Meet the Farmers

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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 1t 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.
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  Carrots, Beef and the future for a Mixed Farming Business - with Joe Howard 26.05.2026 58min

  Ben speaks to Joe Howard who is responsible for the carrot and beef enterprises on a mixed farm business in Nottinghamshire.
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  Reasons to Be Confident About the Future of Farming 22.05.2026 29min

  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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  Dairy in New Zealand and Young Farmer of the Year - with George Dodson 18.05.2026 35min

  Ben heads to New Zealand this week to speak to dairy farmer George Dodson who in 2024 was named the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
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  Does Farming in Wales have a Bright Future? - Big Debate ep14 15.05.2026 47min

  This week's Big Debate topic is 'does farming in Wales have a bright future?' Hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory also discuss wool prices, stolen egg stands and much more.