What does an Andy Burnham government mean for UK agriculture?

This week, Westminster watcher Jeremy Moody examines the new prime minister’s farming credentials – and whether a land value tax could hit agricultural businesses.

We also examine the law on defending yourself and your property after prosecutors decide that a Derbyshire farmer who fatally shot an intruder will face no criminal charges.

Agricultural solicitor Aled Owen explains when force may be considered necessary and reasonable—and why picking up a firearm should always be a last resort.

Elsewhere, we bring you the latest harvest results, advice on handling exceptionally dry oilseed rape, this week’s livestock and arable prices, and an unusual field fire started by a buzzard.

And finally, could chickpeas become a profitable, climate-resilient break crop for UK growers? Louise Impey visits field-scale trials in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to find out.

This episode is brought to you by plant breeder KWS.

Special Guests
Jeremy Moody – secretary and adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
Matt Bull – product manager, KWS
Aled Owen – agricultural solicitor and partner, HCR Law
David White – Cambridgeshire arable farmer and chickpea trial grower
Josiah Meldrum – Hodmedod’s Wholefoods

Chapters

00:55 What does an Andy Burnham government mean for agriculture?
04:51 Could farmers face a land value tax?
08:45 Will rural Britain be heard?
11:47 Farmers Weekly Harvest Update with KWS
15:15 Farmer faces no charges over fatal shooting
15:52 What does the law allow householders to do?
19:44 Advice for farmers facing an intruder
26:10 Harvest results: wheat, barley, beans and oilseed rape
28:02 Adding moisture to very dry oilseed rape
29:23 Buzzard blamed for standing-crop fire
30:48 Church rejects blanket rewilding target
31:41 Environment Agency farm inspection findings
33:04 Should rural speed limits fall to 20mph?
35:31 Market update
38:11 Could chickpeas become a UK break crop?
45:18 Closing remarks

Useful links
⁠Farmers Weekly
⁠Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
⁠HCR Law agricultural regulatory team
⁠Crown Prosecution Service guidance on self-defence and crime prevention
⁠AHDB grain-storage moisture targets
United Oilseeds
⁠NIAB: UK chickpea production research
⁠Hodmedod’s
Farmers Weekly market prices

This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is hosted by Johann Tasker with Abi Kay, 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 Abi: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130

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. 

What does an Andy Burnham government mean for UK agriculture?
This week, Westminster watcher Jeremy Moody examines the new prime minister&rsquo;s farming credentials &ndash; and whether a land value tax could hit agricultural businesses.
We also examine the law on defending yourself and your property after prosecutors decide that a Derbyshire farmer who fatally shot an intruder will face no criminal charges.
Agricultural solicitor Aled Owen explains when force may be considered necessary and reasonable&mdash;and why picking up a firearm should always be a last resort.
Elsewhere, we bring you the latest harvest results, advice on handling exceptionally dry oilseed rape, this week&rsquo;s livestock and arable prices, and an unusual field fire started by a buzzard.
And finally, could chickpeas become a profitable, climate-resilient break crop for UK growers? Louise Impey visits field-scale trials in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to find out.
This episode is brought to you by plant breeder <a href="https://www.kws.com/gb/en/about-us/company/kws-in-the-uk/">KWS</a>.
Special Guests
<ul>
<li>Jeremy Moody &ndash; secretary and adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers</li>
<li>Matt Bull &ndash; product manager, KWS</li>
<li>Aled Owen &ndash; agricultural solicitor and partner, HCR Law</li>
<li>David White &ndash; Cambridgeshire arable farmer and chickpea trial grower</li>
<li>Josiah Meldrum &ndash; Hodmedod&rsquo;s Wholefoods</li>
</ul>
Chapters
00:55 What does an Andy Burnham government mean for agriculture? 04:51 Could farmers face a land value tax? 08:45 Will rural Britain be heard? 11:47 Farmers Weekly Harvest Update with KWS 15:15 Farmer faces no charges over fatal shooting 15:52 What does the law allow householders to do? 19:44 Advice for farmers facing an intruder 26:10 Harvest results: wheat, barley, beans and oilseed rape 28:02 Adding moisture to very dry oilseed rape 29:23 Buzzard blamed for standing-crop fire 30:48 Church rejects blanket rewilding target 31:41 Environment Agency farm inspection findings 33:04 Should rural speed limits fall to 20mph? 35:31 Market update 38:11 Could chickpeas become a UK break crop? 45:18 Closing remarks
Useful links
<ul>
<li>⁠<a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/">Farmers Weekly</a></li>
<li>⁠<a href="https://www.kws.com/gb/en/"></a><a href="https://www.caav.org.uk/">Central Association of Agricultural Valuers</a></li>
<li>⁠<a href="https://www.hcrlaw.com/service-team/insurance-risk-and-regulatory/agricultural-regulatory/">HCR Law agricultural regulatory team</a></li>
<li>⁠<a href="https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/self-defence-and-prevention-crime">Crown Prosecution Service guidance on self-defence and crime prevention</a></li>
<li>⁠<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agriculture-and-the-water-environment-2026-report"></a><a href="https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/grain-storage-moisture-targets-for-cereals-and-oilseed-rape">AHDB grain-storage moisture targets</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.unitedoilseeds.co.uk/news-events/avoid-harvesting-osr-at-high-temperatures"></a><a href="https://www.unitedoilseeds.co.uk/news-events/avoid-harvesting-osr-at-high-temperatures?utm_source=chatgpt.com">United Oilseeds</a></li>
<li>⁠<a href="https://www.niab.com/news-views/news/news-new-feasibility-study-domestic-chickpea-production">NIAB: UK chickpea production research</a></li>
<li>⁠<a href="https://hodmedods.co.uk/">Hodmedod&rsquo;s</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fwi.co.uk/prices-trends">Farmers Weekly market prices</a></li>
</ul>
This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is hosted by Johann Tasker with Abi Kay, 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 Abi:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/">https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130</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.