Farming Today: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio 4
Livestock farmers in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset are at the centre of the current outbreak of bluetongue and cases are rising rapidly. Bluetongue can be fatal to animals like sheep and cattle but doesn’t affect humans, it’s spread by midges, and makes animals lethargic and lame as well as causing birth defects or spontaneous abortions. The Farming Community Network has a 24 hour help line: we ask them about the impact the disease is having on farmers in the South West of England.
As England and Wales are set to enter the fifth heatwave of the summer, almost three-quarters of England is now in drought. The National Drought Group has added the East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire, Kent & East Sussex, and Solent & the South Downs into drought status. The prolonged lack of rain in some places is having a major impact on farming and food production in the UK and Europe. We speak to a farmer from Copa Cogeca which represents European farmers and farming cooperatives.
We’re talking about UK salad production all this week. Unseasonably hot weather doesn’t just increase our demand for lettuce, tomatoes and other salad crops, it also has an impact on how they well they grow, the diseases they might catch, and the working conditions of those planting and harvesting them.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The finances of farming in and after a heatwave.
And salad - endless sunshine and no rain isn't ideal for many crops, so prices are up as UK supplies tighten and some companies are even importing.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers are being 'strongly urged' to vaccinate sheep and cattle to protect them from the rapid spread of bluetongue. The UK's chief vet says vaccination is the only way to deal with the disease. There are now more than 200 farms with cases in the UK, more than double the number this time last week. The vast majority are in England, with most in the South West. In Wales there've been five. There are none in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The disease is spread by midges and this year's heatwave means the midges and the virus are replicating much more quickly. There is a vaccine but previously take up was low. We speak to the National Sheep Association and the UK's chief vet.
Harvest 2026 has been the earliest in England for at least 20 years. Yields have suffered from the heat and a lack of water, leaving farmers counting the cost. All week we've been hearing harvest stories from around the UK and asking what impact all this will have on food, prices and the future for British farming.
We visit Northamptonshire where they've been harvesting at the crack of dawn to ensure the wheat's not too dry, and hearing from a miller who says the quality of British milling wheat this year is very good.
In Perthshire, Scottish farmers have been dodging the rain to bring in the barley. Growers in Berkshire, who're cultivating their dry dusty fields ready to plant oilseed rape, are wondering whether they'll be growing next season's crops at a loss.
We also speak to a plant scientist who says the DNA of ancient varieties of wheat could hold the key to breeding future crops which are more resilient to climate change. Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
In the light of this summer’s dismal harvest, we hear of work to make the UK’s arable crops more resilient in a changing climate.
With the hot dry weather continuing in much of the country, not to mention the situation in the Strait of Hormuz making diesel and fertiliser prices volatile, some farmers are already scratching their heads about what best to grow for next year’s harvest.
And a beautiful native breed cow, so rare it was declared extinct in the 1930s, now making a surprising comeback thanks to a farmer in Somerset’s Chew Valley.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers are being 'strongly urged' to vaccinate sheep and cattle to protect them from the rapid spread of bluetongue. The UK's chief vet says vaccination is the only way to deal with the disease. There are now 130 cases, more than double the number this time last week. The vast majority are in England, with most in the South West. Wales has four cases, there are none in Scotland or Northern Ireland, and here cases means farms affected rather than individual animals with the disease. Bluetongue can make sheep and cattle lethargic and lame, it can cause birth defects or spontaneous abortions and it can be fatal. The disease is spread by midges, originally they were blown over from Europe but now they, and the virus, survive the winter here. This year's heatwave means the virus and midges are replicating much more quickly. It doesn't affect human or food safety. There is a vaccine but take up has been low. We ask the National Sheep Association why that is, and speak to the Chief Veterinary Officer who says scientists expect the virus to peak in September.
Across much of England and Wales the heatwave and drought has meant an early harvest and poor yields, in much of Scotland things are different. There’s been hot and dry weather earlier in the summer but now it’s rain that's making things difficult.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Scotland's first minister John Swinney has been speaking about the future for Scottish farmers and crofters while touring the country visiting summer agricultural shows. This hot dry summer hasn't hit farmers in Scotland quite as hard as southern England, but some areas are now considered to be in what Scotland terms 'water scarcity'. We speak to him about support for farmers and the government's future plans to tackle wildfires.
A new report estimates farmers could lose as much as £390 million in revenue because of the heat waves and drought this summer. Analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates the grain harvest could be down by as much as 2.5 million tonnes.
We're talking about the harvest all week. We visit the Eden Valley in Cumbria find out how one farmer near Penrith is managing his harvest balancing-act.
Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Official figures show the harvest this summer is the earliest in England for 20 years. All week we're following farmers around the country as they bring in their crops. We visit a farmer in Northamptonshire who thinks this year's harvest will put him in the red.
When cheese is made, it produces curds and whey. There are two types of whey, sweet and salty. The sweet is often used for protein ingredients but the salty whey is difficult to dispose of and can be hazardous to the environment. Now scientists at Herriot Watt University have found a way to make salty whey into bio-ethanol, which could be used in car fuel.
Scientists are studying how interactions between people and working dogs could help spread a harmful tapeworm. Mid-Wales has been described as a hotspot for hydatid disease, which can cause slow-growing cysts on internal organs. It's found in sheep and farmers who work closely with sheepdogs are most at risk. Health experts say that although rare, the disease is a significant concern due to the potentially serious health consequences.
Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney
The drought is hitting nature; the Wildlife Trusts warn that rivers, lakes and wetlands are under immense strain, leaving animals struggling to survive.
Harvest 2026 has been the earliest in England for at least 20 years and yields have suffered from the heat and a lack of water, leaving farmers counting the cost.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The whole of Wales and half of England are now officially in drought. For farmers the impacts are huge. There are concerns about a shortage of feed for livestock and cereal yields are down. The Environment Agency in England says it will step up controls on how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater. The National Farmers Union has called for a more modern abstraction system, saying we're still using regulations which are 50 years old. The environmental charity River Action says too many businesses are taking water from rivers, and the government should review the abstraction licence system. It says that trillions of litres of water are being taken from rivers, lakes and aquifers every year.
There's been a rise in cases of bluetongue this summer. The disease is spread by midges and can have a devastating impact on cattle and sheep. We hear from a farmer who lost a third of his calves due to the virus, and a scientist who says the hot weather is accelerating the spread.
All week BBC local radio stations in England have been focusing on agriculture, as part of this year's Farmwatch reporters have looked at food inflation and what rising costs mean for producers. We also hear from an inspiring young farmer in Cornwall, who has got his own dairy herd - comprising one Jersey cow.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The fourth heatwave of the year in the UK is still making the daily farming jobs a struggle for many. But this year the dry weather and heat have also created the conditions for significant wildfires across the country. In Scotland a wildfire started 2 weeks ago in the Cairngorms National Park. It's thought to have damaged around 25 square kilometres of natural forest and hillsides, although the exact extent isn't yet known. The surface fire has diminished but it's still burning deep in the peat soil, and nearly a hundred firefighters are still deployed in the area. The Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Grant Moir tells us that the fire took hold in an area known for its important wildlife habitats, much loved by visitors and the local community.
The end of harvest can also be the start of a very worrying time for farmers, when illegal hare coursers drive over stubble fields, set off dogs to chase hares, and often bet on the outcome. South Wales Police have warned of an increase in illegal hare coursing in the Vale of Glamorgan, with local farmers being threatened and intimidated when they try to intervene.
This week is BBC Farmwatch week and today we're heading to a farm in Nottinghamshire which grows wildflowers to harvest their seeds.
Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Sarah Swadling
As drought spreads across the UK we hear calls for our water and food systems to change. The lack of water, the miserable harvest and an unpredictable geo-political situation add up to expose the fragility of the UK's food system according to a cross section of supermarkets, food producers and campaigners who've written to the new Prime Minister. They want Andy Burnham to introduce a Good Food Bill for England.
The environmental charity, River Action, says too many businesses are taking water from rivers, and the Government should review the abstraction licence system. It says that trillions of litres of water are being taken from rivers, lakes and aquifers every year and that as pressure on resources grows, the UK needs a fully funded water resilience plan.
The drought is causing problems for livestock farmers; grass doesn't grow in scorched fields so they're having to look at other ways of feeding their animals.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Half of England is now officially in drought. The Environment Agency says it will enhance its monitoring of water levels and crucially for many farmers, step up controls on how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater.
The BBC's local radio stations have been devoting the day to agriculture and as part of this Farmwatch the BBC has been looking at the price of food and how much of what we pay goes to farmers. According to the Consumer Price Index from May this year, families are paying 9% more for beef products, 2% more for bread rolls and 8% more for bagged salad than they were 12 months ago. However, producers at the start of the food chain say the extra cash doesn't end up in their pockets.
Cases of the cattle and sheep disease bluetongue are on the rise: there have been 24 in the UK since the beginning of the month, the majority in the South West of England and three in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland haven't had any cases. The disease is spread by midges and can have a devastating impact on livestock from spontaneous abortions to birth defects and death.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
New research shows campylobacter - which causes gastro-intestinal illness in humans - is becoming more resistant to antibiotics as the number of intensive chicken farms increases. The research, led by scientists at Oxford University, found the number of strains of the bacterium was growing globally, with evolution advancing the most effective of them.
This week we’re celebrating Farmwatch, where our BBC Local Radio stations in England are highlighting farming stories in their communities. Lush Greens is a Community Market Garden situated in Bristol and surrounded by houses, that each week provides 60 families with fresh food grown on the two-acre site. It's part of a community supported agricultural scheme, which allows people to pay what they can afford.
And we celebrate 50 years of the National Wildlife Management Centre in Gloucestershire. It traps and tests wild badgers to build up a picture of habits and populations, to help understand the devastating disease Bovine TB, which affects both wildlife and livestock.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.
The UK's fresh produce trade body has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking him to scrap proposed border checks on fruit, veg and flowers, which it claims could cost the industry £300 million. The controls are included in the reset of our trading relationship with the European Union, currently under negotiation. The checks for pests and diseases would affect imports to the UK from outside Europe. The chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium tells us around half of the fruit and veg which comes into the UK is from non-EU countries, and consumers are likely to see higher prices if the changes come into effect.
Salad sales have boomed in the hot weather, but the heat presents a big challenge for lettuce growers.
This week sees BBC Farmwatch, which celebrates farm to fork stories around England on BBC Sounds and BBC Local Radio. We catch up with BBC Farmwatch presenter, and farmer, Harriet Cowan as well as visiting a Somerset farm which makes its own unpasteurised Cheddar Cheese.
Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Sarah Swadling
Charlotte Smith presents a panel discussion programme at the Royal Welsh Show, asking 'what's the best use of land in Wales?' With the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability in the Welsh Government, Llyr Gruffydd; hill farmer and social media influencer, Gareth Wyn Jones; Dominic Hampson Smith, Vice Chair of Wales Young Farmers Clubs; and Rachel Sharp, Director at Wildlife Trusts Wales.
