural research institutes. Ceres provides funding and expertise to accelerate the commercialisation of agri-tech research coming out of its partner universities, ensuring that high-quality agricultural innovation is translated from lab to field. Louise’s extensive agri-tech credentials include chairing the Raspberry Breeding Consortium (a joint research and industry partnership) at James Hutton Ltd., as well as previously chairing both the AHDB Soft Fruit Research Panel and the Red Tractor Fresh Produce Scheme. Louise has also been a member of the AHDB Horticulture Board and the Assured Food Standards Board. She has over a decade’s experience working at Marks & Spencer, holding a variety of technical and commercial roles across their food business. Louise has a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Reading and worked on novel biocontrol systems for tree diseases during her time as a researcher at the Forestry Commission. Find Ceres Agri-Tech on social media: LinkedIn: @ceresagritech (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceresagritech/) Twitter: @AgritechCeres (https://twitter.com/AgritechCeres) Dave Ross, Chief Executive Officer, Agri-EPI Centre Ltd Dave Ross (BSc Hons, PDip, AMIMechE, AIAgrE, FRAgS) is Chief Executive Officer of Agri-EPI Centre Ltd (https://agri-epicentre.com/) , one of the four UK Centres of Agricultural Innovation, with a specific focus on Precision technologies and engineered solutions. He is responsible for leading development of the Centre, both nationally and internationally. A trained engineer, Dave started his career in the defence technology sector, designing electro-optic systems. He moved to agricultural engineering and technology in 1990, taking the opportunity to move back to his roots (having been brought up on a mixed/dairy farm). He worked for more than 25 work as a Senior Research Engineer with Scotland’s Rural College, originally focusing on systems for crop monitoring and handling and post-harvest quality. More recently he has focused on livestock-related technologies. He has been involved in the research and development of several novel and patented developments across the agricultural production sectors. Some of these have been fully commercialised, and he has assisted with aligned spin-out and new company formations. Emily Norton, Head of Rural Research, Savills Emily heads up the Savills UK Limited Rural Research (https://www.savills.co.uk/services/research/rural-research-consultancy.aspx) team, guiding the creation of insight and analysis into rural policy, data and benchmarking for Savills and its clients across the U.K. She consults for clients and government on rural policy and corporate strategy, with a particular focus on rural asset investment and strategic sustainability and climate response. Emily is a director of the Oxford Farming Conference for 2021-2023 and a Nuffield Scholar 2018.

Director of the Oxford Farming Conference and Nuffield Scholar Barbara Bray discusses the importance of nutrition with Anna Hill, as part of BBC Radio's Rethink Week. She maintains that cheap food is not necessarily the answer to the world's food problems and that countries may seek to limit food exports as they come to terms with the post-COVID environment. This is the second of six interviews about food and farming to be broadcast this week which will reflect a broad range of views. With trade negotiations underway between the UK and Australia, ABC's Jodie Gunders gives her assessment of what the priorities are for Australia's farmers. Peter Stevenson from Compassion in World Farming says a deal does raise some concerns. BBC Midlands Today's Ben Godfrey has been to a vineyard in Staffordshire which is thriving during lockdown. Producer: Toby Field

Listen to this podcast to hear recordings from live Syngenta events across the UK. Speaking is: 00:30 - 08:20 Attendees of the Oxford Farming Conference talking best bits 09:10 - 19:10 Dr Alastair Leake at the Food & Drink Federation, discussing Syngenta's Conservation Agriculture & Sustainable Systems initiative 19:28 - 23:22 Richard Budd, Bean YEN grower, at the Kent PGRO Roadshow 23:30 - 30:20 Graham Redman talking wet weather & drilling Enjoy listening!

There are highlights from both the Oxford Farming Conference and the big LAMMA show in Birmingham on this weeks Farming Programme.

