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

Mar 21, 2025 · 45 min
How are AHDB delivering for levy payers after 1 year with Graham Wilkinson in charge
This week, Will and Ben welcome Graham Wilkinson from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Marking a full year since Graham assumed the position of CEO, he joins the show to reflect on his initial twelve months in this role. The discussion will cover his insights, the unforeseen challenges he has encountered, and the current priorities for AHDB, as well as what we can anticipate in the coming year. Accompanying Graham are podcast producer Becki Reay and everybody’s favourit
Mar 13, 2025 · 40 min
Understanding ammonia & phosphate regulations on farm – with practical & innovative solutions from Denmark
Following Chris’ report this week, Kite’s Sustainability Lead Helen Dent, opens with some advice for anyone who has an SFI application currently pending, after yesterday’s disappointing news that DEFRA have put an immediate stop on new SFI applications. Will and Ben then delve into the issues surrounding environmental management on dairy farms, focusing on nitrogen, ammonia and phosphate regulations. Joined by Cheshire dairy farmer John Allwood, who shares insights from his recent trip to the Ne
Mar 7, 2025 · 49 min
Dairy Producer Organisations Explained
This week, our hosts Will and Ben focus on Dairy Producer Organisations (DPOs) and their vital role in the dairy industry. With Ian Harvey, farmer, Director at Davidstow Creamery as well as a member of the NFU Dairy Board and former member of AHDB Dairy Sector Council, along with our own dairy market analyst, Chris Walkland. Starting the discussion prompted by a recent article from Chris in British Dairying Magazine, they discuss the role of DPO’s and the importance of collective representation
Feb 27, 2025 · 41 min
EU vision for agriculture & food & what it means for UK ag
Following Chris' report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Jukka Likitalo, Secretary General of Eucolait, and Kite Director John Allen to examine the European Commission's recently published Vision for Agriculture and Food document. Jukka elaborates on the Commission's perspective regarding the future of agriculture and food in Europe, highlighting key priority areas aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and appeal of the agri-food sector while ensuring long-term food security. He emphasises
Feb 21, 2025 · 48 min
Oxbury Bank Transition Facility – accessing 1% over base lending!
This week after Chris’ report, Will and Ben are joined by Nick Evans, co-founder and Managing Director of Oxbury Bank and David Keiley from Kite, to discuss financing and sustainability. They focus on Oxbury’s new ‘transition facility,’ designed to offer finance at as low as 1% over base for farmers who are carbon footprinting & actively looking to improve their carbon credentials either via engagement with SFI or processor/retailer carbon reduction schemes. Nick explains the key features and qu
Feb 14, 2025 · 45 min
USA milk output, dairy & beef economics
Will Evans, Becki Reay and Chris Walkland are joined this week by Betty Berning; Contributing Dairy Economist at Highground Dairy. After Chris' rather inert milk market update, they go on to discuss the economics of USA dairy production and what is driving low volumes we are currently seeing from the USA, including record low heifer inventory numbers and record high beef calf prices. They discuss further the significant investments seen in cheese production facilities and the effect of Trump ta
Feb 6, 2025 · 40 min
Feed markets & outlook following Trumps tariff talk
After a successful day at Dairy Tech, Chris presents his usual market report. Will and Ben are joined by James Bolesworth, CEO of CRM Agricommodities, and Kite Consultant Amy Watson to discuss the effects of Trump's tariffs, particularly on agricultural commodities & feed markets. James updates on the market impact of tariffs on China since Trump's inauguration, focusing on Europe’s protein market and UK feed prices, with a reminder about the importance of supply and demand fundamentals. Amy tal
Jan 31, 2025 · 32 min
Arla Foods Ingredients acquisition of Volac
After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Luis Cubel, Group Vice President and Managing Director of Arla Foods Ingredients to discuss the acquisition of the Volac Whey nutrition business last year. Luis gives an overview of why AFI was interested in Volac, with a change in consumer habits and the growth in popularity of Whey protein and where Volac sits in the context of other investments. He discusses what products they will be marketing, plans for investment in the site and wha
Jan 23, 2025 · 52 min
Trump inauguration debrief - what it means for global politics & dairy
After Chris’ report this week, Will & Ben are joined by podcast regulars, Erik Elgersma, founder & director of Strategic Analysis Services BV & Kite Director John Allen to discuss US & global dairy following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the USA. Erik & John discuss if there is any predictive value in what Trump did in his first term in relation to how the current term might impact US dairy. They consider short to medium term outlook, with particular reference to the
Jan 17, 2025 · 33 min
Muller Yew Tree acquisition & Fast-Track launch
We are starting the year as we mean to go on, our first podcast of 2025 is a positive one; featuring the milk market report from Chris and discussing the exciting developments from Muller. Ben is joined by Rob Hutchison, CEO Muller Milk and Ingredients, Kite’s Becki Reay and Chris Walkland as they debrief on the Semex conference earlier this week and discuss what’s going on at Muller in more detail. It is only 10 weeks since the acquisition of Yew Tree by Muller but Rob summarises what they’ve
