We Can Do Both

On a recent trip to the Netherlands Neil spoke with two men from an organisation that supports farmers to become suppliers of biobased materials to the construction industry. At the forefront of their work is the Paulownia tree – a fast-growing species from China that can be used in construction and insulation. In this episode, Neil meets Co-Founder of “Dealin.Green” MATTHIJS VAN STAALDUINEN and Agricultural Advisor HANS VAN DAM to learn more about the Paulownia tree and its potential role in carbon sequestration and offsetting in the UK. Listen and you’ll hear: about the Paulownia tree itself (1m00s); how much carbon they can absorb (3m15s); one of the unique qualities of the Paulownia (6m55s); what Paulownia wood can and cannot be used for (8m07s); claiming carbon credits on Paulownia trees (12m13); the future of Paulownia trees (15m30s); a short tour of Dealin.Green’s Paulownia trees (22m25s).Learn more about Dealin.Green: https://dealin.greenLearn more about carbon credits: bit.ly/3WOrmMfThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

BECKY WILSON is the Technical Director for The Farm Carbon Toolkit, an independent, farmer-led organisation, supporting farms to become resilient, climate-positive businesses, with healthy soils, rich wildlife, and well-managed water resources. In this episode they discuss how this vision might be achieved across a range of different farms.Listen and you’ll hear: how the Farm Carbon Toolkit works (1m00s); addressing the typical challenges of carbon reduction on arable farms (3m10s); how farmers can benefit from the research Becky is involved in (15m15s); addressing the typical challenges of carbon reduction on livestock farms (19m08s); the benefits of diversity in grasslands (23m43s); a focus on beef farming (30m33); a focus on sheep farming (37m26s).Learn more about the Farm Carbon Toolkit: www.farmcarbontoolkit.org.ukThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

Neil becomes the interviewee in this episode, as his producer JAKE LLOYD asks the questions. They discuss Neil’s political and farming career, what they’ve learned from making this podcast, and why both Neil and young farmers feel a sense of cautious optimism about the future.Listen and you’ll hear: why Neil began this podcast (1m34s); a short history of his farming life (2m23s); why Neil got into politics (3m16s); what he learned about farming in the European Parliament (5m14); the challenges of being both a farmer and a politician (10m30s); what it was like to be a part of creating farming policy post-Brexit (17m35s); Neil on his efforts to be a bridge-builder in the farming world (27m45s); how he feels about the current government’s farming policies (34m32s); his optimism about the future (38m00s).This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

AMELIA and JASON GREENWAY only began farming in 2018, but were named Tenant Farmers of the Year at the Southwest Farming Awards in 2023. Neil recently visited them at their farm on the Killerton Estate in Devon, where they breed pedigree highland cattle, alongside rare breed pigs. They spoke about the ups and downs of tenant farming and they talked about how they look after their sensitive landscape and its soils.Listen and you’ll hear: Amelia on the farm and her journey into farming (0m55s); Amelia on how they farm highland cattle (8m41s); their partnership with the National Trust (16m41s); Amelia on why they chose rare breed pigs (26m04s); Jason joins Neil to describe his journey from high-input farming to nature-friendly farming (33m03).Visit Jason & Amelia’s website hereThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

On his recent visit to the Devon County Show, Neil took along his sound recorder to get a flavour of what’s on the minds of farmers right now. In this episode you’ll hear his conversations with President of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs JOHN LEE OBE, as well as a specialist in recruiting, training and mentoring farming apprentices PETER REED, and the South West Regional Director of the Country Land and Business Association ANN MAIDMENT. In these conversations he encounters a surprising take on the inheritance tax row, a mixed reaction to the recent US trade deal, and optimism among the next generation of young farmers.Listen and you’ll hear: highlights from Neil’s visit (1m10s); Peter on the trends he’s seeing amongst young people at the start of their farming career (3m00s); Ann on how the members of her organisation are feeling about farming at the moment (8m52s); and John reflecting with Neil on the ways in which the future of farming will look different to the past (12m05s).These conversations were recorded across two days of the show which ran from the 15-17th May 2025. Follow the Devon County Show on Instagram hereLearn more about Ann Maidment’s work at the CLA on their website hereLearn about the work of Peter Reed hereLearn more about John Lee OBE hereThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

Last year Hector Meanwell was named the UK’s ‘Young Farmer Of The Year’ by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs. In this episode, Neil visits the 25 year old on his 400-acre Lake District farm to find out why he’s been called ‘dynamite’ for the industry. They discuss food production and nature restoration on his farm, why he’s helping young people from deprived backgrounds engage in farming, the role that Young Farmers’ Clubs have played in his life, and the role YFC could play in the future of farming and politics.Listen and you’ll hear them discuss: the make-up of his 400-acre farm (0m48s); being named Young Farmer Of The Year (4m11s); what he learned about food and farming from trips to Nepal and Kenya (5m27s); the role Young Farmers’ Clubs could play in politics (6m06); helping younger generations understand and appreciate farming and food production (09m15s); his feelings about recent government decisions (12m43s); the work he does with deprived young people (17m33s).This conversation was recorded on 13 March 2025. Follow the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs on Instagram hereLearn about the work of the Country Trust on their website hereThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.ukClick here to receive an email when a new episode is published.

How can farmers best care for the UK's 400,000 miles of hedgerow? In this episode Neil attends Wiltshire's 'Hedgefest' to find out from self-confessed hedgerow ‘geek’ MEGAN GIMBER from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species why now is a great time for more farmers to take up the historical process of hedgelaying. He then meets farming couple and Hedgefest hosts CHRIS and LINDSAY RUMMING to explore their farm.Listen and you’ll hear: how hedgelaying works and why it’s useful (0m40s); why a variety of species is so important to a good hedge (4m15s); what excites Megan about hedges (6m50s); the unique, historical importance of Devon’s hedges (8m50s); other ways to manage hedges (11m30s); what Megan’s job involves (13m40s); Neil meets the farmers hosting Hedgefest (17m15s); and Neil’s true feelings about sheep (26m36s)!This conversation was recorded in October 2024.Follow Megan on X hereVisit Chris and Lindsay’s online farm shop here: lydiardturkeys.co.ukThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.ukClick here to receive an email when a new episode is published.

On a visit to the south-west last year, former agriculture minister GEORGE EUSTICE stopped by Neil’s farmhouse for a candid look back at the time the two shared in parliament. Covering Brexit, trade deals, creating new agricultural policies, and trying to curtail the power of supermarkets, in this episode you’ll get a fascinating insight into government decisions during a turbulent time, from a man who was at the heart of it all.Listen and you’ll hear: about George’s farming background (0m40s); why he was pro-Brexit (5m49s); the environmental schemes he helped design for farmers (11m30s); food prices and the power of supermarkets (15m55s); negotiations, compromise and trade deals (21m10s); carbon credits and green finance (26m10s); the future of food production and security in the UK (31m30s).This conversation was recorded before the inheritance tax row began.This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk