Brash Ag

Can vertical farming become a viable option for supplying fresh produce during a crisis? How do the markets for vertically farmed produce change between cultures? What does the future look like for vertical farming? This week Kit and Ray speak to farmer, entrepreneur and Nuffield Scholar Will Brown. Will explains his background in agriculture, growing up on a tenanted farm in Oxfordshire and how his experience in frozen food wholesale helped him to build a small scale vertical farming business alongside taking over the family arable operation. Will explains how a Nuffield Scholarship turbocharged his learning about vertical farming and also led to an epiphany about the business model for vertical farming alongside traditional farming and why he had to make a difficult call about continuing to build his vertical farming business, OX3 Greens. Along the way Will turns the tables and gives Ray and Kit a grilling about autonomous agriculture and asks when he can have robotic tractors to help free up his time for him to make more entrepreneurial decisions on the farm. Will is a forwarding thinking farmer with a passion for new technologies and business models and this episode is a must listen for engineers, farmers and founders.

How did pioneering agtech manufacturer Niao take a need for a demo day and end up launching a global accelerator for farm robotics? How has a rebrand from FIRA to Gofar opened up new opportunities to expand the organisation? This week Ray and Kit speak to Maialen Cazenave Co-Director at the Gofar - Global Organisation for Agricultural Robotics. Maialen explains her background and how she found her way to agriculture from a non-farming background, leveraging her business skills and education to become a leader at Gofar. Maialen explains how Gofar is looking to deliver more value to farmers, growers and machinery manufacturers through a world wide tour aimed at developing and encouraging peer to peer conversations. With events such as Lamma, EMIA and Agritechnica becoming more about technology and automation, how is Gofar differentiating itself in a constantly evolving industry? With a front seat at the bleeding edge of commercialisation of innovation, Maialen is well placed to provide the co-hosts with some of her hot takes for new and emerging technologies in agritech. Will smart irrigation tech start to emerge as the climate changes? Will AI and data management become the new killer feature for autonomous systems on farms? Is harvesting the next big opportunity for agritech innovators and engineers to exploit?

Is it the end of the road for Agrointelli and their Robotti autonomous gantry platform? In the spirit of “The Rest is Politics”, Kit and Ray take to the airwaves to discuss the breaking news of Agrointelli’s bankruptcy. While the company is currently still producing robots and fulfilling orders their liquidity challenges could mean the end of the line for the company founded in 2015 to commercialise academic research. With a Danish government fund keeping the lights on, can a deal be done before time runs out? The pair also discuss other autonomy plays in the agricultural space, are the likes of Agco and John Deer going to lose market share to smaller players or will massive distribution take the prize in the long run? Also this week the co-hosts break the news of the termination of the joint venture between Mahindra and Mitsubishi in Japan. With Mahindra pulling out of the Japanese market and focusing on their domestic customers, Ray and Kit ponder as to the motivations for such a move? Is Mahindra turned off by the aging population in Japan or have they pulled away with all the IP they need to further grow their domestic offering? Finally, with the rise of automation across industries, including farming, do we have enough technicians and apprentices to keep the machines working? The pair take on the debate? O and some cool AI in construction: https://youtube.com/shorts/elT6Ggcx_vQ?si=Iag54RO6c2ei2Lcu

Can a war lead to more investment in vertical farming? How can a tractor help you iron your trousers? What new tech can farmers buy with the latest grant funding in the UK? This Week Ray and Kit catch up for a much overdue news feed episode. With recent developments in the Middle East and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz all but ceased the UAE has experienced food supply disruptions. The co-hosts discuss the opportunities for vertical farming to be part of a food security plan for the country and how agricultural engineers (as ever) are part of the answer. The pair also dive into the recently announced Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for 2026 and what new tech is supported this time round? Are farmers ready to invest in a grain weevil? Will UK dairy farmers have an appetite for mobile slurry separators? Does Roger Robson-Williams have the marketing for electric tractor conversions nailed? How does ironing and running a toaster link to James Watt and horse power as a unit of measure…