Dec 20, 2024 · 48 min
Dale Farm investments in Cheddar processing & strong financial performance
In the final podcast episode of the year, we are joined by Dale Farm’s Group Chief Executive, Nick Whelan and podcast producer Becki Reay. Following on from Chris’ milk market report we discuss Dale Farm, the largest UK only farmer-owned dairy co-op. Located in Northern Ireland, Dale Farm has recently invested £70 million in their cheddar processing facility at Dunmanbridge. The podcast team discuss recent changes in the Dale Farm business, investments, challenges and opportunities for the dairy
Dec 13, 2024 · 48 min
COP29; financing & financially rewarding carbon reduction
After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Rachael Madeley-Davies, AHDB’s Head of Environment Technical and Dorset dairy farmer and Nuffield scholar Sophie Gregory to discuss the most recent UN Climate Change Conference - COP29. They outline some of the key themes from COP and how agriculture was featured; with a full day looking at food and farming for the second year in a row. Rachael discusses how this links to the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability and the sectors commi
Dec 6, 2024 · 46 min
ARLA reaction to Bovaer media storm & what it means for the future
Following a week long media storm triggered by Arla’s press release relating to Bovaer, we couldn’t not discuss on the podcast this week. And who better to join Ben & Will than Bas Padberg; Managing Director of ARLA Foods alongside John Allen, Becki Reay & Chris Walkland. They discuss the timeline of events including ARLA’s response along with unpicking some of the detail around the product, ARLA’s carbon reduction journey & their view on what role Bovear will continue to play in that. Chris wa
Nov 29, 2024 · 53 min
Farm tenancies & TFA, plus comments on Bovaer & the media storm
This week after Chris’ report and discussion on the media flurry around the use of Bovaer, Will and Ben are joined by Robert Martin, Chair of the Tenant Farmers Association and Kite’s John Allen to discuss farm tenancies and landlord tenant relationships in the context of the UK Inheritance Tax reform. Rob firstly explains the role of the TFA in making sure tenancies work for tenant farmers and the work they do engaging with and lobbying policy makers. He discusses with John the broader sentimen
Nov 22, 2024 · 52 min
Setting the record straight on nutritious dairy and its sustainability credentials
This week after Chris’ report, Will is joined by joined by Dr Judith Bryans, Chief Executive of Dairy UK and José Nobre, Chief Executive of AB Agri to discuss the new Dairy UK report titled ‘UK Dairy: More nutrition with fewer emissions’. The new report aims to change the perception of politicians and policy makers who believe that an effective way to reduce carbon emissions is to reduce animal protein consumption. Judith and Jose discuss the highlights of the report, including stark facts on ma
Nov 15, 2024 · 46 min
Following the budget: practical advice for farm businesses
After Chris’ usual report and following on from last week’s episode on the Governments new Budget, Will and Ben are joined by Rob Hitch, Partner at Dodd Accountants and Alex Jack, dairy farmer from Fife, to discuss what farming families and businesses can practically do to make sure they are fit for the new legislation. Rob outlines some advice to farmers in terms of working out assets and risks and what can be done to mitigate some of these, emphasising the importance of acting sooner rather th
Nov 8, 2024 · 54 min
The Budget - beneath the headlines
After a week off, the team are back starting with Chris’ milk market report and joined by Tom Bradshaw, NFU President, Sean Rickard, an independent economic analyst and John Allen, Kite Director to dig beneath the headlines of the Labour government’s recent budget. Tom, Sean and John discuss and debate the main headlines and their potential impact on dairy and the wider farming industry and food supply chain. Including the increase in public investment, reduced BPS payments, changes in agricultu
Oct 25, 2024 · 38 min
Autumn Milk Flows
After Chris Walkland’s usual report, he joins Kite Director John Allen to discuss autumn milk flows, first touching on the outcome of the CMA in relation to Muller’s acquisition of Yew Tree and what this means for the industry. They discuss the milk flows this autumn with record high volumes being produced throughout October as the trend for moving to autumn block calving continues. They go on to flag issues with seasonality payments as an unintended consequence of the milk contracts legislation
Oct 17, 2024 · 51 min
British Farming Awards 2024
After Chris’ report, Will and Ben are joined by Tom and Karen Halton who are finalists for British Farming Awards ‘Dairy Farmer of the Year’, as well as last year’s winner Patrick Morris-Eyton, to discuss the Awards ahead of the ceremony later this evening. Tom and Karen introduce their business including their priorities on farm in terms of maintaining high herd welfare standards and looking after their staff, as well as why they feel it’s important to them to connect with the public as the end
Oct 11, 2024 · 39 min
Working together for food security & climate change
After Chris’ report this week, Will and Ben are joined by Nuffield scholar Ruth Grice, who works on her family’s dairy farm in Leicestershire as well as being the Farm Liaison and Sustainability Manager for Long Clawson Dairy, along with Rachael Madeley-Davies, Head of Environment Technical at AHDB to discuss how dairy farmers & environmental organisations can work together to achieve sustainable food security & combat climate change. With her Nuffield Scholarship and previous role within the Wi