Dave is finally back from his sunshine break! In this episode, Karen invites Farmer Tom back for another deep dive into British dairy—this time with Dave asking the questions. The conversation opens with a frank look at milk prices and why farmers remain price-takers rather than price-makers. Tom explains how better contracts, quotas, and smarter supply caps could steady both farm income and the national milk supply.

From there, the trio unpacks the challenges of milk contracts and launches into a spirited debate on farm-assurance schemes: Tom insists inspections should start with the cows, not the filing cabinet.

Staffing gets its moment too. At Halton Farms, both eager newcomers and seasoned hands start with the same trial day—an equal-opportunity test that quickly reveals who’s truly parlour-ready and willing to work the cows’ way, ...