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/

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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.