Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast – the Farmers Weekly Question Time Event at the 2026 Association of Independent Crop Consultants Conference.

Recorded in front of a live audience on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, farmers and other conference delegates quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues.

Our panel is:
Baroness Minette Batters, author of the Farming Profitability Review
Andrew Blazey, AICC chairman and partner at Prime Agriculture
Jenny Brunton, senior European policy advisor at the British Agriculture Bureau, Brussels
Yorkshire farmer Paul Temple, of the Global Farmer Network.
Oli Fletcher, is a Leicestershire farmer, historian and Farming Explained YouTuber

Farmers Weekly Question Time is hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker. To attend or sponsor future Farmers Weekly Question Time events, visit fwi.co.uk/questiontime.

Welcome to this special episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast &ndash; the Farmers Weekly Question Time Event at the 2026 Association of Independent Crop Consultants Conference.
Recorded in front of a live audience on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, farmers and other conference delegates quiz industry leaders on topical agricultural issues.
Our panel is:
<ul>
<li>Baroness Minette Batters,&nbsp;author of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farming-profitability-review-2025-an-independent-review">Farming Profitability Review</a></li>
<li>Andrew Blazey, <a href="https://aicc.org.uk/">AICC</a> chairman and partner at <a href="https://primeag.co.uk/">Prime Agriculture</a></li>
<li>Jenny Brunton, senior European policy advisor at the <a href="https://www.britishagriculturebureau.co.uk/">British Agriculture Bureau</a>, Brussels</li>
<li>Yorkshire farmer Paul Temple, of the <a href="https://globalfarmernetwork.org/">Global Farmer Network</a>.</li>
<li>Oli Fletcher, is a Leicestershire farmer, historian and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@farmingexplained">Farming Explained</a> YouTuber</li>
</ul>
Farmers Weekly Question Time is hosted by Farmers Weekly Podcast editor Johann Tasker. To attend or sponsor future Farmers Weekly Question Time events, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/sp/questiontime/question-time">fwi.co.uk/questiontime</a>.

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

Farmers Weekly Question Time: AICC Agronomy Conference 2026

In this episode, we discuss the reasons behind a big drop in farmland sales – and it isn't all to do with inheritance tax.

We join dozens of farmers who’ve teamed up to create the UK’s biggest ever landscape recovery project – worth £100m

We've the latest on the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme; and we've a chocolate spot disease warning for winter bean growers.

And we speak to the farmer with eight reservoirs who has a special message about winter rainfall storage.

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 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.

In this episode, we discuss the reasons behind a big drop in farmland sales &ndash; and it isn't all to do with inheritance tax.
We join dozens of farmers who&rsquo;ve teamed up to create the UK&rsquo;s biggest ever landscape recovery project &ndash; worth &pound;100m
We've the latest on the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme; and we've a chocolate spot disease warning for winter bean growers.
And we speak to the farmer with eight reservoirs who has a special message about winter rainfall storage.
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 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. We'd love to hear from you.

Big drop in farmland sales, £100m landscape recovery scheme, Red Tractor, winter bean warning, & storing winter rainfall

In this episode, as concern grows about funding for the government's flagship agri-environment scheme, we look at ways to farm profitably without subsidies.

Farmers who are doing just that share their secrets at the Norfolk Farming Conference and the BASE UK conference in Huntingdon.

They include Nottinghamshire farmer Joe Howard, of Howard Farms and Grassroots Farming; and Cotswolds farmer Henry Astor, of Bruern Farms, who is supplying Gails bakeries.

We also talk to Cambridgeshire farmer David Wheatley, of Petite Peonies; and Lancashire farmer Martin Caunce, of Brow Farm.

We also discuss the LinkedIn article about future funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive by Geoff Sansome, former head of agriculture at Natural England.

We find out how to add extreme value to farm output – and how to harness the power of social media as a valuable marketing tool to consumers.

And we meet Sam Stables – the Herefordshire farmer who raised more than £40,000 for charity by walking 142 miles to London during Mind Your Head Week.

If you wish to make a donation, you can do so via Sam's fundraising page.

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 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.

In this episode, as concern grows about funding for the government's flagship agri-environment scheme, we look at ways to farm profitably without subsidies.
Farmers who are doing just that share their secrets at the <a href="https://www.norfolkfarmingconference.co.uk/">Norfolk Farming Conference</a> and the <a href="https://base-uk.co.uk/">BASE UK</a> conference in Huntingdon.
They include Nottinghamshire farmer Joe Howard, of <a href="https://www.howardfarms.co.uk/">Howard Farms</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.grassrootsfarming.co/">Grassroots Farming</a>; and Cotswolds farmer Henry Astor, of <a href="https://bruernfarms.co.uk/">Bruern Farms</a>, who is supplying <a href="https://gails.com/">Gails</a> bakeries.
We also talk to Cambridgeshire farmer David Wheatley, of <a href="https://www.petitepeonys.co.uk/">Petite Peonies</a>; and Lancashire farmer Martin Caunce, of <a href="https://browfarm.co.uk/">Brow Farm</a>.
We also discuss the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7427446679722840064/">LinkedIn article about future funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive</a> by Geoff Sansome, former head of agriculture at Natural England.
We find out how to add extreme value to farm output &ndash; and how to harness the power of social media as a valuable marketing tool to consumers.
And we meet Sam Stables &ndash; the Herefordshire farmer who raised more than &pound;40,000 for charity by walking 142 miles to London during <a href="https://www.yellowwellies.org/mind-your-head/">Mind Your Head</a>&nbsp;Week.
If you wish to make a donation, you can do so via <a href="https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/sam-stables-mission">Sam's fundraising page</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.
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 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. We'd love to hear from you.

How to farm profitably without subsidies, how to sell wheat for £660/tonne, harness the  marketing power of social media, & farmer walks 150 miles to London for charity

As a wet winter sees leaves many fields under water, a special drainage scheme is delivering benefits for farmers and the environment.

We pay a special visit to the Allerton Project at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust farm in Leicestershire.

How a closer relationship with the EU could benefit UK growers and livestock producers – if we can get the balance right. Read the EFRA Committee report here.

And we discover how encouraging team spirit on the farm can help improve your mental wellbeing during Mind Your Head week.

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 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.

As a wet winter sees leaves many fields under water, a special drainage scheme is delivering benefits for farmers and the environment.
We pay a special visit to the <a href="https://www.allertontrust.org.uk/">Allerton Project</a> at the <a href="https://www.gwct.org.uk/">Game &amp; Wildlife Conservation Trust</a> farm in Leicestershire.
How a closer relationship with the EU could benefit UK growers and livestock producers &ndash; if we can get the balance right. Read the <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news/211732/govt-must-seek-carve-outs-and-implementation-period-in-eu-trade-deal-efra-committee-report/">EFRA Committee report here</a>.
And we discover how encouraging team spirit on the farm can help improve your mental wellbeing during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yellowwellies.org/welcome-to-our-8th-annual-mind-your-head-week/">Mind Your Head</a> week.
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 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.

Farmers Weekly Question Time: AICC Agronomy Conference 2026

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