What makes a good leader on farm? In a recent episode of Solving Staffing in Ag, host Iory Hughes speaks with Chris Manley – Nuffield Scholar and founder of Traction – about why leadership isn’t just about managing people, but about how you show up every day. Chris argues that leadership starts with awareness. From noticing how you interact when you’re under pressure, to finding the habits that help you bring your best self to work, small shifts in mindset and behaviour can transform how teams function. Key takeaways include: Leadership begins with self-awareness – especially on the tough days. Habits matter: sleep, food, and time away all impact how you lead. Be clear on the “why”: people take pride

Up to 36% of people working in agriculture are neurodivergent, compared to 15–20% of the general population. In the second episode of Solving Staffing in Ag, host Iory Hughes speaks with dairy farmer Liz Haines, who focused her Nuffield Scholarship on neurodiversity and is working with Farmers Weekly on their Level the Field campaign. During the episode, they discuss everything from what neurodiversity is, through to how farms can recruit skilled people in a way that is inclusive to neurodiverse individuals.   What is neurodiversity? Coined in the 1990s, neurodiversity is an umbrella term describing the different ways brains work. It reframes conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism—not as deficits to be “fixed” but as natural variation. For

In Solving Staffing in Ag – a new mini-series of the RASE Farm of the Future podcast – we’re talking about the people side of farming. Across the series, we explore how creating opportunities, developing strong teams, and shifting perspectives can benefit individuals, farm businesses, and the wider industry. For the first episode, host Iory Hughes speaks with agroecological farmer and consultant Dan Smith. Together, they tackle the challenges and opportunities around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in UK agriculture – and, crucially, how the sector can do better at attracting talent from a wider range of backgrounds.   Why diversity matters in agriculture A 2017 Policy Exchange report found farming to be the least diverse occupation in England and

As the voluntary carbon market expands, farm businesses face a pivotal question: is now the right time to sell carbon credits? A recent Farm of the Future webinar offered clarity, not contracts—guiding farmers through the complex intersection of sustainability, legal commitments, and market readiness. The webinar titled “Carbon credits debunked” featured Becky Willson from Farm Carbon Toolkit and Adam White from Roythornes Solicitors. It offered grounded insights on what’s possible—and what’s prudent—when navigating carbon finance. The bottom line: opportunities exist, but so do contractual pitfalls, particularly in schemes requiring long-term land commitments.   Start with a baseline   Before considering any carbon scheme, every farm must establish its carbon baseline. Without this, it’s impossible to quantify sequestration or demonstrate improvements

In a world where farming faces increasing scrutiny and opportunity, carbon sequestration offers a dual benefit—supporting climate goals while opening new revenue streams for farmers. But how feasible is it really to get paid for the carbon you lock into your soil?   Carbon as a commodity Farming is at the frontline of climate volatility. Yet, beyond vulnerability lies opportunity, as agricultural land can actively remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in soil and biomass. As supply chains and finance sectors chase net zero, farm-level carbon is fast becoming a tradable asset. Speaking during the recent Farm of the Future webinar “Carbon Credits Debunked”, Becky Willson of Farm Carbon Toolkit explained how carbon’s rising value is creating real

Once dismissed and regulated out of existence, hemp is quietly staging a comeback—this time as a soil health regenerator, carbon sink, and sustainable break crop. But can it overcome regulatory hurdles and market gaps to take root in mainstream UK rotations? To explore the potential of hemp as a break crop, we spoke to Luke Middleton from The Carbon Farm. He shared insights into the history of hemp cultivation in the UK, the agronomic requirements of the crop, and the opportunities for farmers to access end markets.   History of hemp in the UK Hemp was grown historically in the UK from the Middle Ages, primarily for its fibres, with several place names reflecting this legacy. In the early 20th

Water table management, drainage, water capture, planning and strategic thinking are all crucial in reducing emissions from lowland peat soils in order to help agriculture reach net zero.   With more than half of land use emission reductions by 2040 to come from peatlands, it is a critical area for some of the UK’s most productive farmland. Water table depth is the main control for reducing emissions, with experts at a recent RASE webinar discussing practical options to manage this, as well as data underpinning the work.   What you need to know about water tables Speaking in the webinar, Professor Ian Holman from the Integrated Land and Water Management department at Cranfield University told delegates that shared aid that

The UK’s peatlands are some of the most fertile and productive farming areas, The Fens being a prime example. Whether it’s cereals and oilseeds, root crops or horticulture, these soils are prized. However, they are also under close scrutiny as part of the drive to agriculture meeting net zero emissions.   With policy specialists and researchers warning that crops on peatlands can have emissions up to 30 times greater than those grown in other soils, achieving net zero is challenging. At a recent RASE webinar on peatlands, a panel of experts explained why this is the case, the data involved and the challenges. They also discussed research and practical approaches to help tackle the issue.   Why is there a

Enhanced rock weathering could be used to mitigate climate change and meet our national carbon budgets in the UK, while potentially also benefiting soil health and crop yields. Professor David Beering, director of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, outlined how enhanced rock weathering works in a recent Farm of the Future webinar.   Why consider enhanced rock weathering? In the last 100 years, CO2 emissions rose from just under 10 gigatonnes to 40 billion tonnes. Professor Beering highlighted that even if humanity successfully slow emissions of CO2 by transitioning to clean energy, there is still a need to take CO2 out of the atmosphere. “We are going to need carbon dioxide renewable technologies, and we can’t wait until