A third summer heatwave is creating difficult harvesting conditions, with shrivelled grain, variable cereal yields and combines being forced to operate early in the morning or late at night.

We examine warnings against “grain washing” - adding water to very dry harvested grain before it goes into store - and consider the risks of hot spots, mould and contamination.

Elsewhere, MPs challenge Defra over whether its new 25-year farming roadmap contains enough detail, investment and ambition to improve profitability and food security.

And finally, Norwegian football star Erling Haaland explains why he buys raw milk, beef and honey from a Cheshire farm.

This episode is brought to you by crop protection specialists Certis Belchim.

Special Guests:

* Amy Caitlin, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds team
* Alistair Carmichael MP, Efra committee chairman
* Emma Reynolds MP, Defra secretary
* Erling Haaland, Manchester City and Norway footballer
* Helen Southworth, Cheshire dairy farmer, Greenoaks Farm

Chapters

00:59 Heatwave harvest challenges
01:27 Warning over grain washing
02:34 Early harvest results
04:09 Should growers add moisture?
07:17 Silage and maize conditions
09:47 Partner message: Certis Belchim
11:29 Is Defra’s farming roadmap credible?
11:54 Emma Reynolds challenged by MPs
13:28 Alistair Carmichael interview
23:32 Farming sentiment in Scotland
29:07 Harvest disrupts farm plans
30:14 Markets update
32:07 Erling Haaland backs British farm produce
33:39 The Haaland effect
36:52 England versus Norway
37:38 Closing remarks

Useful links
Farmers Weekly Podcast
AHDB grain storage guide
AHDB grain-cooling guidance
Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England’s Future
Defra Farming Roadmap summary
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Food Standards Agency: raw drinking milk

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. 

A third summer heatwave is creating difficult harvesting conditions, with shrivelled grain, variable cereal yields and combines being forced to operate early in the morning or late at night.
We examine warnings against &ldquo;grain washing&rdquo; - adding water to very dry harvested grain before it goes into store - and consider the risks of hot spots, mould and contamination.
Elsewhere, MPs challenge Defra over whether its new 25-year farming roadmap contains enough detail, investment and ambition to improve profitability and food security.
And finally, Norwegian football star Erling Haaland explains why he buys raw milk, beef and honey from a Cheshire farm.
This episode is brought to you by crop protection specialists <a href="https://www.certisbelchim.co.uk">Certis Belchim</a>.
Special Guests:
* Amy Caitlin,&nbsp;AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds team * Alistair Carmichael MP, Efra committee chairman * Emma Reynolds MP, Defra secretary * Erling Haaland, Manchester City and Norway footballer * Helen Southworth, Cheshire dairy farmer, Greenoaks Farm
Chapters
00:59 Heatwave harvest challenges 01:27 Warning over grain washing 02:34 Early harvest results 04:09 Should growers add moisture? 07:17 Silage and maize conditions 09:47 Partner message: Certis Belchim 11:29 Is Defra&rsquo;s farming roadmap credible? 11:54 Emma Reynolds challenged by MPs 13:28 Alistair Carmichael interview 23:32 Farming sentiment in Scotland 29:07 Harvest disrupts farm plans 30:14 Markets update 32:07 Erling Haaland backs British farm produce 33:39 The Haaland effect 36:52 England versus Norway 37:38 Closing remarks
Useful links
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/farmers-weekly-podcast">Farmers Weekly Podcast</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/grain-storage-guide">AHDB grain storage guide</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/cooling-targets-for-grain-storage">AHDB grain-cooling guidance</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farming-roadmap-2050">Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England&rsquo;s Future</a></li>
<li><a href="https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/24/the-farming-roadmap/">Defra Farming Roadmap summary</a></li>
<li><a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/">Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/raw-drinking-milk">Food Standards Agency: raw drinking milk</a></li>
</ul>
This episode of the&nbsp;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:&nbsp;<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.