Farming Focus

In this special Farming Focus™ series, Nuffield Farming Scholar and host Peter Green explores what makes farming businesses resilient and adaptable. He is joined by Cornish farmer Glyn Biles, who has built a successful dairy business in Chile. Drawing on Glyn’s experiences, they discuss why simplifying farming systems, investing in people and prioritising profitability over maximum output can create stronger businesses and a better work-life balance.

Land. People. And capital. These are three things Farming Focus™ host Peter Green's grandfather said defined how we farm. But after travelling across the world as part of his Nuffield Farming Scholarship, Peter wondered whether there might be a fourth. In this special five-part series of Farming Focus™, we travel beyond the South West to hear how farmers around the world are responding to change. From overcoming familiar challenges to embracing new opportunities, discover the lessons and ideas that could help shape a more resilient future for farms closer to home.

What can farmers learn from the past few seasons to build greater resilience for those still to come? Farming Focus™ is revisiting a conversation with Dorset dairy farmer Ian Baggs and Adele Jones, then Executive Director of the Sustainable Food Trust. From choosing crops suited to your land to measuring progress and learning from others, they explore practical ways to adapt farm businesses in the face of changing weather.

Drought one season, flooding the next. How do you plan when the weather is becoming harder to predict? Riverford Organic Farmers founder Guy Singh-Watson and Herefordshire farmer Ben Andrews join Farming Focus™ to share how changing weather is affecting their businesses and what they’re doing about it.

Can changing your relationship with the farm help change your outlook too? In this week’s Farming Focus™, farmer Eddie Rickson shares how a devastating period in his life became a catalyst for reshaping his farm and future. Alongside Dorset farmer and NHS wellbeing coach Ellie Sturrock, Eddie explores mental wellbeing, connecting with nature and making space for yourself.

What opportunities are hiding in the unused corners of your farm? In this week’s Farming Focus™, we return to an episode in which Tim May of Kingsclere Estates and Cornish farmer Dave Oates explore enterprise stacking and Pitch Up! – an enterprise bringing new businesses, people and ideas onto farms. From spare buildings to woodland and hedgerows, hear why looking differently at the assets you already have could create fresh income streams, spread risk and build resilience for the future.

The future of farming is full of opportunity for those ready to adapt. In the latest Farming Focus™ podcast, host Peter Green is joined by Dr Louise Manning and Devon farmer Andy Gray to discuss the 2026 Oxford Farming Conference report authored by Dr Manning, UK Farming: Grasping the Opportunities, and what it means for South West farmers.

To mark Farm Safety Week, we're revisiting one of the earliest episodes of Farming Focus™ because it’s a topic which never goes away. Joined by Cornish Mutual's Paul Mahon and Nick Lay, Devon farmer Fred Collins shares how one experience completely changed his approach to safety and why taking a few extra moments before starting a task could make all the difference.

This week, we're revisiting a popular Farming Focus™ episode exploring the remarkable world beneath our feet.

Recorded live at Groundswell, this week’s Farming Focus™ brings together Cornwall farmer Geoff Williams and Terrafarmer’s Will Marris and Jack Pierce to unpick the successes they’ve seen around soil health, profitability and resilience.

Collaboration is becoming one of farming’s most valuable tools for building resilient, profitable businesses. Recorded live at the Devon County Show in May, this episode of Farming Focus™ brings the latest series to a close. The panel comprising award-winning local farmer Chris Berry, farming facilitator Mel Bradley MBE and Farm Carbon Toolkit’s Becky Willson, pick up on elements discussed throughout the series to explore why working together matters more than ever. From discussion groups to landscape-scale projects, hear practical ideas on learning, sharing knowledge and building confidence through community.

Are you buying or selling livestock this season? In this bonus episode of Farming Focus™, farm vet Esme Moffat and Devon sheep farmer Pete Delbridge share practical advice on managing biosecurity risks when moving stock.

What are the biggest biosecurity risks facing South West farms right now and what simple habits could help reduce them? On this week’s Farming Focus™, Synergy Farm Health vet Esme Moffett and Devon sheep farmer Peter Delbridge join host Peter Green to discuss everything from boundaries and quarantine to testing, vaccination and changing day-to-day routines.

