We Can Do Both

BEN GOLDSMITH is a financier, environmentalist, rewilding enthusiast and farm owner, who first met Neil when he was advising DEFRA on its food policy. In this episode, Neil visits Ben to catch up where they left off. They discuss the past, present and future relationship between farming and the environment, Ben outlines his vision for better land management and food security in the UK, and they even catch a glimpse of some wildcats.Listen and you’ll hear: Ben’s role in helping create current government policy (0m27s); reintroducing species to the UK (10m23s); protecting the most productive farmland for food production (18m31s); why nature should also be seen as ‘infrastructure’ (21m20s); a tour of Ben’s farm (28m18s). Listen to Ben’s ‘Rewilding The World’ podcastThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

JOE STANLEY is head of sustainable farming at The Allerton Project, a 320 hectare farm in Leicestershire, which researches the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment. In this episode, Neil tours the farm with Joe to find out about their latest research and to hear why Joe is optimistic about the future of British agriculture.In this episode: why DEFRA’s top team visit this project (2m25s); how farmers could get a fairer price from supermarkets (10m15s); a tour of their agroforestry trials (18m02s); striking the balance between tree-planting and food production (34m55s).Visit the Allerton Project websiteThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

In this episode Neil and neighbouring farmer WILLIAM BARNARD chart the ups and downs of farming for food and nature in Somerset’s unique tidal landscape known as the Pawlett Hams. Top of mind for both of them: the threat now posed to their centuries-old way of managing this landscape by the energy company EDF, and its plans to create a saltmarsh by the site of nearby Hinkley Point nuclear plant, which is currently under construction.In this episode they discuss: the wildlife in the hams (2m50s); the role of cattle in the ecosystem (7m30s); EDF’s plans for the saltmarsh (8m44s); William’s reflections on the plans (18m25); and the uneasy relationship between their farming methods and corporate structures (24m05s).Visit the ‘Protect Pawlett Hams’ campaign website hereRead the EDF statement in full here

What is the latest research on sustainable livestock production telling us? And what might the future hold for beef and sheep farmers? In this episode, Neil seeks answers to these questions and lots more, over a cider in an Oxfordshire pub with Professor JUDE CAPPER from Harper Adams University.Listen and you’ll hear: an overview of her research (1m07s); the task of making livestock production work both economically and environmentally (5m05s); assessing the carbon footprint of farms across the UK (7m10s); the challenge of creating behaviour change (12m24s); the role of retailers and consumers (15m46s); exploring the controversial role of GM crops and hormone-treated animals (18m22s); and TB vaccines - a help or a hindrance? (28m35s);Follow Jude on X here and on Instagram here.This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

As part of its sustainable farming scheme, the UK government is offering farmers £382 each year for every hectare of ‘herbal leys’ they grow. This mixture of grasses, legumes, herbs and wildflowers is said to produce a high volume of food for grazing animals; greater resilience to drought; improved soil fertility; and more carbon sequestration.In this bonus episode, Neil puts these claims to the test in the company of award-winning organic farmers RACHEL and JOE HORLER. They've had herbal leys for more than ten years, and here they tell Neil: the theory behind it (2m24s); how they graze their cattle on it (4m58s); how they turn it into silage (8m21s); and the health benefits to their cattle (9m14s).More on the government scheme here: www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/csam3-herbal-leys

In recent years, farmers across Europe have protested against environmental measures being imposed on them by their governments. Campaigns and public rallies have taken place in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, and this year, Wales too.The Welsh protests began in response to the Welsh Assembly’s planned ‘Sustainable Farming Scheme’, which included within it a proposal that farmers should commit to ensuring 10% of their land is under tree cover. Many farmers argue this would be costly, impractical and lead to job losses, and the Welsh Government subsequently pushed back its planned scheme to 2026.In this episode, you will hear Neil's visit to a protest in early spring at Cardiff's Senedd building: he finds out why farmers are concerned about the plans (1m43s); former Welsh Woman Farmer Of The Year CLAIRE MORGAN discusses alternative solutions to make farming more profitable and more nature friendly (4m46s); and the current head of NFU Wales ALED JONES reflects on the future of farming in the nation (16m51s).Read latest details of the scheme hereFollow Aled Jones on Twitter/X hereThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk