The Farming Channel
This channel is for and about the farming communities of the Transition Vision area. If you are involved with farming we need your input and feedback. We are always keen to welcome new volunteer correspondents particularly if they are from a farming background. If you want to help us to produce material for this channel please contact us and we will give you all the training, support and resources that you need to make it happen. If you want to let us know what you think of our programming or have any ideas about what we could be covering we are also anxious to hear from you.
The Farming Channel enjoys additional support from The Media Trust
Wessex Heavy Horse Society Spring Working
Transition Vision volunteer, Colleen Jackson,visited Wessex Heavy Horse Society's Spring Working. Blustery winds tested the technology to the ultimate! These creatures are not just picturesque throwbacks but are finding a role in current farming.
GM Crops Farmer to Farmer
Michael Hart, a conventional livestock family farmer, has been farming in Cornwall for nearly thirty years and has actively campaigned on behalf of family farmers for over fifteen years, travelling extensively in Europe, India, Canada and the USA. In this short documentary he investigates the reality of farming genetically modified crops in the USA ten years after their introduction. He travels across the US interviewing farmers and other specialists about their experiences of growing GM. For information on this video go to - GM Crops Farmer to Farmer.
Pure Pigs: Fine Meat and Poultry from Mere
Paula Ferrari raises rare breed animals and poultry just south of Mere in Wiltshire and son Philip handles the butchery, both of their own produce and for other folk. They also provide hog roasts for special occassions. They can be found on the Gillingham Road out of Mere. Colleen Jackson paid them a visit for Transition Vision. Contact Pure Pigs on 01747 860986.
Superherds - Yes or No? Part 4, Paul Robinson, Kingshay
To improve earnings from milk production herds have to get bigger, right? Geoff Pagotto went to the Superherds conference arranged by the Royal Bath and West Society to find out what current thinking is on this. How big is a superherd? A few hundred? How about 22,000? Paul Robinson of Kingshay has been to Saudi Arabia to look at a unit of this size and reports to Geoff Pagotto that health was good and heat detection rates were almost twice the average in the UK.
Superherds - Yes or No? Part 3 Ian Tossel, Lely Robots
To improve earnings from milk production herds have to get bigger, right? Geoff Pagotto went to the Superherds conference arranged by the Royal Bath and West Society to find out what current thinking is on this. More cows to milk = more labour. Not if you go for a robotic milking system. In this third part Geoff talks to Ian Tossel of Lely Robots about their latest system and how not only does it speed up the process but also has benefits for cow welfare.
Superherds - Yes or No? Part 2 David Swales DairyCo
To improve earnings from milk production herds have to get bigger, right? Geoff Pagotto went to the Superherds conference arranged by the Royal Bath and West Society to find out what current thinking is on this. In this second part he encounters David Swales, DairyCo's Market Intelligence Manager to go over some of the facts and figures.
Superherds - Yes or No? Part 1 David Cotton, RABDF
To improve earnings from milk production herds have to get bigger, right? Geoff Pagotto went to the Superherds conference arranged by the the Royal Bath and West Society to find out what current thinking is on this. In this first part Geoff speaks to David Cotton, Chairman of The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, RABDF. David is well known in this area as he has a farm to near Glastonbury.
Cider Apple Trees: How to plant, grow and prune them
How to plant, grow and prune cider apple trees brilliantly explained and demonstrated by John Worle. Essential viewing for anyone thinking of planting a tree. Mr Worle reckons that only 1 in 10 people normally get it right. And he should know. Over the last five years he's grown more than half a million cider apple trees. In total, he has over 50 years' experience in producing trees and managing orchards. In 2004 he was awarded a Gold Medal at the Bath & West Show for his Lifetime's Contribution to the Orchards and Cider Industry of the West Country. In this video, he's talking at the ceremonial opening of a new o...
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show Part 8 Solar Power INTL
Yaron Reuveny of Solar Power INTL, Dorset based photo voltaic (pv) specialists, explains to Geoff Pagotto the comprehensive service that they provide which should be of interest to farmers.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show Part 7. Sungift Solar
Geoff Pagotto talks to Gabriel Wondrausch of Sungift Solar about the opportunities for farmers presented by photo voltaic (pv) energy production. It's true to say that we are a few years behind some other European countries but we may be about to catch up.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show, Part 6. Tractor Stripping
Chris Jaworski of Bicton College sets the scene for this tractor stripping and rebuilding competition between his students and students from Lackham College in Wiltshire and explains to Geoff Pagotto the opportunities in agricultural engineering.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show Part 5. Alan Lyons, Show Manager ...