Produced by Beatrice Fenton.
July is on course to be the driest in Wales for almost 190 years. It means that North Wales and the Upper Severn catchment are the first areas in the UK to be declared officially in drought, this year. So far this month they've seen less than two per cent of the usual rainfall. Natural Resources Wales says river levels are approaching all time lows after a series of back-to-back heatwaves, with impacts on wildlife and soil.
In South East England, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been moved into 'prolonged dry weather' status which is one step away from drought. That won't be news to farmers and growers in the area where some veg businesses are already investing to adapt to the 'new normal'. Barfoots grow broccoli and sweetcorn, amongst a long list of crops, for the supermarkets. The company's spent a million pounds on a new reservoir, at its farm near Chichester, which holds 28 million gallons of rain water supplemented by recycled treated water from their factory. Barfoots Commercial Director tells us the company is looking at building more reservoirs to store winter rainfall, to use in increasingly hot and dry summers.
Farmers have a crucial role in cleaning up one of the UK's most polluted river systems and could save themselves money in the process, according to a new study. The eastern and western Cleddau rivers in Pembrokeshire flow through farmland which produces as much as 25% of Wales' milk. Researchers from Lancaster University found the area's farms were buying in more fertiliser and processed animal feed than needed, causing a build-up of phosphorus in the soil and polluting waterways. Now dairy farmers are working out their "nutrient footprint" to help tackle the problem.
Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Sarah Swadling
Charlotte Smith is at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in Builth Wells. She meets the Welsh Government's Cabinet Member for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd, who explains how he's aiming to make Wales' new farming support scheme better for farmers - but is there enough funding? We also hear about why professional shearers are so important, and check out the Sheep Village, which is new this year.Produced by Sally Challoner.
British Sugar's factory at Cantley in the Norfolk Broads is to close, in February next year. Hundreds of farmers will now have to transport their crop much further afield for processing. The Cantley factory has been operating for more than a century, and currently processes about 120,000 tonnes of sugar every year, from beet grown by local farmers. It employs just over 100 staff.
As prime minister Andy Burnham's new cabinet members settle into their new jobs, the Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Angela Eagle, will feel quite at home. She was Farming Minister at Defra up until six weeks ago when she was transferred briefly to security - but now she's back, and promoted to Secretary of State.
This year's harvest is really 'everything, everywhere, all at once' and it's causing a logistical nightmare. Barley, oil seed rape and wheat are being harvested at the same time - and that's putting pressure on the lorries needed to get it to storage. We also hear from farmers who've been affected by big fires on their land, and how farming neighbours have played an essential role in bringing the fires under control.
All this week we're taking a closer look at Welsh Agricultural Policy. Agriculture is devolved, so it's up to each of the four nations to decide on their own post-Brexit subsidy policy. In Wales, farmers are paid under the Sustainable Farming Scheme, to bring in conservation practices alongside food production. We speak to a hill farmer to find out what's in it for her.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farming has one of the worst fatality rates of any industry sector in the UK and new research suggests the true number of health and safety incidents on farm is even higher than reported. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) says 30% of farmers wouldn't log an incident because they fear inspections or legal consequences, and 34% think near misses aren't serious enough to report.
The National Drought Group, which includes government agencies, water companies, conservation groups and farming representatives publishes a new report for England today. Last week the Environment Agency said England was NOT in drought, although the South West, parts of Southern England, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire were experiencing 'prolonged dry weather' and river flows aross the country were below normal or exceptionally low. The hot dry weather is affecting the potato crop and growers in Cornwall fear their harvest could fail if the heatwave continues.
The Welsh government is announcing a new food strategy at the Royal Welsh Show, and all week we're looking at agricultural policy in Wales. One of the biggest changes has been the re-launch of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, or SFS, the income support programme which replaces the Common Agricultural Policy, including the Basic Payment Scheme. We visit a farm in Brecon to find out what farmers think of the latest version of the Welsh scheme.
We hear from a volunteer who's been leading walks in the Lake District National park for six decades - Ron Wood's 78 and has no plans to stop.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Heatwave conditions are particularly testing for dairy cows, and dairy farmers. Figures from the industry body, the AHDB, showed a 34 million litre reduction in milk arriving at British processors in June this year, compared to the same time last year, with the record temperatures the main cause. The UK is not alone, drops in milk production in Germany and France are bringing one small glimmer of hope. There are signs that the long slump in prices brought about by a global oversupply is starting to reverse.
Andy Burnham moves into 10 Downing Street today, as he becomes the UK's 59th Prime Minister, the seventh in ten years. The relationship between Sir Keir Starmer's government and the farming community soured over Inheritance Tax, and England's stop-start sustainable farming incentive. Wildlife and landscape conservation groups were less than enamoured with a shift in emphasis away from protection and towards 'build baby build'. So what's the one thing they want the new Prime Minister to make his priority?
The Royal Welsh Show begins today, and all week we're exploring how Welsh farming policy is evolving.
Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Sarah Swadling
Tinderbox conditions see wildfires across the country and farmers harvesting at night to avoid the heat.
We visit the Great Yorkshire Show, the latest stop on the Farming Today summer roadtrip. We've been at the Balmoral in Northern Ireland and the Highland in Scotland, next week we'll be in Builth Wells for the Royal Welsh. We've using the shows as an opportunity to look at agricultural policy; its devolved so each of the four nations have developed their own post-Brexit approach to farming, but the overall direction of travel is towards rewarding farmers for environmental actions.
We ask the Environment Secretary if England's budget for the Sustainable Farming Incentive is big enough to meet farmers' ambition.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers from across the UK have come to Harrogate to show off their livestock at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. We hear from champion sheep breeders, competitive sheep shearers and pedigree cattle owners striving for a rosette. We also speak to farmers, the Defra secretary of state and the National Farmers Union president about the latest government policies designed to support agriculture.
Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Rebecca Rooney
The poultry industry is calling for animal welfare and food production to be prioritised, as pressure increases on water supplies. This follows the closure of a chicken processing site in Devon due to a lack of water.
All week we're looking at England's post-Brexit farm payment schemes, which reward farmers to farm more environmentally. We hear concerns that money will be tight and many farmers may miss out.
And retail prices of chocolate should stay high to give farmers in west Africa a future, says the CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A new trade deal is signed with Switzerland: it's welcomed by farmers, but will it go any way to combat a significant downturn in food and drink exports, while imports are on the rise?
The Farming In Protected Landscapes scheme is part of the new system of farm payments being developed in England to replace the old EU subsidies. We hear how hill farmers are using it to help keep their business afloat.
How a crackdown on deer can help keep the banks of Loch Lomond bonnie.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Tinderbox conditions on fellsides and moorland have led to wildfires across the country. We hear from farmers in the centre of the blaze.
This week we're looking at England's post-Brexit farm policy. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the main subsidy scheme, which rewards farmers for environmental actions. It's up and running again after it was abruptly suspended in March last year, and Defra has just announced that 75% of the funding available in the first window, for smaller farms, has now been allocated. Will the budget stretch to meet farmers' ambition?
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farming Today comes from the Royal Highland Show on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Scottish rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon has said the Scottish government will not reduce livestock numbers, as recommended by the Climate Change Committee. She told farmers Scotland would reach its net-zero targets in other ways.
Robert Neill, vice president of NFU Scotland, explains how new high-frequency digital ear tags will make it easier to track cattle in Scotland.
Scotland has big ambitions for its agritourism sector. Next year, it will be hosting the first global agritourism conference. We speak to the farmer who is bringing the event to Aberdeen, Caroline Millar.
Thousands of animals compete in the show across four days, we catch up with the competition organiser in charge of all the logistics. Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Mud sunscreen for pigs: farmers tell us what they do for livestock and crops to combat a heatwave.
And seaweed farms, which aren't always popular with local residents.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The NFU has confirmed it sent a private letter to the Prime Minister, raising concerns over a prospective trade deal with the Gulf States. It said the deal could open the UK up to imports of low-welfare meat from the Gulf, and more importantly, many other countries around the world. Although meat from the Gulf States might come up to UK hygiene standards, some welfare groups are concerned about the conditions animals are kept in, and the intensive nature of production, especially poultry.
Annual payments farmers in England receive based on the amount of land they have will be capped at just £600 next year. New details have emerged after last week's Spending Review.
And there’s evidence that humans have been using seaweed as a fertiliser for thousands of years. When chemical fertilisers were developed a century ago, that use of seaweed largely died out, but for some, it's making a comeback.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Anna Hill finds out how new farming technology could mean more jobs, not fewer. A new report from The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture says the expansion of artificial intelligence apps collecting data and providing real-time advice will mean recruiting and training more people, to give farmers technical support.
In Northern Ireland, stealing farm animals is being linked to organised crime, and it seems the current high stock values are making them even more attractive to criminals.
As arable farmers wait for their crops to ripen in the fields, many are watching grain prices carefully. Grain isn't just a domestic commodity, but is traded worldwide...and aspects like exchange rates, and President Trump's new tariffs make a big difference to the price.
And we visit the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, where scientists are embarking on a new five-year international research project looking at the economics of extracting various products from seaweed, as well as assessing the climate resilience of different species...and even training up new seaweed farmers.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
A Scottish abattoir has closed with the loss of 90 jobs. Scotbeef at Inverurie has been shut. The company says an operational review concluded it was necessary to protect the long-term future of the business amid industry challenges. Earlier this year the number of cattle in Scotland fell to its lowest for a decade and farming groups called for government support to rebuild the national herd, warning that some abattoirs might close because they'd become uneconomic.
All this week, we’ll be talking about seaweed. At the Holkham estate in north Norfolk, a trial funded by the WWF and the Co-op foundation has been trying to prove that the use of seaweed based biostimulant can reduce the need for artificial nitrogen fertiliser, without affecting yields. If successful it could present a way for farms to reduce costs, and minimise the negative side effects of overusing fertilisers.
The cost of rural crime has fallen. New figures from the insurers NFU Mutual show a 16.5% fall last year - the costs are put at £44 million in comparison with £53 million the year before. The biggest fall is in the theft of agricultural vehicles, and the number of animals killed or injured in dog attacks was also down, by a quarter, but livestock theft remained high.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Livestock moving into Wales from England will have to be tested for the disease bluetongue from the first of July, after the Welsh Government decided not to join England in a nationwide restriction zone. Wales and Scotland have no cases of bluetongue so far this year and hope testing and vaccination will keep it out. But livestock organisations say it'll cause chaos at the borders with huge delays and financial losses for farmers. This week the Chancellor unveiled her spending review, which resulted in relief among some farmers, who'd feared big cuts in budgets for environmental projects. In the event, while there is a cut, it's not as big as many had feared - £2.7b will go to sustainable farming and nature recovery in England; there's also investment in flood defences. Defra though is facing cuts to its own budget of 2.7%, which some worry will land on arms length organisations like Natural England and the Environment Agency. All this week we've followed the journey of a loaf of bread from seed to milling into flour. We find out what challenges seed breeders and farmers face in producing the perfect grain of wheat.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.
