Advertise on podcast: LEAFcast

As UK farms face increasingly frequent periods of hot, dry weather, building resilience to drought and heat stress is becoming a key priority for livestock farmers. In this LEAF Digs Deeper webinar, dairy farmer Stuart Rogers of Longmoor Farm shares practical insights from his five-year regenerative farming journey and discusses how different approaches can help livestock farms become more resilient to a drier future. Drawing on real experiences from his 125-hectare dairy farm in Dorset, Stuart explores the lessons learned, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved through implementing regenerative farming practices. Support the show

How do we accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming practices? Our expert panel explores the role of peer-to-peer learning, co-design and consumer engagement in driving change at scale. Featuring Fiona Rust (LEAF), Dr Johnny Wake (Courteenhall Estate & LEAF Trustee), Dr Tom Pearson (West Cambridgeshire farmer) and Dr Alice Mauchline (University of Reading). Support the show

Farmers, growers and partners involved in the M&S Plan A: Farming for the Future programme share their experiences of change, the lessons they've learned and the early benefits they're seeing. Alongside expert perspectives from Lucinda Langton and Peter Kennedy (M&S), David Webster (LEAF), Ian Robertson (SSM) and Clive Thomas (SAX), the discussion explores how collaboration, advice and peer learning are helping drive progress across the farming community. Support the show

Bringing together farmers, researchers and industry partners from the NUE-Leg Project, this session explores how novel legumes are being tested in commercial livestock systems and what we're learning from real-world trials. The panel shares an honest discussion on reducing nitrogen inputs, farmer-researcher collaboration, system performance and trade-offs, and the practical challenges and opportunities of adopting lower-nitrogen farming approaches at scale. Featuring project farmers: John & Charlie Renner (Renner Farming), Katie Hoare (Trenance Farm), Rob Kynaston (Great Wollaston) and Andrew Ferguson (Leckford Estate). Also Dr Christina Marley (IBERS, Aberystwyth University),  Tom Edwards (Origin Enterprises) and Harley Brown-Keech (Germinal). Support the show

How can collaboration between farmers and researchers drive real change on the ground? In this LEAF Digs Deeper session, we explore how co-designed research is helping to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical farming decisions. We’re joined by: - Nick Down – Farm Manager at Yattendon Estate and Head of Sustainability at Velcourt Ltd. - Dr Alice Mauchline – Associate Professor of Agricultural Ecology and Education at the University of Reading. Together, they discuss the power of farmer-led innovation and why involving farmers from the very beginning is key to creating research that is relevant, practical, and impactful. In this session, we cover: - Why farmers are best placed to identify real-world challenges and shape research priorities. - The importance of co-designed research for practical, on-farm application. - How collaboration between farmers, researchers, and stakeholders leads to shared learning and fresh perspectives. - The balance between scientific rigor and real-world farm constraints. We also introduce a new ADOPT-funded project involving LEAF, Demonstration Farmers, and an Innovation Centre. This initiative explores how cover crop data can be used to optimise nutrient management and reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen - while maintaining crop performance. If you're interested in sustainable farming, applied research, and innovative approaches to agriculture, this session is not to be missed. Support the show

Our latest LEAF Digs Deeper session takes a closer look at the vital role agriplastics play in modern farming and the growing need to improve how they are recovered and recycled. From silage wrap to crop covers, agriplastics are essential tools for productivity and efficiency. However, as their use continues, so do the challenges around responsible disposal and recycling. In this session, we explore: - How better on-farm sorting, storage, and handling can significantly boost recycling outcomes - Why used agriplastics should be treated as a valuable, recoverable resource not just waste - The practical and financial barriers farmers currently face when managing plastic waste - The need for stronger collaboration across industry, government, and supply chains to scale effective recycling systems A key theme throughout is the importance of practical, joined-up solutions—approaches that fit the realities of farm businesses while moving agriculture towards a more circular and sustainable future. Support the show

