The AHDB Maternal Matters campaign aims to highlight the connection between maternal performance and profitability in the suckler herd. The campaign focuses on two key areas of maternal performance: age at first calving and fertility.  In this podcast suckler farmer James Shouler explains to AHDB’s Knowledge Exchange Manager Amy Hughes why he calves his heifers at two and what changes he made to be able to do it.  Calving heifers at two-years of age reduces costs whilst increasing the number of calves the cow produces over her lifetime. In the UK only 35% of suckler producers implement this practice, however, in other countries it has been commonplace since the 1970s. The aim of AHDB’s new Maternal Matters campaign is to raise awareness and increase the use of good maternal genetics within the English suckler herd whilst also informing producers of the management and selection practices required to enable greater cow lifetime reproductive performance and profitability. With the changes in agricultural payments around the corner, there has never been a more poignant time for suckler herd producers to home in on how they can make their herd more efficient and more profitable. Find out more at https://ahdb.org.uk/maternal-matters .  

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303: AHDB Beef & Lamb: How calving heifers at two years old can help to boost profits in the suckler herd

In this AHDB Food and Farming podcast we talk with Ed Usset, a Grain Marketing Economist at the University of Minnesota, about all things grain marketing. Looking at what constitutes a “good price”, letting go of sales, and the five key mistakes made in grain marketing. Please note the podcast was recorded online, so the recording may have some echo. Further content from the Grain Market Outlook conference 2021 is available on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds markets page.  Links: https://ahdb.org.uk/price-risk-management-tools https://ahdb.org.uk/farmbench https://www.cffm.umn.edu/grain-marketing-plans/ 

302: Grain marketing with Ed Usset

In this podcast AHDB’s Derek Carless and Peter Shallcross a dairy and arable farmer in the South of Wiltshire speak to John Bates about how levy payers can access free support to help decision making in connection with the ending of the basic payment scheme in 2027. The rundown of payments starts its run down from December and farmers need to manage the transition the best they can. AHDB’s job is to help levy payers navigate complicated issues and present evidence and facts for farmers and growers to consider and adopt, for their individual circumstances and their business needs. The Government has embarked upon an enormous reform of farm payments and the demise of BPS is referred to as the biggest agricultural policy shift since the end of the second world war. Help is available, paid for by the Defra Future Farming Resilience Fund. Take a listen to find out how you can benefit. Website: www.ahdb.org.uk/farm-business-review  Phone: 02475 189300 Email: farmbusinessreview@ahdb.org.uk The podcast was hosted by John Bates and produced by Gemma Pamment.  

301: Future Farming Resilience Fund

AHDB chief executive Tim Rycroft speaks frankly to John Bates about his first few weeks in the job, meetings with levy payers, the changes in progress for the organisation and the spring 2022 vote. Tim speaks about the conversations he has had with levy payers in his first few weeks and how welcome the pledge for AHDB to be leaner and more efficiently run will enable farming success. In future AHDB’s activities will focus on products, tools and services which levy payers will have rated as important and worthy of levy investment. Spring 2022 is the first opportunity for levy payers to vote to shape the future of the organisation. If you would like to contact AHDB about the future of the organisation please email: shapethefuture@ahdb.org.uk  Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis. This episode was hosted by John Bates, AHDB, and produced and edited by Gemma Pamment, Marcomms Executive (Beef & Lamb). 

300: Tim Rycroft AHDB's chief executive talks frankly

On 27 July 2021, AHDB hosted an on-farm event at Ninezergh Farm to find out how Adrian Bland is hoping to meet growth rate targets for his 180 head of youngstock, using a rotational grazing system. In this episode, Knowledge Exchange Manager James Hague is joined by Adrian to follow up from the meeting and find out what his plans are going forward. He will also speak to James Daniel from Precision Grazing, who is helping Adrian to have a greater control over grass production, enhance the quality of the grass grazed, improve animal performance per hectare and potentially extend the grazing period. Find out more about Ninezergh Farm. Learn how to make the most of grass on your farm. Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis. This episode was produced and edited by Kate Smith, Marcomms Executive (Dairy).

