Meet the Farmers

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  Farming Under Pressure: SFI Closes in 6 Hours (Big Debate ep23) 25.09.2026 51Min.

  Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair discuss the fast-closing SFI application window, UK potato crop losses, and new investment in Scotland’s beef sector, alongside updates from their own farms. They also explore how farming films can shape public understanding of agriculture.
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  After the Drought: What Needs to Change on UK Farms? [Big Debate ep22] 11.09.2026 44Min.

  The rain has returned, but after two incredibly challenging summers, can farming afford to simply move on? Ally and Sophie discuss this and more in this week's Big Debate episode.
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  Reasons to Be Confident About the Future of Farming 04.09.2026 33Min.

  Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory are joined by Virgin Money's UK Head of Agriculture Brian Richardson and Head of Agriculture in Scotland Stephen Buchan to take a broad look at UK agriculture over the past few months.
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  What Would You Do With £1 Million on Your Farm? Big Debate ep21. 28.08.2026 38Min.

  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 Gregory tackle in this week's Big Debate. From buying land and securing the future of the business to investing in water storage and diversification, they explore whether £1 million is really enough to transform a modern farm – and whether they're investing for themselves or the next generation.
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  The Reality of Farming in Britain's Drought. Big Debate ep20 14.08.2026 51Min.

  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, the spread of bluetongue, harvest pressures, life on their own farms, and the challenge of juggling farming with family life during the school holidays. They also explore how British farms are adapting through diversification and changing farming practices as the climate continues to shift.
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  Ben shares some news 10.08.2026 1Min.

  Ben will be away for a little while and shares some news in this short update.
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  EMERGENCY EPISODE - Wild Fires, Grazing, Rewilding and the Conversation We're Not Having Enough 03.08.2026 46Min.

  For this emergency episode Ben is joined by a panel to discuss wild fires and how land management can help
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  Harvest 2026 and Reviewing the Road to Farm Profitability - how do we get there? Big Debate ep19 24.07.2026 56Min.

  Ally and Sophie are joined by Ben Briggs to discuss the Farming Roadmap and the government response to the Farm Profitability Review. Also chat about the dry weather, Ally's experience so far of harvest 2026 and Farm Safety Week.
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  Derek vs Derek The Film - meet the Dereks 20.07.2026 34Min.

  Derek v Derek is a 2026 documentary about two neighbouring Devon farmers whose opposing approaches to managing the land make sparks fly between them! Here we meet the Dereks and see how they are actually more similar in their views than may at first appear.
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  Answers to YOUR Questions on Farm Diversification and Viticulture 17.07.2026 26Min.

  Do you have questions about viticulture or diversification? In this bonus episode of The Big Debate, hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory put some listener questions to Annabelle Rout, a lawyer from Birketts LLP.
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  Are Cover Crops Worth Planting? 13.07.2026 44Min.

  Ben is joined by Sophie Gregory and Tom Gregory, Dorset farmers alongside Alex Pearson from DLF Seeds to discuss cover crops, what they are, their benefits and the trials that Tom and Sophie are undertaking on their farm.
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  Is ORGANIC FARMING the Answer? Big Debate ep18 LIVE from Groundswell 10.07.2026 40Min.

  Organic farmer John Pawsey joins Ally and Sophie live at Groundswell festival to discuss the future of organic farming.
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  The Thirteenth Generation Farmer on a Mission to Get Britain Growing More Nuts 06.07.2026 40Min.

  A live podcast recording from Groundswell with Suffolk farmer Tom McVeigh, talking family farming, nuts and Nuffield.
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  Starmer RESIGNS, Record Heat Hits Britain and Environment Agency Inspections set to Increase - Big Debate ep17 26.06.2026 1Std. 3Min.

  From record heat to the Farming Roadmap, political upheaval and the relationship between farmers and the Environment Agency - there is lots to cover in this week's Big Debate.
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  Baroness Minette Batters - What was being NFU President REALLY Like and What's the future for British Farming? 22.06.2026 58Min.

  Baroness Minette Batters DL is arguably one of the most influential voices in British agriculture in a generation. In 6 years as President of the NFU she worked with four Prime Ministers and six Secretaries of State at Defra. She faced Brexit, Covid, the War in Ukraine and many other challenges. But what was it really like to lead the NFU, especially as the first woman to be President? How did she get there and what's the future?
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  Smarter Farming: What is it and what's the future? 17.06.2026 25Min.

  Farming has never been more complex. More decisions, more data and less time. Ally Hunter Blair headed to Cereals 2026 to ask farmers a simple question: what does smarter farming actually mean for you?
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  1 million young people not in Employment, Education or Training - could farming be the answer? - Big Debate ep16 12.06.2026 45Min.

  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 year olds not in employment, education or training, could farming be part of the answer?
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  Farming Profitability, Contracting and a Forward Thinking Arable Business - with Tom Hawthorne 08.06.2026 40Min.

  Ben is joined by arable farmer Tom Hawthorne who farms in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire borderlands.
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  Open Farm Sunday, Mustard, Sugar and more with Michael Sly 01.06.2026 30Min.

  Ben speaks to Cambridgeshire arable farmer Michael Sly, who has been holding an Open Farm Sunday on his event since the start in 2006.
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  Drought, Fuel Costs and Tractor Ted: What's Next for UK Farming? 29.05.2026 50Min.

  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 deals, golden eagles to chicken campaigns and agricultural shows to Tractor Ted.