The Pasture Pod

Does pasture pump you up? Do you enjoy a lot of cheeking farming chat? If so this podcast is for you (caveat: this does not represent a guarantee or contract; terms and conditions apply). We talk to farmers about their drive, motivation and how they make profit. Spoiled by the host trying too hard to be funny.

Arron Nerbas 07/12/2023

Arron Nerbas A Canadian themed episode to bring "Season 2" to an end. Arron came over to the UK in January 2023 and spoke to loads of people over the course of a week. I went to see him at the AHDB meeting in Northumberland at George Burrell's and it was such a refreshing and positive experience. Even though he has such a different environment to contend with, the principle of system first is such a powerful thing. He popped into Culteuchar, met Mo, stayed the night (not in that way) and was polite about my handful of heifers and sheep. Hope you enjoy it. If you do, Arron is starting a new podcast of his own with Amy Hughes called Think Outside the Fence. 1st August 2023 release, I think. First guest is me and the interview has happened. I don't think I'm catastrophising but looking back on it I am definitely getting Gerald Ratner / Holly Willoughby vibes, so this might be the last Pasture Pod before I'm cancelled. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/27449949

Chris Falconer 05/21/2023

Chris Falconer After 12 years apart, two acquaintences meet. Everything has changed, Michael is even fatter and has less hair; Chris seems to have given Michael his extra body mass - he's lighter and fitter. Chris is also more self aware and intimidates Michael slightly less than in 2010. They talk for a long time and record some of it. Michael likes to think he and Chris have become friends whereas Chris doesn't think about Michael at all. They talk about life and farming, carbon and environmental services, calves on and direct selling, getting abuse for an episode of Country Calendar and not giving a shit. They talk about neurodiversity. The end. Link to Country Calendar episode: Pasture Pod hoodies, t shirts and beanies can be found at For the hardcore, the Pasture Pod Patreon page is /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/26909556

It's About Time - Episode 6: The Final Countdown 02/22/2023

It's About Time - Episode 6: The Final Countdown It's About Time was not on time this week - not perfect but at least it's definitely done! This is the last in the series and I want to thank everyone that was involved and everyone that is listened. Thanks to all those that took the trouble to message. Special, special thanks to the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust. This simply wouldn't exist without their help. Best book on time ever is /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/26009622

It's About Time - Episode 5: The Do Do Sandwich 02/13/2023

It's About Time - Episode 5: The Do Do Sandwich If in doubt seek expert help. My quest gets closer to an inconvenient truth as I speak to coaches, consultants and, big potato grower with normal sized potatoes, Robin Griffiths. This is the proper time management episode and was a bit of a revelation to me. Mention is given to the pomodoro technique with insufficient explanation until closer to the end. The pomodoro technique is simply using a timer to spend 25 minuites on a task then having 5 minutes break with the option then to start again. Pomodoro is Italian for tomato which was the type of kitchen timer the inventor of the tehnique had at hand. Google it and you'll see one. References include websites: /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25913301

It's About Time - Episode 4: How to Beat the System 02/06/2023

It's About Time - Episode 4: How to Beat the System I spent most of this episode in my pants watching YouTube. Clips used are for educational purposes. The series up to this point was on a roll with reviews like "I'm enjoying it much more than I thought I would" - but this was a big test to keep the underwhelming momentum up. Systems is such a monster of a subject but I hope you get something from it. Additional thanks to James Sills ( off of Twitter for talking about Elon's 5 steps. Books and YouTube clips: Thinking in Systems by Donnella H Meadows /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25845609

It's About Time - Episode 3: The Ballad of Andrew Freshwater 01/30/2023

It's About Time - Episode 3: The Ballad of Andrew Freshwater Episode 3 sees me continue haphazardly like King Arthur in Monty Python's Holy Grail ... no horse and just coconuts as a sound effect. I eventually take my brave tablets and speak to "The Australian", then spend the rest of the episode trying to translate things to a UK Context. Luckily I have some sensible people helping. Can we nail down what is possible in terms of labour efficiencies in UK farming? /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25769319