299: Successful grazing strategies for dairy youngstock

Milk production is a fundamental driver of market dynamics in Great Britain. Twice a year, AHDB hold a milk forecasting forum, where representatives from across the industry meet to debate, analyse and discuss the key factors influencing production. The AHDB Milk Forecasting Forum (MFF) met on the 1 September to discuss the factors impacting on future GB milk production In this episode Kate Smith is joined by Chris Gooderham, Head of Market Specialists, and Kat Jack, Senior Analyst, to discuss why the milk forecasting forum is important and what were the key outcomes of the recent meeting. View the milk forecasting forum page. Keep up to date with the latest industry data, analysis and insights from the dairy sector. Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis. This episode was produced and edited by Kate Smith, Marcomms Executive (Dairy).

298: What might affect future GB milk production?

With news this week that Mexico has officially opened its doors for British pork for the first time, our Food & Farming Podcast takes a look at what this means for the pork sector and for British exporters who can now tap into this brand new market. In this episode AHDB’s John Bates speaks to Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB’s International Market Development Director, AHDB’s Strategic Insight Manager Tom Forshaw and Ana Fernanda from DIT Mexico. Mexico market opens its doors for imports of British pork Market access to Mexico – the work behind the scenes This podcast was hosted by John Bates and edited by Josh Borthwick.

297: AHDB Pork: Mexico open for pork from the UK

AHDB’s We Eat Balanced and Love Lamb Week marketing campaigns are on the horizon. Running from 1- 7 September, this year’s Love Lamb Week will remind shoppers about how good lamb tastes and provides insight on the sustainability of UK sheep production and the role sheep farming plays in maintaining our landscape and beautiful countryside. Later in September the We Eat balanced campaign which was first aired in January this year gets a second burst of activity and is designed to remind and reassure people about the positive role red meat and dairy from Britain can play in a balanced diet as well as reduce food miles. In this Food and Farming podcast John Bates speaks to Liam Byrne, Head of Consumer Marketing at AHDB, Rebecca Miah, AHDB Beef & Lamb Strategy Director and Adrian Coombe, Sheep farmer from Cornwall about the importance of these marketing campaigns and what they mean for farmers. Links   Find out more about Love Lamb Week and download social media infographics to share on your channels Find out more about the We Eat balanced campaign Find out if your business is fit for the future with AHDB's Resilience Fund Feedback We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis. This podcast was hosted by John Bates and edited and produced by Gemma Pamment. 

296: Farming and the environment - a look at AHDB's upcoming consumer marketing campaigns

 This week’s guests Phil Bicknell, Market Intelligence Director Ben Williams, Senior Knowledge Transfer Manager (Pork) Carol Davis, Lead Analyst - Farm Economics Bethan Wilkins, Senior Analyst (Red Meat)  Jennifer Newman, Animal Health and Welfare Scientist (Data) In this episode, we look at some of the business tools and services offered by AHDB to support you and help you make the most of your circumstances.  Our guests focus on the characteristics of top performing farms and take a closer look at four key performance indicators (KPIs): financial performance, productivity, yield and survivability. The episode has a Pork bias, but much of the content and resources discussed are applicable across the farming sector.  Useful links Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): making use of production data Farm Business Review: Farm Business Review offers a combination of an online tool, expert advice and peer support to help your business prepare for the biggest agriculture policy shift in a generation. Farmbench: an online benchmarking tool that allows you to compare your farm to similar businesses Horizon report: Preparing for change, the characteristics of top performing farms Pork: The four pillars of pork production (previous episode of the AHDB Food and Farming podcast) Feedback We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.   This episode was produced and edited by Aisha Shabnam, Marcomms Executive (Pork). 

295: Are you making the most of your data?

In this episode Alistair McLaren is joined by Marco Winters, Head of Animal Genetics at AHDB, and Professor Mike Coffey from SRUC to talk about two new breeding indexes that will enable farmers to identify and breed cows with better environmental credentials and reduce their feed costs.   Find out more about breeding and genetics.   Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.   This episode was produced and edited by Kate Smith, Marcomms Executive (Dairy).

