Mark The Bowler Hat Farmer

Paul and I kicked things off with a proper catch-up from the farm, from tractor repairs and homemade ice cream to local cherries, farmers’ markets and the never-ending circus of regulation. Then Nicola and Kelly joined us to give the full lowdown on this year’s Weekend Truth Festival in Wrexham — four days of talks, music, camping, children’s activities and a big focus on community, solutions and getting people together. We talked through the line-up, the Youth Sanctuary, the music, the stalls, and why events like this matter when so many people are looking for alternatives, practical skills and stronger local networks.From there, Paul and I got into the meat of the bigger farming conversation: AI and how it’s being used, regenerative farming, electroculture, composting, local food systems and what it really takes to keep a farm going. We also dug into the hard realities farmers are facing right now — subsidies, bureaucracy, cash flow, staffing, disappearing abattoirs, public demand, chemical dependency, succession, planning, water access and the very real mental health toll across the industry. It was one of those episodes that moved from festival chat to a much wider conversation about food, farming, resilience and where we go from here.Weekend Truth Festival: https://www.weekendtruthfestival.co.uk/Food Finders Hub: https://foodfindershub.com/The Bowler Hat Farmer: https://thebowlerhatfarmer.com/Farmers Support UK: https://farmerssupportuk.com/Mark Devlin: https://djmarkdevlin.com/The People’s Lawyer (David Adelman): https://thepeopleslawyeruk.com/Prof Dolores Cahill: https://profdolorescahill.com/about-dolores-cahill-phd/Gary Fraughen: https://garyfraughen.co.uk/Good Gardeners International: https://ggi.org.uk/The Realme of England: https://www.therealmeofengland.com/AB Health Hub: https://www.abhealthhub.com/Vitamin Patches UK: https://www.vitaminpatches.uk/Willoughby Genius: https://www.willoughbygenius.com/Carbon Cowboys – Roots So Deep: https://carboncowboys.org/about/all-our-films/roots-so-deep

In this episode, I sat down with Istvan, Joshua and Paul to dig into Lana and ask the practical questions small farmers, farm shops and local retailers will want answered. We explored how Lana is being positioned alongside cash and card payments rather than as a straight replacement, how customers can receive a loyalty-style return on their spending, and how participating sellers can build extra value back into their businesses. We also got into the important details: where the incentives come from, how payouts work, what happens when customers spend in Lana, how quickly shops can be onboarded, and why the team say the system is designed to reward organic and regenerative trade while keeping value circulating locally.What really stood out for me was the wider conversation about resilience. Beyond the mechanics of payments, this became a discussion about local food systems, independent businesses, community governance, and what kind of economic tools farmers and shopkeepers may need if the existing financial system keeps becoming harder to trust. Paul brought the sceptical-but-curious view from the farm gate, and by the end we were talking not just about whether Lana works, but about how local food networks, independent producers and community-led platforms could help build something more practical, transparent and human-scale for the future.Lana Pays: https://lanapays.us/Food Finders Hub: https://foodfindershub.com/Higher Colston Farm: https://www.highercolstonfarm.com/Eco Green Compost: https://ecogreencompost.co.uk/Magna Radio: https://www.magnaradio.co.uk/BSV Blockchain: https://bsvblockchain.org/Nostr: https://nostr.org/The Sovereign Project: https://www.thesovereignproject.live/B&Q: https://www.diy.com/McDonald's: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us.htmlIstvan Ezsias (LinkedIn): https://uk.linkedin.com/in/istvanezsias369

