How do farmers talk about mental health?

Hannah: 00:00:00

I'm just finishing some breakfast. Sorry, what you having? A bit of cheese on toast.

And it's actually Andy's got into his sourdough because as is tradition, when you hit 30, you have a little bit of a crisis, don't you? And if he hasn't got enough to do, you thought, oh, I'll start sourdough starter.

And it's actually quite a lot of upkeep, but he's done two loaves so far. This is the second one. I'd say the crumb isn't quite there, but for a second attempt, it's pretty good. So, yeah, I'm having it with some cheese.

Charlotte: 00:00:31

Proper question really should be, what kind of cheese?

Hannah: 00:00:33

Extra mature British cheddar.

Charlotte: 00:00:35

Okay. I can get on board with this.

Hannah: 00:00:37

Tangy. I'm not going to eat it down the microphone. Nobody wants to hear that. Asmr Sourdough crunch.

Charlotte: 00:00:44

Be like a mukbang going on.

Hannah: 00:00:46

Oh, they're weird. Do you watch mukbang? So people eat loads on camera.

Charlotte: 00:00:54

The AG Show's branching out.: 2026

Hannah: 00:00:59

No one wants that.

Tom: 00:01:17

Hi, I'm Tom Spencer.

Hannah: 00:01:18

I'm Hannah Clarke.

Charlotte: 00:01:19

I'm Charlotte Forkes-Rees.

Tom: 00:01:21

And welcome to the first of two festive editions of The AG Show, which.

Hannah: 00:01:26

Can be enjoyed whenever and wherever you are.

Charlotte: 00:01:29

Coming up, we'll talk mental health, because while Christmas is full of much cheer, it's also a time when some reach their tipping point.

Emily: 00:01:37

If you are feeling like you're struggling at the moment, kind of the normal things that you enjoy, you perhaps don't enjoy anymore.

If you're kind of worried about what's to come, especially around this season, around the Christmas period, because it's a really nice time, but it can be a really heavy time for some. Give us a call. Offload. What's the worst that can happen with making a phone call accepting that support?

Tom: 00:01:58

Earlier this month, I was in Geneva for the Jira Meat Club. I didn't bring anything back for the team, so I thought I'd share some thoughts and learnings.

Hannah: 00:02:06

And whilst you may think we're quite professional on this podcast, we've got a whole heap of outtakes to share with you. But sticking on the theme of pigs, Charlotte, I can't do that.

And speaking of pigs, Charlotte's been catching up with someone in our engagement team about an award they've won recently.

Emily: 00:02:28

Yeah, I caught up with.

Charlotte: 00:02:33

I dread to think how many I feature.

Tom: 00:02:36

In a quick reminder, new episodes of the Ag show drop every Wednesday at midday. Available wherever you get your podcasts with.

Charlotte: 00:02:45

Audio and video versions for every show. Just subscribe to make sure you don't miss an episode.

Hannah: 00:02:51

And please do get in touch with us on the pod. We'd love to hear from you. As always, please do comment on any of our social posts or email agshowdb.org.

Charlotte: 00:03:01

UK well, where are your Christmas jumpers, guys? I am suitably attired. Where are yours? Where's your festive cheer?

Hannah: 00:03:09

I like to think I've got a Christmas arm. Can you see my candy cane arm? It's a bit garish. This is a classic Jules piece and.

Tom: 00:03:21

We can see your tree in the background, Hannah, so I think you've done all right there. I. Unfortunately, I'm letting the side down I have at my family home. Somewhere in the attic is the cheapest Christmas full suit and tie.

That is the most flammable thing probably on earth that I daren't get out.

Charlotte: 00:03:42

Yeah, maybe that's.

That's quite fitting then, that, you know, I'm here full of the Christmas cheer and perhaps other people might not be at that same point that I am with how I'm feeling. Because Christmas and the festive season can be a difficult time.

