Brash Ag

Raymond King and Kit Franklin
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Brash Ag will be lifting the lid on everything agricultural technology and agtech. Your hosts Raymond King and Kit Franklin are both Chartered Agricultural Engineers and experienced innovators and technologists. Through a mixture of commentary, insights and interviews, Ray and Kit will be using their experience to explore and explain the concepts, ideas, technology and business models that make agtech one of the most exciting and engaging industries to be involved in. Email us: contact@brash-ag.com The first season and launch of the podcast was supported by the Douglas Bomford Trust www.dbt.org.uk Raymond King https://www.linkedin.com/in/flynt-technology/ Kit Franklin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-franklin-33649a51/

  1. 6d ago

    103. Harper Hits 125, Oxbury Goes Global & Robotti Rides Again

    Can Oxbury take their pioneering farm finance global? Who saved Robotti and can they build a home for the hardware in the UK? How is Harper Adams celebrating 125 years of educating the farmers of the future? This week Ray and Kit open the news bag and rifle around for some quick fire news nuggets including: Harper Adams turns 125 — celebrating the University and 125 years of educating the future of farming and agricultural engineering IAgrE conference preview — agricultural automation, safety and what’s actually working on farms including speakers from Flynt Technology, PDM, Harper Adams, AS Communications, Earth Rover and Warwick Agritech. UK agri-tech connections — Harper’s links with Dyson Farming and Simon Pearson of Lincoln University set up partnerships in the US with University of Florida and Texas A&M University . Business moves — new ownership (Ed Holmes) at J & A Growers and Oxbury’s expansion into New Zealand under the guidance of Matt Ryan. Robot rescue and farmer confidence — a new chapter for ROBOTTI with new owners Autonomous Agri Solutions. IAgrE Conference link: https://iagre.org/landwards-conference-2026

    103. Harper Hits 125, Oxbury Goes Global & Robotti Rides Again

  2. Oct 1

    102. Is the perfect fence, No Fence?

    Can managing livestock really be as easy as a few taps on a smart phone? How can a tech career go from Silicon Valley to a Nordic fjord? Can a virtual fence be safer than a real one? This week Ray and Kit get the chance to talk to Fabien Lepoutre, VP of Engineering at No Fence. Fabien shares his personal story, from starting out in embedded electronics to following a career in Silicon Valley, including supporting product prototyping for Google X. He also explains his desire, as an engineer, to make a difference to people's lives, which led to working in Norway for the livestock hardware manufacturer No Fence. As VP of engineering at No Fence, Fabien is well placed to help explain how No Fence started, how the tech works and the business case that No Fence has been built around. Fabien also lifts the lid on what is next for No Fence, including their latest product the N3 collar that is more robust than their old collar and adds features to the core virtual fencing offering such as reproductive management through heat cycle scores and calving alerts. All part of their aim to deliver precision livestock technology to farmers all over the world. Special thanks to Tina Tharadsen and Finlay Russel for helping to set up this interview.

    102. Is the perfect fence, No Fence?

  3. Sep 24

    101. How a Teenage Founder Got 200 Farms Using His App in 90 days

    How do you grow a brand new farming app from zero to over 200 farms in 3 months?! Could anyone vibe code an app for farmers? How do you scale and sell a business before your 16th Birthday? This week Kit and Ray sit down to chat with Ben O’Connor, a farmer, innovator and serial entrepreneur. Ben gives a fascinating insight into FarmFlow, the farm management tool he is building along with his software developer cousin. With a focus on solving real world problems with labour management on his family farm Ben has launched his app into over 200 farms, and more than 1000 users in the space of a few months. As a GCSE student and a commended finalist of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge , Ben has already started, grown and sold a B2C gift box business shifting over 200,000 boxes in three years and employing 13 people in the process. Ben is a great example of how AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropics Claude can unlock new ideas and allow non-technical people to explore new business opportunities. In building FarmFlow Ben has been working on his plans to monetise the app, could farm data be the key to delivering free tools for farmers? Can big producers foot the bill while accessing some valuable insights that farm data can provide? Ben is a great example of a can-do attitude, harnessing potential weaknesses as strengths and a tolerance for rejection that gets him in front of the right people at the right time. With the help of none other than Rory Sutherland to steer his marketing and business building efforts, what is next for Ben and FarmFlow? https://myfarmflow.co.uk/ #BrashAg #FarmFlow #AgriTech #FarmTech #FarmManagement #AgriculturalInnovation #VibeCoding #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupGrowth #Entrepreneurship #YoungEntrepreneur #Farming #UKFarming #RuralInnovation #FutureOfFarming