In this candid round‑table, I’m joined by co‑host Paul from Bramblebee Farm and our guest Milly Fyfe, newly awarded an MBE, to dig into the reality of British farming in 2026. We cover why diversification keeps family farms alive (from honesty shops and education centres to markets and on‑farm processing), the constant juggle with planning, EHO and Trading Standards, and how surplus supermarket food can be repurposed through community shops. Milly explains how her farm classroom has welcomed schoolchildren, SEN groups and adults in recovery, reconnecting people with where food comes from through animals, soil, seed planting and simple bread‑and‑butter making. We talk straight about the gap between policy and practice, the pressure of cheap imports, fast‑food culture, and the struggle to keep local supply chains viable. Paul shares lessons from running a butchery, markets and new dairy diversification (hello, farm ice cream), while we swap practical ideas on volunteer management and farmer‑led “good fast food”. It’s an honest look at the graft, the hope and the community energy needed to rebuild food literacy and make British farming sustainable for the next generation.'Milly Fyfe – Food & Farming': https://www.millyfyfe.com/'Bramblebee Farm Butchery': https://www.bramblebeefarms.co.uk/pages/butchery'Food Finders Hub (farm shops and local food directory)': https://foodfindershub.org/'LEAF Education – Farmer Training (CEVAS)': https://leaf.eco/education/for-farmers/training'Access To Farms – CEVAS information': https://visitmyfarm.org/courses/cevas-therapeutic-courses'Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs/about'Food Standards Agency (FSA)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/food-standards-agency/about'Chartered Trading Standards Institute (Trading Standards)': https://www.tradingstandards.uk/'Waitrose & Partners (retailer referenced)': https://www.waitrose.com/'Nisa Locally (symbol-group retailer referenced)': https://www.nisalocally.co.uk/'SPAR UK (symbol-group retailer referenced)': https://www.spar.co.uk/'Tesco Groceries': https://www.tesco.com/groceries/'Sainsbury’s': https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/'Morrisons – Online Groceries': https://groceries.morrisons.com/'McDonald’s UK': https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb.html'KFC UK': https://www.kfc.co.uk/'Fresh Start for Hens (ex‑commercial hen rehoming)': https://freshstartforhens.co.uk/about-us/'The National Lottery Community Fund (grant support referenced)': https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/'The Bowler Hat Farmer (host’s campaign site)': https://thecommunityinterestfoundation.org/contact-us/

In this candid episode, I sit down with Paul to unpack a big step he’s taking to build resilience: securing 31 acres of long‑worked orchards to open up new, community‑centred avenues beyond commodity farming. We talk frankly about the realities behind a mixed, first‑generation family farm and butchery in the Fens—cashflow squeeze, breakdowns, slaughter logistics, rules and inspections—alongside the public’s genuine appetite to reconnect with food. From pick‑your‑own and juicing to on‑farm learning (butchery, poultry, livestock handling), nature‑friendly growing, and welcoming schools and home‑educators, Paul sketches a five‑year path that invites partners, volunteers and other small businesses in, so the next generation can step up while he steps back a little. We also range across what listeners are asking for—farm tours, courses, community plots, even goat yoga—plus practical marketing ideas like county WhatsApp communities and local directories. There’s spirited debate on solar and digesters on farmland, abattoir closures, and the church‑hall screenings of the new People’s Emergency Briefing film. Along the way, we swap notes on low‑input growing, aquaponics, biodiversity‑led pest control, and the small wins that keep a farm moving when the weather finally turns in your favour.Bramblebee Farm (butchery, farm & nationwide delivery): https://www.bramblebeefarms.co.uk/BigBarn – UK local food directory: https://bigbarn.co.uk/Food Finders Hub – local food directory/community: https://foodfindershub.org/Produce & Provide – find UK farmers selling direct: https://www.produceandprovide.co.uk/Wild Minds Network (One Tree Farm) – off‑grid community and learning: https://www.wildmindscommunity.com/Polyface Farm – regenerative farming and internships (Joel Salatin): https://polyfacefarm.com/homepageThe People’s Emergency Briefing – national community film project: https://www.nebriefing.org/Environment Agency (UK) – official site: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agencyBackyard Pit Rubs – UK small‑batch BBQ rubs: https://backyardpitrubs.com/The Bowler Hat Farmer – YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Thebowlerhatfarmer

On tonight’s show, Paul gives us the latest from Brambleby Farm — long‑awaited rain at last, a fraught pasteuriser move that ended well, steady calving, and the realities of cleanliness, rotations and costs on a small mixed farm. Our guest, holistic veterinarian Roger Meacock, joins me to explore his journey from conventional practice to non‑pharmaceutical approaches, from using magnets with downer cows to microcurrent biofeedback devices that aim to accelerate healing by working with the body’s own signalling. We range widely across food and farming: what happens when we intervene too much; breeding for hardiness; raw vs pasteurised milk; nutrient density from diverse pastures; and the mounting regulatory load facing vets and farmers. Roger flags his concerns about mRNA platforms in animals and the need for rigorous oversight, and we discuss Bovaer, PCR testing, and how policy steers practice. We finish on resilience — local food systems, directories like Food Finders Hub, and why many of us are building parallel, community‑based routes from farm to table while technology and regulation race ahead.'Natural Healing Solutions (Roger Meacock MRCVS)': https://naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk/'SEQUIVITY (Merck Animal Health) – RNA vaccine platform for swine': https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/products/sequivity/'Veterinary Medicines Directorate (UK) – official': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterinary-medicines-directorate/'Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) – official site': https://www.rcvs.org.uk/home/'Bovaer (dsm‑firmenich) – methane‑reducing feed additive': https://www.dsm-firmenich.com/content/dsm/anh/en_US/products-and-services/products/methane-inhibitors/bovaer.html'Food Finders Hub – UK directory for local food and farms': https://foodfindershub.org/'Hoover Dam – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (official)': https://www.usbr.gov/'Nineteen Eighty‑Four by George Orwell – Orwell Foundation': https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/books-by-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four/

