James Herrick: Who needs radio in tractor cab with podcasts?
© Tim Scrivener “Component temperature high. Turn off radio and allow to cool.”
This was the message that frequented the screen of my tractor over the past month, before the sound-giving item failed altogether.
Those who follow me on social media will be well aware of my dissatisfaction with the newest tractor in our fleet.
The seemingly never-ending barrage of breakdowns and error codes has felt like a slog, but this last one has tipped me over the edge. No radio.
See also: James Herrick – business future-proofing should begin today
About the author
I am lucky enough that the tractor in question has (or rather, had) a bluetooth radio, allowing me to take calls (something I consider important from a safety point of view) and stream content directly from my phone.
It’s been more than three years since I actually listened to the radio when spending the day driving the tractor, generally opting for podcasts or audio books to appease the silence.
I didn’t do too badly at school, but I’m not someone you would consider to be “book smart”.
I do, however, have a general thirst for knowledge with a belief that you are never done learning.
And despite enjoying the tactility of a book, reading is often something that we farmers struggle to find time for.
Power of podcasts
A simple search on one of streaming platforms will open up a world of resources to get your teeth into, no matter what kind of mood you’re in.
Personally, I’m drawn to a variety of podcasts from the world of agriculture – learning more about grazing, soil biology, market analysis and hearing other farmers’ experiences before making decisions that potentially change the way we farm.
There is a kaleidoscope of subjects available to help you subjectively broaden your knowledge on any given subject.
Wildlife and conservation, business, psychology, sport science and nutrition – all of which have played a part in helping me think about issues differently to improve our farm and, more importantly, about me as a person.
Undeterred by the inability to stream directly to the tractor cab, I have been compelled to rediscover the simplicity of headphones. After all, every day is a school day.