Livestock moving from England to Wales will have to be tested from next month. The Welsh Government says that once the whole of England becomes a restricted zone for the bluetongue disease on the first of July, animals will have to test negative for the disease before they can go into Wales. There have been no cases of bluetongue in Wales, or in Scotland this year. There the government also decided earlier this month that animals should be tested if they're coming from a restricted zone. Earlier this week the Livestock Auctioneers Association warned on this programme that limiting the movement of animals across the boarders would be 'catastrophic'.
As the UN Oceans summit in Nice draws to a close, it's hoped that more countries will ratify a High Seas Treaty and so bring it into force. This agreement was made two years ago to put 30% of international waters into marine protected areas by 2030. However even within those areas, bottom trawling is allowed. Bottom trawling is already banned in some English waters and the government is consulting on plans to extend that ban. We speak to Michael Kaiser professor of fisheries conservation at the Lyell centre at Heriot Watt University.
All week we've been following the journey from field to bread bin - and today we're at the millers. 85% percent of the wheat used for our bread is grown and milled in the UK. We import about 15 percent of bread wheat from Canada and Germany. We visit a miller in Essex who can trace his milling roots right back to the Domesday book.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmers say they're relieved that feared cuts to nature-friendly farming budgets didn't materialise during the chancellor's spending review. More money has been allocated to farming schemes, though Defra's budget itself is facing cuts of 2.7% in real terms. We speak to the Wildlife Trusts and the National Farmers' Union.
The biggest event in the arable farming calendar - Cereals - is being held in Lincolnshire. We speak to the host, and learn about new drone technology to help spray delicate crops.
And Defra has announced badger culls will continue in 11 areas of England. The Labour government has pledged to end them by the end of the parliament, instead stepping up vaccination of badgers and other measures. But the chief vet has advised it's too soon to end culling.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.
There are calls for Wales and Scotland to join England in imposing a country-wide bluetongue restriction zone to try to contain the virus. Neither Wales nor Scotland currently have cases of the disease, which affects sheep, cattle and goats; if they don't join the restriction zone, livestock will effectively be banned from crossing the borders. This week we’re following the journey of a loaf of bread ...from seed to shelf. So far we've heard about developing wheat seed and growing the crop. Today it's time for the harvested grain to be cleaned and stored. Camgrain in Cambridgeshire was set up in 1983 by a group of farmers who wanted to pool their grain and market it together. Over the last 40 years the farmer owned co-op has grown and now has 500 members.DEFRA has announced that £14 million is being made in a one-off payment to boost the use of unharvested and surplus food, to be made available to 12 re-distribution charities, including Fare Share and The Felix Project. Fareshare says some of it will be used to help farmers bring in uncommercial harvests and transport it to communities.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.
As the UN Ocean Conference continues in Nice, the Marine Conservation Society aims to remind us that all land and river-based pollution, including agricultural run-off, will end up in the ocean. They're calling for a more joined-up approach to farming and fishing more sustainably.
Scientists at Rothamsted Research have genetically modified an oil seed plant with a red flax to create fish feed that provides antioxidants and the red colour in salmon and shrimp. Though not authorised in the UK, the GM crop would be an alternative to the chemicals currently used.
And it's the second day in our journey of a UK loaf of bread from seed to slice. Today we're with a wheat farmer in Norfolk.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.
Grimsby could become home to the UK’s first large-scale onshore salmon farm. A judicial review has upheld North East Lincolnshire council’s decision to grant it planning permission. An animal rights group had challenged the development on fish welfare grounds. However a high court judge ruled that animal welfare concerns could be a key planning consideration in future planning cases.
This week we’re following the journey of a loaf of bread, from seed, to the field, to the mill and eventually the shelf in the shop. The wheat used for bread has to be high in protein and have specific qualities to make good dough. It’s known as Group 1 Wheat. We visit a seed breeder in Cambridgeshire where bread-making varieties of wheat are developed.
Most commercial poultry farmers keep chickens for either egg-laying or meat production, and that specialisation is the way modern poultry farming has operated for decades. But does it have to? A group of farmers are now looking into the use of ‘dual-purpose’ heritage poultry breeds that can be used for both eggs and meat. They say that if these birds were farmed more widely it could also stop the cull of the male chicks which aren’t wanted in egg-laying flocks. Six farms are taking part in field trials run by the Innovative Farmers group.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Eggs up, wheat down: what’s made the most cash for farmers?
The Welsh government's plan to protect the environment, increase biodiversity and punish polluters.
And warnings of innovation brain drain without more investment in agri-tech.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The government is unlikely to be able to cope with a severe outbreak of animal disease like Foot and Mouth, according to the National Audit Office. In a new report, it says key public bodies including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, have been working so hard to manage outbreaks of diseases like avian flu over the last six years, that long term resilience is being undermined and there is no long-term strategy.
The artificial fertilisers that farmers put on their crops are generally produced using the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch method. The process has a large carbon footprint, but we find out about research to find a biological alternative to chemical fertiliser.
And we meet cattle foot trimmer, Dave Phillips from Dorset, who will be representing England at this year's World Foot Trimming Cup!
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
A new law which is intended to protect nature and reverse the loss of wildlife has been introduced by the Welsh Government. The Environment Bill aims to allow members of the public to challenge organisations in Wales, including councils, on environmental issues such as water pollution. If passed, it will set up a new Office of Environmental Governance, to enforce environmental law, and Ministers in the Senedd will have to set targets to reduce pollution and manage ecosystems.
We visit Down Land Traditional Meats in West Sussex, where the owner says increasing financial strain and red tape is putting the future of small abattoirs at risk. The closure of abattoirs has been a long standing trend - in the 1970s the UK had 2 and half thousand abattoirs...but that had dropped to just 203 by 2023.
And we find out about a high-tech cattle handling crate that incorporates software to monitor animals. It can minimise manual handling by drafting animals - where a herd is separated into smaller groups - by itself.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
There are concerns from wildlife and farming groups that the upcoming Spending Review will see the budget for nature-friendly farming schemes being cut, with money targeted only at smaller farms. We hear from farmers about what that could mean.
We visit a falcon breeding facilities which supplies birds to the Middle East for the sport of falcon racing.
And £5 million pounds is on offer as part of the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition, which offers government money alongside private investment to agri-tech companies.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
The Environment Agency says the north west of England is in drought. One farmer tells us this year's crops are already ruined because of a lack of water.
Two proposed reservoirs have been given 'nationally significant' status by the government to speed up the planning process. Decisions on the Lincolnshire Reservoir which is planned for an area near Sleaford and the Fens Reservoir near March in Cambridgeshire will now be accelerated. Ministers say the law will also be changed so that in the future all projects which are, as they put it, 'fundamental to national water resilience' will automatically be designated as 'nationally significant'. Farming communities are concerned about the impact on productive farmland, and one farmer says the Lincolnshire scheme will wipe out her home and her business.
All week we're talking about the nation's national parks. The Scottish Government's decided not to go ahead with plans for a new national park in Galloway. After a long legal battle supreme court judges ruled that wild camping is allowed on Dartmoor, we speak to the park's chief executive. In Wales we report on a nature recovery project in Pembrokeshire which works with farmers to enhance farmland by the coast. In The Broads Norfolk farmers and environmentalists are trying to tackle the damage being caused by deer.
Golden Eagles have been extinct in England since 2015 when a solitary bird died in the Lake District. But could that be about to change? A conservation project in the south of Scotland which began in 2018 has seen a huge increase in the eagle population there, and some of those birds have begun exploring places like the Northumberland National Park where one was spotted just a few weeks ago
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Plans for a new National Park in Galloway and Ayrshire have been dropped. The Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, has announced that following a consultation, the park doesn't have enough support locally, and so will not go ahead.
In the Broads National Park in Norfolk, a rise in the number of deer is having an impact on habitats and farmland. A drone survey to asses the numbers has revealed as many as 20 per square km. Work is underway to generate a market for local venison to help support culling.
And we meet Vice Chair of the Rare Breed Survival Trust, Ryan Perry. He started off feeding the pigs at his local city farm in Gateshead at the age of 7, where he fell in love with Tamworths. Now he's on a smallholding where he keeps pigs, three breeds of sheep, goats, poultry and cattle...alongside a full time job in the NHS as a biomedical scientist.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
Two proposed reservoirs have been given 'nationally significant' status by the government to speed up the planning process. Decisions on the Lincolnshire Reservoir which is planned for an area near Sleaford and the Fens Reservoir near March in Cambridgeshire will now be accelerated. Ministers say the law will also be changed so that in the future all projects which are, as they put it, 'fundamental to national water resilience' will automatically be designated as 'nationally significant'. Farming communities are concerned about the impact on productive farmland, and one farmer says the Lincolnshire scheme will wipe out her home and her business.
Golden Eagles have been extinct in England since 2015 when a solitary bird died in the Lake District. But could that be about to change? A conservation project in the south of Scotland which began in 2018 has seen a huge increase in the eagle population there, and some of those birds have begun exploring places like the Northumberland National Park where one was spotted just a few weeks ago
All week we're talking about the nation's national parks. There has been much debate over the past few years about the state of nature in the parks and how it can be improved while also supporting farming. In Pembrokeshire a nature recovery project was launched two years ago with the aim of enhancing biodiversity on farmland by the coast - we speak to those involved.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The Scottish Government is due to make a statement this week about whether Galloway is to get a new National Park - or not. Galloway, in the south west of Scotland, was chosen from five potential locations and the first round of consultation on the plan was completed earlier this year, with its report now being considered by Scottish ministers. We hear from those in favour and against.
Farmers who supply wheat to Britain’s biggest bioethanol plant have been told it may have to close unless the government intervenes. Bioethanol is added to the E5 and E10 petrol you see at the pumps to reduce its carbon emissions - it's made by fermenting wheat to make alcohol, with the leftovers being used for animal feed. Vivergo Fuels says it will be impossible to compete with subsidised American ethanol, after the recent trade agreement with the US promised to scrap tariffs on imports.
And as tractors get bigger and faster, how safe are they on our roads?
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
All week we're looking at National Parks, last week the Supreme Court ruled that wild camping on Dartmoor is legal. Some areas, however, are dealing with anti-social behaviour and 'fly camping'. We talk to Kevin Bishop CEO of Dartmoor National Park who also sits on National Parks England about the challenges.
The prolonged dry spell has had affected the growth of crops and water levels in rivers and reservoirs, but what about wildlife? We ask the British Trust for Ornithology what impact it's likely to have on wading birds and also discuss their new report which examined the impact of bird flu on wild birds like swans and barnacle geese.
