In this big-picture episode, Ben Eagle is joined by two expert voices—Emily Norton and James Bolesworth—to unpack how global forces are shaping the future of UK farming. From the war in Ukraine and climate extremes to trade policy and political unpredictability, we examine how these shocks are influencing prices, planning, and resilience on the ground.

🧭 What We Cover:

Part 1: Global Forces in Flux – Wars, Trade & Market Volatility

Which global events are driving the most pressure on UK agriculture

How the war in Ukraine disrupted grain markets and commodity flows

Trade policy shifts post-Brexit and their on-farm implications

Are UK farmers more exposed to international risk?

Part 2: Climate, Weather & Risk – Farming in an Era of Extremes

How climate volatility is reshaping investment and land use

The financial and production risks of extreme weather

Global climate impacts on food security and commodity markets

Part 3: UK Response – Policy, Politics & Farm-Level Strategy

Assessing the UK’s agricultural policy response to global pressures

Closing Thoughts – Looking Ahead

One global trend UK farmers must pay closer attention to

📢 Final Messages:

🎧 Next Episode (300!): Join us for a milestone conversation with regenerative farming pioneer Tim Parton.

💬 If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show or share it with a fellow farmer.

📲 Follow us: @meetthefarmerspodcast | www.meetthefarmers.co.uk

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle heads to Stithians in Cornwall to meet Peter Green, a fifth-generation farmer, Nuffield Scholar, and host of Cornish Mutual’s Farming Focus podcast. Peter shares his remarkable journey from studying physics and working as a chartered accountant, to returning home to Cornwall to rebuild the family farm after the tragic loss of his parents in 2007.

Now running a grass-fed Stabiliser beef herd, Peter talks about:

Transitioning from corporate life back to farming

Managing grief and responsibility following the death of his parents in a car accident.

The decision to sell, and then restock, the farm's herd.

Building a sustainable, low-input beef business in Cornwall

Selling direct to customers through beef boxes

His work with the Prince’s Countryside Fund

Co-hosting the Farming Focus podcast and engaging the South West farming community

Balancing life as a farmer, podcast host, and dad to five-year-old twins

This episode is a powerful reminder of how purpose, resilience, and people can shape a meaningful farming future.

Farming Focus Podcast – Cornish Mutual

Royal Countryside Fund – Farm for the Future

🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Image credit: Peter Green

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode, we’re heading to County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland to meet a next-generation voice in farming — Sophie Bell.

Sophie is part of a rising wave of young farmers who are not only tackling the day-to-day challenges of running a farm, but also using social media to share their stories, connect with wider audiences, and bring attention to rural issues. From climate resilience to the pressures of food production, Sophie is navigating what it means to farm in the 21st century.

In this conversation, Ben and Sophie discuss:

Her journey into farming and how she came to take over the family farm

The unique pressures facing young farmers in Ireland today, including access to land, financial sustainability, and changing weather patterns

How Sophie is using platforms like Instagram to engage both farmers and non-farmers, build community, and advocate for the industry

Her hopes for the future of farming and what she’d like to see change for the next generation

Whether you’re in the field, behind a desk, or just curious about rural life, this episode offers a thoughtful, honest look at modern farming through the eyes of someone living it every day.

Follow Sophie Bell:
📸 Instagram: @sophie_bell__
🎥 TikTok: @sophie_bell__

Support the show:
If you’re enjoying Meet the Farmers, please consider leaving a review or sharing this episode with someone who’d love it.

Image credit: Sophie Bell

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, we focus on the inspiring story of Damian Barson — a man who made the life-changing decision to enter the world of sheep farming in his fifties. Formerly a professional dog trainer, Damian took his first steps into agriculture in 2021. Today, he manages a flock of around 150 ewes, including Mules, Swaledales, and other breeds.

Damian shares the highs and lows of his journey so far — from venturing into farming to facing the emotional toll of caring for a close friend and coping with the personal isolation that farm life can bring. This episode offers a raw and honest example of when farming life meets the challenges that life can bring in general.

🧠 Topics Discussed:

Prices and lambing 2025.

Damian’s journey from dog training to sheep farming.

Expanding his flock.

Mental health and tackling isolation in rural life.

Farm safety and the importance of having connections.

Dog training tips from Damian.