In tonight’s conversation, I’m joined by Andy and Francesco to explore how electroculture, geotherapy and good soil biology can radically improve food production. We trace our journey from first meetings and early scepticism to practical installations of power towers, minerals such as basalt, dolomite and quartz, and microbe-rich teas—plus the surprising results we’ve witnessed first-hand: extended growing seasons, stronger plants, rapid mycelium activity and even notable changes in pest pressure. We also talk practical farming: costs front‑loaded versus conventional annual inputs, where to trial on-farm, and how building a living, resilient soil biome can future‑proof smallholdings and larger acreages alike. Along the way we compare notes from sites in Somerset, Kent and Hope Sussex, touch on historical threads (from 19th–20th century experiments to pyramid energy and structured water), and look at the wider landscape: the rise of community growing, regenerative practices, and farmers shifting to direct sales. The core message is simple and actionable—recreate the forest floor, feed the microbiome, and use energy wisely—so that our soils become sovereign, our food more nutritious, and our communities more resilient.'Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs'Biodynamic Association (UK)': https://www.biodynamic.org.uk'United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development': https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda'Kubota (global site for compact and agricultural machinery)': https://www.kubota.com'Rosslyn Chapel (referenced in discussion of historical architecture and resonance)': https://www.rosslynchapel.com

On tonight’s live catch‑up I’m joined by Paul from Norfolk for a properly down‑to‑earth ramble about real farming in 2026. We start with weather woes (finally, much‑needed East Anglian rain), then dive into Paul’s three‑year journey building a tiny dairy from scratch, why ice cream is the make‑or‑break value‑add, and the joy and jeopardy of doing it all cash‑flow‑first. We swap stories on balky kit (a long‑awaited milk tank that wouldn’t chill), once‑a‑day milking, weaning calves, and that viral “calf in a badger hole” video that split the internet. From sluggish spring sales and social media bans on livestock posts to vet bills, feed choices and resilience, it’s the candid side of food that shoppers rarely hear.We range wider too: talk of fertiliser tightness and fuel costs; US feedlot practices versus regenerative examples; ticks and livestock health; vending machines versus a staffed farm shop; bartering and alternative payments (including crypto) alongside good old cash; why schools and forest schooling should put food, stockmanship and cooking back at the centre; and how more people are swerving supermarkets for farm shops, box schemes and home delivery. It’s practical hope: make great food, tell the truth, keep community at the heart—and crack on.'White Oak Pastures' (regenerative ranch cited): https://whiteoakpastures.com/'Tim Gibson Ltd' (portable/robotic milking equipment mentioned): https://tim-gibson.com/'NFU (National Farmers’ Union of England & Wales)' (industry body referenced): https://www.nfuonline.com/about-us/'DEFRA – UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' (regulator referenced): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra'RSPB – Skylark (farmland bird discussed)': https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-we-do/influence-government-and-business/farming/advice-for-farmers-helping-bird-species/skylark-advice-for-farmers'Bay’s Leap Dairy Farm' (raw/organic milk example): https://www.baysleaporganic.co.uk/dairy'Riverford Organic Farmers' (veg‑box model mentioned): https://organic.riverford.co.uk/'Abel & Cole' (veg‑box model mentioned): https://www.abelandcole.co.uk/'Amazon Just Walk Out (UK overview)' (till‑less retail discussed): https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/amazon-just-walk-out-o2-arena-london'AdBlue – what it is (Yara UK explainer)' (diesel exhaust fluid discussed): https://www.yara.co.uk/chemical-and-environmental-solutions/adblue-for-vehicles/what-is-adblue/'TikTok – About' (platform referenced around shopping and bans): https://www.tiktok.com/about'eBay UK' (home‑delivery/marketplace trend): https://www.ebay.co.uk/'Food Finders Hub' (community food directory mentioned): https://foodfindershub.org/'Müller UK & Ireland' (processor referenced): https://www.muller.co.uk/'Bitcoin SV (BSV) – project site' (alternative payments referenced): https://bitcoinsv.com/