Plastic pollution is contaminating insects at the base of food chains, raising fresh concerns about the long-term impacts on wildlife, according to a new study by the University of Sussex. Researchers have discovered fragments of plastic in a wide range of invertebrates, which are prey for small mammals like hedgehogs. Polyester fibres, commonly shed from clothing, were the most frequently detected type of plastic and scientists think it comes from treated sewage sludge used to fertilise fields. Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Five years on from Brexit, the Prime Minister has re-set the UK's trade relationship with the EU, with a new, wide-ranging deal. In this programme Caz Graham looks at what it could mean for food, farming and fishing.
The UK and EU will now move towards an agreement which would reduce the paperwork and border checks involved in exporting foods like fish, meat and dairy, and fresh produce like plants and flowers. It also means the export of some products to the EU which has been banned since Brexit - like many farmed mussels and oysters, as well as sausages, burgers and seed potatoes - could now resume.
While many exporters have welcomed the deal, it's also lead to uncertainty over the future of Border Control Posts - facilities set up since Brexit to handle similar checks on imports. A senior civil servant confirmed this week that some such facilities could be decommissioned, and the industry want compensation.
Meanwhile, another part of the deal is focussed on fishing, and allows EU boats access to fish in UK waters until 2038. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation has called the deal "a horror show" - but the DEFRA Secretary told MPs this week that it's "reasonably good" for UK fishing.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
Veterinary medicine is not part of the agri-trade agreement sketched out between the EU and the UK earlier this week. It's left vets increasingly concerned that some veterinary medicines won’t be available in Northern Ireland after the end of this year when a ‘grace period’ under the Windsor Framework allowing medication from Great Britain to cross the Irish sea and be sold there runs out.
The warming of coastal waters means a change in the species that can thrive in them. Fishermen in the South West of England are reporting an invasion of octopuses turning up in lobster and crab pots. It's good news for some fishermen who are catching and selling the octopuses, but disastrous for others.
And getting bovine TB on a farm can be a huge financial blow and the emotional impact on farmers can be devastating. We visit one dairy farmer in Pembrokeshire who's been working with the Welsh Government to improve their policies on dealing with the disease, and the emotional impact it can have.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
Charlotte Smith examines what's behind 2025's unprecedented increase in prices paid to UK beef farmers. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board fewer cattle are being farmed in the UK, and beyond. This week Farming Today is taking a closer look at Agroforestry, the approach which combines farming crops or livestock with trees. And, big fish, big money: we visit a carp grower in Yorkshire.
Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Sarah Swadling
Travellers have been banned from bringing meat from all EU countries into the UK following Foot and Mouth disease in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. The ban applies to meat from cattle, pigs, and sheep as well as dairy products. We hear from the British Veterinary Association about why cured meats or cheese bought home from holiday could present a very real disease risk. After lambing, shearing is next on sheep farmers' springtime to do lists. Skilled shearers from overseas will now be able to book their flights to the UK, after the Government approved this year's special visa concession at the eleventh hour. And we catch up with a Dorset shearer gearing up for the season.
Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Sarah Swadling
Salmon farming has long been plagued by questions over its environmental impact and welfare concerns for farmed fish and the wild fish that live nearby. Charlotte Smith asks if those concerns might be reduced if the industry moves into deeper, wilder waters.
There's also a look at illegal meat imports and the resources that the Port of Dover has to police the arrival of suspect foods on British shores.
Producer: Rebecca Rooney
The budget for agriculture in Scotland comes from the UK Government - but as of two weeks ago, it’s no longer ring fenced. The change has attracted criticism from farming groups. But the DEFRA Secretary, Steve Reed, has defended the decision, saying his Government believes in devolution, and that comes with the power to decide where money is spent. We hear from Scotland's Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon.
A change to the Suckler Support Scheme in Scotland aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making calf production more intensive. It’s being introduced as part of the country’s new Agriculture Act, and it’s rooted in the idea that more efficient beef farming means less carbon and less methane. Some beef farmers, however, fear it could have an impact on animal welfare as well as some farm incomes.
And "Farmer Time" is an initiative set up by Cambridgeshire farmer, Tom Martin, which connects teachers with farmers, so children can have regular catch ups with a farmer. So far ten thousand pupils have enjoyed lessons enhanced by their own ‘class farmer’ through a live video-link and the initiative is one of our three finalists in the "Farming for the Future" category of this year's BBC Food and Farming Awards.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
The Advertising Standards Authority has issued guidance to advertisers to make sure consumers aren't misled about the term "regenerative agriculture".
Scotland's first minister John Swinney says inheritance tax changes in the budget are causing unacceptable levels of stress among farmers in Scotland.
We’re discussing farming in Scotland all this week. The new agriculture act now requires every farmer and crofter to complete an annual whole farm plan in order to claim their basic support payments. The plan is a series of audits to measure things like the carbon footprint and biodiversity, and the aim is to identify where and how farmers can make their businesses more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The first reports are due next May and while a lot of advice is available from the agricultural advisory services, the whole farm plan has caused confusion and uncertainty for some farmers.
The Wildlife Trusts have bought a chunk of the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland, now they've begun a £30 million appeal to buy the rest. We ask what it means for food production and the tenant farmers who live and work there.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A new tool is being used by the seafood sector to collate carbon emissions data from all along the supply chain - from farming catching the fish in the wild, all the way through to processing and packing.
The Scottish Government is consulting on a new Crofting Bill, aimed at making it easier for people to get into crofting and to support things like peatland restoration and environmental work on crofts. We ask crofters on the Western Isles what they make of it.
And a 'sheep industry task force' has been set in Northern Ireland, to help farmers work with Government. Under the post-Brexit plan in Northern Ireland, there's funding for beef and arable and environmental schemes, but there's currently little specific sheep support, and some sheep farmers say they could go out of business.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Bird flu is back in the UK. Two years ago a strain of the virus called H5N1 caused outbreaks across the world, killing millions of birds, on poultry farms and in the wild. In America, that same strain has infected dairy cows on nearly 500 different farms, and in some cases also been passed on to humans. The UK has just seen its first avian flu outbreak of the winter in a commercial poultry flock in the East Riding of Yorkshire, but this time the strain's been identified as H5N5. What difference does that make, and should UK dairy farmers be worried?
Scotland’s new Agriculture Act came into force in June. NFU Scotland says it got what it wanted from the Act, but with much of the legislation aimed at improving the environment, and with little detail as yet, there are still concerns over what the changes will actually mean.
And as the UK apple harvest draws to a close, growers are reporting that although the wet weather's made picking difficult, the crop is high quality this year.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
On the programme this week, we investigate concerns over plans for new saltmarshes near the Hinkley C nuclear power plant. Upland sheep farmers tell us why they're struggling with the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme. We visit the islands of Lewis and Harris to look at a new approach to treating sheep disease. And there's further reaction to the Budget: farmers explain their opposition to new inheritance tax plans and the Secretary of State, Steve Reed, responds. And farming tax advisor, Rob Hitch, gives his view on what the changes might mean.
Presented by Charlotte Smith.Produced by Heather Simons at BBC Audio Bristol
Many farming families are extremely concerned about the future of their farms, after the Government introduced inheritance tax on farmland in the Budget. But there’s a lot of confusion about how much inheritance tax farmers will have to pay. We invite a tax expert to dig into the details.
One of the sheep industry's most enduring health and welfare challenges is scab - an itchy condition caused by mites. It’s controlled by either injecting a dose of medicine or the traditional dipping of sheep. But increasing resistance to the injection method means more and more farmers are moving back to sheep-dip. Organophosphate dip is toxic and can harm human health and pollute waterways, and anyone buying or using sheep-dip needs a certificate of competency. Because of that, professional, mobile dipping contractors are becoming more common. We see one in action.
And plants that live in coastal salt-marshes have adapted to their inhospitable environment by producing high levels of an anti-stress molecule that protects them. Now, scientists at the University of East Anglia have identified the genes that help produce the molecule and say one day it could be used to help crops cope in stressful conditions like drought.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
The DEFRA Secretary has defended the Government's decision to introduce inheritance tax on agricultural assets. Steve Reed tells Anna Hill the wealthiest landowners and farmers "can afford to contribute more". It comes after inheritance tax of 20% is being brought in for farms with £2 million or more of assets. Some farmers are angry - concerned it will mean that when a farmer dies, their family will have to sell some of all of their land to pay the tax.
And we visit an autumn sheep sale in Cumbria to hear why upland and hill farmers are worried about the future, despite a buoyant sheep market.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
There's a row about a new Land Management Group for Dartmoor. There's been a lot of controversy about the state of the environment and grazing sheep there. The new group's been set up to bring together farmers, commoners and environmental groups to sort out the problems. The government's appointed Phil Stocker as the independent chair, but conservationists say he shouldn't have been given the job as he's also CEO of the National Sheep Association. We speak to Dartmoor Nature Alliance about their concerns. We ask Phil Stocker about his new role, and also about the state of sheep farming in the UK.
Farmers in North Somerset say plans to create saltmarshes to offset the environmental impact of a new power station would be disastrous for their homes and livelihoods. Energy giant EDF is building a nuclear power plant - Hinkley Point C - on the Bristol Channel. To offset the number of fish that’ll be killed when it’s up and running, EDF is looking to create saltmarshes along the River Severn. It needs more than 800 acres and is considering the compulsory purchase of agricultural land.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Following the Budget, Caz Graham is in Cumbria to hear farmers' reactions to the news that inheritance tax will apply to farms from April 2026.
The National Farmers' Union tells us farming is being "bled dry" and has "nothing left to give".
The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, confirmed that next year's farming budget for England remains unchanged at £2.4 billion.
There was no mention of nature in the Chancellor's speech, something the Wildlife Trusts highlighted, saying "the UK Government must commit to long-term strategic funding for nature’s recovery and provide greater funding for environmental regulators".
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
As part of the budget, farmers in England have been told direct payments will be phased out more quickly than originally planned.Under the EU system farmers were paid subsidy based on the amount of land they farmed - that system is being replaced with new schemes, which are different in the four nations of the UK. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland farmers continue to get direct payments at the moment. In England the phase out started in 2021. So many farmers are already getting around half what they used to, with payments ending in 2027.In England, the biggest reductions will be for the farmers who historically got the biggest payments. We speak to an upland farmer whose old payments are ending but he says there aren't any new schemes he can apply for yet, so he's losing tens of thousands of pounds.Changes to inheritance tax and agricultural property relief were also announced in the budget. We speak to a rural property expert about what impact those changes will have. Farming unions say farmers and their families may have to sell up to pay the tax.
NFU Scotland gives their reaction to the budget.
All week we've been focusing on soils. A project to analyse soil health with a view to improving the environment and profitability has been taken up by hundreds of farmers. Technicians go on to farms to look at what might be done to improve the land and make it more sustainable. Lloyds Bank is paying for some of its customers to take part in the audit which is carried out by the Soil Association Exchange.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
We look at how the Budget affects agriculture and farming businesses. Inheritance tax will apply to farms from April 2026. The National Farmers' Union tells us farming is being "bled dry" and has "nothing left to give".The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, has confirmed that next year's farming budget for England remains unchanged at £2.4 billion.There was no mention of nature in the Chancellor's budget speech, something the Wildlife Trusts highlighted, saying "The UK Government must commit to long-term strategic funding for nature’s recovery and provide greater funding for environmental regulators".