    101. How a Teenage Founder Got 200 Farms Using His App in 90 days

  4. Sep 17

    100. The Brains Trust

    The podcast has hit 100 episodes, to celebrate this milestone, Kit and Ray sat down with a formidable Brainstrust panel, with a collective 100 YEARS of experience. Each panel member has been a part of the Brash Ag journey to 100 episodes, some as guests, some as instigators and even an apprentice host. The Brainstrust work together to answer the questions; What has changed in agtech in the two years since the podcast started? And what will the future be in two years' time when the podcast reaches it 200th episode. The pair are joined by: Belinda Clarke OBE: Director of Agri-TechE and guest on Episode 33 of the Brash Ag podcast. Clive Blacker: Precision Farming innovator, Director of Agrivation Ltd, Key part of the AgAnalyst team, Nuffield Scholar and guest on Episode 52 of the Brash Ag podcast. Andy Newbold: Secretary General of the European Society of Agricultural Engineers, Past President of Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Managing Director of FarmSmart and Newmac and guest on Episode 60 of the Brash Ag podcast. Kieran Walsh: Director and co-founder of Grounded Agvice and apprentice host on Episode 97 of the Brash Ag Podcast. Along with industry insights, advice and information that can’t be found anywhere else, the panel also bring a healthy dose of humor and banter to keep Ray and Kit grounded as they continue their journey with the podcast. Message from Ray and Kit: “ We would like to thank our loyal audience for continuing to support the podcast by tuning in each week, providing guest suggestions and giving us feedback to help us improve. We would also like to thank the Douglas Bomford Trust for getting us started and our current Series sponsor Control Technologies UK for helping us to grow the podcast and improve the content….here’s to many more episodes to come”

    100. The Brains Trust

  5. Sep 10

    99. Control Technologies UK – Speaking the language of machines

    This week, Kit and Ray speak to Mark Wood, CEO of Control Technologies UK. Mark shares his unconventional journey from rowing coach to controls engineer and the proactive, feet-first approach that helped him build a multimillion-pound engineering business. Drawing on his knowledge of embedded software, CAN bus and ISOBUS, Mark explains how his 14-strong team combines specialist hardware with engineering expertise to solve control and automation challenges across agriculture, construction, defence, marine, rail and motorsport. Mark discusses his long relationship with Standen Engineering, from helping develop the second-generation control system for its potato harvester while at STW to Control Technologies UK recently delivering the third generation. Kit and Mark also step back in time to discuss a time when they worked together on design and engineering of the big bale transtacker. Mark also explains how the business has expanded from engineering consultancy into hardware distribution and a successful online shop. The conversation covers the importance of defining project scope and introducing dedicated project management as the company has grown. Looking ahead, Mark shares his ambition to develop Control Technologies UK’s own products and intellectual property, including configurable software tools, machine connectivity and intelligent edge devices. Mark also introduces the latest initiative from Control Technologies UK called meet an engineer, allowing prospective clients to get in contact to discuss their challenges and find out how CT UK can help. Huge thanks to Controls Technologies UK for being the first series sponsor for the Brash Ag podcast! Meet an engineer: https://controltechuk.com/contact-us/ Webshop: www.controltech.uk.com

    99. Control Technologies UK – Speaking the language of machines

  6. Sep 3

    98. Economad – Where There’s Muck, There’s Gas!

    Could anaerobic digestion power the future of small farms? How small is too small when it comes to herd size and viable energy production? This week, Kit and Ray sit down with EcoNomad Solutions founder Ilan Adler to explore his vision for making anaerobic digestion accessible to smaller farms. Ilan explains how his academic background—including a PhD in rainwater harvesting at UCL—and his experience in wastewater treatment and renewable energy inspired him to develop anaerobic digestion technology for smallholders and farmers. He also discusses becoming a Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellow and how the Academy’s support helped him transition from academia into building EcoNomad. Using advanced bag technology, EcoNomad has developed low-cost, relocatable—hence the “nomad” in EcoNomad—and straightforward-to-install systems capable of turning farm waste into useful heat, electricity and biogas. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Ilan gives a fascinating high-level view of the opportunities and challenges surrounding renewable energy generation and infrastructure. He also addresses some of the criticisms levelled at anaerobic digestion, including the use of energy crops, and explains the potential value of capturing energy from unavoidable agricultural wastes. Based at Rothamsted Research, EcoNomad is continuing to develop its technology through research, commercial installations and collaborative projects. Ilan discusses the role of support from organisations including the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst programme in helping the business develop and test new ideas. Having recently secured investment from the British Design Fund, alongside further backing from the Beeches Group, Ilan reflects on the challenges of financing physical technology in the UK. He considers the complementary roles that private investors and public funders such as Innovate UK can play in helping hardware-focused start-ups bridge the gap between an early prototype and a scalable commercial product.