Climate-Smart Dairy: LEAF Digs Deeper – Key Insights In this LEAF Digs Deeper session, we explore how climate-smart dairy practices are being applied on the ground to improve efficiency, resilience, and environmental performance. Featuring insights from Zoe Barker (University of Reading) on the SmartDairy Project and Sven Koops (CEDAR), the discussion highlights how better use of data, precision technologies, and herd management can reduce emissions, improve animal health and longevity, and boost farm efficiency—often without major infrastructure investment. The session also explores the role of policy stability, shared risk, and clear communication with consumers. Climate-smart dairy is about practical, data-driven decisions that deliver lasting benefits for farms, supply chains, and the environment. Support the show

In this LEAF Surgery session, we explore how environmental baselining can evolve from simple data collection into a powerful tool for decision‑making, farm resilience, and value creation across the supply chain. We were joined by two expert speakers: Sarah Haynes, Head of Sustainability at the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) – sharing insights from IGD’s work on the value of baselining England’s farmland and why coordinated, large‑scale approaches matter. Carolien Samson, Head of Sustainable Farming at Oxbury Bank – discussing how baselining underpins investment decisions, risk management, and the transition to more resilient farming systems. Key Takeaways Different stakeholders need different levels of data – from individual farms to national and global supply chains – causing fragmentation. Baselining offers both environmental and economic benefits, but greater alignment is needed to reduce duplication and reporting burdens. “Good enough and scalable” metrics are often more useful than “perfect” data. Strong governance and transparency build trust and unlock value for everyone. Farmers must stay at the centre, ensuring data genuinely supports on‑farm decisions and delivers real benefits.Support the show

Our latest podcast takes a deeper dive into the roots of supporting tree health on-farm. Join Andrew Keyte , Farm Manager at LEAF Demonstration Farm, Ragley Home Farms, Dr Jake Morris who specialises in Plant Health Evidence & Analysis at Defra and LEAF Technical Officer, Eleanor Marks, as they talk tactics, technologies and teamwork for smarter, more integrated approaches to tree health management.  Download A Farmer's Guide to Ash Dieback here. Support the show

In this episode, Elle Vercoe-Gibson, LEAF Marque Certification Manager, discusses the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review, how it works, what it delivers for farmers, it’s role within an Integrated Farm Management approach to more sustainable farming and finally, how it fits in with LEAF Marque certification.  Support the show

In this episode, we discussed SEAMS (Sus­tain­abil­i­ty in Edu­ca­tion and Agri­cul­ture using Mix­tures), a four-year project funded by the Esme Fairbairn Foundation and coordinated by the James Hutton Institute, as the project draws to a close. The project focused on crop mixtures and aimed to develop, promote and implement crop species mixtures as a sustainable crop production system for Scotland and as a resource for knowledge exchange on food production, agricultural ecology and environmental sustainability. We were joined by the project lead of SEAMS, Rob Brooker from the James Hutton Institute and Thomas Veitch from Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, who was involved in running trials as part of the project. In this discussion, Rob and Thomas reflected on the project's outcomes and legacy and looked at the next steps for crop mixtures within sustainable crop production systems. The data platform mentioned in the podcast is already available here, but will be officially launched at this year’s Arable Scotland in July  For more information on the SEAMS project please visit: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/projects/seams-sustainability-education-and-agriculture-using-mixtures  Support the show

Join Elle Vercoe-Gibson, LEAF's Certification Manager talking through the LEAF Marque Standard v16.0. Focussing on the latest changes to the Standard, what these changes mean for LEAF Marque growers and touching on a general overview of LEAF Marque as a whole.  Support the show

This week we’re in Cornwall with our Ambassador for the South West, Rona Amiss, talking with chicken and arable farmer Jenny Olds about how they found hosting their LOFS event for the first time last year, county show clashes and wet weather plans!  Support the show

Lucy Redmore, LEAF Assurance Manager explains how LEAF Marque works with Certification Bodies and the role they play in LEAF's monitoring and evaluation programme. She also talks us through the application process for Certification Bodies to work with LEAF. Support the show

In this episode LOFS ambassador in Scotland,  Rebecca Dawes and Caroline chat about the benefits of hosting a LEAF Open Farm Sunday event for a diversified farm business! Support the show