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Labour's first Budget for 14 years will be delivered by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves today. The treasury's confirmed a 6.7% increase in the national living wage for UK workers over the age of 21 and the national minimum wage for those aged between 18 and 20 will also rise by £1.40 per hour. It's one decision that could impact farming businesses. We look at what other potential announcements could mean for agriculture and the environment.
The government's set out new criteria for meeting nature conservation targets. Environment secretary Steve Reed made the announcement at the COP16 biodviersity summit in Columbia. He renewed the pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030. However the government's said it's had to revise its estimate of how much land in England currently qualifies for those targets - it's not as much as it thought. Sites of Special Scientific Interest will only count when they're in a favourable or recovering condition.
All week we've been unearthing stories of farms that are paying close attention to the health of their soils. Today we hear from a dairy farmer in west Wales who's turned his back on what he describes as a 'traditional farming system' to take a more ecological approach, working from the ground up.
It's almost Halloween and for some farmers, pumpkin picking has become an important diversification but bad weather has ruined the harvest in parts of the country this year. One grower in Cheshire had to cancel his pumpkin festival, which accounts for half the farm's annual income. However the family's turned to its orchards and is holding an apple festival instead.
Presenter = Steffan MessengerProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Hedgehogs have been moved up the red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation. The IUCN says the European Hedgehog is in worrying and widespread decline, and it has moved it from "least concern" to "near threatened". We ask the Mammal Society why hedgehogs are a cause for concern.
All week we're digging down into the subject of soil. Northern Ireland is running one of the most comprehensive soil nutrient sampling schemes that any country has ever undertaken. The £37 million 'Soil Nutrient Health Scheme', funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs aims to sample nearly every one of Northern Ireland's 700,000 or so fields. It's believed the results could help farmers improve their soils, better manage nutrient application and reduce nutrient loss to water bodies, not least Lough Neagh.
Many crops have suffered with the wet weather this year. For vineyard owners, the wet has encouraged detrimental diseases and low yields. For organic wine producers, the options to combat the effects of a wet summer are minimal. We visit a vineyard where this autumn's harvest is half what it should be, because of the weather.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A rise in sea temperatures is being blamed for the death of more than a million fish on salmon farming sites. MOWI - the company that runs the sites - says increased sea temperatures in the last 2 years led to an influx of jellyfish and algae, which harmed the fish. But campaigners say having large numbers of salmon concentrated in once place is the real problem - claiming it compromises their health, making them more vulnerable when water temperatures fluctuate.
Invasive mink could be eradicated from the South East of England. Mink eat water voles - as well as other animals and birds - and projects are underway across the country to try and eradicate them. After successful efforts in Norfolk and Suffolk, The Waterlife Recovery Trust, with the help of volunteers and landowners, has laid two thousand floating "smart traps” along waterways.
And soil has been rising up the agenda in the last decade - among farmers, conservationists and politicians. Farmers in England can be paid to improve soil health and, in Northern Ireland, the government is funding country-wide soil sampling. So how much difference is it making?
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
This week we are focusing on livestock and their impact on climate change. We hear about the concerns over the number of livestock here in the UK, and find out how farmers are reducing emissions by growing cattle faster or breeding sheep to burp less.
A BBC freedom of information request has revealed that the amount of illegal meat seized by border force officials has doubled in a year.
Charlotte Smith revisits a farmer growing white maize, a staple crop in his native Zimbabwe. Eleven years since her last visit, David Mwanaka now rents a council farm near Cambridgeshire and his farm selling exotic crops is going strong.
Alpaca breeders use something called a 'spit off' or a 'spit test' to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Following an application from farmers for the emergency use of a neonicotinoid pesticide on next year's sugar beet crop the Government has told Farming Today that it will ban neonics, but that a decision on this application will be taken 'in line with legal requirements'. We understand that that means farmers may get permission this time - but not again.
We visit a Wiltshire farm, where the family who run it have spent the last 4 years changing the way they do things to reduce their carbon footprint. It's a mixed farm with dairy, beef and arable, and alongside trying to reduce the emissions from their livestock, they're also hoping to increase how much carbon they sequester by planting trees in an agroforestry project.
And the Bower family farm in Staffordshire grows crops, and vegetables and has a herd of sheep and another herd of beef cattle. But locals are far more likely to know it for the pumpkin patch and the play barn - which pull in more than 100,000 visitors every year. We head to the pumpkin patch!
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
This week we are focusing on livestock and their impact on climate change. We've heard about the concerns over the number of livestock here in the UK, and today we find out how beef farmers are reducing emissions by growing cattle faster.
An online course has been launched to raise awareness of the importance, and lack of, diversity in UK agriculture. Nuffield Farming Scholarships say farming is one of the least diverse industries in the country in terms of ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation, and one of the barriers to changing that is the lack of understanding in the sector.
The latest government figures show that 60% of farmers are over 55, with 38% over 65 and just 15% are under 45. The reality of that is highlighted by farm sales: Michael Read is 79 and has an award winning heard of Lincolnshire Red cattle, or at least he did until earlier this month when the herd was sold as none of the family wanted to take on the farm.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The RSPB says more than 1,300 protected birds of prey have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years. The Birdcrime report blames rogue gamekeepers who, it claims, are more concerned about protecting the gamebirds on their shooting estates. But the British Association for Shooting and Conservation says its members have "absolutely zero tolerance" of the illegal shooting of birds of prey.
The Green Alliance says the number of ruminant livestock in the UK needs to be reduced to reach Net Zero targets, and that farmers should be supported to change their businesses.
And the British Alpaca Society estimates there are around 45 thousand alpacas in the UK, kept for breeding and for their high quality fleece. Alpaca breeders use something called a spit-off or a spit-test to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action!
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Less than 5% of a £50 million fund promised to farmers who were hit by last winter's floods, has been paid out. The Farming Recovery Fund was set-up by the previous government to support farmers whose land had been damaged by floodwater during Storm Babet and Storm Henk. But figures revealed by a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Farmers Weekly show that, so far, just £2.1 million of it has been spent.
A selective breeding trial on a sheep farm in Shropshire is hoping to reduce methane emissions from the animals by around 35 per cent within 5 years. Lambs taking part in the experiment are put into a metal box with a window - called a Portable Accumulation Chamber - so their emissions can be measured. Animals found to produce lower levels of methane are then selected for breeding programmes - in time reducing the emissions from the flock.
The number of Seasonal Workers allowed visas to work in poultry and horticulture next year in England has been confirmed by DEFRA - 43,000 in horticulture and 2,000 for poultry. Although the announcement has been welcomed by the National Farmers Union, it's pressing for a permanent scheme which would run every year.
And the Bison introduced into a woodland in Kent as a re-wilding project have had calves. But why are rangers are collecting their dung?
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
We hear warnings from the Country Land and Business Association that changing tax rules for farms could close many down.
The RSPB says any cuts to the farming budget would put nature and climate targets at risk.
To start our week looking at greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, we speak to Professor Sir Charles Godfrey of the Oxford Martin School who says we should be producing less and better meat.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The UK is in danger of violating international agreements on restoring nature, according to The Wildlife Trusts. It says the upcoming COP 16 on biodiversity is a crucial chance for the Government to demonstrate how it will meet targets to halt and reverse the decline of nature by 2030.
As the grape harvest gets underway, we take a deep dive into a growing UK farm sector - viticulture. There are more than 10,000 acres of vines grown across the UK, and that area is expanding. Recent data shows more than 80 new vineyards opened in 2023 - bringing the total number to more than a thousand for the first time.
And where has all the organic skimmed milk gone? Our listeners wanted to know...so we found out.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
The UK is in danger of violating international agreements on restoring nature, that's according to the Wildlife Trusts. The Trusts' chief executive, Craig Bennet, tells us next week's COP 16 on biodiversity is a crucial chance for the Government to demonstrate how it will meet targets.
Tom Heap explores the microscopic world of microbes, including an experiment to improve the resilience of wheat.
Viticulture is one of the fastest growing parts of agriculture here in the UK. Recent data shows that more than 80 new vineyards opened in 2023, bringing the total number to over a thousand for the first time. But many rely on tourism to make them financially stable, and the industry body Wine GB estimates there were over 1.5 million visits to vineyards and wineries last year.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton
The government has announced that Defra should be a 'key economic growth department' and has ordered a review into its regulations and regulators. That's been welcomed by some, like the Country Land and Business Association, which says ministers need 'a laser like focus on identifying and removing the barriers to economic growth in the countryside'. The National Farmers' Union told us it wants a 'proportionate and predictable' regulatory environment for farmers. But others are more wary: campaigners have described the move as 'dispiriting', fearing that it could mean less regulation to stimulate economic growth at the cost of environmental protections. The internal review will be led by an economist, Dan Corry, who was head of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Gordon Brown.
The size of England's beef herd has continued its fall. It's come down by 5% in the last year and now stands at 595000. In the ten years before that, the number of cattle bred for meat fell by 13%. The National Beef Association is calling on the Government to introduce new payments to farmers to halt what it calls an alarming trend.
UK winemakers' harvest is underway. It too has fallen victim to the weather which has made the cereal harvest in England one of the worst since the 1980s. For grapes, the wet cold weather prevented or delayed pollination, with some yields are down 90%.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
New energy infrastructure projects like solar and wind farms don't always go down well with local communities. But what if people living nearby got cheaper energy bills or even owned shares in the development? When asked about new energy infrastructure last month, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said he wants to "do deals with local people so they can see a benefit for their community". We find out how that could work for rural people.
We visit Chapel Down on the North Downs in Kent. It's England’s largest wine maker and still has ambitious plans for expansion, including planting more than 100 acres of new vines.
More than 30 organisations have written to the Government to say the current system of farm payments is encouraging some farmers to tear up fields of permanent pasture, which could be managed to become species-rich meadows.
And how do you harvest walnuts? We go along and take a look.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Poultry keepers say they can't access government websites to register their birds. From 1st October anyone who keeps birds has to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, to help with monitoring bird flu outbreaks, even those with just one or two chickens. Failure to comply could mean a fine of £2,500. However bird owners who've tried to register say the system is not working. Defra says it's had a high number of applications and is working at pace to process them. It says it will be improving its technology to make it more effective for people to register.
Fishermen in the South West of England say they are "beyond frustrated" by proposals to expand offshore wind farm sites off the coast of Devon and Cornwall. The Crown Estate's latest plan includes thousands of square miles off Land's End and the Isles of Scilly, currently prime fishing grounds, and an expanded zone off north Devon. Fishermen claim they - and other EU boats - will be squeezed into ever more pressurised fishing grounds. Meanwhile, those in favour of an expansion of offshore wind are wondering why it's taking so long to get anything off the ground.
