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
First Episode – 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
‘Farming Forrest Gump’ takes on challenge to spread mental health awareness
13th July 2025
A North-East farm worker, Duncan Maclellan, is more than halfway through his challenge to cover John O’Groats to Gretna Green by foot to raise funds for RSABI and shine a light on mental health in the farming industry.
A ‘one stop shop’ for glamping
12th July 2025
Woodpecker offers hot tubs, saunas and accommodation and helps farmers with changes of use and setting up glamping operations.
Sheep farmers face grazing pressures due to hot and dry weather
12th July 2025
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has highlighted the urgent requirement to grant a temporary derogation for grazing certain environmental land options that are part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme, considering the exceptionally dry weather currently experienced by many parts of the UK.