But actually with a lot of the things that we've been hearing in the news, we had Susie last week talking about some of the difficulties coming through for dairy farmers. We've had lots of changes coming through in policy that has been quite concerning for a number of people.

Mental health is something that really shouldn't be ignored or avoid being talked about.

Hannah: 00:04:18

Definitely.

I think it's a really important point to make because as you say, this time of year, you know, you think, oh, it's, it's all festive and happy and there's, there's quite a lot of pressure, isn't there, on us at Christmas time, to enjoy it. You know, you're often pushed together with your family and that might cause a bit of friction and you've still.

For farmers, you've still got all the jobs to do.

You know, I remember growing up at home, you know, Mum and Dad, they were milking at the time, they'd still have to go out and do the morning milk, they'd do the calves. So that work just doesn't stop at a time when everything seems to be just completely full on.

But I mean, we're really quite lucky, I think, in the farming sector to have a lot of really, really positive organizations and there's a lot of resources out there to help with that pressure. And there's places and lots of people to talk to for farmers that might be struggling at this time of year, isn't there?

Charlotte: 00:05:17

Yes. And one such organization is We Are Farming Minds. And I'm so pleased to welcome their charity manager, Emily Jones, to the Ag Show.

Emily, massive, welcome. How are you?

Emily: 00:05:29

Oh, I'm good, thanks, Charlotte. No, thanks for having me on.

Charlotte: 00:05:31

Talk to me about We Are Farming Minds then, you know, what are you, who are you, how do you operate?

Emily: 00:05:38

So we're five years old, which is, you know, considerably a young charity in comparison to others. Our main aim is to break the stigma of mental health within farming.

It was set up by farming couple called Sam and Emily Stables, and they set it up because Sam attempted about 14 years ago to take his own life.

And what they noticed from that as actually the support system and the stigma, particularly around the farming community, was that mental health wasn't really a topic that was talked about. So they set up We Are Farming Mines as a kind of two services. So it was the counselling.

So fully to offer farming community, fully funded counselling and also a 24, 7 support line. And what quickly transpired from that is it got very busy, so it was building on year on year.

But also actually the big part about farming is around isolation and loneliness. So as a result of that, we started social events to help combat that isolation and loneliness.

And we run kind of multiple different events every month and seasonally to all the farming community, both men and women and both retired and veteran farmers, to try and encapsulate everyone that is representative within the farming world.

Charlotte: 00:06:44

And you're based, aren't you, as a charity in Herefordshire, am I right? But you're also supporting some of those wider counties, but also some of the helplines in that. Is that nationwide?

Emily: 00:06:54

So our helpline isn't nationwide, but what I would do is encourage anyone to call because we can help point you in the right direction of where you might be able to seek support. If we are not that place, we never turn anyone away, no matter where they're calling from. So if we can support you, we definitely will.

We work quite closely with the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster and we support all their farming tenants as well with counselling and support line. So we're a bit of an unusual setup, really, because we are obviously predominantly in Herefordshire.

However, kind of the past 12 months we've noticed a slight increase in want of support from our neighbouring counties. So Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire.

Sorry, I manage all the counselling and I process all the Counselling, referrals, and if someone's ringing me up for support, I'm not going to say no. So if I can help in that way, I will, whether that's online counsel or over the phone.

Charlotte: 00:07:46

When it comes to mental health, like you were saying, there's a huge amount of stigma that comes around it, and people are almost afraid to talk about it because they're worried about what they're gonna say.

But also there's the fact that you almost don't want to admit that you might be struggling and picking up on that fact where you mentioned about, you know, farming, it can be a really lonely profession. You know, you're in your cab in a field in the middle of nowhere, or you're in a barn, you know, doing whatever it is you're doing on your own.

Actually, it can be really hard to then start some of those conversations with anyone about if you might be struggling because you're just thinking, I'm completely on my own. No one's going to understand. So, like you were saying, it's been a busy year for you.

