2022

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​EPISODE 86:  2022: AN 'ODD' YEAR with David Withers and Peter Arrand

published 16 December 2022

REVIEWING the past 12 months are David Withers, President of AEA (Agricultural Engineers Association) representing manufacturers and suppliers and Peter Arrand, President of BAGMA (British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association) representing the dealer trade

 

EPISODE 85:  SHOWDOWN? with Chris Bassett and Peter Driver 

published 1 December 2022

As a new show, Groundsfest, is announced for the turfcare industry in 2023, we ask whether four shows now in the schedule in 2023 is overkill?

 

EPISODE 84:  ON THE VINE with Chris Boiling and Ian Beecher Jones

published 1 December 2022

A conversation about the increasing quantity and quality of Uk produced wines with wine journalist Chris Boiling and Ian Beecher Jones, owner of JoJos Vineyard

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EPISODE 83:  NURTURING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS with John Ryan

published 24 November 2022

In conversation with John Ryan, co-founder of Lawn Care Legends and the spin-off Dealer Network about keeping  control of social media comments

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 EPISODE 82:  DATA, DEALERS, DECANTERS -and SHOWS

published 18 November 2022

Magazine episode with a view on current industry issues and forthcoming episodes

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EPISODE 81 :  BIRTH OF A BRAND Part Two with Harry Handkammer

published 3 November 2022

Second part of Harry Handkammer conversation covering the production of a Williams F1 garden tractor and breaking 100mph during attempt on land speed record - for a lawnmower!

 

EPISODE  80:  BIRTH OF A BRAND Part One with Harry Handkammer

published 27 October 2022

Harry Handkammer, founder of the Countax brand talks about the launch of the tractor brand after just six weeks of initial design and production engineering 

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EPISODE 79:  ALL IN THE MIND with Geoff Webb

published 13 October 2022

Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association opens up on the mental and health issues he has experienced recently. Recorded on World Mental Health Day

 

EPISODE 78:  ELIZABETHAN AGE: GARDEN MACHINERY with Brian Radam

published 27 July 2022

The curator of the British Lawnmower Museum, Brian Radam talks about the evolution of lawnmowers and garden machinery during the 70 years of Her Majesty's long reign

 

EPISODE 77:  ELIZABETHAN AGE: FARM MACINERY with Charlie Nicklin

published 27 July 2022

Charlie Nicklin, CEO of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) reflects on the evolution of tractors and farm machinery from the Little Grey Fergie to today's autonomous tractors.

 

EPISODE 76:   LIVING THE DREAM with Ben Matthews

published 22 September

Arriving in the UK from his home in Canada, Ben Matthews initially worked in health and social care, but one day spotted a sign advertising a career in greenkeeping. He enrolled on a course, and was offered a temporary post working on the Open Championship at St Andrews.

 

EPISODE 75:  SOUNDS OF THE SEASON

published 5 September 2022

A compendium of 20 voices from episodes published during 2022 - a selection of snippets compressed in 30 minutes

 

EPISODE 74:  TWO INTO ONE with Ruth Bailey

published 27 July 2022

A year after the eye-catching acquisition of BAGMA, the UK dealer trade association by the AEA, representing UK manufacturers, distributors and suppliers, CEO Ruth Bailey talks about the behind-the-scenes integration during the past 12 months.

 

EPISODE 73:  BRICKING TRACTORS with Cory Doctorow

published 15 July 2022

Earlier this year, it was reported that tractors and combines worth more than $5m stolen by Russian troops from a John Deere dealership in Ukraine had been remotely disabled - and could not be used. It was a feel-good story in the midst of so many distressing reports and images coming out of this destructive conflict. But was the bigger picture more worrying?

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EPISODE 72:  PITCH PERFECT with Jason Booth (45 minutes)

published 28 June 2022

Jason Booth made the move from aspiring professional cricketer with Yorkshire CCC to grounds management. He is now Chief Operating Officer of the Grounds Management Association (GMA) and has responsibility for the Pitch Advisory Service (PAS), funded by Sport England, with the aim of achieving continual improvement in the playing surfaces at an estimated 75,000 grounds used for recreational and community sport.

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EPISODE 71:  TALKING TURF with Stephen Edwards (43 minutes)

published 17 June 2022

Chris talks to Stephen Edwards, who along with his twin brother Alex, runs InTurf, one of the UK's largest and longest established suppliers of natural grass.. They discuss the turf growing cycle, the logistics and timeliness of the operation, irrigation, the ban on exporting turf to Europe since Brexit - and of course the fake (plastic) grass versus natural grass debate.

 

EPISODE 70:  HOW JIMMY THE MOWER CUT THROUGH (33 minutes)

published 1 June 2022

Jimmy Broadhouse (aka Jimmy the Mower) posted a photo on Twitter of a freshly mown grass area with the words 'It might only be a council field, but to the kids round here it is Wembley, so I cut like it is". The post went viral and started an extraordinary chain of events and numerous media appearances for Jimmy. 

