Bronagh Dempster: Navigating Farming and the Dairy Industry as a New Entrant
In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Bronagh Dempster, a passionate new entrant from Northern Ireland. Bronagh shares her journey into farming, her education at Queen's University Belfast, and her experiences working on a dairy farm. She discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry, her involvement in the Nuffield Next Gen scholarship, and her aspirations to start her own small-scale beef operation. Bronagh emphasizes the importance of attitude in agriculture, the value of sports in her life, and offers advice for newcomers to the industry. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of farming and the excitement for the future of agriculture.Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to Bronagh Dempster02:46 Bronagh's Journey into Farming10:15 The Dairy Industry Landscape14:27 Nuffield NextGen Scholarship Experience19:21 Starting Her Own Cattle Venture24:16 Balancing Farming and Processing Work26:35 The Importance of Sport in Life28:24 Future of Dairy and Farming29:46 Advice for New Entrants in Agriculture31:48 Messages to the Public and Farmers 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmersTo join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube hereÂ
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What was harvest 2025 like for farmers? Harvest 2025 Special
Ben is sent on farm harvest reviews from a number of UK farmers who are also former guests of the show. To say harvest 2025 was disappointing for many UK farmers is an understatement for many. We'd love to hear or read your experiences of harvest this year wherever you are in the world - please add your thoughts in the comments. Huge thanks to all our farmer contributors - Richard Heady, Rebecca Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Charles Anyan, John Pawsey and Andrew Court. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmersTo join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube hereÂ
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Recruiting Professionals and Farm Managers in Farming and the Rural Sector - with Miranda Webster
In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Miranda Webster from Webster's Rural about the challenges and opportunities in recruitment within the professional and farm manager side of the agricultural and rural sectors. They discuss the evolving landscape post-Brexit and post-pandemic, the importance of attracting and retaining talent, and the skills that are currently in demand. Miranda shares insights on how rural businesses can make themselves more appealing to potential employees and the differences in recruitment strategies for small versus large organizations. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in recruitment and the importance of maintaining a human touch in the hiring process. 🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmersTo join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here About The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast [promo] The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is the first and only dedicated podcast for the UK fruit and veg sector, with news, views and the insider detail behind the top stories affecting the trade, hosted by journalist Nina Pullman. The Fresh Produce Journal is the UK’s longest running trade magazine and has been covering the global fruit and veg business, from retail to marketing, seed breeding, growing and wholesaling, since 1895. The Fresh Produce Journal Podcast is a Fruitnet Media International production, connecting the global fresh produce trade through magazines, events and content at Fruitnet.com. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or listen via the FPJ app.Â
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Sheep farming in Australia - meet Tara from Tara Farms
In episode 307 of Meet the Farmers, Ben travels (virtually) to western Victoria, Australia to talk with Tara, a third-generation sheep and mixed crop farmer working alongside her family. Tara runs Australian White and Primeline sheep, and is passionate about balancing productivity with long-term sustainability. She shares how responsibilities are divided on the farm, the role of technology in their management, and the opportunities and challenges facing Australian agriculture today — especially climate variability. Beyond the farm gate, Tara has built a strong following on Instagram and YouTube, where she shares the real ups and downs of farm life, helping bridge the gap between farmers and the wider public. This conversation covers her farming journey, the evolution of her family’s land, and her ambitions for the future.🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmers To join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here
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Getting started in farming - with James Warwick
In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle speaks with beef and sheep farmer James Warwick from north Cornwall about how he moved to Cornwall from Cambridgeshire to live with his grandparents and learn to farm. He now farms South Devon cattle and 350–400 ewes. James shares his passion for farming, financial challenges of farming and the mental strain it can sometimes bring. We talk about:The story of how James moved to Cornwall to farm with his grandparentsLife on the farm today and the balance between sheep and cattle.His apprenticeship on another farm and what he learnedBeing open about the mental strain farming can bring.The financial pressures of farming and how he tackles cashflow uncertaintyHis vision for the future of the farm over the next decadeJames offers a heartfelt and honest perspective on the rewards and realities of farming, blending tradition with a willingness to speak openly about issues that matter to farmers everywhere.Photo credit: James Warwick🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.If you like what we do you can also BUY US A COFFEE - https://buymeacoffee.com/meetthefarmers OR JOIN THE MEET THE FARMERS SUPPORTERS CLUB ON PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/meetthefarmersTo join our newsletter visit our website and complete the pop up form.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here
Ireland