You had as many referrals by September this year as you had done in the previous 12 months. I'm guessing some of that's down to some of the pressures of modern farming.

Are you noticing, Emily, any sort of key themes that is coming through that, you know, people are saying that they might be struggling at the moment?

Emily: 00:08:45

Yeah, there's definitely a couple of things, obviously, for, for us, the big one is always the weather. That always plays kind of a vital role in. In your ability to be able to farm or do the jobs you need to do.

Farming's quite different because you have your kind of 247 work capacity and living capacity. And Sam always says it in a good way. He says, you can shut the front door, but you're still in the problem.

And that's because you often live and work where and finding it difficult and struggling.

Another one is that obviously the wider we're recognizing, the more we're breaking down that stigma, naturally we're going to have more people reaching out, which is a really, really good thing. I think the stigma is slowly changing. It is. And I think that's. That's. You can see that through our numbers, through our social event numbers.

You know, we reached and contacted and had attendees of over 4,000 people last year. So, you know, and we.

And we launched our new merchandise this year and people are wearing it and people are buy it, you know, and it's associated with a mental health charity. So we do things differently at we are farming minds.

We do events that aren't focused around rental health, but as a side effect, it does improve your mental health or it gives you the platform to talk about how you're feeling, if that's something you wish to go down. But in terms of the counselling as well, you have, you know, your normal. What you.

What I call normal, but as in bereavement, grief, processing things, divorce, separation. But throw farming in the mix and it becomes a whole lot more complicated. So you've got generational farming.

If there's a separation that creates other issues. As I said, you've got the weather, you've got the isolation, you've got aloneness, you've got government policies.

You know, it's one of the only professions in the world where you don't know how much you're going to get paid. And we often sit back and think, okay, if you didn't know your income at the end of the month, how would you manage that?

Charlotte: 00:10:32

So there isn't really a right or a wrong reason to be reaching out. It could be anything that they might be feeling, that they might be struggling with. That is a very valid reason to reach out.

Emily: 00:10:42

People reaching out might not want that support or might not, you know, be a bit. Be a bit dubious about it.

But a lot of the people I speak to actually don't recognise that they're struggling and it's actually a family member or a friend and they've actually reached out to us wanting the confidence to be able to. How do I approach this subject? Mental health is still quite a Cebu subject, especially suicide, to talk about.

And it's like, how do I speak about this to the person that, you know, I love or my really close friends? I don't know how they're going to react.

So encouraging people to have those conversations, and we do that through our training workshops as well, actually breaks down that barrier and that gives that person the ability to recognise actually, are they okay? Are they managing everything okay?

Charlotte: 00:11:26

Are you noticing that there's a difference between men and women coming to you?

Emily: 00:11:31

Yeah, so particularly this year. So last year's counselling referrals were 51% male, 49% female. So we're almost at an equal playing field this year.

However, the first nine months, 64% were male. So we are having more men step forward. And interestingly, the age, the highest age range of men that we are having step forward is between 36 and 55.

So it's that kind of middle territory. But yeah, definitely Men have kind of been the stronger foothold in terms of reaching out for counseling. And I only see that as a really good thing.

We also put on social events for men and for women differently. So for the men, we put on seasonal social events. They're called Men in agriculture.

So they run through from October, November through to January, February time. And we get around about anywhere between 170, 250 each month attend that. And then we also do women, what farm events.

That's any woman within the farming community. And what I first noticed, I think when I started this role a couple of years ago was that actually that's quite I what varied for women.

So if we put it as women actively farming, what does that actually mean and what does that look like?

Because you know, a woman can have a full time job, help out on the farm, maybe weekends, but wouldn't consider herself maybe as actively farming or you know, the priority is the children. She might not again see herself as actively farming. So we had to work around that.

And I think one of the biggest barriers is that they're very, they hold very different kind of identities within farming. Sometimes you know that women take on kind of more job roles within farming.