How do you sell a brand new concept to some of the sharpest farmers and business people in Australia? What is the killer sales strategy? Is autonomy a barrier to adoption or do farmers need to think about things at a system level? This week Kit and Ray are joined by Sam Scales, product specialist at Landpower in Australia,. Sam is pioneering the sale of Agxeed robots in Australia. Sam has a fascinating background going from an apprenticeship to Masters degree from Harper Adams alongside a wealth of experience from roles at Hawk Plant Hire, Railability and JCB. Sam explains how a chance call from his good friend (and friend of the pod) Will Flittner, led to him and his wife travelling down under to work for Landpower, a huge scale dealership for Claas, Grimme and AgXeed equipment (to name a few of their brands). Now a few years into the role Sam has been demonstrating, hiring and selling equipment to some of the world's most savvy farmers. Sam shares his secrets to delivering value for his discerning customers; from understanding agronomy, how autonomy can help improve the soil and applying a systems based approach to help farmers adopt new ways of working with machines that drive themselves. This is a must for engineers, farmers and anyone trying to build a market for new technologies. #engineering #agtech #agritech #agriculture #farming #swarmfarm #robotics #Australianfarming #Australia #farmingdownunder #automation

How much horse power is too much for a stock tractor? 300hp? 500? How about 5000hp? Does subscription free AI exist? and why are small bales King in the USA? This week Kit brings us four of his top picks from the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville Kentucky. But before we hear about the latest Agritech Kit shares his experience from the Championship Tractor pull and some of the ear splitting engines fitted to these beasts of the arena. Meanwhile at the show we heard from: Eric Franks of Visionworks Camera Systems who tells us all about their subscription free AI safety cameras that promise to help drivers identify and avoid collisions with bystanders by providing alerts and distance measurements. Mark Ray from GEA who explains the CattleEye system for tracking lameness in dairy herds using AI driven camera systems to monitor behaviour. Can prognosis be better than diagnosis and do the numbers stack up for all dairy businesses? Bryce Baker of PTX talks through the latest developments from the GPS navigation company and how their hardware and software could help farmers to access autonomy for field operations such as corn carting and harvest. Could retrofit autonomous tractors open up opportunities to complete tillage tasks within time critical windows? Bryce also showcases the Arrowshot technology that can perfectly orient and place maize (corn) seeds in the ground during drilling to ensure all the leaves all all the plants are aligned in the field. Ben Mansfield (a friendly face from the UK and Harper Adams days) describes how British manufacturer JCB is finding its niche in the US machinery sector with skid steers and telehandlers. Ben also explains how JCB is challenging perceptions about the role of a telehandler on the farm. Could a ‘construction machine’ really find a home working in an ag setting? European farmers think so. As ever Ray and Kit deliver these insights with their own thoughts and insights…

Could farm machinery be the new frontline for the war on cyber crime? How will cyber threats shape the future of autonomy on farms and what can farmers and engineers do to protect themselves and each other? In this episode Kit and Ray are joined by Ezekiel (Zeke) McReynolds to talk all things Cyber security and agritech. With a fascinating background that spans agricultural engineering and military work, Zeke is well placed to guide the co-hosts through the murky world of cyber crime and the vital work that is being done to help keep users, owners and the public safe. The hosts share some of their experiences of how cyber security has been (or hasn’t been adopted) from their own experiences innovating in farm robotics and ag machinery space. Zeke also offers some real down to earth examples of how farmers and engineers can implement cyber security in their day to day work without breaking the bank in the process. A big fan of Brash Ag, Zeke also echos the rallying cry to encourage more engineers into agriculture and highlights the opportunities for Cyber specialists to move to a more rewarding career supporting farmers and agtech in the field. Could agriculture help free more people from sinking forever into their seat cushions?...

How did the Mississippi delta change the world of music, aviation and agriculture? This week Ray and Kit are joined by Maddison Dixon, Associate director at Agricultural Autonomy Institute at Mississippi State University. Maddison explains how growing up watching crop dusters perform feats of daring in the Mississippi delta ignited a passion for aviation and agriculture. The co-hosts also get fascinating insight into the history of blues music and how it led to some of the greatest rock bands and music in the world from Muddy Waters to Led Zepplin. With a deep understanding of drones and their applications stretching back to when the technology was in its infancy, Maddison gives amazing insights to not only the technology but also the business cases for services providers and even farmers. With the recent ban on the sale of Chinese manufactured drones in the US, Maddison helps explain some of the motivations behind the move. He also explains how the AAI has been working with US drone manufacturers to help keep pace with foreign competition. While the first manned flight may have been from American soil, Kit and Ray wonder whether flight was really perfected by the British with the Spitfire or perhaps we have all been overtaken by the Chinese?...

