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Sixty years ago a new weekend farming programme was launched by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. On Your Farm started with an early morning outside broadcast from a family farm in Rutland as the day’s harvesting got underway in the surrounding fields. To mark the programme’s diamond anniversary, Vernon Harwood visits that same farm at Barrowden to check on today’s harvest and discover what’s changed over the past six decades. In 1964 Rowland and Dennis Tyler described themselves as traditional arable and sheep farmers but in 2024 is that the case for Dennis’ sons, Richard and Charles?

On Your Farm was created by producer Anthony Parkin as a way for the nation to eavesdrop on farmers discussing the highs and lows of their industry. Parkin always considered it to be "a breath of fresh farm air" but the national newspapers preferred to call his regular breakfast table debates "Bacon and Eggs Radio". The first programme was introduced by David Richardson, a Norfolk pig and arable farmer who went on to host hundreds of editions over the following two decades. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time, I suppose," says David, who shares his memories in this anniversary episode. "I learned on the job, I liked asking questions and that’s really what broadcasting is all about."

On Your Farm was described by the former Sunday Times columnist, Paul Donovan, as "one of radio’s great treats." It once claimed to have Radio 4’s catchiest theme tune and the programme even had a spin-off recipe book called 'The Best of Breakfasts'. Now as it enters its seventh decade, On Your Farm remains a weekend must-listen, the perfect accompaniment to bacon and eggs. and it’s still doing what it does best – eavesdropping.
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Produced and presented by Vernon Harwood