Oxfordshire Farming Family Shares Story on New Podcast Series

Becci Berry appeared on the show Talking Crop. Her daughters Jaz and Martha joined her. Becci is known in British farming and is also a trustee for agriculture and horticulture.

Becci manages a large mixed farm of 365 hectares near Faringdon, called Brimstone Farm. The farm sits on the Oxfordshire-Wiltshire border.

Becci took over the farm in 2010 after her husband, Richard, died from bowel cancer. He had owned the farm before.

She used to run a dairy, but now raises 200 beef cattle and manages different arable crops. Her work has earned her industry awards. Three years ago, Becci sold her dairy herd and then focused on new environmental projects.

She didn’t plan to be a farmer at first, as her background included horses and PR. Richard’s family had farmed for three generations.

When he was very ill, they talked about the farm’s future. Becci wanted to keep it running after he died, because the farm helped them through a difficult time and the farming community offered great support.

Jaz and Martha are at university now, studying in Durham and Edinburgh. They both plan to return to the farm.

Martha said they often talk about the future and value their experiences now, but they want to come back home. They share farming’s importance with friends. They feel at home there, love the landscape, and believe their future is on the farm.

Becci and her daughters are on the second “Talking Crop” episode. Chad and Lucy Stevens host the show; they became farmers after other careers.