In episode 286 of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by newly elected NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins and chief dairy advisor Verity Richards to unpack the key moments from this year’s NFU conference. Together, they reflect on an event shaped by resilience, collaboration and a shared commitment to the future of British agriculture. Market analyst Chris Walkland brings positive news, reporting the first GB milk price rise since October, offering dairy farmers a much needed boost after a challenging period. The conversation then turns to the dairy sector breakout session, where attendees raised concerns that some processors still don’t have fully compliant contracts in place and that certain approaches don’t always reflect the spirit of the regulations, particularly around notice periods, changes to terms and pricing transparency. The group also discusses how the sector can continue improving its environmental footprint through practical, farm led measures that reduce pollution while supporting productive, resilient businesses, without waiting for additional government permitting. This links into DEFRA Secretary Emma Reynolds’ speech, where she outlined government priorities on agricultural policy and food security. Paul and Verity note that while the intentions are positive, there remains a gap between policy expectations and the day to day realities farmers face. The episode rounds off with a look at how artificial intelligence is beginning to influence the grocery supply chain, and why clear, transparent communication between farmers and processors will be essential as the sector adapts to rapid change.