All week we've been talking about deer, just like cattle, wild deer are susceptible to tuberculosis, and there’s concern that they could transmit the disease to other wild deer, and cattle. In the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, a group of farmers, land owners, vets and deer-stalkers are one year into a project, looking into this. They’re monitoring the prevalence of TB in wild deer through drone surveys and blood tests, and giving hands-on training on how to spot TB in deer carcasses.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Dairy farmers are finding it a real struggle to recruit new staff, according to the farmer-owned dairy coop Arla. They spoke to nearly 500 UK dairy farmers and just under 90% of them said they had advertised jobs and had few or no applicants at all. So what’s holding young people back from a life working with dairy cows in a career that can also involve robotics, veterinary science and data analysis to mention just a few of the skills involved in modern milk production?
The UK is 97% self-sufficient in carrots, according to the British Carrot Association, but poor weather over the last year has meant supermarket shelves stocked with bags of carrots imported from China, Israel and other countries. Is that a trend that’s likely to continue?
We’re talking about deer all this week, their impact on the environment and how to manage their growing population. Trees and woodlands are a key tool for combating climate change, improving biodiversity, building flood resilience and increasing the UK’s supply of homegrown timber. But rising numbers of deer make planting more trees, and maintaining existing woodlands, a challenge because deer both graze on them and cause damage with their antlers.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
There's been more flooding across the country. Last winter saw the wettest period since records began in the 1830s and government figures show that more than a third of river catchments in England have reported either the wettest, or second wettest September to August period since 1871. We catch up with two farmers whose farms are flooded and the NFU about the government's new flood resilience taskforce and what it needs to do to make a difference.
It's party conference season and we've been catching up with the main political parties and their plans for rural England - agriculture is of course a devolved issue. We've heard from the Lib Dems' Tim Farron and the Secretary of State for the Environment in the new Labour Government Steve Reed. Now we hear from the other Steve, the Conservative's Steve Barclay who until the election had the job he now shadows.
All week we're talking about deer. We've already heard there are too many wild deer in the UK, and that they need culling. However deer are also farmed and producers say they are seeing good demand as the market increases. We visit a venison farm in Oxfordshire.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
From 1 October, all owners of poultry in England and Wales, must be registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, even if it's just one hen in the back garden. This can be done online, through the DEFRA website. The aim is to be able to track all kept birds, in the event of more bird flu outbreaks. The new rule also applies to pet birds such as budgies, cockatiels, parrots and finches, if they are given access to the open air. All birds either kept outdoors, or taken outdoors, must be registered. Failure to do so could result in a fine of £2,500. However some owners say it’s unfair that they have to comply in the same way as poultry farms which house almost a million birds.
Waitrose says the orchard and vineyard on its Leckford farming estate in Hampshire is now certified as regenerative, as defined by an American certification scheme called 'Regenified'. Currently around 1.8 million acres are signed up to the scheme, most of it in the USA but 32 UK farms are signed up with the company. We speak to the American founders of the company and find out why Waitrose has signed up to it.
All week we're taking stock of deer. They may look wonderful in the wild, but in large numbers they can damage woodland and crops. In England and Wales there is no national strategy for managing herds, but the Scottish Government is encouraging land managers to shoot deer in a controlled way, to keep numbers down. So far it’s just a pilot scheme, run in three areas. If it’s a success it could be rolled out across Scotland, but there are already questions over whether the extra venison can be handled.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
We’ve been reporting over the last couple of weeks about a £358m underspend over the last three years from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' £2.4 billion agriculture annual budget for England. Now, former DEFRA director and author of the National Food Strategy, Henry Dimbleby says it’s critical that this money isn’t lost from the farming budget.
He also tells us what he wants to see in the government's new Environmental Land Management schemes, especially for upland farmers. Some upland farmers who’ve spent years in what are called Higher Level Stewardship agreements, which pay for farming in a way that benefits the environment and wildlife, say there is nothing they can apply for under ELMs at the moment. We hear from one farmer in the Lake District about his frustrations with the new schemes.
Increases in offshore wind means in turn that the electricity generated has to brought inland, often requiring new infrastructure. Miles of underground cabling is being channelled through the countryside, with some farmers having little choice about whether it goes across their land.
The weather over the last year has had a huge impact on food producers across the UK. With the apple harvest underway, we speak to a cider apple producer who says he's lost trees because of waterlogged orchards.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Jo Peacey.
We’ve been reporting over the last couple of weeks about a £358m underspend over the last three years from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' £2.4 billion agriculture annual budget for England. Farmers are furious at the scale of this underspend and there are concerns that the money will be lost for good in cuts in this autumn’s government spending review. Now a former Defra director says it’s critical that this money isn’t lost from the farming budget. Henry Dimbleby was Defra’s lead non-executive board member for five years up until spring last year when he resigned over what he said was the then Government’s failure to tackle obesity, something he’d highlighted as a priority in his independent National Food Strategy, commissioned by the Government.
An animal welfare charity says it's filmed tonnes of dead and dying salmon being removed from a fish farm just hours before Members of the Scottish Parliament visited the site for a fact finding mission. Holyrood's Rural Affairs committee visited Dunstaffnage fish farm near Oban on Monday as part of their inquiry into whether the industry's made progress in tackling significant environmental concerns. The campaign group Animal Equality has accused the industry of trying to cover up the fish deaths, but Scottish Sea Farms who own the farm, says the workers were carrying out routine clearance of the pens.
The need for clean energy has led to a large increase in offshore wind farms and electricity generated in them has to be brought inland. That means hundreds of miles of underground cabling is being channelled through the countryside with some farmers having little choice about whether they go across their land.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
As the first doses of bluetongue vaccine arrive in the UK, affected farms are to be surveyed about the impact of this latest outbreak.
Unexploded Second World War bombs are one of the hazards for those aiming to restore a Welsh bog, Crymlyn bog sits alongside some major parts of Swansea's industrial heritage - an area targeted by the Luftwaffe.
Farmers have been asked to comment on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework for England. The consultation closed this week - with the new Labour government promising a major overhaul in order to deliver more housing, infrastructure and green energy.
Presented by Steffan Messenger
Produced by Alun Beach
All week we’re looking at planning and the countryside. The government has announced plans for "brownfield passports", to fast track house building on brownfield sites. The countryside charity, CPRE, has welcomed the proposals to make brownfield sites the first choice for building new homes. It says we could build most of the homes we need on such sites and says this could be in rural areas, as well as urban ones.
Green belt land was originally designed to protect the countryside from urban sprawl but some parts of it have been developed, and they are now considered ‘grey belt’ land. There’s a general acceptance that some of this land will have to be built on - providing space for some of the new 1.5 million homes the government's pledged to build over the next parliament. We look at two council areas - one where thousands of new homes have been built in the countryside, another which is creating 1000s of hectares of new green belt.
2024 is the year when payments to farmers in England, from the old EU Basic Payment Scheme, or BPS, really start to go down. They will be phased out completely by 2027. For instance, a farmer who used to receive £50,000 under the pre-Brexit scheme, will this year receive £26,000. Instead farmers can now sign up to a new agri-environment scheme: the Sustainable Farming Incentive, or SFI. It has more than a hundred actions for which farmers are paid. They’re designed to improve nature habitats, lessen flooding, improve soil health and provide cleaner water courses, and more. We visit a field event which helps farmers navigate their way through the new schemes.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The Labour Party conference is underway in Liverpool. Last week we heard from the Liberal Democrats and next week we'll report on the Conservative Party conference. Agriculture is a devolved issue, so the budget and how it's spent is up to governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed spoke at the Labour conference. He told us a land use framework will be published before Christmas, but details of funding for farmers will have to waiting until the chancellor's autumn budget.
All week we're hearing how plans for new infrastructure are affecting farmers and their land. A row over whether farm land in North Yorkshire should be turned into a solar farm is going before a public inquiry. The tenant farmers at Eden Farm, Old Malton say a solar farm would make their business unviable. The developer says it’s listened to feedback, and reduced the solar farm’s size by a third.
The number of cases of bluetongue disease in cattle and sheep has risen to 97. As a result the restriction zone has been redrawn and now covers all Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, all Greater London, Surrey and West Sussex. Previous restrictions in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and East Yorkshire remain in place.
Apple growers tell us how the weather this year's affected them. One cider producer in Somerset says he's lost trees because of waterlogged orchards and the yield is way down.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmers in the Lake District have lost an estimated 10 million pounds in funding, in a year - and some are now under severe financial pressure. So says the National Farmers Union, which claims there are limited opportunities for upland farmers to tap into the Government's new ELMS - Environmental Land Management schemes - which are replacing the old EU system of farmer support in England. We visit one farmer who says he's been left in limbo.
The new Government wants to build more one and a half million homes over the next 5 years as well as developing more solar farms, wind turbines and the pylons to transport the energy. For some, all that equals the industrialisation of the countryside and a threat to food security. But the Energy and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, pledged to take on what he called 'the blockers, the delayers, the obstructionists'. This week on Farming Today, we look at the changing rules around planning and what that means for people who live and work in the countryside.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
Radical changes to food safety are being proposed. The Food Standards Agency is discussing removing responsibility from cash strapped councils and relying instead on data collected by food companies and supermarkets. Chris Elliott, professor of food safety at Queen’s University Belfast and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says more work and more consultation is needed.
As the Met Office predicts another autumn and winter of destructive floods, a number of flood defences in England damaged during last winter's storms are still yet to be fixed. And the National Farmers' Union has warned that many farms still in dire need of flood support.
It's been 20 years since fox hunting was banned by Tony Blair’s government. Since then trail or drag hunting are two different ways of hunting without doing anything illegal. In drag hunting the hounds follow a non-animal scent laid by a drag pulled on a string, in trail hunting they follow an animal scent. Critics say trail hunting can be used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting and in its election manifesto Labour said it would ban trail hunting.
Picking blackberries from the hedgerows, along with the wild damson and sloes, is one of those end of summer outings, marking the seasonal shift. September is also the biggest month for selling commercially grown blackberries. Growers say new varieties mean they're bigger and better and while sales are up about 6% year on year, they're nowhere near as popular here in the UK as raspberries. Is it worth buying blackberries, at £2 or more a punnet, when you can pick them for free?
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A new report is calling for more investment in rural areas. The Rural Coalition says the English countryside has the potential to generate billions, but chronic underinvestment is costing jobs and money. Meanwhile, the Government is promising a "devolution revolution", with new mayors soon to be elected in Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. So will that help when it comes to rural investment?
Rural homelessness is often a hidden problem and it can be hard to find help and support. We visit a working farm in Somerset where the dairy house has been converted into a hostel for homeless people, who are also given the chance to learn rural skills.