Gifting can play an important part in farm succession planning, but it is rarely straightforward. In this bonus episode, solicitor Tom Mottram and Jilly Greed, a farmer from Devon, discuss tax, affordability and the realities of handing on assets. With plenty to consider, they recommend taking advice early and plan carefully, because decisions made today will shape both your future and that of the next generation.

Solicitor Tom Mottram and fourth-generation Devon farmer Jilly Greed share practical advice and honest experience about preparing for the future. From tax changes to family conversations, it’s a timely reminder starting early can make all the difference.

What can environmental schemes really deliver on farm? This bonus episode ofFarming Focus™, considers what works, what doesn’t and how to make them pay. Returning to the podcast with AHDB’s Dr Laura Underdown, farmer Jonathan Chapman explains, “you’ve got to make a profit… trying to make the most out of everything we’ve got.”

What does natural capital mean and what does it mean for your farm? In Farming Focus™ this week, we look at how putting a value on nature could shape future farm income and resilience. From soil health to biodiversity, it’s about recognising what underpins food production. Speaking alongside local farmer James Chapman, AHDB’s Dr Laura Underdown says, “putting a pound sign on nature” helps bring it into business decisions.

How can data help you stay one step ahead of the weather? In this Farming Focus bonus episode, Met Office science lead Professor Pete Falloon and Riviera Produce farm and sustainability manager David Thomas return to the podcast to describe practical ways farmers are using technology, from soil monitoring to crop planning, to build resilience. Listen now for straightforward ideas you can apply on your farm.

Extreme weather is becoming the new normal for South West farming. In our latest Farming Focus™ episode, Met Office science lead Professor Pete Falloon and Riviera Produce farm and sustainability manager David Thomas explore how to stay operationally resilient, from soil health to smarter planning.

Complementing Chris Walkland’s examination of dairy market volatility and suggestions for how he sees future pricing mechanisms, Christopher and George Courtier explain how they are tolerating the current situation. Controlling the controllable is their answer to rocketing fuel prices and taking a longer-term view, drawing invaluable support from their farmer discussion group. An approach endorsed by Chris Walkland as he sees dairy farmers having to juggle money more than ever before.

Recorded not long after dairy farmers experienced the biggest drop in milk prices for some time, well-known independent dairy commentator Chris Walkland gives his views on the current situation and how markets may fare over the coming months. Navigating the impacts of this recent fall, Devon’s 2025 Dairy Farmers of the Year, Christopher and George Coutier, offer their perspective and explain why the Middle East conflict is beginning to bite.

Peter Green is joined once again by Jane Gurney and Dominic Jones to discuss shifting cultures when it comes to farm safety.

Host Peter Green discusses farm safety with Jane Gurney founder of the Tilly Trailer Pass, and Dominic Jones who is Risk Management Leader at Cornish Mutual.

Farming without subsidies is fast becoming a reality for many farmers. CAAV’s Jeremy Moody and Nick Dymond of St. Piran’s Pork expand last week’s discussion to consider what it means for farm profitability, believing those already making money without support can help the whole industry become price makers not price takers.

Host Peter Green is joined by CAAV's Jeremy Moody and Nick Dymond from St Piran's Pork to discuss the new farm support landscape.

Farmers often face long hours and unpredictable weather on top of the pressures of running a business which can take their toll. Today, we’re focusing on practical strategies for managing stress and looking after your mental health, no matter how busy life on the farm gets. Joining host Peter Green are Emma O’Sullivan, founder of the DPJ Foundation, and Cornish farmer James Warwick. Make sure you listen to episode 2 to get the most from this bonus episode. Farming Focus is the podcast for farmers in the South West of England, but is relevant for farmers outside of the region or indeed anyone in the wider industry or who has an interest in food and farming. For more information on Cornish Mutual visit cornishmutual.co.uk For our podcast disclaimer click here.

To mark Mind Your Head Week, host Peter Green is joined by farmer James Warwick and Emma O'Sullivan, founder of the DPJ Foundation, to discuss the challenges of farming alone, and the mental health angle of this.

Peter Green is joined once again by beef farmer Wendy Nicholas and farm consultant Jack Pierce to discuss what the Farm Profitability Review means on a farm level.

Peter Green is joined by Jack Pierce and Wendy Nicholas to discuss the Farm Profitability Review.

Peter reviews this year's Oxford Farming Conference with Jeremy Oatey who is Managing Director of Agricola Growers.

Peter is joined by Becki Reay from Kite Consulting to round up series 5. Together, they discuss the themes and topics from across the series.