Alan Lyons explains to Geoff Pagotto how the Bath and West became involved with running a machinery equipment show as a result of losing a dairy show through a blue tongue outbreak, the elements they have added and how it has been a gratifying success.
Dorset Wildlife Trust stockman Ashlea Kirk
Dorset Wildlife Trust's nature reserve Powerstock Common and Kingcombe Meadows Farm seen close-up with new stockman Ashlea Kirk. Cattle-hunting, fence-testing, quad-bike riding, sheep-finding, bedding and feeding all feature. Ashlea, who's 24 and grew up in Winterborne Whitechurch between Dorchester and Blandford, explains his own philosophy of farming and how Dorset Wildlife Trust looks after Powerstock Common and Kingcombe Meadows Farm, two of its most important properties. This piece was shot and edited for Transition Vision TV's Farming Channel by Jonathan Hudston of Watershed PR. His is the other voice you can h...
Solar Power NFU SW Guide Part 3
Covers site selection, performance forecasting, building issues, planning, electrical capacity, grid issues, plant room conditions, rodent proofing, installation safety, security, and comprehensive design. Includes particularly interesting sections on the problems that can arise from cow urine, and the seemingly insatiable desire that rats and squirrels have for eating cables. more to follow
Solar Power NFU SW Guide Part 2
The mysteries of feed-in tariffs explained by South West NFU environment adviser Paul Cottington to an audience of farmers in Dorset. "The point of a feed-in tariff is to create a return on investment of something like between 6 and 8 per cent... and that's created a market since it was introduced last year," says Mr Cottington. All sorts of forms of renewable energy are eligible: wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion and solar power among them. "The one that will get off quickest," Mr Cottington argues "is probably the photo-voltaics [solar power]. Why? Because the planning is perceived to be a little easier and be...
Solar Power NFU SW Guide Part 1
How to start? - and why the South West? - are the two solar power questions addressed by South West NFU environment adviser Paul Cottington. Mr Cottington is talking to about 60 farmers gathered at the Red Lion pub in Beaminster. Note: The flickering PowerPoint screen is a bit psychedelic (apologies) but excellent advice is given and a lot of interesting points get made. Two examples. One: "The South West happens to have some of the best irradiation in the world... we've got better irradiation than the West Indies. "It's just colder... [laughter] ... that's the real shame of it." Two: "How am I going to orie...
Wincanton Farmers Market
Once a month local producers turn up at the Memorial Hall for the Wincanton Farmers' Market to sell their wares to a growing group of enthusiastic customers. Colleen Jackson went along last month to talk to Janet Wood of Mere Fish Farm, Day Manager for the market, and to some of the stall-holders to give you an idea of the range of locally produced food that is available.
Dorset farmer Henry Lovegrove: Renewable Energy case study
Dorset farmer Henry Lovegrove talks about his adventures with biomass, solar power and wind turbines. Mr Lovegrove, of Comforts Orchard, Corscombe, wants to put two wind turbines on the summit of Toller Down, near the A356 about four miles north east of Beaminster and three miles south of Corscombe. The turbines would be 34.2 metres tall; that's about as high as the largest masts at the nearby Rampisham radio station. In this video, he tells an audience of about 60 farmers in Beaminster how he put his plans together and how - "because I haven't got any money" - he hopes to interest developers in actually putting the turbines up, i...
Solar Power, Opium Poppies, Methane and James Delingpole
Amusing thoughts on perceptions of methane and solar power and how newspaper articles on these subjects may have shaped the Government's energy policies. The speaker is Paul Cottington, environment adviser for the National Farmers Union in the South West of England. He's addressing an audience of about 60 farmers in a pub in the Dorset town of Beaminster. The political background to Mr Cottington's talk is the Government's decision to review tempting incentives ("feed-in tariffs") for individuals and companies to install photo-voltaic (PV) panels. Many SW farmers have been approached by developers desperate for land to use for sol...
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show, Part 4, Ryan Lanfear, S W Agricultural Mechanic of the...