And storks died out in the UK 600 years ago. But after a re-introduction project on the Knepp Estate in Sussex in 2016, migrating birds are now returning to the country to breed.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
Radical changes to food safety are being proposed. The Food Standards Agency is discussing removing responsibility from cash strapped councils and relying instead on data collected by food companies and supermarkets. Under plans discussed yesterday by its board the FSA would take direct control of things like hygiene and food standards for large companies, leaving local authority inspectors to concentrate on smaller businesses. It has piloted the idea, working with five retailers and says the system is 'suitably robust and proportionate' and gives more information on compliance than the current approach. Chris Elliott, professor of food safety at Queen’s University Belfast and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says more work and more consultation is needed.
Technology should be used to combat food crime; the call comes from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers and follows a report from the Food Standards Agency which highlighted 'new opportunities' for criminals.
The number of curlews has dropped by more than half since 1995 and the bird is high on the Red List of endangered species. We hear how the farming community in North Wales is getting involved in conservation.
How a charity which takes young carers farming and camping on Dartmoor is giving them a rare opportunity to get away from their responsibilities and out into the countryside.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
It is 20 years since fox hunting was banned by Tony Blair’s Government. Since then, those who enjoyed the sport have adapted to trail hunting instead. That is where a trail is laid across countryside for hounds and horse riders to follow. There is no kill at the end. However animal rights campaigners say trail hunting is a smokescreen for real hunting and Labour said it would ban trail hunting in its manifesto. The public were invited to attend trail hunts around the country to see how it works. We hear from people on both sides of the debate.
Autumn is the natural peak-time for blackberries and picking them from the hedgerows, is one of those end of summer family outings, marking a seasonal shift. Farmers are also growing blackberries now - they're very different from the wild variety - huge, tasty, but obviously, not free. So is it worth buying blackberries? We speak to one grower.
A conservation and farming charity, the Countryside Regeneration Trust is calling on the government to re-assess its advice about providing habitat for endangered lapwings. At the moment farmers get paid to help lapwings nest by making clear squares in the middle of cereal crops, but the CRT believe that’s not helping numbers increase, because the surrounding habitat doesn’t provide enough food for the birds.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
It's party conference season and Farming Today will be covering the three main conferences. This week, the Liberal Democrats meet in Brighton. Their relative success in the recent General Election has given them a boost, and many of their new constituencies gained this summer are in rural areas. The big question is budget. Before the election the Liberal Democrats promised £1 billion a year more, for the Environmental Land Management Scheme which replaces old EU payments in England. Different changes are being made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since the election, it's emerged the Conservative government underspent its DEFRA budget by £358m in the previous parliament. We speak to the environment food and rural affairs spokesperson for the Lib Dems, Tim Farron.
All week we're taking stock of birdlife on farms. The RSPB says farmland bird numbers are still declining for some species, and more needs to be done to improve numbers through habitat creation, and changing farming methods. On the Lowther Estate, near Penrith, in Cumbria, recent changes in grazing, tree planting, even the introduction of beavers to help with wetland creation, are already having positive repercussions on both the range and number of birds choosing to nest and breed there.
The UK has an estimated three million hectares of peatland, both upland and lowland, but it's believed about 80 percent of that is in poor condition. A new report from the International Union for the Convention of Nature shows progress has been made on restoring UK peatlands over the last thirty years but its Peatland Programme also reports that it's unlikely to meet the target to restore two million hectares by 2040.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Britain’s declining wild bird populations will only recover if more farmland is set aside for conservation, says the RSPB.
A legal challenge to a new forest on a vast moorland in the Scottish Borders has forced its owners to stop planting.
As the Met Office predicts another autumn and winter of destructive floods, a number of flood defences in England damaged during last winter's storms are yet to be fixed.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
DEFRA has confirmed there has been a £358 million underspend of the agricultural budget over the last three years. It follows unconfirmed reports in the press that the new Government plans to cut the future budget by £100m a year. So what would that mean for farming businesses and the environment?
We visit the 225th Westmorland County Show to see the livestock on show, talk politics with young farmers and enjoy tasters in the Food Hall.
The UK fishing industry is renewing its calls for the Government to develop a Fishing Strategy. The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations says with plans in place on off shore energy and marine conservation, fishing is falling through the cracks. Meanwhile conservationists say the quota system is allowing overfishing of some UK stocks, and fishing gear needs to change to prevent unwanted bycatch.
And we meet the new Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee - the group of MPs who scrutinise the Government's decisions around food, farming and environmental policy.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
More than 50 minke whales and basking sharks get tangled up in fishing gear around the Scottish coast each year. We hear about efforts to stop it from happening.
The fishing industry wants the Government to negotiate a better deal for fishing for cod in Norwegian waters.
With energy prices rising this Autumn, the ability to generate your own power is increasingly attractive to farmers. Growing crops like miscanthus or willow to harvest and burn to produce your own on-farm electricity is one way of doing it.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Small livestock farms are most at threat from cuts to the agriculture budget yet are in areas of the country that we most need to invest in, for nature, climate and public access; that’s according to environmental thinktank the Green Alliance.
Caz Graham visits the Westmorland County Show, just outside Kendal in Cumbria, to discuss sheep, cheese and politics.
Produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The health of the fishing industry relies directly on the number of fish in the sea, and the balance between conserving fish stocks, while also catching enough to make a living, is in constant tension. The Blue Marine Foundation charity has launched legal proceedings over the previous Government's decision to set fishing levels on multiple UK stocks above the level suggested by scientific advice. DEFRA says catch limits have been set in line with obligations under the Fisheries Act 2020 and the Joint Fisheries Statement.
The practice of fishing by trawling the sea bed has come in for criticism from conservationists, because of the disturbance and destruction it can cause. The latest report by ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, points out that bottom trawling is one of the major causes of environmental damage to the seabed. We visit a Government-funded trial underway in Brixham, where a new type pf fishing gear is being tested, which it’s hoped will have less impact.
And poor health experienced by many fishermen could be contributing to a decline in numbers working in the industry. That's according to charities and organisations that work with them. Last year, there was an 8% drop in the number of active fishermen in Scotland - part of a steady decline over the last decade.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Waterlogged fields, wet crops, delays and lower yields - the reality of harvest 2024 for many UK farmers. It's been a really difficult year. This winter, rainfall was 60% above average in England, and that came after the wettest 18 months since records began in the 1830's. That hit the sowing of both winter and spring crops. The summer has been the coolest since 2015 - according to the Met Office - which has meant a delayed harvest and extra costs to dry the crop.
We visit a new fish freezing centre that's been opened in Redruth by the company Falfish. It hopes the site will enable it to grow its business and support local sardine fishermen.
And we hear from the new Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - the group of MPs which scrutinises environment and agriculture policy. Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, who has represented Orkney and Shetland for 23 years, says the committee's To Do list is "substantial".
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
The UK fishing industry is renewing calls for the Government to develop a Fishing Strategy - the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations says with strategies for energy and conservation impacting on fishing areas, a strategic approach is needed. There are just under 5,000 fishing vessels registered in the UK - ten years ago there were nearly 6 and a half thousand.
One of the largest surviving populations of elm trees in the UK is under threat - experts say its increasingly difficult to protect the trees on the East Sussex coast as the climate changes. Elm trees were once a familiar sight across the landscape in the UK, but in millions were lost to Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s.
And Dartmoor National Park has launched a charity to raise money. The Dartmoor Foundation will be run by an independent group of trustees and will be able to raise money from individuals and companies.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
The Government plans to cut the budget for nature friendly farming in England by £100m, according to a report in the Guardian. It claims that civil service sources say the cut is needed to help fill a £22 billion treasury shortfall. The reduced spending could affect the new Sustainable Farming Incentive which replaces the old EU system, paying farmers for environmental benefits produced on their land. Nature and farming groups have reacted with consternation. We ask how significant would a cut of £100m be.
All this week we are looking at how land use is changing, as public and private investment is brought in to fund environmental schemes. With increasing green finance opportunities, more and more companies are stepping in to broker deals between farmers and investors. Natergall's business model is to deliver ecological restoration on its own land and that of others, and to commercialise the results.
Rural areas across England are in danger of becoming 'pharmacy deserts', as medicine providers across the country continue to consolidate and close smaller branches. That's according to the National Pharmacy Association, which has published a study showing that over the last two years, nearly nine in ten council areas in England have lost pharmacies. It found that rural areas often rely on fewer providers, so are harder hit by closures.
A new report has revealed that part of the seabed off Devon which had been trashed by years of trawling and dredging is being revitalised. Research by the University of Plymouth shows that within just 10 years the former shellfish reef has been transformed.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The government has agreed to the use of 3 vaccines within the UK - subject to licence - to try and stop the spread of bluetongue. It follows of confirmation of the infection on a new premises in Yorkshire. Bluetongue is a virus carried by biting midges blown into the UK from northern Europe - it’s currently widespread in the Netherlands. It is unpleasant for animals that contract it and can result in death. We get the latest from the UK's Chief Vet.
We visit a temperate rainforest in West Wales, where the trees are thick with ferns, lichens and mosses. The expansion of the forest is being funded by an insurance company - so what part should corporate money play in the future of conservation?
And if you were looking for a perfect place to grow fruit and veg, the West Highlands of Scotland might not be the first place that springs to mind. But we meet a group of food producers in the Lochaber area, who work together to sell their produce online, and say they’re showing that it is possible to grow an impressive variety of fruit and vegetables in the area, despite poor soil, hilly terrain and a wet and windy climate. Their secret? Composting!
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
The Government plans to cut the budget for nature friendly farming in England by £100m, according to a report in the Guardian. It claims that civil service sources say the cut is needed to help fill a £22 billion treasury shortfall. The reduced spending could affect the new Sustainable Farming Incentive which replaces the old EU system, paying farmers for environmental benefits produced on their land. Nature and farming groups have reacted with consternation. We ask how significant would a cut of £100m be.
All this week we are looking at how land use is changing, as public and private investment is brought in to fund environmental schemes. With increasing green finance opportunities, more and more companies are stepping in to broker deals between farmers and investors. Natergall's business model is to deliver ecological restoration on its own land and that of others, and to commercialise the results.
It's that time of the year when tractors are out along countryside roads, cutting back the hedges. Hedge specialists are calling for farmers to cut their hedges less frequently to benefit wildlife.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Less than a third of Northern Ireland's surface waterways are in good ecological condition, and targets to improve them by 2027 are likely to be missed. That's the conclusion of a damning report by the Office for Environmental Protection, which criticises lack of leadership at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. The report says that despite a draft plan to manage waterways being drawn up back in 2021, it still hasn't been finalised, let alone implemented.
We visit one of the farms that's joined the Environmental Farmers Group, which was set up back in 2022 to bring large groups of farmers together in co-operatives, to bid for public and private finance to fund environmental projects across large areas. Nearly six hundred farmers across England have joined so far.
And the future of the potato industry in the UK faces many challenges. The crop is expensive to grow, especially as the weather becomes more volatile. It also needs clean land, so a gap of about six years is needed between crops, to avoid the spread of disease. We hear about the latest technological solutions to some of these issues as they go on show at an event in Lincolnshire. Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Rural areas across England are in danger of becoming 'pharmacy deserts', as medicine providers across the country continue to consolidate and close smaller branches. That's according to the National Pharmacy Association, which has published a study showing that over the last two years, nearly nine in ten council areas in England have lost pharmacies. It found that rural areas often rely on fewer providers, so are harder hit by closures.
