Live from Groundswell: How can we build a more resilient farm business?

Part 1
Farmers are increasingly impacted by policy changes - from regulation to subsidy reform. But what’s on the horizon? And what does it mean for on-farm decisions and long-term business planning?

Guests:

• Ed Barker, Head of Policy and External Affairs
• Vicky Robinson, Head of Sustainability
• Neil Harper, Agronomist
• Mike Gooding, Farming Systems Director, AHDB

Part 2
Later in the podcast, we’ll explore practical tips to build better farm resilience. This episode offers a simple checklist to help farmers take action.

Guests:

• Tom Perrott, Fertiliser and crop inputs specialist
• Libby Richards, RHIZA crop inputs specialist

CPD points:
Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening. Email info@agrii.co.uk with your membership number, full name, postcode, date of birth and the podcast title.

Today we’re joined by Agrii’s Technical Manager, John Miles, David Schafer, Wheat Breeder at RAGT, and Hugh Harley, BIPO representative. As farmers and agronomists weigh up wheat variety choices for the season ahead, we’ll explore Hexton – a new wheat variety – its potential fit for your farm, and how an existing seed royalty scheme could benefit your business. 

 The Agrii 2025 Autumn Yearbook is available now. Visit yearbook.agrii.co.uk 

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we’re joined by Agrii’s Tom Perrott, Fertiliser and Crop Inputs Specialist, and Dave Thompson, Farm Manager at Eastbury Estates in Dorset. In this episode, we explore soil health, crop nutrition and how ‘stacking the benefits’ – using alternative sources of nutrition to better support the crop – can, with an innovative approach, strengthen the whole farm operation.

To find out more about crop nutrition from Agrii, visit agrii.co.uk/our-services/fertiliser

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we are joined by Agrii's David Leaper, seed technical specialist, and Sarah Hawthorne, head of arable products for DSV in the UK. With the area of OSR being grown down this year, crops currently in the ground are looking very good.
We are going to reexamine how to get the best out of this crop. What are the latest seed breeding developments and agronomy views? 

Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening to this podcast. Email info@agrii.co.uk with your membership number, full name, postcode, DOB and title of podcast.

Your guide to the best WOSR varieties has just landed. Visit yearbook.agrii.co.uk. View the latest national seed yearbook now.  

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

The malting barley blueprint, aligning breeding, farming and market needs: big questions and vital for the malting barley industry. To help answer those questions, we have David Griggs, technical director from Crisp Malt, Charlie Catto, agronomist with Agrii and Paul Bury, barley breeder from Secobra Research. We are at the perfect location to ask those questions, recording live at Secobra's spring barley research site in Norfolk.

For more information on Agrii's spring barley varieties, visit www.agrii.co.uk/your-crops/cereals/spring-barley

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today’s topic of discussion is sustainable grain programmes, focussing on a new offer from Agrii, Viterra and Whitworth Brothers Flour Millers. We are delighted to be joined by Amy Watkins from Agrii, Sam Chambers from Viterra and William Butler from Whitworth. We will explore how sustainable grain programmes can benefit both farmers and supply chain partners economically, enhance industry sustainability and offer consumers value through quality and traceability. 

Agrii can help you future proof your farming by growing a diverse range of crops together with compressive advice on environmental and sustainable business opportunities. For more information visit agrii.co.uk/sustainability

Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we are joined by Agrii's Jamie Lyttle, agronomist, and Greg Taylor, area business manager and agronomist. Our focus is tackling a real challenge - black-grass - and how, through identifying the problem, field-scale trials were able to find real solutions. Let’s hear from the agronomist on that farm about how possible solutions were identified to help manage this persistent problem. 

Join us at the Tusmore demo event on 10th June. Book here from 1st May www.agrii.co.uk/events/

 Tony Smith is the host of Tramlines. Based in the South West and from a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture. He spent many years working in the farming industry before moving into a career as a presenter. Tony has hosted Tramlines for the past five seasons. 

Today we are joined by Agrii’s David Leaper, seed technical specialist, and Poppy Bunting, crop inputs specialist. In this episode, we are taking a technical dive into seed treatments. Exploring traditional seed treatments and their viability alongside the new biological offerings, understanding soil borne pathogens, seed borne insects, diseases and pests. We also delve into exclusive seed treatments, backed by Agrii’s extensive R&D trials programme and discuss how we can grow healthy crops. 

Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening to this podcast. Email info@agrii.co.uk with your membership number, full name, postcode and DOB. 

For more information, visit www.agrii.co.uk/our-services/seed/agrii-seeds/

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. 

Today we are joined by Agrii’s Adam Simper, national grass, roots and environmental seeds manager and Simon Hobbs, national cover crop, environmental and wildflower seeds technical manager. In this episode our focus is SFI. Is it much more than simply taking the payment? How can SFI also benefit the farm business in terms of both productivity and financial performance.

For more information, look out for our 2025 cover crops brochure and autumn seed yearbook which can be found in the Agrii library. Visit here.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. 

Today we are talking with Annabel Hamilton from Bee Edge farm in the Scottish borders and Greig Baird head of agronomy teams in Scotland for Agrii. In this episode we are checking in with Bee Edge farm which is also an Agrii iFarm, to see how the season is faring so far, what can be learnt from the previous harvest year and what are the top tips as we start a busy season on farm. 

To find out more about Agrii's summer iFarm events and how to book, visit here.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. 

Today we are talking with Tom Land, national fertiliser manager at Agrii and Peter Scott technical director at Origin Soil Nutrition. The focus for this episode is crop nutrition with a particular focus on phosphate and potash usage, how to optimise the ROI and ensure that the crop can fully utilise nitrogen efficiently as well as other important nutrients.

For more information and useful articles on crop nutrition click here. 

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter. 

Today we are talking with Ben Lowe, national forage product manager with Agrii and Tim Richmond, UK and Ireland product manager for Limagrain Field Seeds. Focusing in on the forage maize crop, is that time in the season where making the right variety choices is critical. So let’s ask the experts for some key advice and find out what’s new when it comes to variety choice.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

For more information on maize varieties from Agrii, you can find the latest 2025 maize brochure at www.agrii.co.uk/your-crops/forage/maize 

Today, we are talking with James Wrinch from East Suffolk Produce, Graham Tomalin from VCS Potatoes, and Don Pendergrast, Technical Manager for Non-Combinable Trials with Agrii. In this episode, we're going to focus in on the potato crop and The Potato Partnership, which looks to find solutions to the most pressing weed, pest, and disease threats facing this high-value crop.

To find out more about The Potato Partnership, visit www.thepotatopartnership.co.uk and for details on upcoming events, click on the events tab to find out more.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Tramlines hit a milestone 100 episodes in December 2024.

To kick off the new year, we take a look back at some of the most popular episodes of the past year, listening again to some of the great advice from our expert guests who helped us navigate through an incredibly challenging year for British farming.


In Episode 14, we reflect on key moments from:

• Taking Action with the Latest Updates to SFI 2024
• Seeds of Influence: Exploring Leadership in Agriculture with Christine Tacon
• Live from Readyhedge: Perfecting and Protecting Ornamental Crops
• Live from Cereals: Reflect, Adjust and Plan: How to Prepare for Autumn Sowing
• Should I Grow Oilseed Rape?

Thank you all for being with us on this journey and helping ot make Tramlines a success. 

Today we are recording live on location in East Devon with Lester Bowker of Cotley Farm and Matt Greep, Agrii Area Business Manager for fruit and horticultural agronomist. This episode will be looking at one of the more festive farm enterprises - growing Christmas trees - and exploring the care and maintenance needed as well as the benefits and opportunities that can come from this and other kinds of agritourism.

To find out more about how Agrii can help you with your speciality crops or farm diversification visit agrii.co.uk/contact or email us at info@agrii.co.uk.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Agrii's Sustainability & Environmental Services Manager, Amy Watkins and Thomas Gent, UK Market Lead for Agreena and regenerative farmer. This episode will focus on the reality of carbon credits, how regenerative farming can be seen as carbon farming, and how can this benefit the farm business overall?

