Celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson speaks out as soaring fuel and fertiliser costs force arable growers to rethink autumn cropping plans.

MPs urge Kier Starmer to help reduce red diesel prices as they tell the prime minister the Iran war makes food security paramount.

We preview this summer’s Cereals event – to be held on 10-11 June at Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.

And how a royal estate is working to improve safety on its tenant farms.

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

Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk.

In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. We'd love to hear from you.

Celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson speaks out as soaring fuel and fertiliser costs force arable growers to rethink autumn cropping plans.
MPs urge Kier Starmer to help reduce red diesel prices as they tell the prime minister the Iran war makes food security paramount.
We preview this summer&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.thecerealsevent.co.uk/">Cereals event &ndash; to be held on 10-11 June</a> at Clarkson&rsquo;s Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.
And how a royal estate is working to improve safety on its tenant farms.
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
Contact or follow Johann:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/">linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/</a>
Contact or follow Louise: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/">linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/</a>
Contact or follow Hugh: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/">linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/</a>
For Farmers Weekly, visit <a href="https://fwi.co.uk/">fwi.co.uk</a> or follow <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly">linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly</a>
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@fwi.co.uk">podcast@fwi.co.uk</a>.
In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. We'd love to hear from you.

The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Every Friday.

The inside track on the biggest stories affecting UK agriculture - with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Every Friday.

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

Turmoil over autumn cropping – Clarkson hits out, Starmer tackled on red diesel, Cereals preview & farm safety

Farmers face a race to secure funding when the Sustainable Farming Incentive reopens – with warnings that the available money could be allocated within just 24 hours.

We look at how to prepare an SFI26 application, why growers should resist simply chasing grant money and what could happen to farmers whose existing agreements prevent them joining this time around.

Sugar beet growers face another period of uncertainty after price negotiations between NFU Sugar and British Sugar break down. With the 2027/28 contract heading to arbitration, we ask whether the crop can continue to earn its place in the rotation.

After one of the earliest maize harvests on record, we examine maize quality, forage shortages and why regular silage analysis could prove particularly important this winter.

And former farm minister Daniel Zeichner gives an extraordinary account of life inside Defra – including his claim that he knew nothing about the government’s inheritance tax changes until after they were announced in the 2024 Budget.

This episode is brought to you by Bayer Crop Science – weeding out uncertainty.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:09 – SFI26: will the money run out in 24 hours?
08:01 – SFI: preparing for the scramble
14:21 – Autumn drilling update: managing dry seedbeds
16:56 – Sugar beet price talks head to arbitration
20:50 – Does sugar beet have a future?
25:39 – Around the farming world
30:01 – Maize harvest: quantity versus quality
34:25 – Markets: livestock up, grain down and diesel jumps
36:46 – Daniel Zeichner: what really happened inside Defra?
44:20 – Abi Kay on an extraordinary interview

Special Guests

Chloe Timberlake – farm business adviser, Ceres Rural
Nick Scantlebury – senior farms manager, Elveden Estate
Neil Groom – maize specialist, Grainseed
Daniel Zeichner MP – former Defra farm minister
Abi Kay – Farmers Weekly chief reporter

Useful links

Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026
SFI26 Window 2 update
Sugar beet price arbitration
British Sugar’s Cantley plans
Bovine TB transmission research
Daniel Zeichner interview

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

To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -

Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. 

