Episode 16 – How IPM works for us: a farmer and agronomist’s perspective In this episode of the Defra Farming Podcast, guest host Tom Allen-Stevens—an arable farmer in Oxfordshire and founder of the British On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN)—is joined by Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines and agronomist Ed Schofield. Martin and Ed share with Tom how they are applying integrated pest management (IPM) on-farm to reduce reliance on chemical inputs while maintaining productivity and supporting biodi...
Apr 22, 2025•31 min
Defra Animal Health and Welfare lead Martin Jenkins talks to North West dairy farmer Karen Halton and vet James Russell about the support that is available from government to help livestock farmers drive down disease and improve animal health and welfare on their farms. Guidance for farmers and apply now - Guidance for farmers - Annual health and welfare review of livestock (defra.gov.uk) AHDB material for vets - What is the Annual Health and Welfare Review? | AHDB...
Mar 08, 2024•41 min
In episode 14 of the Defra Farming podcast, Michael Sturla talks to Robin and Christopher Milton, a father and son team farming beef and sheep on the Exmoor uplands, who have recently signed up to SFI. Robin and Christopher share how they found the SFI application process and the SFI actions they have signed up to that suit their farming system, including clover and herbal leys, hedgerows, nutrient management, integrated pest management and vet visits. Find out more about how to apply for SFI ht...
Jan 30, 2024•26 min
In episode 13 of the Defra Farming Podcast, Defra Productivity and Innovation Lead Andrew Powley spoke to Richard Wordsworth, NFU Senior Adviser (Support Schemes), and North Yorkshire beef and sheep farmer Richard Findlay. The group's in-depth conversation covers everything you need to know as a farmer to access business support through the government's Farming Resilience Fund. Find out more on GOV.UK about how to get free business advice for your farm through the Defra Farming Resilience Fund. ...
Oct 03, 2023•20 min
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers for actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment. In 2023, the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be bigger and more flexible with 23 pick and mix actions for farmers to choose from, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland. For episode 12 of the Defra Farming Podcast, we b...
Aug 29, 2023•29 min
In episode 11 of the Defra Farming podcast, Defra payments lead Lisa Warne talks to father and son John and Charlie Renner, who farm on the border of the Northumberland National Park between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Alnwick. Lisa gave an update about what's happening next in the growth and rollout of our environmental land management schemes. John and Charlie talked about how the new farming payments will fit in with the management of their farm and had plenty of questions about the new grants and...
Feb 23, 2023•35 min
In episode 10 of the Future Farming podcast, to celebrate National Young Farmers' Week 2022, Matt McGuire welcomes 3 up-and-coming young people in farming to the podcast. Charlie Beaty, Ed Dungait and Charlotte Garbutt discuss how to get started in farming, the importance of education and the range of roles in agriculture. They also discuss the benefits new talent can bring to the sector. #YoungFarmersWeek Charlotte @ThisIsGarbs works in agronomy and sales for an agri-chemical company and is YFC...
Oct 19, 2022•37 min
In episode 9 of the Future Farming podcast, Defra farming strategy lead Briony Turner talks to CLA (Country Land and Business Association) land use advisor Harry Greenfield and TFA (Tenant Farmers Association) farm advisor Lynette Steel about new public and private sector environmental schemes. CLA and TFA have been working together to produce a set of guidelines to support tenants and landlords in applying for the schemes. Harry and Lynette explain the thinking behind the collaboration, and how...
Aug 15, 2022•24 min
The Sustainable Farming Incentive is now open for applications. Through SFI, farmers will be paid for looking after the natural environment while they're farming. This year, we’ll start paying farmers for taking care of their soil or assessing the condition of moorland. From next year, we’ll be expanding the range of SFI actions farmers can get paid for. For episode 8 of the Future Farming Podcast, we brought together Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines and Defra Sustainable Farming Incentive lea...
Jul 24, 2022•35 min
In the seventh episode of the Future Farming podcast, Tim Mordan, Defra’s Head of Farming Innovation, Productivity and Science talks to Rui Andrês, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics, about their innovative raspberry robot picker. Listen to find out how the project was developed, initially at Plymouth University , and then with the help of government innovation funding to bring it to market. Find out more about government innovation funding for farming: How we're encouraging innovation in farming UKRI: f...
Feb 21, 2022•26 min
In the fifth episode of the Future Farming podcast, Defra Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director Janet Hughes talks to policy lead for the Farming Investment Fund Sarah Evered. Listen to find out how the team designed the fund, what we've learned from launching it and what's coming next.
Dec 09, 2021•14 min
In the sixth episode of the Future Farming podcast, Janet talks with British Farming Awards Arable Innovator of the Year Tim Parton . Tim is Farm Manager at Brewood Park Farm, Staffordshire, where he manages 300 hectares using regenerative agriculture methods. Listen in to find out how Tim has moved to no-till, reduced insecticide and fungicide use and brewed his own nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Follow Tim @parker419 and Janet @JanetHughes on Twitter....
Dec 06, 2021•34 min
In September 2021 the Farming Forum held a two-part Q&A session with Janet Hughes, Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director. Farmers were invited to submit their questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Clive Bailye, Director of the Farming Forum, put the most-asked questions to Janet. The original videos can be watched here and here . We are making this version available as slightly abridged highlights version on the podcast....
Nov 12, 2021•37 min
In our third Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Gabe Brown. Gabe has been named one of the twenty-five most influential agricultural leaders in the United States. He is one of the pioneers of the soil health movement and author of the book, “ Dirt to Soil, One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture .” He farms at Brown’s Ranch , a diversified 5,000 acre farm and ranch in North Dakota, with his wife Shelly and son Paul. Gabe is a partner in the regenerative farming consultancy ...
Apr 11, 2021•38 min
In our second Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Nic Renison. Nic farms with her husband Paul on the edge of the North Pennines in Cumbria, where they produce cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are part of a growing movement towards regenerative farming that has been picking up pace since 2014. Nic is on the steering group for the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and is part of the Carbon Calling @carboncallfarm regenerative conference organising team. In this podcast, Nic s...
Mar 15, 2021•23 min
In our first ever Future Farming podcast, Janet Hughes talks to Neil Heseltine. Neil is a farmer and the Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. He works with The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) , The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) and Land Workers Alliance. Janet and Neil discuss how working with nature can not only safeguard it but can be more profitable. Neil was born and grew up on Hill Top Farm at Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. He runs the farm w...
Feb 16, 2021•23 min
