Kite Consulting

Becki Reay

Kite Consulting provide business services to the entire food supply chain, from farmer to retailer and are widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading dairy consultancy companies.

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305 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes305

Newest first

February 6 · 43 min
Securing the Future of Our Food: Attracting Young People to UK Agriculture
In episode 285 of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Arla Foods UK Managing Director Baz Padberg, Kite Consultant Becca Oakley, and producer Becki Reay as they delve into a new cross‑industry initiative created by Arla alongside partners from universities, further education, retail, policy and food producers. They discuss why young people often overlook the huge opportunities available in UK agriculture, reflect on the industry’s current demographics, explore the initiative
January 30 · 36 min
Market Trends, Farm Efficiency and the Road to DairyTech
Following Chris’ usual Milk Market Report, Will Evans and Ben Eagle welcome new senior consultants Beth Parry and Tim Kneale, who share insights from their specialist work with farms across the UK and discuss the practical on farm innovations they believe are genuinely transforming efficiency, resilience and long term sustainability in dairy. With DairyTech just days away, Becki Reay and the team discuss the big conversations expected at this year’s event, including milk price movements, new tec
January 23 · 38 min
SEMEX Dairy Conference Wrap Up: Markets, Tech & Farming Insights
Following Chris’ milk market report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Wigtownshire dairy farmer Rory Christie, Chair of the 2026 Semex Conference, and podcast producer Becki Reay. They look back at standout moments from the SEMEX International Dairy Conference in Glasgow last week and discuss current trends in the milk market, including how these may affect businesses over the coming months. The mindset throughout the conference was focused on “seeing through the issues – solving the issues
January 16 · 44 min
Resilience and Opportunity: Insights from the OFC 90th Anniversary
In this episode, we begin with Chris Walkland’s latest milk market report before celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Oxford Farming Conference with insights from OFC Director Ali Capper and dairy farmer Tracey Roan, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway. We delve into the report “UK Farming: Grasping the Opportunities,” led by Dr. Louise Manning, which explores the future of UK agriculture and the key interventions needed to help farming businesses thrive. We also highlight how any family bu
January 9 · 37 min
Where Is the Milk Market Heading in 2026?
Kicking off the New Year, this episode takes a close look at the current milk market. Ben Eagle, Chris Walkland and podcast producer Becki Reay discuss the latest trends in farmgate prices and milk volumes, and whether the sector is beginning to turn a corner. The discussion touches on the disruption caused by a plant breakdown over the Christmas period, which resulted in milk not being collected, before examining what the latest AHDB figures showing milk volumes down year on year could mean for
Dec 19, 2025 · 44 min
Mental Wellness at Christmas
As we approach the end of the year, we find ourselves in our final episode, just days away from Christmas. This festive season is often filled with gatherings, laughter, and indulgence in food and drink with loved ones. Yet, for some, Christmas can bring about feelings of loneliness, especially for those facing challenging family situations. It's a time when many reflect on the past and ponder the future. We likely know someone who may be struggling during this season, and today, we will focus o
Dec 12, 2025 · 41 min
Red Tractor Review & Priorities - what farmers should expect
Following the results of the farm assurance review earlier this year, Red Tractor have this week announced its key priorities and planned actions, including a full review of standards. To discuss this, Will and Ben are joined on the Kite podcast this week by Tim Lock, the Dairy Sector Chair for Red Tractor to discuss the priorities for dairy, what actions are planned & how farmers can provide feedback on what they want to see by 1st February 2026. Chris Walkand is trying his best to find a glimm
Dec 5, 2025 · 46 min
Ireland's Nitrate Derogation: Balancing Dairy Production and Water Quality
In this episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Ben Eagle and Will Evans take a closer look at Ireland's dairy sector in light of the recent European Commission proposal to extend the nitrate derogation for another three years. They are joined by Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc and Emily Stafford, a Dairy Consultant with Kite, to discuss the implications of this decision for farmers both in Ireland and the UK. The conversation covers the importance of the derogation for Irish
Nov 28, 2025 · 33 min
How relevant is COP30 for the future of UK Dairy?
In this episode of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Producer Becki Reay delve into the recent COP30 conference held in Brazil, exploring its implications for the agricultural sector, particularly dairy. Joining them is Brian Lindsey, an agricultural consultant and sustainability lead at Global Dairy Platform, who shares his insights from the conference. The trio discusses the key takeaways, including the evolving narrative around livestock and the importance of adaptation in climate discussions.
Nov 14, 2025 · 57 min
Argentina's Dairy Potential: Opportunities Amidst Economic Change
In this episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle explore the state of Argentina’s dairy sector, examining its current challenges and long-term potential amid significant political and economic shifts. They’re joined by John Allen, fresh from a visit to Argentina, along with Lukasz Wyrzykowski, Managing Director of IFCN, and Hugo Quattrochi, an IFCN dairy researcher based in the country. Together, they discuss Argentina’s rich agricultural resources, the scale and strengths of