So it's finding the time and the place and breaking down the barriers so that majority of women can attend our social events, you know, whether they have full time jobs, whether they, you know, look after children, whether they do both, whether they farm themselves.

Charlotte: 00:13:19

So do you have any advice perhaps for people that feel that they might be struggling or they've actually noticed in someone close to them at the moment that they might be struggling at the moment, what would you suggest that they'd be doing?

Emily: 00:13:30

If you are feeling like you're struggling at the moment, if every day seems a bit heavier, kind of the normal things that you enjoy, you perhaps don't enjoy anymore.

If you're kind of worried about what's to come, especially around this season, around the Christmas period, because it's a really nice time, but it can be a really heavy time for some. Give us a call offload. If we can support, we will. I always say to people when they ring, what's the worst that can happen with making a phone call?

What is the worst thing and also what's the worst thing about accepting counseling, accepting that support? And how many times in your life have you had the opportunity to speak to someone about what's going on for you?

So that hour a week where you can say this has happened this week and actually it was affected me this way, you know, very Often we're so busy in our lives that we never get the opportunity to sit down and think, okay, how are we? What's going on for us? Doesn't mean weakness, it doesn't mean that you're suffering with anything.

It just means that actually you're creating a bit of time for yourself in order to move forward. All our counsellors have farming knowledge, they're hand selected by us.

So, you know, if you are sat in front of a counsellor saying about, you know, your tractors broke down or your yield is pretty poor and it's really affected you, they will understand and that's what makes us different.

If you are worried about someone, if you're seeing someone kind of withdrawing and maybe not themselves or getting to temper, I think that's also kind of way to recognise it, have that conversation with them again. What's the worst that can happen? Just say, are you okay? I'm noticing this. You know, don't be afraid to approach the subject.

Talking about suicide or talking about mental health will never increase the risk. In fact, it's more than likely going to save someone.

Charlotte: 00:15:10

You were mentioning about some of your social events. I hear that you might have quite a fun sounding fundraising event coming next year.

Emily: 00:15:18

So back in March this year we put on a fundraising and it was farmers who had trained for the boxing for three or four months over the winter periods, which in itself really helped them, gave them focus and it gave them something to do which was like a positive knock on effect that to be honest, I didn't even consider. And they got in the ring in March this year and it was 12 bouts, it was in a shed and we sold out the tickets sold out within four hours.

But on the back of that we also had three counselling referrals. So these farmers getting involved in our events had this knock on effect. It also kind of aligned with our patronage announcement.

So we're very fortunate this year to have Prince William on board as one of our, as our patron. His kind of enthusiasm and his dedication around rural mental health kind of really aligns with what we do and obviously what he supports.

So he came on as patron. So yeah, so we're back next year. We are doing it the end of June. Farmers are starting to train.

I've got about 26 boxes at the moment, male and female boxers, so we're not excluding anyone. They start training at the end of January and we're going bigger so we'll have more capacity.

So hopefully, fingers crossed, people will be able to get some tickets this time. And really enjoy the night.

Charlotte: 00:16:35

Are you able to share with our listeners the best way to contact you if they do feel like they want to reach out or they want to talk about someone who they think might be struggling?

Emily: 00:16:46

Yeah, absolutely. So all our information about our events, about the history of We Are Farming Minds is available on our website.

-: 8802

And if any way you want to get involved, volunteer, please just reach out to us. We are here. As I said, we will support in any way we can.

Charlotte: 00:17:16

Thank you so much, Emily. I think I'm gonna suggest that Hannah signs up for doing your charity Boxing Max. She's. She's gonna be super scrappy, I would think.

And I think on that note, it's time for us to take a break.

Tom: 00:19:36

Welcome back to The AG Show. Thank you, Charlotte, for your great interview. Some really important conversations we've just heard there.

