Cereals 2026 at Clarkson's Farm: Does it still pay to grow combinable crops?
This live Cereals 2026 episode tackles one big question: with high input costs and mediocre grain prices will planting cereals this autumn be financially worthwhile? The discussion starts with markets and margins, including break-even wheat prices, grain carryover, milling wheat premiums and the risks of holding out for higher prices. Part Two looks at how growers can reduce risk through variety choice, BYDV resistance, hybrid wheat, yellow rust resilience and AHDB decision-support tools. Finally, we asks whether the public and politicians really understand farming — and how Clarkson’s Farm has changed the conversation about food security and farm profitability. Guests Andrew Williamson – Shropshire farmer and NFU Combinable Crops Board vice-chair Andrew Dewing – Dewing Grain chief executive and grain trader Clare Leaman – NIAB cereal variety specialist Sacha White – AHDB crop protection scientist Patrick Galbraith – Daily Telegraph rural affairs writer Charlie Ireland – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons Farm George Badger – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons Farm Chapters 00:00 – IntroductionLive from Cereals 2026 at Diddly Squat Farm. 01:15 – Are cereals still worth drilling?Andrew Williamson outlines the pressure on arable margins. 04:12 – Grain markets and break-even pricesAndrew Dewing assesses wheat values, cost of production and selling opportunities. 05:30 – Feed prices and livestock linksHugh Broom looks at what low grain prices mean for livestock producers. 09:04 – Fertiliser costs and possible supportThe NFU’s call for help if fertiliser prices spike. 11:44 – Feed wheat, milling wheat and riskLouise Impey and the panel discuss whether milling wheat still stacks up. 16:37 – Grain marketing strategyWhen should growers lock in prices for harvest 2026 and 2027? 19:20 – Growing a cost-effective cropClaire Lehman and Sasha White join the discussion. 20:10 – BYDV-resistant varietiesWhy barley is moving faster than wheat on BYDV tolerance. 21:30 – Hybrid wheatCould new hybrid wheat varieties change the market? 23:13 – Yellow rust resistanceHow breeders are responding to resistance breakdowns. 24:24 – AHDB’s new BYDV toolSasha White explains how the tool can help growers decide whether spraying is worthwhile. 28:28 – Decision support and SFI toolsHow AHDB is helping growers weigh up complex agronomic and business choices. 32:04 – Resilience over yieldWhy variety choice is increasingly about consistency and risk management. 34:45 – Does the public understand farming?Patrick Galbraith, Charlie Ireland and George Badger join the final panel. 35:52 – Telling farming stories in national mediaHow farming issues are explained to non-farming audiences. 37:17 – Behind the scenes at Diddly SquatWhat Clarkson’s Farm gets right about farming life. 42:27 – Food security and public awarenessWhy the link between shoppers and producers remains fragile. 44:32 – Reasons for optimismMixed farming, SFI, land opportunities and long-term business thinking. 49:09 – How farming is perceivedPatrick Galbraith on public sympathy, politics and why farming should keep pushing its case. This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker. We love to hear from you: - Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/ Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/ Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/ For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.