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EPISODE 69:  WORLD CUP TO GRASSROOTS with KEITH KENT (53 minutes),

published 24 MAY 2022

Keith Kent, head groundsman at Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium and Rugby Football Union's Twickenham Stadium reflects on a 50 year career which included presiding over pitch preparation for Premier League matches, England Football Internationals, England Rugby Internationals, the 2015 Rugby World Cup, NFL game - and a Rolling Stones concert.

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EPISODE 68:  SHOWS, TRACTOR PORN AND NO MOW MAY (30 minutes),

published 19 MAY 2022

Chris reflects on the recent LAMMA show and the on-going debate about a national show, and also regards the recent ' Tractor Porn' news story about an MP as providing unexpected publicity for the industry.  He also thinks the No Mow May campaign had much to commend it, but was a blunt slogan to get a message across

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EPISODE 67:  DEALERS BY NUMBERS with Peter Hill (33 minutes),

published 20 April 2022

A recent feature in the Farmers Weekly ranked the UK's largest farm machinery dealerships by turnover. The author of the feature, Peter Hill, tells how he had to check almost 200 dealers in order to complete thefinal list of dealers with +£30m sales.

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EPISODE 66: MENTORING FOR SMALL BUSINESS with Martin Sanders  (33 minutes) ,

published 13 April April 2022

Recently retired from Honda Motor Europe where he was Chief Financial Officer, Martin Sanders is now helping small, often family-run companies, providing mentoring and an experienced pair of outside-eyes

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EPISODE 65: THE ROLE OF RECRUITERS with Stuart Goodinson and Grace Nugent (34 minutes) ,

published 8 April 2022

Stuart Goodison and Grace Nugent of agricultural specialists De Lacy Executive Recruitment talk about the role they play in unearthing candidates with the right skills and personality for clients

 

EPISODE 64: POSTCARD FROM NEW ZEALAND with Mark Daniel (38 minutes) ,

published 31March 2022

After working for a number of agri-turf machinery manufacturers in the Uk, Mark moved to New Zealand in 2002, and today is the Machinery Editor for Rural News, the country's leading farming publication.

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EPISODE 63: THE HIRE AND SALES MIX with Max Pearce  (28 minutes) ,

published 24 March 2022

Do hire and sales mix? Max Pearce who runs an established plant hire company, Exsel Plant Hire in Southampton recently acquired a garden machinery dealership and now runs them together, side-by-side as one company

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EPISODE 62:  'RUSSIA NEEDS 180,000 NEW TRACTORS'   (25 minutes) ,

published 18 March 2022

Over the past 10-15 years, major US and European farm machinery manufacturers have spent millions embedding themselves in the Russian market, building new production facilities and establishing a supply and service infra-structure. But what now, as sanctions are imposed and shipment to Russia halted?

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EPISODE 61: THE FUTURE FOR THE DEALERSHIP   (44 minutes) ,

published 3 March 2022

What factors will shape the agri-turf machinery dealer network in the UK over the coming years? A panel comprising James Tuckwell, md Tuckwells, David Withers md Iseki UK and Howard Pullen, board member of CLIMMAR the pan-European dealer association who discuss the events and strategies that might impact on the UK dealer landscape with host Chris Biddle 

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EPISODE 60:  AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT   (44 minutes) ,

published 17 February 2022

How well does the agricultural engineering industry present it environmental credentials, especially to young people??   A panel comprising Caroline Drummond MBE (LEAF), Charlie Nicklin (IAgrE), Marian Perrett Pearson (Severn Trent Water) and Chris Gibson (GGM Groundscare) discuss the issues.

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EPISODE 59   KEEPING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD   (30 minutes) , published 9 February 2022

Graham Parker, Sales Director of Ernest Doe describes how he and his team were determined not to break the +60 years history of the Doe Show during the pandemic

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EPISODE 58:   THE CHALLENGES OF RECRUITMENT  (40 minutes) , published 2 February 2022

A panel comprising Richard Charles (AGCO), Simon Holmes (T H White Group), Jeremy Gibbs (Forces Farming) and David Kirschner (Industry consultant) consider Challenges of Recruitment, the Opportunities and Obstacles 

 

EPISODE 57:   TRAILER FOR SEASON THREE  (10 minutes) , published 27 January 2022

Preview of Season Three including some audio snippets of the panel discussion from the opening episode of Agri-Turf Talks

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EPISODE 56:   SEASON TWO WRAP UP: VOICES OF 2021  33 minutes, published 9 January 2022

Selection of edited recordings from 2021 featuring dealer economics, equal opportunities, mental health and succession in the family business

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