In this second episode from Ray's adventure to LAMMA Show 2026. Ray brings another three of his top picks from his day. Did Ray manage to complete his side quest? We find out when we hear from: Jeremy Clark at Smaxtec, the smart bolas company that promises to turn biometric data into actionable insights using the power of AI and machine learning. Jermey explains the benefits of being able to spot medical issues and calving from internal temperature data before the cattle show any visual signs of distress. A shout out to Emma Pattison for showing Ray through the Smaxtech data dashboard and how the product works. Bart Pennings from Hanskamp and their revolutionary new cow toilet that promises to reduce emissions for housed animals and add value to the waste collected. Bart explains how the idea came from a tried and tested technique that veterinarians use to capture urine samples. Bart also gives some of the drivers behind the product, including the part that legislation has played, driving the Hanskamp engineers to provide a solution. Ben Bamnet of Somerset EV, old friend and guest of the pod. Ben gives us a frank run down of the EV tech on display at LAMMA including the latest electric Fendt tractor and Merlo Telehander. Are all electric tractors created equal and has anyone perfected the electric telehandler yet? Ben also gives us an update on the EV converted Leyland tractor, including some modifications that have opened up new capabilities. Another jam packed episode with plenty of new tech and insights from the co-hosts. Remember to like, subscribe and follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

LAMMA Show Special Part 1. This week Ray brings three of his top picks from his recent trip to LAMMA 2026 show at the NEC. Ray spent a day at the show and brings the Brash Ag listeners his highlights of the tech and innovations that were on display, we hear from: Eoin Clarke, Marketing Executive from McHale tells us about the Terradrive driven axle on the Fusion balers wrappers. Eoin tells us about the challenges that McHale has seen for farmers of hilly ground, how the tech works and importantly what it costs! Chris Gordon, Operations Manager from Kidd Machinery gives us some of the history of Kidd Machinery, why John Harvey Engineering Limited bought Kidd Machinery and how the recent purchases of Bush Pig and WRAG Fencing have helped to produce a formidable product line up. Could this be the start of a home grown Alamo group? Shout out to Freddie Siebert for taking the time to show us around the stand as well and sorry that we mistook you for your brother Robert Siebert. Rowan Duckworth, Digital Services Specialist at Hutchinsons, tells us about the Terramapping technology (provided by Soil Optix) that Hutchinson provides to help farmers optimise their fertiliser applications for maximum efficiency. Rowan also explains an exciting new integration between the Omnia platform and John Deere, allowing farmers to get access to the full value out of their machinery and software. We also get the co-hosts' thoughts on the rise and reign of the mullet and harlequin shorts combination, which has become the staple for all budding Young Farmers. As well as how LAMMA has changed and evolved to have a significant retail section for farmers restock their wardrobes and workshops!

In this episode of Brash Ag, hosts Raymond King and Kit Franklin dive into a packed January news round-up covering UK agricultural engineering, global farming challenges, and where the next generation of ag talent will come from. 🔧 We start with UK machinery shake-ups, including: • Chafer Machinery entering administration and re-emerging as Chafer Nexus under new leadership • Kidd Farm Machinery expanding its fencing portfolio with the acquisition of Bush Pig and the WRAG Machinery brand • What this means for UK manufacturing, IP, and agricultural engineering jobs 🤖 We then head east to Japan, discussing projections from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) that up to 30% of farmland could be abandoned by 2035 — and why this presents a major opportunity for automation, robotics and precision agriculture, with references to: • Kubota • Iseki • Hokkaido University • Kyoto University • Pioneering work by Professor Noboru Noguchi and Professor Naoshi Kondo 🌱 Back in the UK, we reflect on conversations sparked at the Oxford Farming Conference, including: • Alex Hardy (Harper Adams University) on the journey from Tractor Ted to technologist • The role of Tractor Ted, Young Stock Magazine (Emma’s work), and media like Clarkson’s Farm in shaping perceptions of farming • Whether UK agriculture needs a dedicated policy think tank — and where agricultural engineers fit into that conversation 📈 We also zoom out globally, looking at Mahindra’s staggering tractor sales figures in India and what they tell us about scale, horsepower, and productivity — with a nod to UK market data from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA). This episode is a reminder that engineering, policy, media, and optimism all matter if agriculture is going to attract talent, remain productive, and stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. 🎧 Listen now, follow the podcast, and share with someone who should be thinking about a future in ag-tech. #BrashAg #AgEngineering #AgTech #FarmMachinery #UKManufacturing #Robotics #Autonomy #OxfordFarmingConference #HarperAdams #Kubota #Mahindra #FutureOfFarming