It's About Time - Episode 2: The Tale of Three Dairy Farms 01/23/2023

It's About Time - Episode 2: The Tale of Three Dairy Farms The quest for answers continues. Is our use of time the invisible handbrake on our lives and businesses that we leave on without realising? I visit three dairy farms and hear about their experiences and challenges, within them there are parables and wisdom and glimpses of the answer. Warning: may contain poor analogies. Books mentioned in this episode: /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25699839

It's About Time - Episode 1: Is this even a subject? 01/16/2023

It's About Time - Episode 1: Is this even a subject? A departure from the normal Pasture Pod, I do my best attempt at being a poundshop Louis Theroux and go on a quest to find answers on how time affects farming and how we can use time to affect our lives and businesses for good. Episode one contains a record breaking number of metaphors per minute of narration ... so be prepared. Thankfully all is saved by those that were interviewed. Profound thanks to the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust for their support in the making of this. Episodes will be released weekly from 16th January 2023 ... there will be six or seven in total. There will also be at an opportunity to interact on the subject after this series is over through a couple of webinars in March. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25623171

Joel Williams 01/09/2023

Joel Williams Once apon a time soil was less cool than flares (when they weren't trendy) and plastic shoes. I may have been forced to wear the latter two items of clothing as a young adult but at least I wasn't studying soil science!! BUT times have changed, a revolution has happened and soil science might be - quite possibly - one of the coolest things going. Joel Williams is one of the people that have made it cool - a bit like Damon Albarn was to Britpop without the pretentiousness. If you get depressed at all the chat that sneers at carbon sequestration from those with the loudest voices, listen to this to feel a lot better. The power of rotational grazing and its benefits to soil health is very real - keep putting up those fences folks and keep getting pumped up by pasture! LInk to info on Joel's Foliar Nitrogen course: /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25549818

Gus & Duncan Nelless 12/24/2022

Gus & Duncan Nelless Gus and Duncan are full siblings with impressive EBVs for 3 Hour Bantz; Low CoP and Positive Mental Attitude. They are both structurally correct with good locomotion and teeth but increasingly bare heads. The Pasture Pod returns to its roots with this episode - hardore farming chat and a glimpse into the motivation of a couple of awesome individuals. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/25426077

Nikki Yoxall 07/25/2022

Nikki Yoxall If Nikki is a human being, I am a slug. By this I mean - we share 80% of our farming DNA but it still seems we see things differently. This was a theraputic conversation that allowed me to accept the final 20%. "It is what it is" as they say in Love Island. It's OK not to think exactly the same way and maybe there's wisdom in other opinions. Now I feel like Jerry Springer. I mentioned "Scotland the What" and specifically the Balleter Toy Shop sketch. Link here: Hope you enjoy this episode. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/23853579

Holly Beckett 05/30/2022

Holly Beckett Holly Beckett could possibly change your life. Quietly and without a lot of fuss she has been helping people become more focussed, less stressed and have a renewed appreciation of life. She has been introducing mindfulness to the UK farming industry and its making a difference to people. Keep an open mind. Even if mindfulness is not for you, I think this interview is full of wisdom and great stories. If you fancy trying the 5 day brain training challenge click More generally, Holly's website is here: The Steve Jobs speech Holly mentions is brilliant: Holly also mentions research that suggests the human mind can have an effect on physical matter. Not quite as much as the girl from Stranger Things but ..... ; /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/23268581

Alex Brewster 04/01/2022

Alex Brewster This is enormous. Its the biggest and longest. Don't be scared. Alex Brewster is a fascinating chap whatever your own farming philosophy. In my opinion he is one of the best communicators in UK agriculture. A Soil Farmer of the Year, a Nuffield Scholar and someone who stole the show at the Oxford Farming Conference. You will soon know him as Beanie due to some sort of mystical unexplained force makes you ditch his real name. Try and play along with Beanie Bingo which involves drinking alot each time the phrase "Point of Balance" is used. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/22653125