In this episode, I’m joined by Patricia and farmer Paul for a lively, plain‑spoken look at glyphosate, why so many growers feel trapped into using it, and what it takes to step off that treadmill. From Paul’s first‑hand shift away from routine sprays to working with insect predators, ground cover and dung beetles, to Patricia’s decade of public‑facing advocacy and education, we explore practical, small‑scale paths that prioritise soil life, biodiversity and nutrient‑dense food. We also get into realistic consumer choices: how to spot (and bake) real sourdough, why sprouted and stone‑ground grains can feel different in the body, and why many supermarket “shortcuts” keep us hungry. We talk local supply chains and margins too: the power of farm shops and markets, value‑adding with things like ice‑cream, and why direct relationships can beat commodity pricing. Along the way we touch on labelling, schools and community growing, raw milk, and the steady cultural shift—especially among younger buyers—towards better food. However you feel about glyphosate, this is a grounded conversation about farming in the real world and how eaters and growers can move the dial together.'Toxic Legacy' by Stephanie Seneff: https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/toxic-legacy-paperback/Stephanie Seneff (MIT) – official site: https://stephanieseneff.net/Kelly Ryerson (“Glyphosate Girl”) – official site: https://www.kellyryerson.com/Sustainable Food Trust (founded by Patrick Holden): https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/Riverford Organic Farmers (founded by Guy Singh‑Watson): https://www.riverford.co.uk/Pesticide Action Network UK (briefing paper): https://www.pan-uk.org/site/wp-content/uploads/Divergence_EU_LATEST_Apr2025.pdfRoundup (UK consumer information): https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/roundupRoyal Horticultural Society (schools and Grow Your Own advice): https://www.rhs.org.uk/Sunshine & Green (Farmer Greg’s veg boxes): https://sunshineandgreen.co.uk/Crops Not Shops (community growing): https://www.cropsnotshops.co.uk/Food Finders Hub (UK directory for local food): https://foodfindershub.org/Ancel Keys (background): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancel_KeysJudy Mikovits (background): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_MikovitsProf. Angus Dalgleish (background): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_Dalgleish

Mark (the Bowler Hat Farmer) flies solo from Somerset with guest Dean for a frank, plain‑English discussion about how UK farmers can sell direct, reduce dependence on big processors, and push back against red tape. We unpack the idea of running sales through a Private Members’ Association (PMA), why private contracts can shield small producers from some inspections meant for open‑to‑the‑public trading, and practical first steps for transitioning gradually without shutting the gates overnight. Along the way we touch on dairy contracts (Arla/Müller), CPH numbers, DEFRA, Trading Standards, the Environment Agency, and real examples of moving from 32p per litre to on‑farm retail, plus upsell ideas (butter, ice cream, pies) that keep value on farm. We also talk soil-first growing, the shift in public demand for local food, and the cultural headwinds farmers face—from paperwork to post‑Milk Marketing Board consolidation. Dean shares tactics for setting terms before any “routine” visit, the importance of writing your own T&Cs inside a PMA, and why steady, small steps can help family farms regain control, resilience and better margins.'Food Finders Hub': https://foodfindershub.org'Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)': https://www.rhs.org.uk'Harrogate Flower Shows': https://www.flowershow.org.uk'Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs'Trading Standards (UK)': https://www.tradingstandards.uk'Environment Agency (England)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency'CPH numbers: register land you use to keep livestock (UK guidance)': https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-land-you-use-to-keep-livestock'Arla Foods UK': https://www.arlafoods.co.uk'Müller UK & Ireland': https://www.muller.co.uk'Soil Association': https://www.soilassociation.org'Milk Marketing Board (background)': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_Marketing_Board'BlackRock': https://www.blackrock.com'Vanguard (UK)': https://www.vanguardinvestor.co.uk'Signal Private Messenger': https://signal.org'Diddly Squat Farm Shop (Jeremy Clarkson)': https://www.diddlysquatfarmshop.com'Matalan': https://www.matalan.co.uk