Son of a farmer and now working for T H White in Marlborough, Ryan Lanfear was awarded the presitigious title of South West Agricultural Mechanic of the Year at the recent Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show at the Bath and West Showground. He spoke to Geoff Pagotto about how he got started and his hopes for the future.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show, Part 3, Kitson Recycling
It is nice to know that all that waste plastic that can so easily start cluttering up the place can now be recycled and turned into something of permanent utility. Geoff Pagotto spoke to Andrew Cook of Kitson Recycling about the service they provide to farmers and other rural businesses.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show, Part 2, Robert Giles of Cannington College
Cannington College has now become Bridgwater College's land-based studies centre. It has seen a massive investment into the resources for teaching folk with an ambition to work on the land and awards a wide range of qualifications. Geoff Pagotto interviewed Robert Giles, programme manager for agriculture at the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Show at the Bath and West Showground at the beginning of February about what the college could offer students.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show, Pt. 1, agri cctv
Geoff Pagotto visited the recent Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show at the Bath and West Showground and has provided us with a set of interviews. The first is with James Smith and Chris Dyer of agri cctv. Everyone is familiar with the use of cctv for security purposes but James and Chris are promoting other ways of applying the technology on the farm, in particular, using cams to monitor livestock which can be done via the internet. This item also includes a job opportunity for someone too.
Emi Morita and Toshiaki Tani
Emi Morita visited us at Farm Radio some years ago and it was a great pleasure to meet her again, now on her honeymoon in Europe with her new farmer husband Toshiaki Tani. John Holman met them at Launceston Farm, Tarrant Launceston near Blandford in Dorset where they were the guests of Sarah Worrall and family in their great B&B accommodation. Jimi Collis, Sarah's son, was giving them a tour of the farm which he loves to do with guests when John caught up with them. Some of the issues that arose from the subsequent interview will be familiar to farmers around here but it seems that they do not have the same support f...
To Dig Or Not To Dig
Charles Dowding is reknowned for his radical ideas about horticulture. It seems that digging or even double digging may have no beneficial effect on the productivity of your vegetables. Colleen Jackson went to visit him at his base at Shepton Montague, near Bruton in Somerset where he grows commercially mainly salad leaves and also runs courses and provides B&B. You can also obtain copies of his books from Charles' website.
Christmas on Skype
This video from our friend in Lancashire, Chris Conder, is a very straightforward demonstration of the benefits of good broadband connections. Chris, her farming friends and neighbours have taken things into their own hands to provide better connections to the internet. Isn't it time that we started to make some noise about the poor service that many of us have to put up with in rural areas?
Was There Ever A Dorset Cider? Part 2
Cider apple expert Liz Copas tackles the big Dorset cider question. She and Dorset cidermaker Nick Poole spent every autumn from 2007 to 2010 hunting for apples from old Dorset orchards. All they really had to go on, in the way of written evidence, was a short list of eight or nine apples left by a man from the Ministry of Agriculture in the 1930s. As Liz says, this man was sent to Dorset to see if the county's cider output could be improved. He decided that it wasn't worth the effort. Liz's view of what Dorset cider used to be like is a bit different to Nick Poole's. You'll...
Food Mapper
Somerset Community Food are working on the production of an on-line resource for mapping food production related activity and, importantly, areas available for growing. The Farming Channel's correspondent, Simon Keyte, spoke to Linda Hull and Hannah May about the project. If you have some land that you would be happy to be used for your community to create a food production project, contact Somerset Community Food.
Was There Ever a Dorset Cider? Part 1
Did Dorset ever have its own distinctive style of cider? Could we recreate it? West Dorset cidermaker and researcher Nick Poole here talks about the evidence that he's uncovered during four years of research into the county's old apples and orchards. Nick worked with the renowned cider apple expert Liz Copas, author of A Somerset Pomona. Together they travelled all over Dorset, and 20 of the apple varieties they found have been propagated, so that trees can be planted across the county in Spring 2011. The aim is to revive part of Dorset's history for modern-day uses and enjoyment. But ...
Dorset Cider Discoveries and Mysteries ...
The great Dorset cider revival continues with 20 "lost" varieties of apple found by Powerstock Cider Festival supremo Nick Poole and renowned cider expert Liz Copas, author of A Somerset Pomona. Here Nick and Liz talk about some of their most exciting discoveries and touch on some persisting mysteries. From a tree in West Milton near Bridport, for example, they've analysed an apple that's currently being called Marlpits Late Bittersweet. Nick thinks this produces a better single variety cider than the legendary Kingston Black (he thinks Golden Ball fr...
Farming on the Levels
Richard Willcox has always lived and farmed on the moors of the Somerset Levels. See also Junior Young Farmer of 2010 which features his daughter, Claire.
