Could government-backed crisis loans help cash-strapped farmers recover from drought and keep Britain producing food?

This week, we examine industry proposals for a Keep Britain Growing Loan – an interest-free, government-backed scheme planned for farmers.

With the bluetongue outbreak continuing to spread northwards, we hear why livestock producers are being urged to vaccinate susceptible cattle and sheep as soon as possible.

We look at China’s drive for greater food self-sufficiency and what it could mean for global agricultural markets.

And a new report called From Risk to Reward examines the financial cost of switching to regenerative farming.

If farmers lose money during the transition, should food companies and the wider supply chain shoulder more of the risk?

This episode is brought to you by Bayer CropScience - weeding out uncertainty.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:02 – Could crisis loans keep farmers farming?
04:30 – Would the loans make a difference?
09:46 – Autumn Drilling Update with Bayer Cropscience
11:44 – Bluetongue spreads further across Britain
17:05 – Is it too late to vaccinate?
17:57 – Preparing for bluetongue in 2027
23:34 – Harvest, autumn cultivations and SFI
27:07 – China targets greater food self-sufficiency
30:06 – Markets
33:16 – Who pays for regenerative farming?
39:02 – Should food companies share the risk?

Guests

Alex Godfrey – Lincolnshire farmer and chairman, GB Potatoes
Rachel Banks – technical manager, Bayer Cropscience
Claire Wise – acting national livestock chair, NFU
Mandy Nevel – head of animal health, AHDB
Joe Stanley – head of sustainable farming, Allerton Project

Useful Links

Keep Britain Growing Loan
Bluetongue – latest situation
Bayer weed management advice
Regenerative agriculture and Nestlé
Allerton Project
From Risk to Reward

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. 

Could government-backed crisis loans help cash-strapped farmers recover from drought and keep Britain producing food?
This week, we examine industry proposals for a Keep Britain Growing Loan &ndash; an interest-free, government-backed scheme planned for farmers.
With the bluetongue outbreak continuing to spread northwards, we hear why livestock producers are being urged to vaccinate susceptible cattle and sheep as soon as possible.
We look at China&rsquo;s drive for greater food self-sufficiency and what it could mean for global agricultural markets.
And a new report called <a href="From%20Risk%20to%20Reward">From Risk to Reward</a>&nbsp;examines the financial cost of switching to regenerative farming.
If farmers lose money during the transition, should food companies and the wider supply chain shoulder more of the risk?
This episode is brought to you by <a href="https://cropscience.bayer.co.uk/weed-management">Bayer CropScience</a> - weeding out uncertainty.
Chapters
00:00 &ndash; Introduction 01:02 &ndash; Could crisis loans keep farmers farming? 04:30 &ndash; Would the loans make a difference? 09:46 &ndash; Autumn Drilling Update with Bayer Cropscience 11:44 &ndash; Bluetongue spreads further across Britain 17:05 &ndash; Is it too late to vaccinate? 17:57 &ndash; Preparing for bluetongue in 2027 23:34 &ndash; Harvest, autumn cultivations and SFI 27:07 &ndash; China targets greater food self-sufficiency 30:06 &ndash; Markets 33:16 &ndash; Who pays for regenerative farming? 39:02 &ndash; Should food companies share the risk?
Guests
Alex Godfrey &ndash; Lincolnshire farmer and chairman, GB Potatoes Rachel Banks &ndash; technical manager, Bayer Cropscience Claire Wise &ndash; acting national livestock chair, NFU Mandy Nevel &ndash; head of animal health, AHDB Joe Stanley &ndash; head of sustainable farming, Allerton Project
Useful Links
<a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/news/nfu-convenes-farming-roundtable-as-farmers-reach-crisis-point/">Keep Britain Growing Loan</a> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-latest-situation">Bluetongue &ndash; latest situation</a> <a href="https://cropscience.bayer.co.uk/weed-management">Bayer weed management advice</a> <a href="https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/sustainability/regenerative-agriculture">Regenerative agriculture and Nestl&eacute;</a> <a href="https://www.allertontrust.org.uk/">Allerton Project</a> <a href="https://www.allertontrust.org.uk/projects/nestle/">From Risk to Reward</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;

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.