I think farming has got a long way to go when it comes to this topic, but onto something. I believe, Martin, you've got something a bit lighter for us. A bit of a. What we calling this? An outtakes recording, perhaps.

Martin: 00:19:59

Outtakes or bloopers. I just wanna say thank you guys because you have made me laugh so much over the last six or seven weeks.

Probably not intention, but this is a podcast. It is recorded, it is edited. There is bits that end up on the editing room floor which actually it just, you know, I'm not in an editing room.

I am in the spare bedroom in my house. But first of all, can I just say, well done, Charlotte on the Christmas jumper. Well done, Hannah on the one arm. Candy cane.

Tom, you let the side down because I did bring in my reindeer.

Martin: 00:20:35

Antlers, which don't really fit on top of a head that's already got some headphones on. But I sh. Wear them for this, for this part just to get into the spirit. Anyway. Yes.

The Ag show, what we started back in November and hopefully over the next few minutes you'll see how we started out with good intentions but kind of rapidly went downhill. I'm going to give you a behind the scenes look at some of the early meetings. I'm getting rid of the antlers. Yeah.

I'm going to give you a behind the scenes look at some of the early meetings and episode recordings. So, Tom, what do you think? Spencer's direction. How do you fancy that as a feature?

Tom: 00:21:15

I reckon Spencer direction. I can see where it's traveling. I can see the excuse, the pun. Direction. Bit of market chat, perhaps? Bit of sentiment from farmers.

Bit of bullish, bearish.

Martin: 00:21:27

All those farmers that have got lost in a minefield of information.

Tom: 00:21:30

Exactly.

Martin: 00:21:31

Charlotte, what are you gonna bring?

Charlotte: 00:21:33

You wouldn't let me have forking legends, so it's gonna be what, the forks, Reese.

Martin: 00:21:38

Ah, yeah, it's got a ring to it. And Hannah Clarke, what cultural reference could we bung into something for you to take ownership of?

Hannah: 00:21:46

I was looking at ChatGPT for inspiration, and there's quite a lot on here. Clark's side of the moon. Clark Kent after Clark. Moody or reflective over late night thoughts?

Charlotte: 00:22:00

I didn't realize it was that kind of podcast. Hannah.

Martin: 00:22:04

We cater to that.

Hannah: 00:22:05

I'm gonna say it's eclectic. Or we can go down the Clarkson's farm route. Clarkson farm.

Martin: 00:22:11

I don't think we're getting in any trouble with that, will we?

Hannah: 00:22:14

No, I think I'm quite different to Jeremy Clarkson.

Tom: 00:22:16

I should hope in many ways. Again, if I just keep waffling, hopefully some of it will be, like, clippable. That makes sense, Martin.

Tom: 00:22:24

So I'm hoping it. The Ag show can really broadcast all the good work that HDB does and give it to you in such.

What I'm hoping is that the Ag show can be a new platform.

Hannah: 00:22:36

What do I want agronomics to do? It's like calling it agronomics. The Ag Show. My God.

Charlotte: 00:22:42

I want it to feel like we're having a coffee break with them, whether they're sat in their tractor or in their kitchen or in the shower. I mean, I'm quite happy to sit on the toilet while someone's in the shower listening to us. That'd be fine. Having a cup of tea with them.

That'd be fine. Maybe don't include the toilet. I didn't mean that as in IG live.

Martin: 00:22:59

Someone is having a shower and you're on the toilet.

Charlotte: 00:23:02

I meant like with the lid down. Not with, like, me using the toilet.

Hannah: 00:23:11

Charlotte is broadcasting to us live and direct from the toilet.

Charlotte: 00:23:15

I might actually do that.

Tom: 00:23:19

I feel like I need to. I need to have a bit of a think about this one because.

Martin: 00:23:21

Okay.

Tom: 00:23:21

Before we do ideas. But then it's. Yeah. Making the last idea feel crap. And then I've. I'm back to square one. Hold on. I've Lost my train of thought now.