In this episode of the Brash Ag Podcast, Raymond King and Kit Franklin are joined by Simon Pearson — farmer’s son, ag-engineer, academic, commercial operator, and now MBE for services to agri-engineering after receiving a nomination by DEFRA. Simon’s career cuts across every part of the ag-tech system: From glasshouse engineering and patents at University of Reading To global supply chains and technology leadership at Marks & Spencer To building one of the UK’s most influential ag-robotics ecosystems at University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology We get into: 🚜 Why farming problems are engineering problems (and always have been) 🤖 What ag-robotics gets wrong when it ignores real farms 💸 Why UK ag-tech struggles to scale compared to the US — and how that could change 🌱 Translating research into companies like Saga Robotics and FruitCast 🧠 Why AI won’t replace farmers — but will change how decisions get made If you care about ag-tech, robotics, AI, productivity, or the future of farming, this one’s essential listening. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify #AgTech #AgriEngineering #Robotics #AIinAgriculture #Innovation #FarmingFuture #UKAgTech #ResearchToReality #BrashAg

In this news-led episode, Raymond King and Kit Franklin dig into what really matters as UK agriculture heads into a turbulent new year. We unpack: 🚜 What the Farm Profitability Review actually means for ag-tech, machinery, and engineers 📉 Why policy uncertainty is freezing on-farm investment (even when changes are “positive”) 🤖 Where real opportunities exist for automation, robotics, and compliance tech 🐖 How animal welfare reforms could drive – or derail – practical innovation ⚙️ And why selling more horsepower might be the wrong metric for the future of farming Along the way, we ask hard questions about ROI, interoperability, scale-up gaps, and whether engineers are missing from the rooms where decisions get made. If you care about farm profitability, ag-tech adoption, or the future of UK agricultural engineering, this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now and join the debate. #BrashAg #AgTech #AgEngineering #FarmProfitability #UKFarming #AgPolicy #Robotics #Automation #Machinery #Innovation

In this end-of-year Brash Ag episode, Raymond King and Kit Franklin sit down with Myles Ray, a mechanical engineering student on placement at Holbrook Engineering, to talk about what actually makes a good engineer — and why hands-on experience still matters in ag-tech. We cover: 🔧 From Harper Adams University workshops to real-world fabrication, welding, CAD, plasma cutting, and on-farm problem solving 🚜 A real example of “Bale-Spikeology” in action — turning a farmer need into a working silage pusher using existing parts and smart design 🏭 The quiet strength of UK manufacturers like Holbrook Engineering, balancing bespoke builds, repairs, and scalable products 🧠 Why mechanical engineering skills translate across agriculture, food, and manufacturing — mindset beats job title 🌍 Reflections on 2024 highlights including World FIRA, Agritechnica, and conversations sparked by companies like GUSS Automation, Carbon Robotics, John Deere, and voices such as Chris Laudando (Laudando & Associates / L&aser) 📈 Where Brash Ag Podcast goes next: more news, more factory visits, more showcasing of UK engineering capability If you’re interested in agricultural engineering, ag-tech careers, farm innovation, or how ideas actually get built — this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify 💬 Tell us what you’d like to hear more of in 2025 🏭 UK manufacturers: if we should come and visit you, get in touch #BrashAg #AgTech #AgriculturalEngineering #MechanicalEngineering #FarmInnovation #UKManufacturing #BaleSpikeology #EngineeringCareers #HarperAdams #AgRobotics #FromCADtoField

Can micro-tractors replace an aging workforce in rural India? Can micro-entrepreneurs help finance the “robots as a service” dream? This week Kit and Ray go transcontinental to interview entrepreneur Trivikram Kumar, founder of Xmachines a robotics start-up focused on providing solutions for agricultural and landbased applications. Vikram shares his thoughts on the recent FIRA event in California and why Xmachines decided to attend and Kit plays match maker recommending friend of the pod Tom Beach to help Vikram find a way in to the UK market. Vikram also shares his background as an engineer and how he started the company after moving back to India after studying in Hong Kong and what inspired him to start the business. The pair gain a fascinating insight into how ICRISAT helped to incubate and support Vikram in his mission and how he has tuned the Xmachines business model to work in both the domestic and international markets. Vikram also explains the surreal story of how applying for a bank account led him to be on Indian Shark Tank and ultimately landed him the financial backers, Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwa to help him grow his business domestically and internationally. This is an extra special episode and worth tuning in for…

