Farmers Weekly Podcast Episode 4: Covid-19 loans and Red Tractor inspections

In this week’s podcast we find out what farmers make of the AHDB, how to get your hands on the coronavirus business loan, why Welsh farmers are up in arms and how Red Tractor are doing inspections during lockdown.

See also: More coronavirus news

Farmers are to get more say on how the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board spends their money. We talk to AHDB chairman Nicholas Saphir and Mark Coulman of the Tenant Farmers Association.

Devon sheep farmer Colin Rowland, Essex cereal grower Ed Ford and Cumbrian dairy producer Robert Craig all say there is room for improvement at the AHDB.

In the markets, the government wants more farmers to apply for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan – Farmers Weekly deputy business editor Andrew Meredith explains how you can get your hands on some money.

Winter barley crops are coming under an increased disease threat. We get advice from independent agronomist Peter Cowlrick in southern England and Agrii agronomist Greig Baird in Scotland.

Welsh farmers are up in arms about plans to make the whole of Wales a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. We ask: are the new restrictions really necessary?

The coronavirus pandemic means Red Tractor assurance inspections can’t be done on farm – so they’re being done remotely instead. Farmers Weekly executive editor Philip Clarke explains how they work.

And Rothamsted researcher Kelly Jowlett is seeking views from growers on the benefits of ground beetles in crop protection. We delve into the depths of the #BeneficialBeetlesSurvey.

You can listen to all of The Farmers Weekly Podcasts on our Podcast page