Ear to the Ground Podcast
The ‘Ear to the Ground’ podcast, the first of its kind to be available in both Welsh and English, shares technical information, advice, support and inspiration to the farming community in Wales.
Episodes are just 20/30 minutes long and will include interviews with farmers and industry experts on a range of topical themes.
A new episode will be published every fortnight, and topics for the Autumn months will include conversations recorded at the Innovation and Diversification Wales event, the Farming the Environment event and an opportunity to get to know some of our new demonstration farmers.
LATEST EPISODE:
Episode 50 - Farming with Will ‘Rock & Roll’ Evans
In episode 50, we meet the well-known farmer, writer and podcaster; Will Penri Evans. Will farms with his wife and four daughters at Lower Eyton Farm near Wrexham. He’s become a high-profile figure within UK agriculture through hosting the Rock & Roll Farming Podcast and becoming a regular columnist with the Farmers Weekly. He talks about his farming journey, the remarkable reach and impact of his podcast and how ability, not gender, is everything when it comes to farming.
Recent Episodes:
Episode 45 - Bryn Farm – a diverse rural business with farming at its core
In this episode, we meet Huw Jones who farms with his wife Meinir at Bryn Farm near Cardigan. Together they run a suckler beef enterprise, grow barley, oats and wheat alongside their diversification projects which includes an animal bedding business servicing the pet industry and holiday lets. As a Farming Connect demonstration site, Bryn Farm is also involved in a number of projects looking at ways to improve the performance of the beef herd and to maximise the benefits of rotational grazing.
Episode 46 - If you look after the stock, the stock will look after you
In this episode, we meet Tom Evans who farms with his wife Beth and children at Pendre Farm near Aberystwyth. Tom is a keen stockman and believes firmly that “if you look after the stock, the stock will look after you”. Tune in to hear more about his farming philosophy and the projects he has undertaken as a Farming Connect demonstration site.
Episode 47 - Producing world-class wine in Wales
Situated in the beautiful rolling countryside of Monmouthshire near the village of Llanvetherine lies White Castle Vineyard – the home of Robb and Nicola Merchant. Having diversified some 12 years ago, they have turned their dream into a thriving business. They are now producing some of the finest wine in the world having recently been awarded a Gold Medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards – the first Welsh wine to do so! In this episode, Robb tells us how it all started and how others can get involved in the growing Welsh wine industry.
Episode 48 - The Road to Regen
In this episode, we meet Sam Carey who is in the process of establishing a new dairy farm in Machynlleth using the principles of regenerative farming. We’re also joined by one of our regular contributors on the podcast, Rhys Williams of Precision Grazing.
Episode 49 - How to establish a PYO pumpkin enterprise on your farm
With the growing interest in pick your own (PYO) pumpkin enterprises as a diversification opportunity for farmers, Farming Connect recently hosted an on-farm event at Aberbran Fawr near Brecon to discuss the key points to consider. In this episode, we hear from Chris Creed, a horticultural consultant with ADAS, and Andy Matthews, the farmer at Aberbran Fawr, about the practicalities of establishing the crop through to harvesting, marketing and selling.