Are you eager to find out the value of your carbon? Register for a free estimation by visiting this link and one of our team will be in touch -https://url.de.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/sxurCmqK2YFjLRvMUGfxCRJkzA?domain=staging-agreena.kinsta.cloud/

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with wildlife expert Marek Nowakowski, Agrii's technical manager of non-combinable trials Don Pendegrast and seed technical manager John Miles. This episode will be focusing on IPM and the continuing discussion around the use of pesticides, as well as the encouragement of developing wildlife habitats as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive. What is the value of IPM in combinable crops, what can be learnt from practices going on in other crops and what current practices should growers continue?

Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening to this podcast. Email info@agrii.co.uk with your membership number, full name, postcode and DOB. 

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Luke Cox, arable farmer and YFC Agri Chair, Agrii Crop Input Specialist Poppy Bunting and Trainee Agronomist Josh Byran. This episode will be focusing on the role of Young Farmers Clubs in our communities, with a specific focus on this year's theme "YFC Is For Everyone" - highlighting a wide range of social and learning opportunities that come with joining a Young Farmers Club.

Agrii are sponsors of National Young Farmers Week, taking place from 7th - 11th October 2024. For more information, resources or to find your local Young Farmers Club, visit the NFYFC website.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Agrii's National Fertiliser Manager Tom Land, and John Charlton, Crop Input Specialist in the North East. This episode will be focusing on phosphate across various crops from cereals to maize, and looking at why it's so important to get the nutritional balance right, not just for the crop in the field but also for your farm business profitability.

Unlock phosphate and other vital nutrients in your soil with Agrii-Start Release. For detailed trial results, usage recommendations and tank mix compatibility, visit www.agrii.co.uk/our-services/fertiliser/agrii-start/release/

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Agrii fruit agronomists Matt Greep, Emma Smith and Ryan Williams. This episode will be focusing on top fruit and specifically the nutritional requirements of top fruit; why is it so important to get the balance right, what role does tissue analysis play in top fruit production and how can growers correct deficiencies?

To find out more about Agrii's fruit offering, including all the latest trials results, visit the Agrii website: www.agrii.co.uk/your-crops/fruit.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Rodger Shirreff, national seed business manager at Agrii and Tom Barker, UK product manager at Secobra. This episode will be focusing on malting barley and looking at the key varietal characteristics that growers should look out for, as well as considering what varieties need to achieve for the grower and the wider marketplace from a breeder's perspective.

Agrii R&D conduct an extensive range of independent trials that supports the development of our IPM programmes. For more information on varieties, visit our autumn seed microsite at yearbook.agrii.co.uk/autumn-24 or contact your local seed specialist by visiting the Agrii website contact page.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Alex Olivant, farm and environmental advisor with Agrii and Dan Wood, RHIZA crop input specialist. This episode will explore what the latest updates to the combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offering could mean for growers, and how precision and digital farming tools can support applications.

To find out how SFI can work for your business, speak to your local environmental advisor or RHIZA crop input specialist. You can find their contact details on the Agrii website.

Claim 1 BASIS and NRoSO point for listening to this podcast. Email info@agrii.co.uk with your membership number, full name, postcode and DOB. 

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Safety Foundation and Alex Phillimore from the Farming Community Network. This episode will explore the specific mental health challenges that we face in the industry, and what can we do to better support one another and make a difference?

We are donating £1 for every download of this podcast throughout S4 to support the ongoing tribute to Leonard Eadon 1999 – 2022. Visit leneadon.muchloved.com to make a separate donation or keep informed of events to support mental health awareness for the rural community.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are recording live from Cereals 2024 at Newnham Farm in Hertfordshire. We are going to be talking with Agrii seed technical manager John Miles, crop input specialist and farm saved seed coordinator Gavin Taylor, and crop input specialist and seed specialist Rob Stuart. This episode will explore what key learnings have been made during the course of a challenging year, and how growers can make the most of these findings to prepare for autumn sowing and build resilience into farming systems.

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.

Today we are going to be talking with Agrii crop input specialist Tom Perrott, and Scott Garnett, R&D agronomist for ICL Fertilizers. This episode will ask if crop nutrition can be even more effective in light of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, and if Polysulphate can bring real agronomic benefits for arable crops whilst meeting new environmental legislation.

To find about more about Agrii fertiliser services, visit agrii.co.uk/our-services/fertiliser

Tony Smith is your host on Tramlines. Based in the South West and with a farming background, he graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. He worked in the farming industry for many years before developing his career as a presenter.