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Meet the Farmers

Ben Eagle, RuralPod Media

Meet the Farmers profiles farmers and gives you an insight into food and farming and the people behind it. Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate covers farming news, current affairs and discussion on the big issues that matter for rural people in Britain and across the world.

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25 episodes
weekly
Avg 41 min
English

Episodes 25

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September 11 · 44 min
After the Drought: What Needs to Change on UK Farms? [Big Debate ep22]
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.
September 4 · 33 min
Reasons to Be Confident About the Future of Farming
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.
August 28 · 38 min
What Would You Do With £1 Million on Your Farm? Big Debate ep21.
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.
August 14 · 51 min
The Reality of Farming in Britain's Drought. Big Debate ep20
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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August 10 · 1 min
Ben shares some news
Ben will be away for a little while and shares some news in this short update.
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August 3 · 46 min
EMERGENCY EPISODE - Wild Fires, Grazing, Rewilding and the Conversation We're Not Having Enough
For this emergency episode Ben is joined by a panel to discuss wild fires and how land management can help
July 24 · 56 min
Harvest 2026 and Reviewing the Road to Farm Profitability - how do we get there? Big Debate ep19
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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July 20 · 34 min
Derek vs Derek The Film - meet the Dereks
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.
July 17 · 26 min
Answers to YOUR Questions on Farm Diversification and Viticulture
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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July 13 · 44 min
Are Cover Crops Worth Planting?
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.
July 10 · 40 min
Is ORGANIC FARMING the Answer? Big Debate ep18 LIVE from Groundswell
Organic farmer John Pawsey joins Ally and Sophie live at Groundswell festival to discuss the future of organic farming.
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July 6 · 40 min
The Thirteenth Generation Farmer on a Mission to Get Britain Growing More Nuts
A live podcast recording from Groundswell with Suffolk farmer Tom McVeigh, talking family farming, nuts and Nuffield.
June 26 · 1 hr 3 min
Starmer RESIGNS, Record Heat Hits Britain and Environment Agency Inspections set to Increase - Big Debate ep17
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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June 22 · 58 min
Baroness Minette Batters - What was being NFU President REALLY Like and What's the future for British Farming?
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?
June 17 · 25 min
Smarter Farming: What is it and what's the future?
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?
June 12 · 45 min
1 million young people not in Employment, Education or Training - could farming be the answer? - Big Debate ep16
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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June 8 · 40 min
Farming Profitability, Contracting and a Forward Thinking Arable Business - with Tom Hawthorne
Ben is joined by arable farmer Tom Hawthorne who farms in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire borderlands.
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June 1 · 30 min
Open Farm Sunday, Mustard, Sugar and more with Michael Sly
Ben speaks to Cambridgeshire arable farmer Michael Sly, who has been holding an Open Farm Sunday on his event since the start in 2006.
May 29 · 50 min
Drought, Fuel Costs and Tractor Ted: What's Next for UK Farming?
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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May 26 · 58 min
Carrots, Beef and the future for a Mixed Farming Business - with Joe Howard
Ben speaks to Joe Howard who is responsible for the carrot and beef enterprises on a mixed farm business in Nottinghamshire.

Showing 1–20 of 25 episodes