    98. Economad – Where There’s Muck, There’s Gas!

  7. Aug 27

    97. We F**ked Up and We’re Sorry—Plus Robots, Crop-Sap Scanning and Bespoke Fertilisers

    This week, Ray and Kit issue a sombre apology for some of the mistakes they made in Episode 94. Did they get too giddy about receiving the podcast’s first press release? Or were they so excited by the potential collaboration between TAFE and Deutz Engines that they forgot to check the facts? Either way, they got it wrong—and they are sorry. In lighter news, Kit plugs the upcoming Institute of Agricultural Engineers Annual Conference. Titled Automation in Agriculture: From Innovation to Impact, the event promises to showcase the bleeding edge of agricultural technology and hardware. Whether you are an IAgrE member or not, book your place and join Kit and Ray at Harper Adams University on Wednesday 21 October. Ray brings news from Cornish straw-chopper manufacturer Teagle Machinery, which recently welcomed celebrity guest Steph McGovern to celebrate vocational training and apprenticeships. How does the business attract and retain young talent in its local area? And what innovative approach does it use to empower younger members of its team? The pair then climb aboard their virtual time machine for a Throwback Thursday trip to Groundswell, where they hear from: Philippe Cousin of SENSEEN, who introduces the NutriScope. Is it a Bale Spike product? Can it help farmers and agronomists make better, more timely decisions about their crops? What does the future hold for the NutriScope—and could it support growers beyond the arable sector? Howard and Sam Mason of Left Field Agriculture, who tell the co-hosts about their pioneering inter-row mowing robot, developed to maintain beneficial living mulches while supporting regenerative farming and soil health. How has Ray’s consultancy, Flynt Technology, supported its development? And what does the future hold for this breakthrough technology? Andrew Sincock of Agro-Vital UK/Agritron, who explains the Triplex system for small-scale batch production of fertiliser—an approach designed for larger farms, cooperatives and joint-venture farming businesses. Could the technology give farmers greater control over how they source and manage fertiliser? How much does it cost, and how does the business model work? https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qfRxKRpuVxHHa3o1yhr5L?si=KFSX2-A-S0iNUaSpjlllOQ&utm_source=copy-link

    97. We F**ked Up and We’re Sorry—Plus Robots, Crop-Sap Scanning and Bespoke Fertilisers

  8. Aug 20

    96. RootWave – Can electricity kill off herbicides?

    What inspired Andrew Diprose to swap a career in the City for reviving a weed-control technology first explored in the 1980s? What makes RootWave different from other approaches to electrical weeding? And how can partnering with established machinery manufacturers unlock entirely new markets for a core technology? This week, Ray and Kit sit down with Andrew Diprose at RootWave's high-tech facilities in Warwickshire. Andrew explains: How, inspired by his academic father, he swapped a career in the City for a 'shed venture' developing chemical-free weed-control technology. What it took to build the business, develop the technology and bring it to market. How RootWave's unique approach to generating and delivering electrical energy is designed to make electrical weed control as safe as possible. How partnering with Garford Farm Machinery has helped RootWave take its technology into markets it may otherwise have struggled to reach. How the business has raised investment and where the funding needed to support the journey has come from. Why Jorge Heraud joined the board to help steer Rootwave to success. From shed-built prototypes to high-voltage weed control and major manufacturing partnerships, this episode explores the journey behind RootWave and asks whether electricity could become a genuine alternative to herbicides.

    96. RootWave – Can electricity kill off herbicides?
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About

Brash Ag will be lifting the lid on everything agricultural technology and agtech. Your hosts Raymond King and Kit Franklin are both Chartered Agricultural Engineers and experienced innovators and technologists. Through a mixture of commentary, insights and interviews, Ray and Kit will be using their experience to explore and explain the concepts, ideas, technology and business models that make agtech one of the most exciting and engaging industries to be involved in. Email us: contact@brash-ag.com The first season and launch of the podcast was supported by the Douglas Bomford Trust www.dbt.org.uk Raymond King https://www.linkedin.com/in/flynt-technology/ Kit Franklin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-franklin-33649a51/

Information

  • Creator
    Raymond King and Kit Franklin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Brash Ag

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