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The Farmers Weekly Podcast

Listen to The Farmers Weekly Podcast for our take on the top news affecting UK agriculture. Podcast and projects editor Johann Tasker delves behind the headlines – with comment, analysis and discussion from farmers and industry leaders.

 

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Presenter

Johann Tasker

Johann Tasker is podcast and projects editor at Farmers Weekly. A long-standing and integral member of the Farmers Weekly team, he has been reporting and analysing the impact of government policy on agriculture – and how it affects farm businesses – for more than 20 years.

 
 

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NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 325: Sifting through the SFI wreckage

Farmers are ploughing up environmental features after thousands were shut out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive when funding ran out less than six hours after applications opened. In this episode…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 324: SFI26 funding gone – what now?

Defra is under intense pressure after the £233m budget for the 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive was exhausted just five hours and 48 minutes after applications opened. In this emergency episode…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 322: Daniel Zeichner on life at Defra

In an exclusive interview with Farmers Weekly‘s Abi Kay, former farm minister Daniel Zeichner gives an extraordinary account of life inside Defra.  Revelations include Mr Zeichner’s claim that as a…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 323: SFI scramble

Farmers face a race to secure funding when the Sustainable Farming Incentive reopens – with warnings that the available money could be allocated within just 24 hours. We look at…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 321: Farm rent cuts and pig sector crisis

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…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 320: River Wye pollution progress

In this episode, we examine new farm-level evidence suggesting phosphorus is coming into balance on farms in the River Wye catchment – and ask what it means for water pollution.…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 319: Autumn drilling gamble and fert warning

In this episode, how much rain is enough to start drilling after one of the driest summers in recent memory? We look at autumn crop establishment as growers weigh up…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 318: Drought crisis loans

Could government-backed crisis loans help cash-strapped farmers recover from drought and keep Britain producing food? This week, we examine industry proposals for a Keep Britain Growing Loan – an interest-free,…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 317: Defra unveils £65m drought package

In this episode, Defra unveils a £65m package to help drought-hit farmers – we examine how it could help your farm business. We also look at whether growers should start…

NEWS

FW Podcast Ep 316: Drought crisis – MPs demand action

As drought conditions worsen across England, MPs demand urgent government action to safeguard water supplies for food production. South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough says farmers need more flexible abstraction licences,…