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From the Punjab to the Vale of Evesham
Jacks Weaver and Mike Greenwood-Wilkins are back behind the mic for episode six which features an in-depth interview with Bal Padda, a first-generation Punjabi farmer from Worcestershire whose self-funded documentary ‘It’s a Punjabi Farm Innit – a story of strawberries, faith and farming’ follows the journey of the Makhan Singh Padda family from India to Worcestershire where they have grown strawberries and raspberries since the 1990s.
“It’s a story that needs telling,” Bal says. “Farming is one of the most interesting industries to be in where it doesn’t matter what the colour of your skin is, it matters if you can farm. It’s about your ability, which should be the case.”
Listen now to hear Bal’s story.
Autumn Budget sees minor change on family farm tax
NFU External Affairs Manager Scott Pepe breaks down exactly what the change around spousal transfer under the family farm tax means following the Chancellor’s announcement during the Autumn Budget.
“We’ve been very clear this doesn’t go far enough,” says Scott.
Explaining why the NFU is calling for the anti-forestalling clause to be removed from the policy, Scott says: “You don’t need to be the world’s most talented economist to understand that puts elderly and terminally ill farmers in a really difficult position. That is why we are so concerned about the anti-forestalling clause.”
What is Resolution 50, and why was last week’s vote in Parliament on this part of the Finance Bill so important? Hear from NFU External Affairs Manager Neeve McGinty to find out what happened and how NFU members worked to secure a Labour backbench rebellion.
Away from the family farm tax, Scott and Neeve update on a crucial piece of legislation that is on its way to becoming law and will help strengthen police powers to tackle livestock worrying.
Festive Farming Quest takes over country’s classrooms
Why do turkeys gobble? Is mistletoe poisonous? Just some of the questions asked by KS1 and KS2 pupils during NFU Education’s Festive Farming Quest.
NFU Chief Education Manager Joshua Payne tells us what happened when the NFU taught 82,000 children across 800 schools about the crucial role farming plays at Christmas.
Hungry for more? Delve into some of the topics covered in the latest Shed Talks
NFU member Bal Padda and his family the focus of two-part docuseries
Family farm tax: Chancellor announces minor change in Autumn Budget
Autumn Budget 2025: Key announcements and analysis
Livestock worrying Bill set to unlock greater policing powers
More than 82,000 schoolchildren learn about farming's crucial role at Christmas
Meet the speakers:
Jacks Weaver
Regional Policy Manager (South)
She helps drive the NFU’s policy work forward on behalf of members’ businesses, leading campaigning, policy, lobbying and external engagement strategy in the region, as well as supporting and advising members and colleagues on key policy matters.
Jacks previously worked in rural surveying and farm business management.
She lives on a family farm in South Gloucestershire, and has a passion for agriculture, and rural businesses.
Mike Greenwood-Wilkins
NFU Combinable Crops Board appointee, South
At home, he works alongside his Mum, Dad and sister, where they farm around 2,000 acres, primarily arable, a mix of in-house and contract farmed.
They also run a range of native rare breed livestock: British White cattle, Oxford Sandy & Black pigs and Wiltshire Horn sheep, plus non-native Boer goats.
Mike is also manager of CP Farming ltd, a 4,000 acre mixed estate in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Previously, he studied Agriculture & Business Management at The Royal Agricultural University and also spent an additional year there as chair of the Students' Union.
His main passion in agriculture is a transition to more environmentally conscious farming, whilst maintaining food production.
Having taken great inspiration from the regenerative movement, he is reducing tillage, increasing cover cropping and incorporating livestock and herbal leys.
He is looking to understand impacts on soil carbon from varying cropping and establishment techniques to optimise rotations to maximise and retain soil carbon. He is also increasing low input cropping, growing miscanthus and exploring agroforestry.
He strongly supports the NFU’s net zero target, but to achieve this he believes that in the need to focus on neutralising farming's internal emission and in-setting within our supply chains before selling our good work out of the industry.
Bal Padda
Commercial Director, Vicarage Nurseries
He is also known for creating a short documentary about his family's farming journey.
Bal Padda's father, Makhan Singh Padda, founded the business in the Vale of Evesham after moving from Punjab, India. Bal joined the farm in 2009 and has been instrumental in expanding the operation to over 130 acres, which produces thousands of tonnes of strawberries and raspberries for major UK retailers.
Padda is an active member of the farming community, using his platform to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry. He is also a keen fundraiser, raising over £250,000 for charities and communities through the Growers United FC initiative.
Padda created a two-part documentary, titled It's a Punjabi Farm Innit - A Story of Strawberries, Faith and Farming, which highlights the life and struggles of farmers and the diverse community of workers at his farm. The film, which has a "Brummie touch" (referencing the family's connection to Birmingham) was a sold-out success at its premiere in Evesham.
Scott Pepe
NFU external affairs manager
He is also responsible for raising the NFU’s campaigning and lobbying profile in Westminster and is the NFU's speechwriter.
Scott first joined the NFU in 2017. Before that, he worked in Parliament. He worked for the Deputy Chief Whip before going on to run an MP's office. He has also been an adviser to Treasury Ministers and HMRC.
Neeve McGinty
NFU external affairs manager
Alongside elected officeholders, she meets MPs and Ministers, leads the NFU Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme, and organises regular events throughout the year to keep food and farming on the political agenda, including at the political party conferences.
Neeve joined the NFU in 2021 as a Public Affairs and Communications Graduate working on public facing campaigns and political lobbying. She took up the role of External Affairs Adviser role for the NFU's team in Westminster in 2022, and progressed to her current role in January 2025.
Joshua Payne
NFU chief education manager
He oversees the NFU’s work on education policy, ensuring agriculture is recognised as a vital part of the curriculum and future career pathways.
Joshua is passionate about helping young people understand where their food comes from and how science, technology, engineering, and maths (the STEM subjects) underpin modern farming.
Through innovative resources and partnerships, he works to inspire the next generation and to campaign for agriculture to be at the heart of education.