So someone else go, I had it, I had it, I had it.

Hannah: 00:23:31

What did I say before?

Martin: 00:23:32

Well, you can almost stop with, he's got a big head with chock full of information. A big, big brain, whatever it was.

Tom: 00:23:40

Massive head.

Hannah: 00:23:42

He's got a massive head. And it's just full of brains, thankfully.

Tom: 00:23:46

And Skull.

Charlotte: 00:23:49

Tom's got a massive head.

Hannah: 00:23:53

I don't inflate your ego too much, Tom?

Charlotte: 00:23:55

Definitely just as happy as Dick. Sorry, I'm not doing well at all today.

Martin: 00:23:59

Well, you could almost say last time we were together, Hannah, you were going to be planting a sausage.

Charlotte: 00:24:05

I think you had a secret planter on your behalf though, didn't you? Our nice number one fan when we were on ergonomics of a certain gentleman named Tony, who did email you reminding.

Hannah: 00:24:18

Yeah. And he. He said then, I don't know what happens if the sausage gets. Oh, what's the word? Exhumed by a dog.

If your dog digs the sausage up, does that curse you or not?

Hannah: 00:24:30

The sunshine. The sun shone on the 13th. That's all I cared about. How do I look? Look, let me look at the camera.

Charlotte: 00:24:37

You look beautiful.

Hannah: 00:24:39

Oh, thanks, love. So do you.

Charlotte: 00:24:42

I wash my hair.

Hannah: 00:24:44

It's this beauty face thing. Yeah, I wash my hair too. Oh, what a treat. I know.

Martin: 00:24:52

Right, I'm gonna jump in now. So I think that's kind of like a nice place for the end of part one. Yes, there is a part two.

Despite only being up and running for less than a couple of months, we have amassed quite the pile of bloopers and blunders. So, Hannah, Charlotte, Tom, thank you for entertaining me whilst putting that together.

Hopefully that's entertained you, but stay tuned because we've got a second lot and they're even funnier.

Tom: 00:25:18

And thank you, Martin, for making sure everyone now knows that Hannah thinks I've got a big head.

Hannah: 00:25:25

I just loved it when you said, if I just waffle on, I'm sure something will intelligent will come out.

Charlotte: 00:25:31

Sums up our shows, doesn't it? I've forgotten about the toilet comment.

Hannah: 00:25:38

Me too.

Martin: 00:25:39

We could go on tour with that. With a portaloo. Really? And just have you broadcast in.

Charlotte: 00:25:47

I've got something I want to say now, but I probably shouldn't say it. Because it's going to end up in.

Hannah: 00:25:52

Another show for the blooper reel.

Charlotte: 00:25:53

We'll be back after a break. Thanks, guys. Stop recording.Cut mic.

Charlotte: 00:27:31

Welcome back to The AG Show. And yeah, sooner we can skip over talking about the Bloopers from previous shows perhaps the better.

So, Tom, I know Hannah and I were ribbing you quite a bit last episode that you hadn't brought us back any gifts when you went over to Jira. I think we've slight.

Well, maybe I haven't completely gotten over it, but I am actually interested to find out what you got up to while you were there. So come on, take the floor, take us through what you did.

Tom: 00:28:02

So first things first, to get people's minds on the right sort of track. It's not as glamorous as it sounds when you, when you do go abroad for something like this.

Although it was very exciting to hop on a plane and as part of work, I was in a basement for two days, pretty much listening to some really thought provoking and interesting talks about the meat sector. So this was poultry, pork, beef and sheep.

I know poultry isn't something that HDB covers, but it still has huge relevance when it comes to consumption, for example, and the cost of production and the price of where poultry sits to the rest of the meat industry. But. But no, it was a fantastic time. We had talks from people who were all over the globe.

So Brazil, America, Canada, different parts of Africa, Europe, Asia and then the southern hemisphere of Australia, New Zealand. It was really informative.