Nov 6, 2025 · 40 min
New Zealand Dairy: Weathering Storms and Shaping the Future
In this week’s episode of the Kite Podcast, we’re heading to New Zealand for a wide-ranging update on the country’s dairy sector. Following recent storms with winds reaching 155km/h and widespread power outages, we explore how agriculture has been affected and what it means for farmers on the ground. Will Evans is joined by James Allen, CEO of AgFirst, to discuss milk flows, pricing, farmer confidence, and the implications of Fonterra’s $4.22 billion sale to Lactalis. We also look at New Zealand
Oct 31, 2025 · 41 min
Milk price discussions & Freshways £25M investment
In episode 273 of the Kite Podcast, following this week’s Milk Market update from analyst Chris Walkland, we learn more about Freshways’ £25 million investment in a new processing hub in West Bromwich, set to handle up to 500 million litres of milk annually. Freshways Managing Director Bali Nijjar joins Becki and Chris to discuss the company’s growth, its farmer suppliers, and what the expansion means for the future. With many processors preparing to announce December prices, Becki, Chris, and B
Oct 24, 2025 · 35 min
Inspiring Change in Agriculture: Sophie Gregory's Journey and Embracing Opportunities Ahead
This week on the Kite Podcast, host Ben Eagle brings you an inspiring conversation with Sophie Gregory, an organic dairy farmer based on the Dorset-Devon border, who has recently been recognised as one of the King's Foundation's 35 under 35s. Joined by Kite Consultant Evie Rogers, Evie and Sophie outline their diverse journeys into agriculture and highlight the accessibility of the industry to those without traditional farming backgrounds. They discuss the evolving perception of farming among yo
Oct 10, 2025 · 36 min
Meet the Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmer of the Year Winners: John & Nicola Young
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by the freshly crowned Farmers Weekly Dairy Farmers of the Year, Nicola and John Young. Hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle dive into the Youngs’ remarkable journey—from starting with just 80 cows to building a thriving herd of over 500, averaging 14,000 litres and almost 1,000kg of milk solids per cow per year. Joined by Kite’s David Keiley, the conversation explores the history of their business growth, early-stage succession planning, technical herd performance
Oct 3, 2025 · 44 min
Navigating Dairy Costs: Trends, Investments & Insights for 2025
On this week’s podcast, there’s a very sobering milk market report from Chris Walkland following several drops announced this week. Kathryn Rowland and Marcus Doig from Kite Consulting join us to review dairy production costs and explore the trends we’re seeing in the data, including insights on investments and funding strategies. We’re also pleased to welcome southwest farmer Andrew Fry, who talks through his own investment strategy—including the economics behind adopting robotic milking and how it’s reshaped operations on his family farm. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.
Sep 26, 2025 · 31 min
Insights from IFCN’s Graz Conference
This week on the Kite Podcast, we dive into the heart of IFCN’s Supporter Conference in Graz, Austria, where the theme was “Making Sustainability Profitable: how to future proof the dairy industry.” We unpack the key discussions with Milica Kocić, Lead in Product Development at IFCN, and Kathryn Rowland from Kite, alongside our resident dairy market expert Chris Walkland and producer Becki Reay. Covering short-term challenges and long-term opportunities, global market trends, the future of suppl
Sep 19, 2025 · 46 min
Data-Driven Dairy: The Tech Revolution in Agriculture
In this episode, we explore the rapidly evolving intersection of technology and the dairy industry with experts Caroline Hamilton from Intelligent Dairy Solutions and Matt Butlin, Head of Ag Tech from AB Agri. Join Will and Ben as we discuss the impact of robotics, AI, and data integration on dairy farming, as well as the challenges and opportunities these advancements present. From effectively utilising vision technology, improving feed efficiency and the importance of data collaboration and li
Sep 12, 2025 · 50 min
Decoding Dairy Disruption: A Deep Dive into Current Trends
In this episode, we delve into the intricate dynamics of the UK dairy market with the authors of the new report "Decoding Dairy Disruption." Join Ben Eagle, Will Evans and guests John Allen, Erik Elgersma, Becki Reay and Chris Walkland as they dissect the current bleak short-term milk price, market volatility and the implications for producers and retailers alike. They also discuss some of the longer-term fundamentals outlined within the report and how investment in UK processing would mean acce
Sep 5, 2025 · 46 min
Organic Milk Matters: Understanding Market Flows and Forage Challenges
This week on the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Rob Daykin, Managing Director of Daykin Partnership and organic farmer Will Armitage, as they delve into the current state of the organic milk sector. The episode explores milk flows, forage availability and the challenges faced by organic farmers in today's climate. Rob shares insights from his extensive experience in organic farming and consultancy, while Will discusses the impact of weather conditions on forage stocks
Aug 29, 2025 · 42 min
First Milk Annual Results Revealed
This week Ben Eagle and Will Evans welcome Shelagh Hancock, Chief Executive of First Milk, to discuss the cooperative's impressive annual financial results and the broader implications for the dairy industry. Shelagh reflects on the significant progress First Milk has made over the past year, including the successful integration of BV Dairy into their operations. Additionally, Shelagh shares insights into First Milk's commitment to regenerative farming and its impact on sustainability and farm r