Farmers face a race to secure funding when the Sustainable Farming Incentive reopens &ndash; with warnings that the available money could be allocated within just 24 hours.
We look at how to prepare an SFI26 application, why growers should resist simply chasing grant money and what could happen to farmers whose existing agreements prevent them joining this time around.
Sugar beet growers face another period of uncertainty after price negotiations between NFU Sugar and British Sugar break down. With the 2027/28 contract heading to arbitration, we ask whether the crop can continue to earn its place in the rotation.
After one of the earliest maize harvests on record, we examine maize quality, forage shortages and why regular silage analysis could prove particularly important this winter.
And former farm minister <a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/farm-policy/zeichner-lifts-the-lid-on-life-inside-defra">Daniel Zeichner gives an extraordinary account of life inside Defra</a> &ndash; including his claim that he knew nothing about the government&rsquo;s inheritance tax changes until after they were announced in the 2024 Budget.
This episode is brought to you by <a href="https://cropscience.bayer.co.uk/">Bayer Crop Science &ndash; weeding out uncertainty</a>.
Chapters
00:00 &ndash; Introduction 01:09 &ndash; SFI26: will the money run out in 24 hours? 08:01 &ndash; SFI: preparing for the scramble 14:21 &ndash; Autumn drilling update: managing dry seedbeds 16:56 &ndash; Sugar beet price talks head to arbitration 20:50 &ndash; Does sugar beet have a future? 25:39 &ndash; Around the farming world 30:01 &ndash; Maize harvest: quantity versus quality 34:25 &ndash; Markets: livestock up, grain down and diesel jumps 36:46 &ndash; Daniel Zeichner: what really happened inside Defra? 44:20 &ndash; Abi Kay on an extraordinary interview
Special Guests
Chloe Timberlake &ndash; farm business adviser, <a href="https://ceresrural.co.uk/">Ceres Rural</a> Nick Scantlebury &ndash; senior farms manager, <a href="https://www.elveden.com/">Elveden Estate</a> Neil Groom &ndash; maize specialist, <a href="https://www.grainseed.co.uk/">Grainseed</a> Daniel Zeichner MP &ndash; former Defra farm minister Abi Kay &ndash; Farmers Weekly chief reporter
Useful links
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-farming-incentive-2026-sfi26">Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026</a> <a href="https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/29/sfi26-update-window-1-now-closed/">SFI26 Window 2 update</a> <a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/sugar-beet/sugar-beet-price-sent-to-arbitration-after-talks-stall?fw_source=home_arable">Sugar beet price arbitration</a> <a href="https://www.britishsugar.co.uk/media/news/2026-07-21-british-sugar-proposes-reduction-in-operational-footprint-to-support-long-term-competitiveness">British Sugar&rsquo;s Cantley plans</a> <a href="fwi.co.uk/livestock/health-welfare/livestock-diseases/bovine-tb/tb-sequencing-points-to-greater-risk-from-cattle-movement?fw_source=home_livestock&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com">Bovine TB transmission research</a> <a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/farm-policy/zeichner-lifts-the-lid-on-life-inside-defra">Daniel Zeichner interview</a>
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/">linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/</a>
Contact or follow Louise: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/">linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/</a>
Contact or follow Hugh: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/">linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/</a>
For Farmers Weekly, visit <a href="https://fwi.co.uk/">fwi.co.uk</a> or follow <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly">linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly</a>
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email <a href="mailto:podcast@fwi.co.uk">podcast@fwi.co.uk</a>. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.&nbsp;

SFI scramble, sugar beet arbitration, maize quality, & Daniel Zeichner on life inside Defra

In an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly's Abi Kay, former farm minister Daniel Zeichner gives an extraordinary account of life inside Defra. 

Revelations include Mr Zeichner's claim that as a minister he knew nothing about government plans to impose inheritance tax on farmers until after they were announced in the 2024 Budget.

He says he was then “dutifully dispatched to defend” the policy to furious farmers.

Mr Zeichner also admits that Labour was not sufficiently prepared for government when it was elected in July 2024.

He says he was unable to tell farmers the “full story” about problems with the government's flagship Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which ran out of money in March 2025.

He also describes feeling “man-marked” by Treasury officials he had never met – and says the government should have foreseen the trouble its inheritance tax plans caused.

Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -

Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

Contact or follow Abi: uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. 

In an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly's Abi Kay, former farm minister <a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/farm-policy/zeichner-lifts-the-lid-on-life-inside-defra">Daniel Zeichner gives an extraordinary account of life inside Defra</a>.&nbsp;
Revelations include Mr Zeichner's claim that as a minister he knew nothing about government plans to impose inheritance tax on farmers until after they were announced in the 2024 Budget.
He says he was then &ldquo;dutifully dispatched to defend&rdquo; the policy to furious farmers.
Mr Zeichner also admits that Labour was not sufficiently prepared for government when it was elected in July 2024.
He says he was unable to tell farmers the &ldquo;full story&rdquo; about problems with the government's flagship Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which ran out of money in March 2025.
He also describes feeling &ldquo;man-marked&rdquo; by Treasury officials he had never met &ndash; and says the government should have foreseen the trouble its inheritance tax plans caused.
Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/">linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/</a>
Contact or follow Abi: <a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130">uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130</a>
For Farmers Weekly, visit <a href="https://fwi.co.uk/">fwi.co.uk</a> or follow <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly">linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly</a>
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email <a href="mailto:podcast@fwi.co.uk">podcast@fwi.co.uk</a>. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.&nbsp;

Abi Kay's Big Questions: Former minister Daniel Zeichner lifts the lid on life inside Defra.

Tenant farmers are being urged to seek rent reductions as difficult arable economics put pressure on farm businesses – but how far should landlords go to share the pain?