294: Dairy: Breeding more environmentally friendly cows

In this AHDB Food & Farming podcast, we catch up with our new Beef & Lamb Monitor Farmers in the South West, Liz and Rob Priest. As a family they farm both sheep and beef cattle in Holsworthy, Devon. However, Rob and Liz are about to move to a new farm on the coast near Bude. They farm organically. All cattle are grass fed and rotationally grazed, they also have herbal and ryegrass leys. They have a flock of 480 ewes but are moving to Aberfields. Take a listen to find out about why they wanted to become a Monitor Farm with AHDB, what has prompted their farm move, how they ensure a work life balance and what their plans are for the future with some diversification prospects on the horizon. Find out more... Monitor Farm profile https://ahdb.org.uk/farm-excellence/kingsford-farm Follow Rob on Twitter @kingsfordfarm 

293: Beef & Lamb: At home with Liz and Rob Priest

This podcast introduces AHDB’s analysis of the prospects for the UK’s arable farming industry over the coming months. It explores production, trade and consumption for the year ahead. Phil Maiden asks Vikki Campbell (AHDB's Senior Market Specialist in Arable)  about why the market outlook is so important for arable farmers and discuss the current situation and they look to what we might expect in the coming months, for supply availability, trade and demand.    Phil then speaks to Jon Foot (AHDB's Head of Environment) about the work he and his team are doing with farmers to help reduce their carbon footprint and how to become eligible for future funding schemes.  What is the Agri-Market Outlook? Read the full reports for each sector here: Agri Market Outlook | AHDB Useful links: Cereals Market Outlook:  https://ahdb.org.uk/cereals-market-outlook Oilseeds Market outlook: https://ahdb.org.uk/oilseeds-market-outlook Horizon Blog: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/trade-and-policy/horizon-blog-trade-deals-food-standards Carbon Outlook: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/environment-sustainable-farming-incentive-and-carbon-outlook 

292: Agri Market Outlook for Arable| 02.08.21

This podcast introduces AHDB’s analysis of the prospects for the UK’s livestock farming industry over the coming months. Covering red meat (pork, beef and lamb) and dairy, it explores production, trade and consumption for the year ahead. Phil Maiden asks Duncan Wyatt (AHDB's Lead Analyst for Livestock) and Patty Clayton (AHDB's Lead Analyst Dairy) about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on supply chains as well as the knock-on effects of leaving the EU.  Phil then speaks to Jon Foot (AHDB's Head of Environment) about the work he and his team are doing with farmers to help reduce their carbon footprint and how to become eligible for future funding schemes.  What is the Agri-Market Outlook? Read the full reports for each sector here: Agri Market Outlook | AHDB Useful links: Beef Market Outlook: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/beef-market-outlook-july-2021-now-online Lamb Market Outlook: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/outlook-for-uk-lamb-market-july-2021 Horizon Blog: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/trade-and-policy/horizon-blog-trade-deals-food-standards Carbon Outlook: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/environment-sustainable-farming-incentive-and-carbon-outlook 

291: Agri Market Outlook for Livestock | 30.07.21

In this episode of the Food & Farming podcast, Nic Renison talks to Colina Humphrey, sheep farmer and self-confessed grass addict! They talk about about Colina’s passion for farming with a focus on rotational grazing and all things grass. Colina also stresses the importance of planning grazing for the autumn in the summer time and how she’s met some  influential people who have really helped her along the way with her grass journey.   For more information on all things grass visit our AHDB Grass page.   If you would like to follow Colina she’s on Twitter @HumphColina   Feedback We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.   This podcast was hosted by Nic Renison and produced and edited by Gemma Pamment.

290: AHDB Beef & Lamb: A look towards autumn grazing

Welcome to AHDBs Food & Farming podcast. No one would argue a good education provides young people with a great start in life and as the years tick by it’s not unusual for people to fondly remember those teachers who provided knowledge and even acted as a role models, shaping the course for the future. For those charged with the responsibility to get our children ready for the world, they must remain on top of current affairs and a shifting agenda, as a society and the world changes. One such topic is food production and where our food comes from. John Bates speaks to Roy Ballam from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), Elsa Healey and Christine Watts from AHDB about the successes achieved through the BNF and AHDB education partnership and the benefits to farmers and other levy payers. Take a listen and a few moments to look at the website www.foodafactoflife.org.uk Feedback survey: We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you’d like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis.   This episode was produced and edited by Aisha Shabnam, Marcomms Executive (Pork).

289: Partnership is key to an education in food & farming

Our purpose is to inspire our farmers, growers and industry to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We equip the industry with easy to use, practical know-how which they can apply straight away to make better decisions and improve their performance. AHDB is a statutory levy board and is funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain.

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