What do we want from autonomy? Are farm robots the answer to on farm safety or are they an accident waiting to happen? This week Kit and Ray catch up with seasoned agricultural engineer and entrepreneur, Andy Newbold. We hear about how Andy carved out a niche in agricultural compliance and safety work at the tender age of 28, how he has also managed to pursue agricultural journalism and even found time for farm work, among other things. Andy explains the presentation he gave at the IOSH Rural Reflection Conference and how safety needs to be baked into the culture of any organisation not just reliant on manufacturers safety features. The pair also take the opportunity for a “fire side” chat with Andy about his thoughts for the future of agritech and on farm autonomy, what the implications are for safety and how robotics could be part of the answer towards better mental health for farmers.

Have Monarch Tractors over-promised on ag autonomy and electrification? With a pending lawsuit one dealership in the US seems to think so… This week Kit and Ray catch up after a few weeks of travelling to take stock on the current state of agtech? What trends are defining agtech? Will the next steps be evolution or revolution? How will AI find a place amongst the growing range of products for farmers? The pair also discuss the pending lawsuit for Monarch tractors? Have they bitten off more they can chew in their bid to revolutionise agriculture or can they pivot to become the technology provider of choice for agricultural machinery manufacturers looking to incorporate electrification and autonomy in their tech stack. #agritech #agtech #agriculturalengineering #robotics #monarchtractors #techstack #tractor #electrification

Are we seeing a quiet shift in the world order of farm machinery? Can EV tractors provide a foot hold for Chinese tractor makers or will the sheer volume of the domestic Indian tractor prove the real game changer for Tafe? This week Kit continues grilling Ray about his recent trip to Agritechnica. We hear from: Tom Carnell from Regenovation on their innovative pump technology capable of delivering a range of liquids to the soil to support a more regenerative way of farming. Sudarsan R and Sriraman S on growth of Tafe on the global stage and how the 4 E’s philosophy is helping them to ensure their products hit the mark for western markets Yongjun Chen on their pioneering twin motor technology allowing their EV tractors to deliver horse power to the drive train and PTO seamlessly.

Will Chinese manufacturers steal a march on the big tractor makers? Are all agricultural robots just marketing fluff? Can the Germans run a train timetable as well as the British? This week Kit grills Ray on his recent trip to Hannover and the world's largest Agricultural Machinery event. We hear from: Juha Heikkila from Agco Power with their innovative new battery technology for tractors. Are they leading the field or hedging their bets? Fabio Isaia from Field Bee could this be another “balespikeology” product and how can vision systems be included in retrofit technology. Micheal Weis from AI.Land on how AI and disembodied robot arms allow fields to become food stores? The pair also discuss the new Agxeed robot, is bigger really better when it comes to ag autonomy and should more implements be “autonomy ready” like the flail toppers from Müthing.

FIRA USA 2025; The robots have taken over FIRA — but where are the farmers? This week we hear part two of Kit's tour of FIRA USA in California and catch up with some of the hottest new developments in agritech. We hear from: Taylor Wetil of Soflintec on their solar powered, autonomous spot spraying robot, that promises to use automated refilling equipment to keep spraying without human input. Gary Thompson of Guss Automation and their dedicated spraying robot for orchard applications, an early player in the farm automation start-up scene with a good news story courtesy of John Deere. Chris Laudando of L&aser and Laudando and Associates and his thoughts on opening up his laser weeding tech to smaller manufacturers as part of his ongoing legal tussle with Carbon robotics. Xiong Chang of Tensorfield and their bleeding weeding technology, utilising high temperature oil to kill and control weeds without applying chemicals. Professor Simon Pearson of Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology and Lincoln University and his thoughts about the FIRA event and the enviable funding opportunities of Silicon Valley based agritech companies. Ray and Kit also ask, where are the farmers? Is FIRA more for technologists, geeks and engineers or is there a place for farmers to learn and maybe even invest in new machinery.