Published November 2025
Podcast: Life Beyond the Farm Gate with Robert Neill and John MacInnes
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With farmers John MacInnes and Robert Neill
In this episode of the Blether Together podcast, host Sarah Stephen is joined by two good friends who farm in very different corners of Scotland, but share the same passion for people, community and the future of the industry.
John MacInnes farms beef and sheep on the island of Iona, off the south-west tip of Mull, and works as trade stands manager at AgriScot.
Robert Neill runs a busy mixed farm at Upper Nisbet near Kelso in the Scottish Borders and is a Vice President of NFU Scotland, as well as a past chairman of AgriScot.
Together, they talk about how they stay connected, deal with pressure, support their families and keep perspective in a job that never really stops.
“A problem shared is a problem off your shoulders.” – Robert
Listen to the episode
What you will hear in this episode
You will hear what everyday life looks like on Iona compared with the Borders, from island farming shaped by tourism and quiet winter months through to running a large mixed farm with family, staff and lots of moving parts.
The conversation looks honestly at why farming can be a lonely job and how that affects mental health. John and Robert discuss the power of shows, marts, AgriScot, and winter meetings to bring people together, and how a simple phone call between friends can help take the edge off a bad day.
John and Robert explore handing over the reins and knowing when to step back, Robert’s motivation for taking on the NFU Scotland leadership, and John’s hopes for his sons on the family croft, as well as how they discuss the future.
You will hear about golf on Iona as a weekly anchor for John’s wellbeing, Robert’s love of point-to-point races, time in the workshop with a welder in hand, and walking in the hills. They also reflect on the challenge of living where you work and trying to establish a clear line between work and home.
The episode explores why mobile phones make it harder to switch off, even in the field, and the impact of social media on young people and farming families. John and Robert share how they manage screen time, expectations, and boundaries in their busy rural lives.
Finally, you will gain a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a show of AgriScot’s scale, including the teams, contractors, and volunteers who make it happen, and how feedback is used every year to continually improve the event for exhibitors and visitors alike.