In this bonus episode Peter is joined once again by Tom Martin and Louise Penn who offer some quick, practical tips for farmers who’d like to inspire young people and connect them with farming.

Peter Green is joined by Louise Wallace and Tom Martin to discuss how to inspire and engage the next generation with farming. There’s a huge opportunity to connect young people with the land—and perhaps even spark future careers in agriculture. But how best to do this?

In this bonus episode, Peter Green revisits the topic of regenerative farming with Tim Williams and Louise Penn to explore its financial realities. They discuss costs, potential savings, and how regenerative practices can strengthen long-term business resilience for farmers

This episode of Farming Focus explores whether regenerative farming is a lasting movement or a passing trend, discussing its practical challenges, mindset shifts, and future potential in the South West.

In this bonus episode we discuss introducing trees onto your farm and how you know which ones are right for your land and your business? Host Peter Green is joined once again by Tom Kemp from Working Woodlands Cornwall and Harry Studholme from the Perridge Estate in Devon.

In this episode we talking about agroforestry and its potential for farming businesses in the south west and further afield. Host Peter Green is joined by Tom Kemp - Director and Head of Forestry at Working Woodlands Cornwall and Harry Studholme - a forester and farmer in Devon, based at the Perridge Estate near Exeter.

Peter Green is joined by Phillip Warren and Matt Chatfield to discuss farmer buyer relationships

This episode of Farming Focus explores how smaller South West farms could prioritise quality over quantity, featuring insights from Phillip Warren of Philip Warren Butchers and Matt Chatfield of the Cornwall Project on meat grading, niche markets, and building strong producer-buyer relationships.

In this bonus episode of Farming Focus, host Peter Green speaks with Ben Andrews and Guy Singh-Watson about water—the resource at the heart of farming and one increasingly under pressure from climate change.

This episode of Farming Focus, hosted by Peter Green, explores how climate change is reshaping UK farming, with guests Ben Andrews and Guy Singh-Watson discussing the challenges of extreme weather, food security, and resilience through innovation, soil health, and biodiversity.

In this bonus episode of Farming Focus, host Peter Green is joined again by Matt Dobbs and Adam Short to explore simple, low-cost ways farmers can get started with digital tools. From easy-to-use apps to practical tips on trialling technology, they share advice to help farmers build confidence without overloading time, budget, or patience.

This Farming Focus episode explores how South West farmers can harness technology, data, and digital tools to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. Guests Matt Dobbs (Agsenze) and Adam Short (AHDB and Devon farmer) share practical insights, future trends, and advice on making farm tech work for south west farmers.

In this bonus episode of Farming Focus, host Peter Green is joined again by Brian Harvey and Andrew Branton to focus on one of the biggest challenges in succession planning—getting the conversation started. They share personal stories, common barriers, and simple, practical steps to help families open up discussions about the future of the farm.

This episode of Farming Focus explores how farming families can plan for the future, focusing on inheritance tax (IHT) and succession planning with insights from accountant Brian Harvey and farmer Andrew Branton. It covers when and how to start conversations, common pitfalls, and practical advice to keep farms in the family for the next generation.

In this bonus episode of Farming Focus, Peter Green talks with Andrew Brewer and Nikki Yoxall about the value of time spent away from the farming business. They share their own off-farm pursuits, from running a fish and chip shop to undertaking a PhD, and discuss how these experiences bring fresh perspectives and benefits back to the farm.

In this episode of Farming Focus, Peter Green talks with Nikki Yoxall and Andrew Brewer about finding balance in farming — from decision-making and work–life harmony to connecting with your personal mission. They explore practical strategies for creating space beyond the business and how clarity of purpose can shape the future of farming.

How could stronger mentorship networks shape the future of farming? Peter Green is joined by Helen Wyman and George Holmes to discuss this.

In this episode of Farming Focus, Peter Green is joined by Helen Wyman from TwoCan Mentor and Dorset dairy farmer George Holmes to explore the impact of mentorship in farming. They discuss how mentorship can build resilience and shape a stronger future for the agricultural industry.

In this episode rerun we look back at series 1 episode 3 and discuss farm safety in the south west. Peter Green is joined by Paul Mahon and Nick Lay from Cornish Mutual. Devon dairy farmer Fred Collins also tells Peter about his on farm accident in 2022.