What does Dame Angela Eagle’s appointment as Defra secretary mean for UK agriculture?

This week, we examine the new secretary of state’s priorities, political influence and ability to secure the long-term budgets farmers say they need.

We also hear from NFU Sugar chairman Kit Papworth following British Sugar’s proposal to stop processing beet at its Cantley factory in Norfolk.

At the Royal Welsh Show, farmers respond to a three-year, £340m-a-year funding settlement for the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

We pay tribute to NFU livestock board chairman David Barton, hear how the drought is affecting harvest and examine rising farmgate prices.

And during Farm Safety Week, combine fire survivor Andrew Williamson explains why machinery can be replaced—but people cannot.

This episode is brought to you by seed breeder KWS.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
00:51 – What will Angela Eagle mean for farming?
05:58 – A farmer-friendly appointment at Defra?
07:37 – Cantley sugar factory faces closure
12:30 – Can Britain rebuild its rural economy?
18:21 – Imported cane sugar versus home-grown beet
23:09 – Welsh farmers receive funding certainty
27:48 – Has Wales found a better approach?
33:45 – Remembering David Barton
36:41 – Harvest and drought update
38:52 – Abby’s new investigative role
40:03 – Farm markets
42:38 – Combine fires and Farm Safety Week
46:02 – Why farm safety is not improving

Special Guests:

Dame Angela Eagle – secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs
Kit Papworth – Norfolk sugar beet grower and chairman of the NFU Sugar Board
Andrew Williamson – farmer and vice-chairman of the NFU Combinable Crops Board

The episode is presented by Johann Tasker, Abi Kay, Hugh Broom and Anne Dunn.

Useful links

• ⁠British Sugar’s announcement on the proposed Cantley closure
• ⁠NFU Sugar: Growers need certainty following Cantley proposal
• ⁠Welsh Government: £1bn multi-year funding commitment
• ⁠NFU Cymru response to the funding settlement
• ⁠Farm Safety Foundation – Yellow Wellies
• ⁠Farm Safety Week 2026
• ⁠Farmers Weekly: Level the Field – physical health in farming
• ⁠KWS UK

Email the podcast team at podcast@fwi.co.uk.

Listeners in the UK can text FARM, followed by their message, to 88440.