R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today we’re back with Field to Front Door 🎙️David, Martin and Wallace this time getting really stuck into regenerative farming, soil health and what changing systems on farm actually looks like in practice.  A big focus of this episode was David starting to move parts of the farm towards lower input and regenerative approaches, with Martin explaining everything from soil biology and cover crops through to seed treatments, ploughing depth and why modern systems may have stripped so much life out of soils over time.We also got into the balance between wanting to farm differently and the reality that changing systems is scary when your business depends on it working. There was a really interesting discussion around biology, fertiliser dependency and whether farming can move back towards building healthier soils rather than constantly feeding crops directly.Alongside all of that there was still plenty of the usual mix of stories and tangents, from agroecology on Arran through to David somehow finding himself at leadership events, embassy receptions and talking about peonies with people from all over the world.We’re going to keep this going fortnightly for now and see where it takes us. If you’ve got ideas on what we should cover or who we should bring in, send them our way.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I had Liv on the R2Kast 🎙️ She works in commercial content across the agricultural media space, creating campaigns, events and storytelling that connect farming with a wider audience. 🌾We spoke about how she found her way into agriculture from outside the sector, starting with an English degree and teaching before moving into marketing and eventually into agricultural media. It was a really honest chat about trying different things, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and how those decisions shape where you end up. 🍎A big part of the conversation focused on content and communication. How stories are told in agriculture, the importance of asking questions, and why people coming in without a farming background can bring a different and valuable perspective to the industry. 🌍We also chatted about confidence, networking and building a career without a set plan, and how sometimes just following what you enjoy can take you further than you expect.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Speke Adams 🎙️ Kate is Managing Director of the Herefordshire Rural Hub, a farm support organisation helping farmers and rural businesses navigate everything from regulation and resilience to succession and business change. She is also a 2015 Nuffield Scholar whose study looked at how farmers can be re engaged with their soils through fear, finances, regulation or education 🌾This episode also brings us to the end of series one of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar, eight episodes looking at those eligible for the Bullock Award. What a way to finish with the current holder of that award. The Bullock Award recognises the scholar who has made the most significant impact in the decade following their scholarship through leadership, innovation or contribution to the wider industry 🚜We spoke about Kate’s upbringing on a dairy farm in Herefordshire and how her career has sat right at the intersection between farming and the environment, from work with organisations like the Environment Agency and Rivers Trust through to leading the Herefordshire Rural Hub today. Her Nuffield study focused on how farmers engage with soil health and what really drives change, whether that is education, financial incentives or regulation. One of the biggest takeaways from her travels was the power of peer to peer learning, farmers learning from farmers, something she now builds into much of the work the hub delivers 🌍Kate shared some brilliant insight into the challenges farmers are facing in Herefordshire today, particularly around water quality, regulation and changing weather patterns. We also spoke about a huge landscape recovery project she has been leading that could reshape over 5,000 hectares of farmland along the River Wye, bringing farmers together to rethink how food production, environmental recovery and long term resilience can work side by side 🌱We finished by talking about the Bullock Award itself and what it meant to reflect on the ten years since her scholarship. Kate spoke about how Nuffield builds confidence, opens doors and creates a network that continues to shape careers long after the travel ends, something that really sums up the spirit of this whole series.We’ll see you for the next series with a new focus in two weeks.Thank you to NFU Mutual for their support of this project.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re back with Field to Front Door 🎙️David, Martin and Wallace picking things up again with a real mix of what’s happening on farm right now and where things might be heading next.  We covered everything from late frosts and irrigation to how that actually impacts crops on the ground, through to peony season kicking off and the pressure of getting everything picked, packed and delivered at the right time.A big part of this one was about selling direct and what that really looks like in practice. From pre selling crops a year in advance, to building customer trust, to the reality that you don’t need thousands of customers if you’ve got the right ones.There was also a really interesting chat around niche markets and adding value, from linseed for eye packs to specialist grains and how finding the right outlet can completely change the economics of a crop.We got into social media again as well, not just the numbers but how you actually use it to build something real, and why copying someone else isn’t the answer, it’s about finding your own thing and doing it properly.We’re going to keep this going fortnightly for now and see where it takes us. If you’ve got ideas on what we should cover or who we should bring in, send them our way.Enjoy! 🙂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.