This live Cereals 2026 episode tackles one big question: with high input costs and mediocre grain prices will planting cereals this autumn be financially worthwhile?

The discussion starts with markets and margins, including break-even wheat prices, grain carryover, milling wheat premiums and the risks of holding out for higher prices.

Part Two looks at how growers can reduce risk through variety choice, BYDV resistance, hybrid wheat, yellow rust resilience and AHDB decision-support tools.

Finally, we asks whether the public and politicians really understand farming — and how Clarkson’s Farm has changed the conversation about food security and farm profitability.

Guests

• Andrew Williamson – Shropshire farmer and NFU Combinable Crops Board vice-chair
• Andrew Dewing – Dewing Grain chief executive and grain trader
• Clare Leaman – NIAB cereal variety specialist
• Sacha White – AHDB crop protection scientist
• Patrick Galbraith – Daily Telegraph rural affairs writer
• Charlie Ireland – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons Farm
• George Badger – Ceres Rural and adviser to Clarksons Farm

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
Live from Cereals 2026 at Diddly Squat Farm.

01:15 – Are cereals still worth drilling?
Andrew Williamson outlines the pressure on arable margins.

04:12 – Grain markets and break-even prices
Andrew Dewing assesses wheat values, cost of production and selling opportunities.

05:30 – Feed prices and livestock links
Hugh Broom looks at what low grain prices mean for livestock producers.

09:04 – Fertiliser costs and possible support
The NFU’s call for help if fertiliser prices spike.

11:44 – Feed wheat, milling wheat and risk
Louise Impey and the panel discuss whether milling wheat still stacks up.

16:37 – Grain marketing strategy
When should growers lock in prices for harvest 2026 and 2027?

19:20 – Growing a cost-effective crop
Claire Lehman and Sasha White join the discussion.

20:10 – BYDV-resistant varieties
Why barley is moving faster than wheat on BYDV tolerance.

21:30 – Hybrid wheat
Could new hybrid wheat varieties change the market?

23:13 – Yellow rust resistance
How breeders are responding to resistance breakdowns.

24:24 – AHDB’s new BYDV tool
Sasha White explains how the tool can help growers decide whether spraying is worthwhile.

28:28 – Decision support and SFI tools
How AHDB is helping growers weigh up complex agronomic and business choices.

32:04 – Resilience over yield
Why variety choice is increasingly about consistency and risk management.

34:45 – Does the public understand farming?
Patrick Galbraith, Charlie Ireland and George Badger join the final panel.

35:52 – Telling farming stories in national media
How farming issues are explained to non-farming audiences.

37:17 – Behind the scenes at Diddly Squat
What Clarkson’s Farm gets right about farming life.

42:27 – Food security and public awareness
Why the link between shoppers and producers remains fragile.

44:32 – Reasons for optimism
Mixed farming, SFI, land opportunities and long-term business thinking.

49:09 – How farming is perceived
Patrick Galbraith on public sympathy, politics and why farming should keep pushing its case.

This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

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