What’s next for Damian?

Image credit: Ryan Day

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle is joined by Will Arden — arable and deer farmer from Lincolnshire, founder of The Farmyard Gym, and head judge of Britain’s Fittest Farmer. With five competitions under his belt and a recent win in the men’s under-40s category, Will shares his passion for fitness, mental health, and how farmers can stay strong in both body and mind, on and off the farm.

Apply for Britain's Fittest Farmer 2025 competition here - Farmers Weekly - Britain's Fittest Farmer - About the competition

Image credit: Will Arden

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle catches up with James and Katie Allen, a dynamic couple whose journey into farming began with conservation grazing and has evolved into something much bigger. Originally featured during the Meet the Farmers on Tour series in 2019, James and Katie return to the podcast with exciting updates from their new 170-acre holding near Swindon.

James and Katie have built a thriving, nature-led enterprise focused on native breed cattle and sheep.

Recently, their business took a major leap forward with the opening of a new on-farm tannery and classroom, funded by a £254,000 grant. These new facilities are already playing a vital role in their mission to connect farming, sustainability, and education — particularly in the realm of fashion. The Allens now host fashion students and others on the farm, sharing insights into the journey from hide and wool to finished product and their links with farming.

We discuss their vision for the future, what the grant has enabled, sustainable leather production, and how they’re bridging the gap between agriculture and fashion.

Topics covered:

Starting out with conservation grazing

Moving to the new farm.

Building a sustainable tannery and educational space

James's Churchill scholarship

Engaging with the fashion industry and design students

Engaging with the local community

Image credit: James and Katie Allen

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle is joined by US author and journalist Stephanie Anderson to discuss the transformative role women are playing in regenerative agriculture. Stephanie’s latest book, From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture, shines a spotlight on female farmers and changemakers who are rethinking how we grow food in the face of climate change.

From battling conventional norms to pioneering new practices rooted in sustainability and equity, these women are proving that leadership in agriculture can be diverse, resilient, and regenerative. Stephanie shares intimate stories, key insights from her research, and her vision for a more just and climate-conscious food system.

Guest:
👩‍🌾 Stephanie Anderson

Author of From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture

Author of One Size Fits None

Assistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction at Florida Atlantic University

Website: stephanieandersonwriter.com

Topics Covered:

What is regenerative agriculture and why it matters?

How women are challenging traditional farming models?

The intersection of sustainability, equity, and food justice.

Behind-the-scenes stories from From the Ground Up.

The role of storytelling in environmental and social change.

Stephanie’s personal journey from farm girl to journalist and author.

Resources Mentioned:

From the Ground Up

One Size Fits None

Image credit: Stephanie Anderson

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle sits down with Alex and Emily Crawley, co-directors of Grazing Management Limited, to explore the concept of conservation grazing and their journey starting their business. Based in the Forest of Dean, the Crawleys are using native breed cattle, sheep, and goats to deliver environmental benefits on land managed by charities, government agencies, and private owners.

Neither Emily nor Alex began their careers in agriculture. Emily comes from a background in the charitable sector (and also as a pilates instructor!), while Alex transitioned from a military and diplomatic career into land management, later earning a Graduate Diploma in Agriculture and becoming a Nuffield Scholar.

Together, they’ve built a contract grazing business that earned them the British Farming Awards' New Entrant accolade within just two years. This conversation dives into three core themes: the power of farming to support environmental goals, the realities of starting a land-based business without owning land, and the bold personal journeys that led them to agriculture.

🎧 Topics covered:

What conservation grazing is and why it matters

The role of native livestock in biodiversity and habitat management

Starting a farming business without owning land

Transitioning into agriculture from completely different careers

Lessons learned, early successes, and advice for new entrants

📝 Resources & Mentions:

Nuffield Farming Scholarships

Royal Agricultural University – Graduate Diploma in Agriculture

British Farming Awards – New Entrant Category

🌿 Whether you’re interested in sustainable land management, starting a farming venture, or simply love a good career pivot story, this episode offers insight and inspiration in equal measure.

Image credit: Alex and Emily Crawley

Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency.

Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here.

About Ben and RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk

If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message.

Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening.

Follow us on social media

Instagram @mtf_podcast

Twitter @mtf_podcast

Watch us on Youtube here