In this on-the-road edition, I sit down with James Caswell and Millie to unpack how a 5,000‑acre arable operation is future‑proofing itself by growing and bagging its own peat‑free compost. We cover the realities of input costs, soil health, and why “thinking outside the system” is no longer optional. James explains the farm’s five‑year herbal leys (clover, grasses, chicory), integrating willow from wet ground, and using straw to create a three‑component compost that’s boosting germination, plant vigour and water retention in my own trials. We also get into practical wins: rotational leys reducing synthetic nitrogen use, gypsum for heavy land, bringing sheep and bees back onto fields, and early on‑farm trials comparing compost with chicken manure. If you’re a home grower, farm‑shop owner, or a grower looking for resilient inputs as weather swings and costs bite, this conversation is a grounded walkthrough of what’s working—and how stocking a pallet of high‑quality, peat‑free compost can add real value without spoilage risk.'Caswell’s Eco Green Compost': https://ecogreencompost.co.uk'Harrogate Flower Show': https://www.flowershow.org.uk'British Garden Centres': https://www.britishgardencentres.com'Anglian Water': https://www.anglianwater.co.uk'DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs'Environment Agency (England)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency

In this episode, I’m joined by co‑host Paul and arable farmer Phil (Fells Farming) for an unvarnished, from‑the‑yard conversation about the realities of British farming in 2026. We cover breakdowns and long journeys home, water worries and parched fields, compliance headaches, and the ever‑rising costs of fuel, fertiliser and kit. Phil talks candidly about recent farmer actions, why public support matters, and how wafer‑thin supermarket inventories and just‑in‑time logistics make the UK food chain far more fragile than most realise. We also compare notes on grazing schemes with the RSPB, SFI trade‑offs, spring drilling on heavy land, and why many are considering lower‑input crops or mothballing expansion plans altogether. We get into supermarkets’ sourcing, imports versus home‑grown, and the knock‑on effects for mills, machinery dealers and every business that keeps farms running. There’s discussion of political will (or lack of it), red tape from agencies, and what practical, peaceful protest could look like if farmers and the wider public stand together. We finish with a look at on‑farm diversification, from raw milk and shakes to butter and ice cream, and why direct‑to‑customer loyalty is keeping some holdings afloat right now.'Tesco': https://www.tesco.com'Sainsbury’s': https://www.sainsburys.co.uk'Morrisons': https://www.morrisons.com'JCB': https://www.jcb.com'Red Tractor Assurance': https://redtractor.org.uk'RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)': https://www.rspb.org.uk'Environment Agency (UK)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency'DEFRA – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs'Port of Felixstowe': https://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk'GB News': https://www.gbnews.com'TalkTV': https://talk.tv'Sky News': https://news.sky.com'BBC News': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news'Haygates Flour Mills (Bugbrooke)': https://www.haygates.co.uk'Massey Ferguson (AGCO)': https://www.masseyferguson.com'New Holland Agriculture': https://agriculture.newholland.com'Kverneland Group': https://www.kverneland.com'Kubota (Global)': https://www.kubota.com'Great Plains Ag': https://www.greatplainsag.com'Cousins of Emneth (Cultivators & Subsoilers)': https://www.cousinsofemneth.co.uk'The Farmers Club (London)': https://www.thefarmersclub.com'Shuttleworth Collection': https://www.shuttleworth.org'Farming Simulator (Official)': https://www.farming-simulator.com'Reform UK (Political Party)': https://www.reformparty.uk'The Green Party of England & Wales': https://www.greenparty.org.uk'The Labour Party (UK)': https://labour.org.uk'Nigel Farage (Official site)': https://www.nigelfarage.com