Hannah: 00:29:03

What were some of the key conversations or topics that were being talked about? Asf, I would think would be a big one.

Tom: 00:29:09

Yes, it was quite timely for asf.

As we spoke about on the last episode, African swine fever has just poked its head in Spain, which is, as we mentioned last week, a really important industry in Spain. And pork in Spain is influential across the world, second biggest exporter.

So we had people from Europe who'd already experienced the outbreak in their countries, although their country isn't as influential when it comes to the world market. Giving their insights on what an outbreak of ASF looks like in their country was really insightful.

And then just to hear it almost update in front of us, I think it was in the morning. It started off with X many cases and then by the afternoon they're able to say it's X plus whatever. Some really important chat there.

Yeah, it was that day that the UK had announced it to say that the region of Catalonia would not be places we'd import from, but we were opening that up to say that the rest of Spain we would be importing from. So, yeah, really informative to hear that live reaction.

Charlotte: 00:30:13

What was the most interesting talk that you heard over the couple of days that you were there?

Tom: 00:30:18

I think there are two that really caught my eye. One was, in general, across both beef, sheep and pork was China. A fact that China is such a. Well, a huge consumer of red meat.

But the way its attitudes to its own domestic production, I think across all three industries, China is making a real move. A real move.

Jira, who are the ones giving the talks, they referred to it as sort of China syndrome in the way that they've recently had decent production, but in a way that it has impacted their domestic prices. So their domestic prices have fallen and that has caused a lot of these producers to find it quite hard and go, go and leave the industry.

But what it's therefore done is allowed the stronger producers to consolidate what they're doing. And as these producers consolidate, they're able to get larger.

that point, it's where across: 2026

There' of hoops you got to jump in before you do that, but some really exciting areas to look at there.

And then the other one that was really fascinating, actually, was India, something that I hadn't really thought about much, so it was looking at beef and buffalo.

Now, it's quite an interesting topic, simply because of the Indian population, their attitude to beef and buffalo, where that industry goes in terms of their production, it's very much an emerging market. There's. There's a lot out there, but they're sort of low production, low herds when it comes to per animal.

But in terms of the potential that could come across from India, whether that be the live export market or milk production, it was a really interesting insight into. Into where that could go into the future.

Charlotte: 00:32:29

So potential for some massive changes to perhaps be happening over the next couple of years.

Tom: 00:32:34

Absolutely.

I think it is a time where you've got high beef prices, you've got interesting places in the pork industry where disease outbreaks, not to forget the sheep market, where demand is.

It's not as strong as it has been, but there's definitely areas where the industry can really take advantage of, especially in that export market, as things move forward.

Charlotte: 00:32:55

Hannah, do you think that's a good enough summary that we might forgive Tom for getting the chocolate for us.

Hannah: 00:33:01

I think we can let him off this time for leaving Toby behind in the airport. We'll miss him. But continuing this blooper sandwich. Martin, you've got another section for us, haven't you?

Martin: 00:33:12

Absolutely. And just when you thought we couldn't get any more unprofessional. I'm including myself in this. We sunk to new depths.

Charlotte: 00:33:21

I think basically as soon as we start all join, you just need to hit record is where I'm at because yeah, we usually say something that would be my suggestion.

Martin: 00:33:30

And I'll have more stuff for the. The outtakes and.

Hannah: 00:33:33

Yeah, exactly.

Charlotte: 00:33:34

Saying inappropriate things. I mean I've got a massive delay. I'm not gonna lie. I think on mine, so. Sorry.

Martin: 00:33:40

Did you get any of that, Hannah?

Hannah: 00:33:42

It was a bit meat moop meat.

Martin: 00:33:45

R2D2.

Charlotte: 00:33:46

As good as that.

Martin: 00:33:49

Your husband gaming?

Charlotte: 00:33:51

No, I don't think so.

