The Farmers Guide Podcast
Listen to Farmers Guide’s Sarah Kidby and Daniel Hodge each month as they cover agricultural topics that matter to the typical farmer. Along the way, they’ll be joined by guests who live and breathe farming, ensuring that every episode is grounded, practical, relevant, and worth hearing.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
The presenters
Sarah Kidby, deputy editor
Sarah began her editorial career in the veterinary and pet sectors, working on clinical journals, consumer magazines and online reporting. Spending time on a family friend’s farm in childhood left Sarah with a passion for animal welfare, food production and rural life.
She has worked for Farmers Guide for six years, with a specialism in livestock – as well as its sister publication Fruit & Vine.
Daniel Hodge, machinery reporter
Daniel became Farmers Guide’s machinery reporter in early 2025. He tests tractors, chats with engineers and manufacturers, and keeps readers updated on what’s new and what’s worth knowing. Farming runs in the family; he grew up in the countryside, and loves anything mechanical – especially tractors.
Before diving into agricultural journalism, Daniel worked in scientific research and intellectual property law, helping him ask sharper questions and spot the stories behind the specs.
Episodes in detail
Episode Four – Mental health in challenging times
In this episode of The Farmers Guide Podcast, machinery reporter Daniel Hodge and deputy editor Sarah Kidby explore one of the most important – and often hardest to talk about – issues in British agriculture: mental health.
They hear from Alex Phillimore, Head of Communications and Development at the Farming Community Network, who outlines the complex challenges farmers are facing and explains how FCN’s volunteers are helping people find a way forward.
Farmer Duncan Maclellan shares his powerful personal story of living with depression, his journey to recovery, and how speaking openly has become his way of helping others.
Counsellor Sarah Worrall offers a professional perspective on the pressures of modern farming, why so many struggle to ask for help, and the importance of connection and conversation.
Finally, comedian and farmer Jim Smith joins the discussion to explain how his Keep Talking tour is using humour to bring rural communities together and remind people that it’s okay not to be okay.
Heartfelt, practical, and full of real-life insight, this episode shines a light on the realities of mental health in farming – and the growing network of people determined to make a difference.
Episode Three – Farmers’ Voices: Bex Tonks of St. Ewe Eggs
In this episode of The Farmers Guide Podcast, machinery reporter Daniel Hodge and deputy editor Sarah Kidby launch the first instalment of our new Farmers’ voices series – one-to-one conversations with key figures shaping British agriculture.
Their guest is Bex Tonks, CEO of St Ewe Free Range Eggs, whose business has grown from a family farm with 14,000 hens to a nationally recognised brand supplying major retailers and Michelin-starred restaurants – and recently secured a place on the Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies list.
Bex talks openly about her journey back to the family farm after a decade away, the lessons she’s learned building a business from the ground up, and the pivotal role of people, resilience, and gut instinct in shaping her company’s success. She also discusses challenges facing British farming today – from government policy to public perceptions – and why sustainability must start with farmer wellbeing as well as animal welfare and the environment.
With characteristic humour and honesty, Bex shares the highs and lows of running a rapidly growing business, the importance of valuing your time, and why mistakes should be treated as lessons, not failures.
Finally, she reflects on the opportunities ahead for British agriculture – from premium egg products to innovative processing facilities – and leaves a powerful message about the role farmers play as custodians of the land and the nation’s food supply.
Sponsored by Larking Gowen.
Episode Two – Harvest 2025
In this episode of The Farmers Guide Podcast, machinery reporter Daniel Hodge and deputy editor Sarah Kidby turn their attention to the 2025 harvest – one of the earliest and most unpredictable in recent memory.
With regional variation, heavy rain, and tight margins dominating the season, the team speaks with a range of guests to unpack the challenges and surprises facing arable farmers.
First up, Sarah catches up with farmer and YouTuber Olly Harrison, who began combining barley in late June – the earliest start he’s ever had. Olly reflects on crop performance, unpredictable weather, and the knock-on effects on yield.
Next, AHDB senior analyst Olivia Bonser offers technical insights from the early official harvest report. She discusses how different soil types are affecting outcomes, explains grain quality so farm and offers advice for marketing and storage during such a variable season.
Finally, they’re joined by arable farmer and Hectare co-founder Andrew Huxham. Combining real-world farm experience with a commercial outlook, Andrew explores how digital grain marketing is helping farmers navigate a volatile season – and why smart, flexible selling strategies are more important than ever.
Sponsored by Larking Gowen.
Episode One – Farm Diversification
In the debut episode of The Farmers Guide Podcast, machinery reporter Daniel Hodge and deputy editor Sarah Kidby explore the increasingly vital topic of farm diversification. As traditional incomes come under pressure from fluctuating prices, policy changes and volatile weather, more farmers are looking beyond the usual crops and livestock.
Daniel speaks with Mark Owen-Lloyd of Photovolt Development Partners about the controversial Botley West solar project, which is said to aim to balance energy generation with continued farming. Next, Martin Fletcher of Kuboid shares how disused barns can be transformed into profitable self-storage units. Finally, farmer Ben Aveling offers a candid look at his personal journey into glamping, farm retail, and running an online meat business.
The episode wraps with expert advice from Bruce Masson of Larking Gowen on planning, funding, and preparing for a successful diversification venture. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or already diversifying, this episode is packed with insights to inspire and inform.
Sponsored by Larking Gowen.
The podcast is about farming, but more importantly, we want it to be about your farming stories. We’d love to hear your ideas, feedback, and suggestions for future episodes.
Got a topic you’d like us to cover? A question you’d love answered? A soundbite you want to share from your farm?
Drop us a message on our social media channels or email us at podcasts@farmersguide.co.uk.
LATEST NEWS
JCB boss unveils hydrogen engine plan to decarbonise UK agriculture
4th December 2025
JCB chairman Lord Bamford has explained how hydrogen combustion engines could help to decarbonise British agriculture without the limitations of battery technology.
LAMMA 2026: Innovative line-up from Team Sprayers
4th December 2025
Team Sprayers will be exhibiting a range of its latest British-built sprayers at LAMMA 2026, demonstrating its commitment to quality, precision, and innovation in agricultural spraying technology.
DEC 2025
Funding farmers’ brilliant ideas: Farm finance specialists reveal their favourite diversifications
3rd December 2025
With seven out of 10 British farms diversifying into new revenue streams, agri-finance specialists Rural Asset Finance look back on the favourite projects they’ve funded.
