After the Drought: What Needs to Change on UK Farms? [Big Debate ep22]
The rain has returned, but after two incredibly challenging summers, can farming afford to simply move on? Ally and Sophie discuss this and...
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Meet the Farmers
Meet the Farmers is a weekly show that profiles people in the countryside and gives you an insight into food and farming.
Episodes
20 of 406 episodes
Reasons to Be Confident About the Future of Farming
Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by Virgin Money's UK Head of Agriculture Brian Richardson and Head of Agric...
What Would You Do With £1 Million on Your Farm? Big Debate ep21.
If someone handed you £1 million to invest in your farm, what would you spend it on? That's the question Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregor...
The Reality of Farming in Britain's Drought. Big Debate ep20
Join Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory for the first-ever in-person episode of The Big Debate. They discuss the UK's worsening drought, t...
Ben shares some news
Ben will be away for a little while and shares some news in this short update.
EMERGENCY EPISODE - Wild Fires, Grazing, Rewilding and the Conversation We're Not Having Enough
For this emergency episode Ben is joined by a panel to discuss wild fires and how land management can help
Harvest 2026 and Reviewing the Road to Farm Profitability - how do we get there? Big Debate ep19
Ally and Sophie are joined by Ben Briggs to discuss the Farming Roadmap and the government response to the Farm Profitability Review. Also c...
Derek vs Derek The Film - meet the Dereks
Derek v Derek is a 2026 documentary about two neighbouring Devon farmers whose opposing approaches to managing the land make sparks fly betw...
Answers to YOUR Questions on Farm Diversification and Viticulture
Do you have questions about viticulture or diversification? In this bonus episode of The Big Debate, hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Greg...
Are Cover Crops Worth Planting?
Ben is joined by Sophie Gregory and Tom Gregory, Dorset farmers alongside Alex Pearson from DLF Seeds to discuss cover crops, what they are,...
Is ORGANIC FARMING the Answer? Big Debate ep18 LIVE from Groundswell
Organic farmer John Pawsey joins Ally and Sophie live at Groundswell festival to discuss the future of organic farming.
The Thirteenth Generation Farmer on a Mission to Get Britain Growing More Nuts
A live podcast recording from Groundswell with Suffolk farmer Tom McVeigh, talking family farming, nuts and Nuffield.
Starmer RESIGNS, Record Heat Hits Britain and Environment Agency Inspections set to Increase - Big Debate ep17
From record heat to the Farming Roadmap, political upheaval and the relationship between farmers and the Environment Agency - there is lots...
Baroness Minette Batters - What was being NFU President REALLY Like and What's the future for British Farming?
Baroness Minette Batters DL is arguably one of the most influential voices in British agriculture in a generation. In 6 years as President o...
Smarter Farming: What is it and what's the future?
Farming has never been more complex. More decisions, more data and less time. Ally Hunter Blair headed to Cereals 2026 to ask farmers a simp...
1 million young people not in Employment, Education or Training - could farming be the answer? - Big Debate ep16
In the latest Big Debate episode Sophie and Ally discuss the recent Milburn report into young people and work. With over a million 16-24 yea...
Farming Profitability, Contracting and a Forward Thinking Arable Business - with Tom Hawthorne
Ben is joined by arable farmer Tom Hawthorne who farms in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire borderlands.
Open Farm Sunday, Mustard, Sugar and more with Michael Sly
Ben speaks to Cambridgeshire arable farmer Michael Sly, who has been holding an Open Farm Sunday on his event since the start in 2006.
Drought, Fuel Costs and Tractor Ted: What's Next for UK Farming?
Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory cover a lot of news stories and big picture pieces this week from fuel prices to trade...
Carrots, Beef and the future for a Mixed Farming Business - with Joe Howard
Ben speaks to Joe Howard who is responsible for the carrot and beef enterprises on a mixed farm business in Nottinghamshire.