Luke's Best in Field Podcast

YAGRO

This series is all about celebrating our farming champions, awarding the lowest variable Cost of Production seen across the YAGRO platform for Harvest 2023. Along with meeting with our award-winning farmers to discuss their operations, techniques and opinions, we also met a variety of guests to cast light on less explored corners of Agriculture - The greatest industry in the UK. read less

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Emily Dimond and Julian Little

Emily Dimond and Julian Little

This week contains conversations from the other side of the hedgerow, with Dr Julian Little and Emily Dimond – both professionals driving value in agriculture from their respective areas. Julian dives into the topic of farm data, both in it’s current state and what the future may hold, from the perspective of being a key facilitator for Farm Data Principles - a non-profit certification scheme dedicated to ensuring ethical and effective farm data management practices across the UK. Emily is a Senior Ag Expert at YAGRO and has been involved in various corners of agriculture for the last 8 years. She is BASIS & FACTS qualified and shares her views on changes to crop protection and other aspects of farming.

Episodes

Emily Dimond and Julian Little

Emily Dimond and Julian Little

This week contains conversations from the other side of the hedgerow, with Dr Julian Little and Emily Dimond – both professionals driving value in agriculture from their respective areas. Julian dives into the topic of farm data, both in it’s current state and what the future may hold, from the perspective of being a key facilitator for Farm Data Principles - a non-profit certification scheme dedicated to ensuring ethical and effective farm data management practices across the UK. Emily is a Senior Ag Expert at YAGRO and has been involved in various corners of agriculture for the last 8 years. She is BASIS & FACTS qualified and shares her views on changes to crop protection and other aspects of farming.

Chris Papworth and Craig Dawson

Chris Papworth and Craig Dawson

The Spring Barley Best in Field award for 2023 went to Chris Papworth and the team at Little Staughton Farms. We spoke with Chris about his overall operation, and he offers reasons for favouring Spring Barley in the rotation, alongside some of the techniques and machinery that have helped him grow an outstanding crop of Laureate. We’re also joined by Craig Dawson, Maltings Manager at Muntons, to shine a light on the final journey of Malting Barley beyond the farm gate.

Frazer Jolly, Damian McAuley and Andy Newbold

Frazer Jolly, Damian McAuley and Andy Newbold

Farm Manager Frazer Jolly at Saltby Farms joins us with his Agronomist Damian McAuley of Indigro. This light-hearted yet highly insightful conversation reveals a working relationship that focuses on overcoming challenges whilst navigating shifting landscapes and priorities. We’re then joined by Andy Newbold who, amongst many other things, is the Director of Farm-Smart Publishing & Farm-Smart Events, who has his ear to the ground regarding all things farming & tech and shares with us some causes for optimism in the industry.

Harry Middleditch & Alli McEntyre Gaharan

Harry Middleditch & Alli McEntyre Gaharan

Harry Middleditch of D F Middleditch in Suffolk has won our award for Winter Oats! With a smashing variable Cost of Production of £48.50/t. This fascinating conversation with Harry explored how he continues to evolve his operation to futureproof his farm and stay profitable - including his salient insight of “optimising costs” instead of simply “cutting costs.” We’re also joined by Alli McEntyre Gaharan, Event Director for Cereals, who explains some of the many opportunities and challenges that lay behind organising one of the biggest Ag events in the calendar.

James Nott and Ben Hatton

James Nott and Ben Hatton

In this episode, we’re speaking to our Winter Barley winner James Nott of J R & E H Nott, who directs his farming enterprise in Suffolk alongside his partner Debbie Nott. James talks all things rotations, diversification and premiums in a conversation that highlights the many ways he stays ahead. We’re also joined by Ben Hatton at Farmplan who speaks about the role of Farm Management Software today and what it may hold for the future.

Will Oliver and Joe Seels

Will Oliver and Joe Seels

Will Oliver of A H Oliver & Son has won our award for Winter Beans! Learn why Will values this “Cinderella Crop” in his rotation, and what his thoughts are around SFI’s & food production. We’re also joined by the ever-entertaining online Ag influencer Joe Seels, who shares why he began his farming channels and how he amassed over 56’000 followers on TikTok.

OSR with Graham Innes & Jeff Claydon

OSR with Graham Innes & Jeff Claydon

This opening episode of the Best in Field Podcast features multi-award winning OSR grower Graham Innes of A P Innes, alongside farmer and machinery pioneer Jeff Claydon. Tune in to hear Graham’s methods for consistently producing quality OSR at low variable costs, and what Jeff had to say about the changes he’s witnessed in Ag since launching a world first in 1981.