Junior Young Farmer of 2010
John Holman visited Claire Willcox on her family farm at Mark in Somerset at the end of 2010 to talk to her about her achievement of winning the Junior National Young Farmer of the Year title. Previous interviews with Claire can be found on Farm Radio August 2009 and also on the junior section of Farm Radio Future Farming Voices. See also Farming on the Levels which features her father, Richard.
Butterfly Conservation in Neroche Forest, Part 2
At times it seems that the interests of conservation and agriculture are at odds. However, Nigel Spring, on behalf of Butterfly Conservation, is running a project in Neroche Forest in the Blackdown Hills which aims to attract and sustain a population of butterflies whilst still supporting agriculture. Geoff Pagotto went to talk to Nigel about it and found him and the volunteers working in the snow.
Butterfly Conservation in Neroche Forest, Part 1
At times it seems that the interests of conservation and agriculture are at odds. However, Nigel Spring, on behalf of Butterfly Conservation, is running a project in Neroche Forest in the Blackdown Hills which aims to attract and sustain a population of butterflies whilst still supporting agriculture. Geoff Pagotto went to talk to Nigel about it and found him and the volunteers working in the snow.
Digital Revolutions
Chris Conder is a farmer from Lancashire who loves to use her camcorder and has realised how important it is that farmers and others living in the remoter parts of the countryside should have fast access to the internet. She tells the tale here in this video which, with her blessing, we have been able to use on this site. Chris' video is also on Youtube There are loads more brilliant videos on her Youtube channel wennetvideo. If you are from the farming community and seeing this inspires you to have a go at making video you know where to come. Contact us and we will give you all the help that you need to make it happen. ...
The Humane Slaughter Association
Whilst at the Feast of Dorset, The Farming Channel correspondent, Colleen Jackson, came across Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association and asked him what their mission is.
The Dairy Show. Part 6, Nigel Pritchard of M. J. Abbott
Water conservation on new build is the norm across Europe and, as always, we are playing catch up, particularly in agriculture, as Nigel Pritchard of M. J. Abbott explains to Geoff Pagotto
The Dairy Show. Part 5, Julian Goodwin of Crimp Grain Services ...
With all that grain beng sold at attractive high prices, what's happening to crimping grain. Julian Goodwin of Crimp Grain Services enlightens Geoff Pagotto
Wraxall Vineyard - A Somerset Grape Harvest ...
Colleen Jackson went along to Wraxall Vineyard to join in the grape harvest and, of course, to record the event for the Farming Channel. Brian Shirley and Jacky Brayton took over the vineyard in 2007 when it was in a pretty poor state but have already produced award winning wines. Some forecasts indicate that we could be growing all sorts of crops that are more commonly associated with the Mediterranean in years to come but grapes are already here to stay. Listen here to an interview that Colleen recorded with Brian and Jacky 2 years ago for Transition Vision's predeccesor Farm ...
The Dairy Show. Part 4, Geoff Elliott of SSD Nutrition
Followers of Farm Radio will remember Geoff Pagotto's contributions. We're really pleased that Geoff is now able to take part in Transition Vision, the successor to Farm Radio. Here is the forth of six pieces that he recorded at The Dairy Show at the Bath and West Showground. Seaweed has long been used in agriculture and its benefits are now establishing themselves in human health. Local supplier Geoff Elliott of SSD Nutrition talks about both aspects.
The Dairy Show. Part 2, Tony Walkers of Oliver Seeds
Followers of Farm Radio will remember Geoff Pagotto's contributions. We're really pleased that Geoff is now able to take part in Transition Vision, the successor to Farm Radio. Here is the second of six pieces that he recorded at The Dairy Show at the Bath and West Showground. What are the options and alternatives for fodder this winter and making plans for next year? Tony Walkers of Oliver Seeds shares his observations.
The Dairy Show. Part 1, Huw Bowles of OMSCo
Followers of Farm Radio will remember Geoff Pagotto's contributions. We're really pleased that Geoff is now able to take part in Transition Vision, the successor to Farm Radio. Here is the first part of six pieces that he recorded at The Dairy Show at the Bath and West Showground. Feed self sufficiency is vital for organic farmers. Huw Bowles, operations director for theOrganic Milk Suppliers Co-operative, OMSCo, explains the latest from their feed project.
Somerset County Farm Tenancies - Discussion at Sunrise Off Grid, Part 2
Dan Hurring of Sunrise Off Grid chairs a discussion on the proposed sell off of the Somerset County Council agricultural holdings at their gathering in August. James Small of the NFU offers his take on the situation. The Farming Channel correspondents Simon Keyte and Jennifer Newbury contributed this piece.
