Cumbrian sheep farmer Alistair Mackintosh sits down with Farmers Guardian chief reporter Rachael Brown to chat about his new role as Red Tractor interim chair. He talks about how he looks to rebuild farmer confidence in Red Tractor after frustration across the industry following its handling of the Greener Farms Commit module. He said effective communication of the value of Red Tractor for farming business was critical, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility across the supply chain.
He said he was confident there would not be a vote of no confidence and any disquiet will be put to rest', reiterating they were listening to farmers and making changes to audit process to offer a 'leaner' approach. He recognised there was challenges when it came to Red Tractor membership in both the beef and lamb sector, but he was confident he could bring them back on board.

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As part of our special podcast series brought to you by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University, this episode looks at understanding and measuring social sustainability within agriculture. Tenant organic dairy farmer Sophie Gregory from Dorset, Hampshire tenant pig farmer Flavian Obiero and Leonora Meehan from McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer at Noble Foods unpick how sustainable agriculture can contribute to vibrant communities; the importance of connecting food and farming with the wider general public and how farmers can be empowered to influence public policy and change societal narrative around agriculture, food and sustainability.

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On this week’s podcast, news reporter Chris Brayford is joined by a host of guests including farmers and politicians to discuss the implications of a General Election to farming communities and some of the priorities they want to see from the next UK Government. Our guests include NFU vice-president David Exwood, ‘Pretend Farmer’ and sheep farmer Karl Franklin, Buckinghamshire arable and beef farmer Richard Heady, Staffordshire arable farmer Clive Bailye and Oxfordshire farmer Ben Adams. With a General Election just around the corner, farmers will be heading to the polls on July 4 to decide which candidate and, ultimately, which party they would like to see lead the UK Government. Political parties and candidates have been making their pitches to farming communities over the past few weeks, but which party will gain the hearts and minds of rural voters? Will it be the Conservative Party led by Rishi Sunak? Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour? Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats? Nigel Farage’s Reform UK? Adrian Ramsay’s Green Party? Only you can decide. Enjoy the podcast.

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