About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges of harvesting during a heatwave, the risks of grain washing, and features insights from various guests including Erling Haaland on supporting British farmers.

A third summer heatwave is creating difficult harvesting conditions, with shrivelled grain, variable cereal yields and combines being forced to operate early in the morning or late at night. We examine warnings against “grain washing” - adding water to very dry harvested grain before it goes into store - and consider the risks of hot spots, mould and contamination. Elsewhere, MPs challenge Defra over whether its new 25-year farming roadmap contains enough detail, investment and ambition to improve profitability and food security. And finally, Norwegian football star Erling Haaland explains why he buys raw milk, beef and honey from a Cheshire farm. This episode is brought to you by crop protection specialists Certis Belchim . Special Guests: * Amy Caitlin, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds team * Alistair Carmichael MP, Efra committee chairman * Emma Reynolds MP, Defra secretary * Erling Haaland, Manchester City and Norway footballer * Helen Southworth, Cheshire dairy farmer, Greenoaks Farm Chapters 00:59 Heatwave harvest challenges 01:27 Warning over grain washing 02:34 Early harvest results 04:09 Should growers add moisture? 07:17 Silage and maize conditions 09:47…

Topics covered

• harvesting challenges
• grain washing
• farming roadmap
• Scottish agriculture
• Erling Haaland
• food security

Keywords

• heatwave
• harvesting
• grain washing
• farming roadmap
• Scottish agriculture
• food security
• Erling Haaland
• raw milk
• beef
• honey

Sponsors

Certis Belchim

More episodes of The Farmers Weekly Podcast

• What to expect from Andy Burnham's government, no murder charge over farm shooting, & UK chickpea challenge · July 18, 2026 · 50 min
• Groundswell 2026: Private money for green farming, Wildfarmed, Kemi Badenoch & 10 years of regenerative agriculture · July 6, 2026 · 47 min
• Flaming June, Farming Roadmap, bovine TB, farm machinery 10 years post- Brexit, and green award for farm estate · June 25, 2026 · 46 min
• Verdict on SFI budget, fertiliser warning, Red Tractor responds, and Only Farmers · June 17, 2026 · 45 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Farmers Weekly Podcast podcast page.