OFC Director Anna Hill speaks to Henry Dimbleby ahead of the Oxford Farming Conference 2020 to find out what makes him tick, why food is his passion and what he hopes for the future of the UK Food Strategy. Henry will be speaking on Wednesday 8th January at 11.30am and will be joined on stage by Evan Davis (BBC Presenter), Denise Bentley (First Love Foundation), John Shropshire (G’s Farm),Ian Mitchell (Center for Global Development) and Roger Whiteside (Greggs plc). Register to watch the live stream HERE

On this podcast: 00:00 - 00.18 Meet Olivia Warr, the new #InContact host. 00:18 - 07.15 Hear discussions on the issue of late drilling with agronomist Marcus Mann and Seeds Technical Manager Kathryn Hamlen 07:43 - 16:40 Area Manager Charlotte Garbutt speaks to Eleanor Durdy on the future of agriculture and the Oxford Farming Conference 2019 17:25 - 23:00 Graham Redman give his updates on land value, including inflation and sales volumes Enjoy listening!

Tonight Im heading across the country to Suffolk, to talk to arable farmer and conservationist, Brian Barker. We talk about his family farm's incredible connection to the Tudor's, the changes he and his cousin Patrick have made since joining the business, the huge amount of environmental improvements they've done, being an AHDB strategic farm, #SoilMyUndies, the Oxford Farming Conference, #farmwildlife and much, much more. Brian's one of the most progressive farmers around, and a great communicator, and this is one of my favourite interviews yet. Check it out folks..       LONDON MARATHON 2019: As required by Universal law, much like if you're a vegan, if you're doing a marathon you have to tell people about it. Well I'm doing the London one in April 2019, and I'm raising money for the incredible charity FARM AFRICA. Between 8 February and 8 May donations in support of my London Marathon challenge will go to Farm Africa’s Coffee is Life appeal. Give before 8 May 2019 and all public donations to Farm Africa’s Coffee is Life appeal will be doubled by the UK government.  Your donation will support Farm Africa projects across eastern Africa, and the matched funding you unlock from the UK government will directly fund a Farm Africa project that will give women in Kanungu in western Uganda the opportunity to make a decent living from coffee farming. If you want to see more about the AMAZING work they do please visit www.farmafrica.org & if you'd like to sponsor me the link is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/william-evans12 and from now until 8th May, the UK Government will match your donation - thank you!   Episode Sponsor:  NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk   Podcast Partners: Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

Catch up with: - Graham Redman discussing Brexit and impacts on UK Farm Profitability - Arable grower Eleanor Durdy's highlights from Oxford Farming Conference 2019 - Syngenta Trialist, Andy Cunningham, providing Trial Site updates - Guest speaker at York PGRO event

For this episode Will speaks to dairy farmer and OFC19 emerging leader, Becci Berry. They talked about her farm on the Oxfordshire/ Wiltshire border, and how she came to be involved following the tragic death of her husband Richard from bowel cancer. They go into some of the challenges she’s faced and the changes she’s made, as well as what she thinks of veganuary and the anti-dairy movement in general. Both Will and Becci are tenant farmers so they also have a good discussion around the issues they are facing at the moment, before talking about their mutual experiences as Emerging Leaders at the Oxford Farming Conference. 

Ben visits both Oxford conferences in search of common ground.

Some British farmers see Brexit as an opportunity – but others fear a flood of substandard food imports will be allowed into the country.Examples include hormone-treated beef, chlorine-washed chicken and ecologically damaging food produced on swathes of deforested land.This episode of Inside Farming examines the situation – and looks at how politicians and farmers believe substandard imports can be prevented.Featuring Defra secretary Michael Gove, shadow farm minister David Drew, NFU president Minette Batters and UK farmer Joe Stanley.A special podcast recorded at the 2019 Oxford Farming Conference.

Hill sheep and beef farmer, Niall Blair, from the Angus Glens in Scotland talks about being a first generation farmer, the challenges of upland hill farming, his own crusade to promote farming to the wider public and why he rates the Oxford Farming Conference.

