How a Farm Magazine Came to Life - with Mike Donovan

Today we’re in Wales highlighting a farming publication that has been in circulation for over 30 years. Ben is joined by publisher and former dairy farmer Mike Donovan, who may be better known as the editor and founder of Practical Farm Ideas Magazine. The magazine is published four times a year and features leading edge innovations developed by farmers and engineers which can be used as inspiration for its farmer readers. Mike launched the magazine in 1992 and since then he has covered everything from min till to biogas plants, sexed semen to robotic milking and mobile handling to implement innovations, often long before these became at all mainstream on farms. Mike started his career as an editor at The Economist Intelligence Unit before moving on to the Financial Times. He had a farm upbringing however and did a degree in Agricultural Economics, so farming was never far from his life and interests. In the late 70s he and his wife left their home in London for West Wales where he became a dairy farmer, and this is where his real interest in practical and machinery innovations was kickstarted. The rest they say is history. Since February 2017 he has also been the editor of Direct Driller Magazine. 

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About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

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Show References

Image credit: Mike Donovan