AHDB Food & Farming

Hosted by AHDB

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Episodes

528

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Our Food & Farming podcast is for levy payers and those in the food supply chain – bringing together key players in the agriculture industry to talk about the things which really matter. You’ll hear from farmers, special guests and AHDB specialists sharing their experiences and opinions. Join our conversations about technical information, data, market intelligence, exports and updates on our multimillion consumer marketing campaigns and of course, the latest news on farming issues that impact your business. The AHDB Food & Farming podcast – worth a listen.

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60 recent

October 14, 202639 min

When farming and family collide...

There’s no handbook for tackling some of farming’s biggest conversations. Whether it’s succession, family dynamics or making plans for the future, knowing where to start can be half the battle. This week, Amy Hughes joins us to chat about how farming families can create the time and space for those important discussions. From communicating better to making big decisions together, Amy shares practical tips to help get everyone around the same table and moving in the same direction. Plus, we revisit our brilliant conversation with Derek Banbury and Derek Gow as the documentary Derek vs Derek arrives on the big screen and sparks fresh debate around rewilding and life in the countryside. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Your life, your call – farming, family and future workshops | AHDB GRIP Workshop for Farmers | England November 2026 | EmpowerAg Agri Market Outlook | AHDB Derek vs Derek Cinema Listings | UK Screenings & Tickets — Derek vs Derek GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and producers Jess and Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

October 7, 202632 min

How do you get into farming without a farming background?

A conversation with an old school friend and a week of work experience were enough to set Tanner Breeze on the path into agriculture. Now studying at Aberystwyth University, he’s gaining valuable industry experience through the McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmers programme and developing a real appreciation for the role suckler beef plays in the UK farming sector. Elsewhere, the AG Show team compare notes on their own placement years, looking back at the opportunities, challenges and memorable moments that helped shape their careers in agriculture. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Suckler beef: Stronger herds for stronger returns | AHDB Agriculture : Study With Us , Aberystwyth University Food and Farming Careers - Our Plan for Change | McDonald's UK GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and producers Jess and Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

September 30, 202641 min

From soil to space: Using data to improve farm performance

Ever wondered what your soil might be trying to tell you? This week on The AG Show, we're digging into the world beneath our feet and finding out how better soil data can help farmers make smarter decisions on farm. We hear from Soil Benchmark co-founder Tom Scrope, who explains how his work caught the attention of the European Space Agency, bringing together insights gathered from what lies below the surface and satellites far above. We also catch up with an Oxfordshire mixed farmer to hear what he's learned from taking a closer look at his own soils, and how that knowledge is helping shape decisions back on the farm. Plus, Charlotte and Phil round up a few of the stories that have caught their eye this week, from SFI to large record-breaking vegetables. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) About Soil Benchmark | Smarter Farm Software for UK Farms SFI26 Window 2: an update – Farming Sustainable Farming Incentive | AHDB Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL) | AHDB Giant veg Guinness World Records broken at Malvern Autumn Show - BBC News GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and producers Jess and Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

September 23, 202640 min

'One of those horror movies' - the impact of bluetongue

With bluetongue cases firmly into four digits this season, on this week's AG Show we're hearing first-hand what that can mean for farmers. Devon beef and sheep farmer Richard Stanbury joins us to share his experience after some of his livestock became infected. Speaking candidly from his farm on the edge of Exmoor, Richard talks about losing sheep, the mental toll of the outbreak and why he's determined to help other farmers understand the reality of the disease and cut through some of the misinformation around it. Plus, we've got the latest drought update, we explore whether hybrid meat products could take off at the supermarket and we hear about an extraordinary toy tractor collection that's heading to auction. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Bluetongue virus latest news | AHDB Bluetongue: latest situation - GOV.UK Bluetongue virus webinars | AHDB Lidl launches 'first-of-its-kind' hybrid meat range | The Grocer John Deere enthusiast puts prized 500-model collection up for sale - FarmingUK News GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and producers Jess and Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

September 16, 202641 min

Farming minister special: Stephen Morgan on British farming's future

Farming minister, Stephen Morgan, joins The AG Show to share his vision for the future of British farming. In a wide-ranging chat, he talks profitability, investment, food security and how government can help create the conditions for a thriving agricultural sector. We also look ahead to the second SFI application window of the year, breaking down what's changed and how AHDB's cost-benefit tool can help you work out whether an application is the right fit for your business. Plus, cottage-cheese bread is back on the agenda. What started as a passing mention has become something of an obsession on the show. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Stephen Morgan MP - GOV.UK SFI cost benefit tool | AHDB Tools SFI26: scheme rules and guidance - GOV.UK Stacking options for SFI | AHDB Recovering grassland and setting autumn priorities | AHDB Tesco bans 114 ingredients as it launches UPF clampdown | The Grocer GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and producers Jess and Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

September 9, 202642 min

What does Gen Z really think about British farming?