In this live farm-chat, I’m joined by Craig from Maesllyn Meatboxes, Paul from Bramblebee Farms, and engineer–inventor Alan from Farming Solutions. We dig into the realities of selling meat direct: why face‑to‑face markets often outperform online, how footfall and consistent posting can turn the tide, and smart ways to move stock without filling freezers (hello, quickfire Facebook auctions). Craig shares his leap from HGV driver to beef producer selling at four markets a week; Paul explains how disciplined daily content and customer conversations built a thriving butchery and farm shop; and we kick around practical ideas from pop‑ups at busy pubs to trying high‑footfall car‑boot sites and campsite drops in peak season. Alan gets hands‑on with animal health and TB risk reduction, outlining simple biosecurity upgrades (raised troughs, badger‑proof mineral stands, tidy yards) and the value of testing latrines over “blind” approaches. We compare notes on tenant‑farming pressures, volatile store prices, diesel and fertiliser costs, social media burnout, and why co‑ops and local processing could put pricing power back in farmers’ hands. It’s an honest, good‑humoured tour through what’s working now—and where the industry must pull together next.'Maesllyn Meatboxes (Craig) – Online Farm Shop': https://maesllynmeatboxes.co.uk/'Bramblebee Farms – Butchery, Farm Shop and Deliveries': https://www.bramblebeefarms.co.uk/'Farming Solutions Ltd (Alan) – Handling Systems & Biosecurity': https://www.farmingsolutionsltd.com/'TB Buster – Badger‑proof Mineral Bucket Stand (Farming Solutions Ltd)': https://www.farmingsolutionsltd.com/tb-busters'Clipex UK – Cattle & Sheep Handling Systems': https://clipex.co.uk/'St Dogmaels Local Producers’ Market (Cardigan)': https://www.stdogmaelsabbey.org.uk/producers_market.php'Holbeach Market (Lincolnshire)': https://www.holbeach.org.uk/en/market'Food Finders Hub – UK Local Food Directory': https://foodfindershub.org/'NFU (England & Wales) – National Farmers’ Union': https://www.nfuonline.com/'FUW – Farmers’ Union of Wales': https://fuw.org.uk/'DEFRA – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (UK)': https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra'RSPB Nene Washes (referenced wetland grazing context)': https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/nene-washes'Applecross Farm (Cheshire) – Events & Smoked Produce': https://www.applecrossfarm.com/events

Tonight I flew solo for a good while thanks to some spectacular tech gremlins, then finally welcomed agricultural chaplain-turned-founder Graham Miles to talk candidly about mental health in farming and his new nationwide initiative, Farmers Support UK. We dug into the reality of isolation on farms, the courage it takes to make that first call for support, and why a familiar, confidential voice on the end of the phone can buy precious time in a crisis. Graham also shared how policy, input costs and uncertainty are weighing on families, what he’s hearing from wives and partners, and the importance of keeping support truly 24/7 and farmer-led.We balanced the heavy with the everyday: grading mountains of eggs, rescuing a tricky calving that ended well, and swapping beekeeping tales (including why the odd sting might ease those aches). We celebrated local food resilience too—fresh veg harvested hours earlier, breed choices like Red Poll, and farm shop realities—while thanking everyone who keeps backing small, local producers. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone; there’s always a light somewhere beyond the dark, and there are people who will pick up when you call.'Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)': https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs'National Farmers' Union (NFU)': https://www.nfuonline.com'Country Land & Business Association (CLA)': https://www.cla.org.uk'Suffolk Show (Suffolk Agricultural Association)': https://suffolkshow.co.uk'South Suffolk Show': https://southsuffolkshow.co.uk'Hadleigh Show': https://hadleighshow.co.uk'BBC Radio Suffolk': https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_suffolk'Farmers Guardian': https://www.fginsight.com'Red Poll Cattle Society': https://redpoll.org

In this week’s episode, I catch up with Paul after a hectic spell on the farm: an unexpected early run of calving, new piglets, tagging and moving stock, and the roller‑coaster weather. I share an update on my move and getting hands back in the soil—reviving veg beds, trialling compost, electroculture, and noticing how organic matter, worms and mycelium are transforming tired ground. We talk drainage, hedgerows and ponds coming back, dung beetles thriving, and the never‑ending dance with UK schemes (SFI timings and thresholds), fuel costs, margins, and how small farms can stay resilient without leaning on subsidies. We’re then joined by Lily (age 10) and her dad Craig from North Cornwall. Lily milks 14 goats within a 40‑head herd and is already producing raw goat milk, cheese and ice cream, with plans for a lane‑end honesty shop and expanding carefully without bank debt. We dig into direct sales, shipping chilled meat, surging demand for goat, the power of honest social posts, and why raw milk and farm shops are winning hearts. From Clarkson’s Farm to Countryfile, from school gatekeeping to real food education, we chew over what it’ll take to back British farmers, inspire the next generation, and price food fairly—while keeping the love of stockmanship at the centre of it all.'Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)': https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sustainable-farming-incentive-sfi'Arla Foods (UK)': https://www.arlafoods.co.uk'APC Overnight (chilled and food shipping options vary by depot)': https://apc-overnight.com'CapCut (video editing app)': https://www.capcut.com'Facebook': https://www.facebook.com'TikTok': https://www.tiktok.com'YouTube': https://www.youtube.com'Diddly Squat Farm Shop (Clarkson’s Farm)': https://www.diddlysquatfarmshop.com