Hannah: 00:33:52

I'm. Well, I'll go and check in a bit.

Martin: 00:33:54

Maybe we should stop the recording after playing his Xbox. Well, guess.

Charlotte: 00:33:59

No, I just got.

Martin: 00:34:02

It's gone.

Hannah: 00:34:04

It's exploded. Does my nose look really red? I think I look really cold. I always have a red nose and I go cop.

Martin: 00:34:12

Completely lost Charlotte. Here she is. What the forks Reese is going on.

Charlotte: 00:34:20

Not happy is what it is. It did this earlier so I was on like a couple of minutes before too and it dropped me out and then did this. Unable to connect but then it was fine.

So I don't know. Seems strange Tom not being here for another week. He's having much, much. He's having much deserved holiday. But that then leads me to once.

Martin: 00:34:42

Again do that all again.

Hannah: 00:34:45

No, we have a lot to still to come. On our episode this week we are going to be diving into some virtual reality in pig avatars. But sticking on the theme of pigs Charlotte.

Charlotte: 00:34:59

I can't do that.

Hannah: 00:35:02

And speaking of pigs, Charlotte's been catching up with someone in our engagement team about an award they won recently.

Charlotte: 00:35:08

Yeah, I caught up with.

Tom: 00:35:14

Yeah, thank you, Martin. Yeah. You've put a lot of pressure on it. No, I'm joking. These are two very businessy terms. Now they are used in. In wide.

Now they are used in the wider sort of business and ah, we'll get there. To put it in plain English, KPI's critical. Oh, we'll get there.

Martin: 00:35:38

Do you want me to reintroduce you?

Tom: 00:35:40

Yeah. No. Yeah. No. Should I go from the top?

Hannah: 00:35:42

When I first heard csf I thought cabbage stem flea beetle. I'm glad it didn't mean.

Charlotte: 00:35:48

That's a throwback.

Hannah: 00:35:53

Too many encounters with.

Charlotte: 00:35:56

Us.

Hannah: 00:36:01

That. Talking of pigs. That's a classic.

Charlotte: 00:36:04

I was gonna say.

Tom: 00:36:07

You almost went. You almost doubled down Hannah. You said it once, giggled and went, no, we're gonna go with this. Speaking of pigs, Charlotte, that's awful.

Charlotte: 00:36:18

It was the fact, I think, Martin, there were three or four takes more at least, of us trying to do that one link. It did not work. Yeah.

Martin: 00:36:28

Honestly, that pig one at the conference, that could have just. That could have made an entire episode, I think, just on itself. And. Yeah, Hannah, you did swear.

Charlotte: 00:36:38

Normally, I'm a swearer. I don't think I've sworn yet.

Martin: 00:36:40

I don't give time for that.

Charlotte: 00:36:43

Oh, no. On that note, I actually think I've got off quite lightly with this blooper episode. So thank you, producer Martin.

You will have a nice big present awaiting you under your tree. That's gonna be another thing I'm gonna laugh at.

Hannah: 00:36:57

That's another one.

Charlotte: 00:37:00

But anyway, I think that ties in quite well. So that is everything.

We've got time for this episode, talking on those serious topics of mental health, but then having, you know, that little bit of ribbing of Tom with Jira and a few laughs along the way with our outtakes. Thank you so much for listening. Make sure you're subscribed to us. New episodes drop every Wednesday at midday.

If you've got any questions, comments, anything you'd like to ask us, drop us a line. It is agshowdb.orguk or comment on any of our social channels. We love to hear from you.

In our next episode, you will see Tom, Hannah and I undertaking producer Martin's special festive quiz. That's definitely gonna be one to look out for. So until then, see you soon.

Hannah: 00:37:52

Bye.

Martin: 00:37:54

Merry Christmas.

Charlotte: 00:37:55

Merry Christmas.

Hannah: 00:37:56

Oh, yeah. Sa.