The AG Show dives into what Gen Z really thinks about British farming. Are younger consumers switching off from agriculture, or is it simply not showing up on their radar? New AHDB research suggests trust in British farmers is still strong, but there's a gap when it comes to understanding modern farming. So what can the industry do to better connect with the next generation? Plus, we head back to Cumbria for an update on a rainwater harvesting project across nine farms. The systems are now installed and, after one of the driest summers in recent memory, we find out how they're bedding in and what's next for the project. And what self-respecting podcast would be complete without talk of home-made bread, damson gin, hornets and biscuits?!? SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Bringing British farming closer to Gen Z | AHDB Protecting the water supply for your crops | AHDB West Cumbria Rivers Trust - Caring For West Cumbrian Rivers & Lakes Fewer than half of British consumers trust food labels, survey finds | The Grocer Thatchers begins earliest apple harvest in its 122-year history | Wales Online GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and producers Jess and Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

September 2, 202639 min

Love Lamb Week: Bake Off star Mike Wilkins on farming, TV and British lamb

Autumn's arrived, and to mark Love Lamb Week we're catching up with a familiar face from The Great British Bake Off who's flying the flag for British lamb. Mike Wilkins is a sheep farmer with first-hand experience of what TV can do for farming's image. He explains why shows like Bake Off can help tell farming's story to a much wider audience, and why he's backing the long-running Make It Lamb campaign. He also lets us in on a behind-the-scenes Bake Off secret, revealing who he couldn't resist sharing details of his TV appearances with while filming. And let's just say, it wasn't limited to the immediate family. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Make it Lamb | AHDB Search Resources Only - Food A Fact Of Life Let's Eat Balanced | AHDB GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and Producer Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories, or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

August 26, 202641 min

'A hot coal burning inside my hip' - arthritis and farming

Angela's 43 and farms beef, dairy and arable crops, but years of physical graft are already taking their toll. Living with arthritis, she says she's feeling "pretty worn and torn" and worries about what the future might hold. The AG Show catches up with her to hear how she manages the day-to-day realities of farming with the condition. It comes as researchers at the University of Worcester look into the impact arthritis is having across the farming industry. Their study hopes to build a clearer picture of the challenges farmers face and identify practical ways to help, from lifestyle and diet changes to simple adaptations on farm. Also on this week's show, we bring you the latest on bluetongue, the Sustainable Farming Incentive and a newly launched BYDV tool designed to help growers manage risk. And away from the day job, find out which member of the team has taken a plunge into open water swimming, and who's set themselves the challenge of eating their way around Britain's bakeries. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Arthritis + Farmers Bluetongue virus latest news | AHDB Heatwaves, drought and dairy resilience: How farmers are coping in 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26): scheme information - GOV.UK SFI cost benefit tool | AHDB Tools BYDV tool GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and Producer Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories, or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

August 19, 202641 min

Heatwaves, drought and dairy resilience: How farmers are coping in 2026

This summer’s definitely been one to remember, with heatwaves rolling through and barely a drop of rain in sight for some. On this week’s AG Show, we catch up with Norfolk pig farmer Rob McGregor to hear how he’s been keeping his animals cool and reducing heat stress during some seriously hot conditions. We also hear from a dairy, beef and arable farmer who believes drought-resistant crops and smarter water management will be key if farms are going to cope with more summers like this in the future. And we check back in with our friends at Drumgoon Dairy in the US to find out how farmers reacted to their five non-negotiables for building a resilient dairy business during a recent UK roadshow. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Avoiding heat stress in pigs | AHDB North Farm Livestock Hot weather and heat extremes | AHDB Dry weather and drought | AHDB US dairy farmers bring practical resilience roadshow to Britain | AHDB GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and Producer Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories, or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts

August 12, 202639 min

Bluetongue vaccine update and heatwave impact on UK dairy farms

With bluetongue cases continuing to rise this season, The AG Show team's focus is on South West England, one of the hardest-hit parts of the country, to find out what it's really like on the ground. We catch up with a Cornish beef, sheep and arable farmer whose livestock have been affected, and hear from a Devon-based vet about just how busy things have been, plus the latest on vaccination efforts. The message is clear: don't wait until bluetongue is on your doorstep before taking action. Support and advice are available through the AHDB Bluetongue Virus Hotline on 024 7771 0386 . Plus, we look at how this summer's heatwaves have added to the challenges facing UK dairy farmers and what it could mean for the months ahead. SOME USEFUL BITS (FROM AHDB & BEYOND) Bluetongue virus latest news | AHDB Bluetongue virus update - 5 August 2026 | AHDB Webinar How have the recent heatwaves impacted GB milk production? | AHDB Hot weather and heat extremes | AHDB Dry weather and drought | AHDB Support for farmers | AHDB GET IN TOUCH Charlotte, Hannah, Phil and Producer Martin would love to hear what you think! Got feedback, stories, or ideas for future episodes? Drop them a message at agshow@ahdb.org.uk . Sign up to the AHDB Preference Centre so that you can: Easily update your preferences and contact information Get information on the latest AHDB events, webinars, market insights and more Receive important updates such as disease alerts