What Your Favourite OnFARM Episodes Tell Us

When we launched the OnFARM (Food, Agriculture and Rural Matters) podcast, our aim was simple: to give rural areas a stronger voice and a new platform from which to share their wonderful and inspiring stories.

We could scarcely have imagined that just two years later, OnFARM would be performing in the top 2% of 2.8M benchmarked podcasts by Listen Notes!  

We took a look at some of the most popular episodes and here's what we discovered you LOVE about the OnFARM podcast....

The Guests
OnFARM podcast guests are not only experts in their respective fields, many have also chosen an unconventional path or have overcome unexpected challenges.
Some of your favourite OnFARM episodes have included:

• a conversation with Doddie Weir & a visit to the farm of comedian Jim Smith
• chats with key figures in the Scottish rural sector (e.g.NFU Scotland,  Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Moredun Institute et al)
• the launch of the Equine Grass Sickness research drive by our highest-profile guest (to date!) HRH Princess Royal.

Commitment

‍It's often reported that most podcasts 'podfade' after seven episodes but it's actually nearer the truth to say that a new podcast seldom goes on to produce a second episode! You've told us that you really value being able to find new episodes every Monday at podfollow/onfarm....and you also love being able to peruse the back catalogue of episodes.  One of our very earliest episodes 'Norvite - a Scottish alternative to imported soybean feed' continues to be downloaded.

‍Brevity

‍We know you're busy!  OnFARM episodes are around 35 or 40-minutes long and our listeners tell us that this is an ideal length to listen to whilst driving the tractor, in the lambing shed, or out walking the dog etc! Our episode 'Be a price-maker not a price-taker' with dairy farmer Rory Christie may only be 33 minutes long but it packs a punch and it is still one of your all-time favourite episodes.

‍Authenticity

‍We understand the rural sector and we don't shy away from difficult issues, including mental health and suicide.   'Remembering Grant Brand, and 'We All Need a Farmer'' was a hard listen and we are immensely grateful to you for sharing this touching episode as widely as you did.

‍Broad appeal

‍While many of our listeners are farmers or rural dwellers, OnFARM is enjoyed by a wide range of people and the hugely popular episodes with the Batch Lady aka Suzanne Mulholland, author of "Shop Once, Cook Once, Eat Well All Week" were enjoyed by many of you irrespective of your location or occupation.  

‍Professionalism

‍Thanks for all the lovely compliments we've received about OnFARM.  There is a unique combination of expertise within the team: Tech specialist Dave Howard, who records and edits content, has 20 years of experience with the BBC;  Episode hosts, Anna Davies & Ross Montague, have, at the helm of Scene & Herd, the Rural PR and Marketing Agency, spent the last decade telling Scotland’s rural stories.

Speak to us about the benefits of commissioning or sponsoring an episode of OnFARM, the Rural Podcast.