This week, we examine calls for rent cuts of up to 20% and ask whether landlords and tenants need a new approach to negotiating rents during difficult years.

We also investigate the secret workshops helping farmers protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated rural crime.

Security specialist Frank Cannon explains why some crime-prevention advice is deliberately kept behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, pig producers face a difficult autumn after processors served notice on supply contracts.

Thousands of pigs could be left without a contracted buyer each week, accelerating the decline of independent production.

And finally, we head to the cinema for Derek vs Derek, a feature-length documentary following two neighbouring Devon farmers with very different ideas about the countryside: dairy farmer Derek Banbury and rewilder Derek Gow.

Derek vs Derek is directed by James Dawson and follows Derek Banbury and Derek Gow over three years. Its UK cinema release begins on 2 October 2026.

This episode is brought to you by Bayer Crop Science – weeding out uncertainty.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
00:59 – Should tenant farmers demand rent cuts?
09:41 – Who should carry the pain in a bad year?
13:27 – Autumn drilling update with Bayer Crop Science
15:23 – Secret workshops tackle rural crime
18:11 – How farmers can make themselves harder targets
25:10 – Farming politics on the road
27:35 – Back British Farming Day
29:06 – Pig producers face contract crisis
33:43 – Markets: livestock, grain and fuel
36:09 – Derek vs Derek: farming meets rewilding
38:38 – Food production or nature – must farmers choose?
47:23 – Podcast wrap-up

Guests and useful links:

Richard King – partner, Andersons farm business consultants
Jeremy Moody – secretary and adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
Frank Cannon – chartered security professional, Rural SafeGuard
Alistair Driver – editor, Pig World

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

To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -

Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. 

Tenant farmers are being urged to seek rent reductions as difficult arable economics put pressure on farm businesses &ndash; but how far should landlords go to share the pain?
This week, we examine calls for rent cuts of up to 20% and ask whether landlords and tenants need a new approach to negotiating rents during difficult years.
We also investigate the secret workshops helping farmers protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated rural crime.
Security specialist Frank Cannon explains why some crime-prevention advice is deliberately kept behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, pig producers face a difficult autumn after processors served notice on supply contracts.
Thousands of pigs could be left without a contracted buyer each week, accelerating the decline of independent production.
And finally, we head to the cinema for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeZbO-t3rlA">Derek vs Derek,</a> a feature-length documentary following two neighbouring Devon farmers with very different ideas about the countryside: dairy farmer Derek Banbury and rewilder Derek Gow.
Derek vs Derek is directed by James Dawson and follows Derek Banbury and Derek Gow over three years. Its UK cinema release begins on 2 October 2026.
This episode is brought to you by&nbsp;Bayer Crop Science &ndash; weeding out uncertainty.
Chapters
00:00 &ndash; Introduction 00:59 &ndash; Should tenant farmers demand rent cuts? 09:41 &ndash; Who should carry the pain in a bad year? 13:27 &ndash; Autumn drilling update with Bayer Crop Science 15:23 &ndash; Secret workshops tackle rural crime 18:11 &ndash; How farmers can make themselves harder targets 25:10 &ndash; Farming politics on the road 27:35 &ndash; Back British Farming Day 29:06 &ndash; Pig producers face contract crisis 33:43 &ndash; Markets: livestock, grain and fuel 36:09 &ndash; Derek vs Derek: farming meets rewilding 38:38 &ndash; Food production or nature &ndash; must farmers choose? 47:23 &ndash; Podcast wrap-up
Guests and useful links:
Richard King &ndash; partner, <a href="https://theandersonscentre.co.uk/">Andersons farm business consultants</a> Jeremy Moody &ndash; secretary and adviser, <a href="https://www.caav.org.uk/">Central Association of Agricultural Valuers</a> Frank Cannon &ndash; chartered security professional, <a href="https://ruralsafeguard.com/">Rural SafeGuard</a> Alistair Driver &ndash; editor, <a href="https://www.pig-world.co.uk/">Pig World</a>
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.
To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -
Contact or follow Johann: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/">linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/</a>
Contact or follow Louise: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/">linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/</a>
Contact or follow Hugh: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/">linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/</a>
For Farmers Weekly, visit <a href="https://fwi.co.uk/">fwi.co.uk</a> or follow <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly">linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly</a>
To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email <a href="mailto:podcast@fwi.co.uk">podcast@fwi.co.uk</a>. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.&nbsp;

Turmoil over autumn cropping – Clarkson hits out, Starmer tackled on red diesel, Cereals preview & farm safety

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