In tonight’s rambling, real-world catch‑up, Paul and I open up about the mounting pressures across British farming: fuel and fertiliser spikes, volatile commodity prices, and why mental health support for farmers matters more than ever. We talk FairFuelUK’s long-running campaign on duty, the strange economics of Nitram versus growing a crop, and how weather whiplash and input costs are forcing hard choices on everything from reseeding to grazing. I share plans to pursue raw milk next year by shifting our TB testing window, plus a few bee‑keeping escapades, a move to Somerset, and upcoming dates at the Harrogate Flower Show. Later we’re joined by Michael, a seventh‑generation arable grower, who lays out the stark numbers: malting barley without contracts, chip shops under strain, sugar beet on the brink, and the vacuum left by the basic payment scheme. We compare selling direct versus scale, the squeeze on hospitality demand, and the reality of keeping multi‑crop family farms afloat while trying to give the next generation a fighting chance.'FairFuelUK (Howard Cox)': https://www.fairfueluk.com/'Old Hall Farm (raw milk, Norfolk)': https://www.oldhallfarm.co.uk/'Dora’s Dairy (raw milk, Swindon)': https://www.dorasdairy.co.uk/'RSPB Ouse Washes': https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ouse-washes/'Bovine TB testing intervals (GOV.UK)': https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bovine-tb-testing-intervals'Red Tractor Assurance': https://redtractor.org.uk/'Farming Resilience Fund (GOV.UK collection)': https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/farming-resilience-fund'Harrogate Flower Shows': https://www.flowershow.org.uk/'CF Fertilisers (Nitram fertiliser)': https://www.cffertilisers.co.uk/

Tonight I catch up with Paul at Bramblebee Farm for a down‑to‑earth look at life on a busy mixed farm: surprise EHO inspections, scrubbing parlours, tagging calves, a Facebook‑live calving, and the little wins that tell you spring is here—hello dung beetles. We shout out the Whittlesey indoor market (Blackboard Events) and Waterbeach Barracks market, talk stall-by-stall demand, and why some “poorer” areas often out‑buy “richer” ones. Graham was due to join us to discuss his frontline work supporting farmers in mental distress; tech gremlins kept him off‑air, but we highlighted the brutal reality some families face and why a 24/7, farmer‑led support model matters. From the workshop to the wider world, we chew over soaring fuel and input costs, the price shock of steel versus timber, and the knock-on for food inflation. We challenge food labelling and assurance—Union Jacks, Red Tractor, and how clarity still lags standards—plus the creep of ultra‑processed substitutes and why transparent ingredients matter. We swap notes on direct sales, school meals reform, and building resilient, local supply chains. Looking ahead, we trail next week’s guests: Lily, launching a raw‑goat‑milk ice‑cream micro‑dairy, and Michael Scott, a conventional potato grower—two very different windows on British farming today.'Bramblebee Farms (direct farm shop)': https://www.bramblebeefarms.co.uk/'Blackboard Events (Whittlesey and other local markets)': https://www.blackboardevents.co.uk/'Waterbeach Community Market (Barracks site info)': https://www.waterbeachlocal.info/communitymarket'Food Finders Hub (UK local food directory)': https://foodfindershub.org/'Red Tractor Assurance (official)': https://redtractor.org.uk/'UK food labelling rules (GOV.UK)': https://www.gov.uk/food-labelling-and-packaging/food-labelling-what-you-must-show'Jamie Oliver school food campaigns (official hub)': https://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/'River Cottage (official site)': https://rivercottage.net/'Polyface Farm (Joel Salatin) – farm contact': https://polyfacefarm.com/contact-us'Skool (community platform mentioned for the new classroom)': https://www.skool.com/about'Tesla Powerwall (UK page)': https://www.tesla.com/en_gb/energy'Drax Power Station (official site)': https://www.drax.com/uk/what-we-do/drax-power-station/'Fyffes (official site)': https://www.fyffes.com/'Gareth Wyn Jones (profile – GWCT Wales)': https://www.gwct.wales/case-studies/gareth-wyn-jones/'Rambling Henry (link hub)': https://linktr.ee/ramblinghenry