The Dairy Show. Part 3, David Pettitt of Kingshay
Followers of Farm Radio will remember Geoff Pagotto's contributions. We're really pleased that Geoff is now able to take part in Transition Vision, the successor to Farm Radio. Here is the third of six pieces that he recorded at The Dairy Show at the Bath and West Showground. High feed costs were the buzz at the Dairy Show and David Pettitt of Kingshay attempts to explain the ins and outs of the market place and just what individuals can do to lower costs.
The Black Farmer
Visiting the Travelling Souk at Kilver Court in Somerset, The Farming Channel correspondent Colleen Jackson encountered Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, probably better known as The Black Farmer. He was there launching his new range of country style clothing. Be sure to visit his website to witness the range of his activities. Particularly interesting is his Young City Farmers initiative through which he introduces young folk from urban areas to the possibilities of land-based work.
Feast of Dorset
The Farming Channel correspondent Colleen Jackson visited the Feast of Dorset at Deans Court, Wimborne, Dorset and later caught up with organiser Kate Graeme-Cook for an interview
The Empire Farm
The Empire Farm is tucked away in a quiet corner of Templecombe in Somerset. Since Sally and Adrian Morgan moved there they have been developing a great resource for training wouldbe smallholders and other folk that are interested in becoming more self-sufficient. Colleen Jackson of The Farming Channel attended some courses and, whilst there, recorded an interview with Sally about their project.
Tractor Girls
Jenny Coles was on a mission. She wanted to raise £100,000 for charity. Colleen Jackson visited her at her home near Shaftesbury and talked to her and her friend Claire Moore from Mullingar, Ireland about how she set about it. Visit the Tractor Girls website to make a contribution.
Paul Hillard of FACE
Reconnecting the current generation with the realities of farming and food production is a vital task. Farmers who organise school visits to their farm can find the exercise very rewarding and of course the school children and the teachers benefit greatly from the direct experience with the land and the livestock. However, it can be a bit of a minefield but Farming and Countryside Education - FACE are there to smooth out the problems. John Holman encountered Paul Hillard, their representative in the South West at the Dorset County Show.
Sturminster Newton Cheese Fair - Vox Pops
John Holman spent a weekend at The Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival and spoke to those people who were brave enough to be interviewed.
Somerset County Farm Tenancies - Discussion at Sunrise Off Grid, part 1 ...
Dan Hurring of Sunrise Off Grid chairs a discussion on the proposed sell off of the Somerset County Council agricultural holdings at their gathering in August. The Farming Channel correspondents Simon Keyte and Jennifer Newbury contributed this piece.
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show Part 4 - Malcolm Creed-Castle
Correspondent Colleen Jackson interviews Malcolm Creed-Castle and finds out about his cider making and honey production and the philosophy that underlies his approach.
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show Part 3 - Simon Hope of Natural England ...
Farming Channel correspondent, Colleen Jackson talks to Simon Hope about the magnificent longhorn cattle that he looks after on Natural England Parsonage Farm on Salisbury Plain.
Somerset County Farm Tenancies - The Council
David Huxtable, cabinet member for resources at Somerset County Council talks to John Holman about the Council's position on county farm tenancies.
Somerset County Farm Tenancies - The Farmers
Sue Holman interviewed Ben Smith and Dave Crabb about the situation for Somerset County farm tenants. Please also see the item "Yur 'Tis" here on the farming channel that features Dave and Janis Crabb's Yurt holiday enterprise. www.yurtis.co.uk
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show part 2 - Jon Colman and bees
Jon Colman has developed an intense interest in bees and has developed bee-friendly boxes for solitary types and hives. Here he talks to volunteer correspondent Colleen Jackson about his work. Jon has a website www.beehappy.org.uk where you can find out more about what he does.
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show, part 1 - Bob Walter MP
Bob Walter, MP for North Dorset, kindly gave John Holman some time to talk about his thoughts on agriculture and what farmers may expect from the new government.
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show Trailer
The Farming Channel were out in force at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show on 18th August 2010. This is a trailer for the items that will appear on this channel in due course
Yur 'tis
It was suggested to Janis and Dave Crabb that they should "diversify" when their tenancy agreement came up for renewal. They decided to set up Mongolian Yurts as a holiday enterprise. Sue Holman interviewed Janis Crabb about their new venture.
Channels