Tonight I'm heading across the country to Bedfordshire to talk to the UK & Ireland Agriculture Manager for McDonalds, Pete Garbutt. We talk about his background growing up on the family dairy farm in North Yorkshire, his time studying agriculture at Harper Adams University, and how foot and mouth tragically struck their farm in 2001.  We discuss his first job as a consultant for Andersons Farm Business Consultants in Thirsk, and what he learnt there, especially his role as a co-ordinator for the York Fresh Start Academy, helping providing farm management training for young people. We go into his time at young farmers, where he chaired the national agriculture committee, and served as the YFC rep on the NFU national council. We also discuss hoe he took a staff role at NFU in 2008, eventually ending up as Chief Livestock Advisor, and the wide range of skills that required. We then discuss at length his role at McDonalds, where he started in 2014. McD's operate 1300 restaurants across the UK, serving over 3.5 MILLION people a day, and are supplied by over 23,000 farmers across the UK and Ireland, and we discuss the wide range of support that they give to agriculture, including the Progressive Young Farmers Programme, their Beef Carbon Report, and their involvement with the Oxford Farming Conference. Finally we talk into their fantastic new TV advert, featuring clips of farmers all across the country producing food for their restaurants. All this and much, much more. Pete's a great guy, and a huge supporter of British farming, and it was a pleasure to catch up with him tonight. Check it out folks..      Episode Sponsor:  NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk   Podcast Partners: Farmer's Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com 

In our fifth podcast, fifth generation sheep and suckler cow farmer Kate Rowell talks about life on her hill and upland farm near Peebles in the Scottish Borders and her new appointment as Chairman of Quality Meat Scotland. The first woman to hold this position, she talks about leadership and gaining the confidence to support the business network of farmers. She also talks about her time working as a vet for eight years including during the time of foot and mouth, why farming is something she has always wanted to do and her highlights from the Oxford Farming Conference 2018.

Date: 05/03/2018 Location: Strawson Ltd, Newark Show Notes:  We are extremely excited to launch our very first podcast show, A Snowy Start For our first show our two Technical Specialists, Andy Bailey (Fungicides) and David Roberts (Herbicides) visit Strawson Ltd in-house agronomist Ian Holmes    We kick off by hearing a pre-recorded soundbite from two of our YEN growers Iain Robertson (South West) and Alan Clifton-Holt (South East), on how their cereal crops have come through the winter. Thanks for the update! (03:24) Back at Strawson Ltd, the guys start their snowy farm visit in a wheat field; conversations focus around prepping for spring and Ian's approach to T0 protection against septoria and rust control. (12:05)  Earlier in the week we took the time to catch up with a podcasting pro – Will Evans from Rock and Roll Farming. It was Will that inspired our podcast channel so we really wanted to learn from the best! We also had a chat about Oxford Farming Conference and Will’s experience as an emerging leader. (20:49) Going back on farm the guys have now moved into an OSR field. Conversations are focused around black-grass, ryegrass and Broad-Leaved Weed control. Along with the strategy Ian is adopting towards his ALS-resistant poppies in OSR and cereals. (38:40) We round the show off with Ian, Andy and David sharing their tips and recommendations for moving forward at this time of the year. (42:56) If you have any comments on the show or want us to cover a particular topic in future podcasts, then we'd would love to hear from you; please leave a comment below, tweet us @AdamaUK_or simply email us on ukenquires@adama.com.  

We have reaction to Defra Secretary Michael Gove's speech at this weeks Oxford Farming Conference. What did he have to say and how has it been received by farmers here?

In this week's podcast, we take a deep dive inside the Revenue's Kerry co-op shares project and get the latest updates on bird flu, farm accident statistics and the Oxford Farming Conference.

In this week's podcast, we take a deep dive inside the Revenue's Kerry co-op shares project and get the latest updates on bird flu, farm accident statistics and the Oxford Farming Conference.