Daniel Wheeler 02/28/2022

Daniel Wheeler Daniel has grown a beard that provides more biodiversity habitat than Knepp Estate. He cares for it deeply, sometimes with product. He has scanned many sheep in his career but his true destiny is to be the biggest sheep nerd in either hemisphere. He is from a place called New Zealand and if he was on a cruise liner his favourite deck would be deck six. I honestly know of few people with such strong sheep chat. I think you'll like it. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/22285763

Episode 4 - Graham Lofthouse 12/09/2021

Episode 4 - Graham Lofthouse With his long torso and teeny tiny legs Graham Lofthouse and his family own 109.99999999999999 Hectares in Galawater in the Scottish Borders. A man driven by the knowledge that nothing is ever perfect but there's always hope that one day it might be, we speak about all sorts - sport, psychology, decimal points and obsessive attention to detail. I make a big enough mistake to probably get a Hawick Fatwa proclaimed on me regarding 1980s lock forward Alan Tomes. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/21437357

Episode 3 - Tim White 07/31/2021

Episode 3 - Tim White If a life lived in fear is a life half lived then Tim has a double life #pasturearithmetic. One of the founders and drivers of the Exlana breed he loves breeding and statistics .... what are the chances of that? The Exlana sale is on Tuesday 3rd August. Checkout their website https://www.exlana.co.uk/sales /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/19991669

Episode 2 - Jamie Leslie 07/08/2021

Episode 2 - Jamie Leslie Recorded when Jamie was 38 years old, this week Jamie has his 40th birthday. We didn't talk that long rather the editor is well rubbish. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/19745372

Season 2 Episode 1: Rhys Williams 02/24/2020

Season 2 Episode 1: Rhys Williams Not all heroes wear capes some have a buzz cut and speak Welsh. Rhys may be the most succesful first generation farmer I know but I still want to be a little vague just in case any of the other first generation farmers I know think it might be them instead. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/13285970

Episode 12 - Murray Rohloff 11/27/2019

Episode 12 - Murray Rohloff Five months later than it should have been but Murray is worth waiting for. A New Zealander of great enthusiasm, I got up with him the night before a Soil Association Scotland "Paddock Grazing for Profit" day. The Soil Association Scotland do a whole range of days on lots of topics (see https://www.soilassociation.org/our-work-in-scotland/farming-for-the-future/events/) /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/12203894

Episode 11 - Liz Genever 05/11/2019

Episode 11 - Liz Genever Born and raised on the right side of the Fen and far enough away from the smell of cabbages in Lincolnshire, Liz Genever grew up to be a significant driver of knowledge transfer in England. After a number of years with AHDB Beef & Lamb she has left and become an independent consultant. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/9743339

Episode 10 - Michael Shannon 03/05/2019

Episode 10 - Michael Shannon Recorded over two sittings, Michael talks for a long time about how excited he is about grass. He tends not to let me talk, which is obviously beneficial. 3+ hours sounds a long time but Michael is an interesting and semi amusing person :0 I referred to Michael as the Grandfather of Rotational Grazing in Scotland in the introduction. That's very unfair as he's only a couple of years older than me - and I'm very young!! I think a more appropriate moniker should be Godfather - a bit like James Brown but with a higher pitched voice and less impressive dance moves. Bottom line is, he was a pioneer in Scotland and though I wouldn't admit it to his face, probably should have a statue in his honour. Preferably relatively close to me so I can deface it regularly. We are taken on a journey from Northern Ireland to the seed trade in Scotland to Lanarkshire to what is now definitely "home" and the base for The theme tune is restricted to just over a minute at the start but for personal safety reasons I have to warn you its repeated in its full 5 minute glory at the end - stay safe and don't have nightmares /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/8889482

