R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today I had Jack on the R2Kast 🎙️ A farm consultant, new entrant farmer and someone heavily involved in giving young people a voice in the food and farming sector. 🌾

We spoke about his route into agriculture, from a family connection through to studying at SRUC and building a career in consultancy. That led into working with livestock, including buffalo, before moving back into consultancy and now stepping into a new role helping lead a team while building his own farming business alongside it. 🍎

A big part of the conversation focused on what consultancy actually looks like. Working with farmers, problem solving, listening, and building trust rather than just telling people what to do. We also spoke about imposter syndrome, learning on the job and the importance of having a strong network around you. 🌍

We also got into new entrant farming, building a business from scratch and his role in the UK Youth Food and Farming Forum, pushing for real youth voice in decision making across the industry.

Enjoy! 🙂

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Today I had Karen on the R2Kast 🎙️ She is Co-Dean in Agricultural Science and Practice at the Royal Agricultural University, working across teaching, research and international partnerships. 🌾

We spoke about her journey from Venezuela to Spain and then into the UK, building a career in agronomy and agricultural systems before moving into academia and leadership. It was a really interesting look at how different agricultural systems around the world compare and what that brings into teaching. 🍎

A big part of the conversation focused on education. What students are learning, how university farms are used for research and teaching, and why creating space to test ideas matters. We also spoke about international collaboration, particularly in China, and how bringing students and ideas together improves learning on both sides. 🌍

We also touched on research, innovation and where agriculture is heading, especially around sustainability, food systems and resilience.

Enjoy! 🙂

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Today we’re back with Field to Front Door 🎙️

David, Martin and Wallace this time getting really stuck into regenerative farming, soil health and what changing systems on farm actually looks like in practice.

A big focus of this episode was David starting to move parts of the farm towards lower input and regenerative approaches, with Martin explaining everything from soil biology and cover crops through to seed treatments, ploughing depth and why modern systems may have stripped so much life out of soils over time.

We also got into the balance between wanting to farm differently and the reality that changing systems is scary when your business depends on it working. There was a really interesting discussion around biology, fertiliser dependency and whether farming can move back towards building healthier soils rather than constantly feeding crops directly.

Alongside all of that there was still plenty of the usual mix of stories and tangents, from agroecology on Arran through to David somehow finding himself at leadership events, embassy receptions and talking about peonies with people from all over the world.

We’re going to keep this going fortnightly for now and see where it takes us. If you’ve got ideas on what we should cover or who we should bring in, send them our way.

Enjoy! 🙂

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Today I had Liv on the R2Kast 🎙️ She works in commercial content across the agricultural media space, creating campaigns, events and storytelling that connect farming with a wider audience. 🌾

We spoke about how she found her way into agriculture from outside the sector, starting with an English degree and teaching before moving into marketing and eventually into agricultural media. It was a really honest chat about trying different things, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and how those decisions shape where you end up. 🍎

A big part of the conversation focused on content and communication. How stories are told in agriculture, the importance of asking questions, and why people coming in without a farming background can bring a different and valuable perspective to the industry. 🌍

We also chatted about confidence, networking and building a career without a set plan, and how sometimes just following what you enjoy can take you further than you expect.

Enjoy! 🙂

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Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Speke Adams 🎙️ Kate is Managing Director of the Herefordshire Rural Hub, a farm support organisation helping farmers and rural businesses navigate everything from regulation and resilience to succession and business change. She is also a 2015 Nuffield Scholar whose study looked at how farmers can be re engaged with their soils through fear, finances, regulation or education 🌾

This episode also brings us to the end of series one of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar, eight episodes looking at those eligible for the Bullock Award. What a way to finish with the current holder of that award. The Bullock Award recognises the scholar who has made the most significant impact in the decade following their scholarship through leadership, innovation or contribution to the wider industry 🚜

We spoke about Kate’s upbringing on a dairy farm in Herefordshire and how her career has sat right at the intersection between farming and the environment, from work with organisations like the Environment Agency and Rivers Trust through to leading the Herefordshire Rural Hub today. Her Nuffield study focused on how farmers engage with soil health and what really drives change, whether that is education, financial incentives or regulation. One of the biggest takeaways from her travels was the power of peer to peer learning, farmers learning from farmers, something she now builds into much of the work the hub delivers 🌍

Kate shared some brilliant insight into the challenges farmers are facing in Herefordshire today, particularly around water quality, regulation and changing weather patterns. We also spoke about a huge landscape recovery project she has been leading that could reshape over 5,000 hectares of farmland along the River Wye, bringing farmers together to rethink how food production, environmental recovery and long term resilience can work side by side 🌱

We finished by talking about the Bullock Award itself and what it meant to reflect on the ten years since her scholarship. Kate spoke about how Nuffield builds confidence, opens doors and creates a network that continues to shape careers long after the travel ends, something that really sums up the spirit of this whole series.

We’ll see you for the next series with a new focus in two weeks.

Thank you to NFU Mutual for their support of this project.

Enjoy! 🙂

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