Episode 9 - LILIS conference 01/21/2019

Episode 9 - LILIS conference A break from the norm. I interview a number of people all in one - shorter - podcast. Recorded in the Summer of 2018 with background noise loud enough to be irritating, this was the Livestock in Low Input Systems (LILIS) conference. I went around and, like a man desperate for friends, tried to make conversation with people. I laughed awkwardly and those that didn't run away felt sorry enough for me to give me their time. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/8341088

Episode 8 - Doug Avery 11/12/2018

Episode 8 - Doug Avery Recorded at the beginning of October 2018. Doug tells his story through the valleys and peaks of his farming life. He was at the end of a significant tour of Scotland, having spoken to over 2000 people over a little under 4 weeks. Thanks to John Scott, the RSABI and the RHASS for initiating and implementing the idea. They wanted to start a conversation about mindset and how we can deal positively with the challenges of this season and those still to come in the near future. Doug's book can be found Spencer Johnson's book on peaks and valleys can be found /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/7521098

Episode 7 - Neil McGowan 08/21/2018

Episode 7 - Neil McGowan Neil talks breeding and breeders; markets and marketing, pedigrees and that little ounce of breeding. How science meets art in what he does. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/6951046

Episode 6 - Andre van Barneveld 07/10/2018

Episode 6 - Andre van Barneveld Recorded the night before the LILIS conference in June 2018 at Barnside Farm, Duns. Charley Walker plied us with beer and whisky and we still managed to form words with our mouths. Are you output driven or profit driven? What are the key things that drive your business? What angle is your wedge? Andre van Barneveld (not the darts player) is a Dutch born, Kiwi grown, Irish based pasture consultant primarily concentrating on Dairy but is also awesome at beef cattle and sheep. He built a significant dairy business when in NZ but love has brought him to Ireland. There are a variety of swear words mostly in English but also in Dutch. You can read Andre's brilliant articles on Facebook at Graise Consultancy or follow him on Twitter @graiseconsult1 I forgot to put it in the audio but thanks again to Robert Gilchrist - my handler - for editorial support. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/6793711

Episode 5 Part 2 - Team Walker 02/13/2018

Episode 5 Part 2 - Team Walker What is an Askhole? How long is Charley's telescopic pole? [Spoiler: 7 feet fully when extended] Is it really possible for pasture chat to get this riveting? All these questions and more will be answered in this edition. /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/6257236

Episode 5 Part 1 - Team Walker 01/29/2018

Episode 5 Part 1 - Team Walker Charley and Andrea Walker tell us about their story - from having no farm to 250Ha, 800 ewes, 90 cows and A LOT of paddocks. We also learn about Charleys' character flaws and his obsession with burning daylight. Plus what it's like to be a woman who drives a JCB Fastrack so well that most of the truckers in the East Midlands know you. This is Part 1 of a two part Episode. Part 2 features more intensive pasture chat. For any Integrated Land Management Plan enquiries contact Michael at /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/6200910

Episode 4 - Trevor Cook 11/21/2017

Episode 4 - Trevor Cook Trevor is one of the people I've learnt most from in agriculture. He became a cult hero during the QMS Grazing Group project and still comes back to the UK twice a year. He has this rare clarity of thought and expression. In this conversation we talk a bit about him and how he got to where he did. A bit about how he feels during a farm visit. A bit about vowel pronunciation. And a lot on profitable cattle and sheep systems. All done whilst we are both in pyjamas just like Morecambe and Wise. He didn't ask me to do this but if you are keen to get him out onto your farm on his next visit to the UK his email is /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/5969085

Episode 3.95 - Charlie Russell Too 10/27/2017

Episode 3.95 - Charlie Russell Too *Hardcore pasture chat claxon* /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/5885212

Episode 3 - Charlie Russell 09/18/2017

Episode 3 - Charlie Russell Charlie comes clean about his addiction to restaurant table decoration consumption and the parallels his friendships have with the homo-erotic "He Man - Masters of the Universe". /episode/index/show/thepasturepod/id/5749614

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