We visit a farm in Essex which has signed up to a 32 year Biodiversity Net Gain agreement. Under BNG rules, the environmental impact caused by new developments has to be offset by creating equivalent nature enhancements, either around the site, or elsewhere. A one hectare plot at Spain’s Hall Estate will now be taken out of food production and managed for nature to compensate for the construction of a new battery storage facility elsewhere in the district, with the work funded by the electricity company.
And the waste campaign group WRAP estimates that 9% of the UK strawberry crop is thrown out every year. We visit a farm in Hampshire where they've invested £2million pounds in a freeze-drying facility to turn strawberries that don't meet supermarket grades into a snack product.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
Scientists have made a major breakthrough which could save the Scottish potato industry from collapse. They've identified varieties which are both palatable to consumers and resistant to a pest which is spreading across the country.
A new report has revealed that part of the seabed off Devon which had been trashed by years of trawling and dredging is being revitalised. Research by the University of Plymouth shows that within just 10 years the former shellfish reef has been transformed.
All this week on Farming Today we're looking at 'green finance', getting money to pay for things which improve nature or reduce harmful emissions. Today we hear from Dr Ben Caldecott, director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group, who says the challenge is to work out which schemes offer value for money.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The government unveils its new approach to controlling TB in cattle which includes ending badger culls in the future.
Thousands of farmers who were promised financial help after the devastating floods of last winter have still not been paid.
This year’s harvest has been anything but straightforward, not just wet weather but high fertiliser costs and infection from fungus have all caused difficulties. Which means many arable farmers are facing poorer yields than normal and so less financial reward.
The number of cattle being raised for beef across the UK is falling, so could it mean a good future for artificial protein sources?
And it looks like a blueberry but isn't, it's a saskatoon, a new fruit grown in Scotland.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
Four cases of bluetongue have now been confirmed in sheep on farms in Norfolk and Suffolk. The virus, which is spread by biting midges blown into the UK from northern Europe, is currently widespread in the Netherlands with further cases in Germany and Belgium. As well as sheep, it affects cattle, goats, deer and camelids but not humans, nor does it pose any risk to the food chain.
Harvest is in full swing for many farmers and we’ve been seeing how it’s going all week. In Cornwall on the Tregothnan Estate they're harvesting tea with a solar-powered robotic tea picker.
Oilseed rape can be high risk: pests like cabbage stem flea beetle can wipe out a crop, and some pesticides which growers once relied on are now banned. We hear from a farmer in the Cotswolds who, in spite of the challenges, has created a booming business selling cold pressed rapeseed oil as a British alternative to imported oils.
We announce our Farming Today finalists in the 2024 BBC Food & Farming Awards.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
An interview with the global rock star and animal welfare campaigner Sir Brian May who is presenting a programme on BBC 2 about Bovine TB and badgers: ‘Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me’.
Car y Mor is a community owned seaweed and shellfish business, which is providing year round work in an area where most jobs are seasonal.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
Ministers in the Holyrood Parliament are being urged to introduce legislation which sets legally binding targets to protect and restore Scotland's nature.
A new variety of fruit the saskatoon, a small purple-blue coloured berry that is native to Canada, has been hailed as a super-berry. It is high in antioxidants, fibre and Vitamin C as well as low in sugar, and now is grown in Scotland.
Growers have just two and a half hours to get their peas from the field to the freezer to stop them from losing quality, so the frozen peas in the shops have been bagged at peak freshness.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
Beef production across the UK is down, but the demand is steady or rising. Should farmers be worried about imports taking over their market?
And what about alternative forms of protein, such as artificial meat? Research into this and other possibilities has been given a boost by the establishment of a new research group, costing £38 million.
And riding along in a combine harvester as it takes in this year’s crop of oilseed rape.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
Farmers flooded earlier in the year are still waiting eight months on for government grants they have claimed to clear up.
It’s a challenging harvest for farmers across the country because of the wet weather, and yields are down.
The National Farmers Union says as many as half of farmers have been affected by fly-tipping, which is a blight on the countryside and can cost farmers a lot of money to clear up.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
Northern Ireland's 'Mama Hen'
Thirteen years ago, Barbara Mladek gave up her full time job as a bank executive to run a hen rescue centre in Northern Ireland. She says it is now her life's mission to rescue and re-home as many battery hens as she can. She is so obsessed with hens, that she has changed her own name by deed poll to 'Mama Hen'.
Barbara also rescues abandoned hens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Her centre is run as a charity and relies entirely on donations. Over the years, she and a small number of volunteers have rescued thouands of hens from slaughter. She opposes battery hen production but has developed a working relationship with several Northern Irish poultry producers to 'rescue' some of their hens when their egg laying value comes to an end.
She knows that the hens she saves are only a tiny proportion of the commercial flocks reared in Northern Ireland's flourishing poultry business. But she says saving even one hen is worth it. It's a seven day a week round the clock commitment, but Barbara says she has no regrets about swapping office life and a guaranteed salary for the fulfillment she has looking after the birds.
Produced and presented by Kathleen Karragher
Businesses that import meat could have to pay up to six times more than they were expecting to get each lorry through border checks; that’s according to the British Meat Processors Association. Since April businesses that import through Dover and the Eurotunnel through Folkestone have been paying what’s called a Common User Charge.
Bracken is a large and very prolific fern, and it can be a big problem for farmers, particularly in the uplands. It eats into grazing land, it harbours ticks and it’s difficult to control, especially since last autumn when Asulox, the only herbicide used to kill it, became permanently withdrawn from the UK and Europe. The Innovative Farmers Network has just started trialling non-chemical approaches to bracken control, one of which involves using cattle to trample it.
Curlew are an iconic and beautiful bird of moorland and wetland areas, but curlew numbers have diminished significantly over the last few decades, placing them firmly on the RSPB’s red list. A project in Wales, funded by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, is using drones to locate nests which can then be protected.
All week on Farming Today we've been visiting rural communities all around the UK's coastline and finding out how they're meeting the challenges they face. Sarah Swadling has been to the Devon village of Beer to find out how they're keeping the community and tourism vibrant.
60 years ago, the first ever BBC Radio 4's On Your Farm programme aired, as an early morning outside broadcast from a family farm in Rutland. To mark the programme’s diamond anniversary, Vernon Harwood has visited that same farm to discover what’s changed over the past six decades.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Businesses that import meat, both fresh and processed, could have to pay up to six times more than they were expecting to get each lorry through border checks, according to the British Meat Processors Association.
Bracken is a large and very prolific fern, and it can be a big problem for farmers, particularly in the uplands. It eats into grazing land, it harbours ticks and it is difficult to control.
Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland, around 40 miles north of Fort William, used to be a major fishing port but now times have changed and the industry is shrinking.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
Drones are being used to seek out and protect curlew nests from predators and farm work.
The Scottish Government is consulting on ways to simplify the rules on crofting, it hopes to strengthen the rules around croft tenancy, and to get more people onto crofts.
Fishing industry bodies in Cornwall have been working to ensure a younger generation of fishermen have the relevant skills to maintain fishing’s position in the county.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
A university study shows that feeding willow to cattle in the outdoors along with their usual diet of grass can reduce methane emissions significantly.
For many tourism is a vital industry but it is one which can come at a cost.
On one hand, bolstering economic growth, on the other draining life out of a community, with second homes and holiday lets pricing out locals.
And AI or Artificial Intelligence is used in so many aspects of our lives now, and it is also being used more and more to help produce our food on the farm.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
‘Green finance’ has become a bit of a buzz word for conservation groups and land managers who want to tap into private money to fund nature recovery. But there are barriers for smaller farmers who want to get involved. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has just been awarded nearly a hundred thousand pounds by Natural England to try and tackle that by working with farmers to help them become “investment ready”.
Is this the UK's most romantic field? A farm in Essex has diversified into growing flowers confetti!
And we hear how a lack of homes for local people, an ageing population, poor public services and poverty are difficulties shared by many of the UK's rural coastal communities.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Heather Simons
After all the wet weather this year there is talk of both drought and wildfires.
Two separate reports out this week have highlighted the threat that they pose to people and the environment, both in the UK and further afield.
The Shropshire and Herefordshire countryside is peppered with traditional farmhouses and cottages dating back hundreds of years, homeowners are being taught the skills to maintain them for the future.
Plant breeders are worried that UK border rules mean new seed varieties, which need to be trialled in fields in England, are being delayed.
Dry stone walls are an integral part of our landscape from Orkney to Cornwall.
It is estimated that there are about 180,000 miles of them - but that as many as 85% are in need of repair.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
How pylons ruined a harvest: a Suffolk farmer speaks of his frustration after National Grid dug up his field, two days before a barley crop was due to be harvested.Bluetongue virus is on the rise. With more cases affecting livestock in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, the Chief Vet is warning farmers here to be extra vigilant.20 years ago, Salih Hodzhov left Bulgaria to work as a picker on a fruit farm in Kent. He is now the Chief Operating Officer for one of the UK's biggest fruit farming businesses. We hear about the challenges of recruiting pickers from further and further afield.We've been looking at rural skills this week and today it's coppicing and charcoal.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
After all the wet weather this year, there is talk of both drought and wildfires this week.
Two separate reports published this week have highlighted the threat they pose to people and the environment, both in the UK and further afield.
Dry stone walls are an integral part of our landscape from Orkney to Cornwall. It is estimated that there are about 180,000 miles of them - but that as many as 85% are in need of repair.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
Farmers this year are growing less oilseed rape than they have for the last 30 years. That is partly due to the expense of growing it, the dreadful wet weather preventing crops getting established, and the fact that it succumbs to the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle. A group in Scotland however are growing it organically - so how do they do it?
Thatched buildings are a common sight in many rural areas, but a shortage of seasonal labour, materials and outdated machinery are some of the modern-day challenges facing a thatcher today, according to a report by Historic England which warns that the traditional industry could be at risk.
And campaigners fighting for the clean-up of thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste in a Kent woodland are threatening legal action against the Environment Agency.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Alun Beach
Plant breeders are worried that UK border rules mean new seed varieties, which need to be trialled in fields in England, are being delayed.
The Shropshire and Herefordshire countryside is peppered with traditional farmhouses and cottages dating back hundreds of years, and homeowners are being taught the skills to maintain them for the future.
Farmers across the UK are still counting the cost of the long wet winter as they start to bring in a record low harvest of grain.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
The Moorland Association says the wet weather this year means it will be the worst grouse season for decades. Some shoots won't have a single day's shooting because there aren't enough birds. High rainfall during the nesting period means has had a big impact on red grouse. In turn, the association says there'll be far fewer seasonal jobs, and it'll have a big impact on local businesses which rely on the income shooting brings.
Fruit farmers in Kent are facing a glut of strawberries. The crop's all ripened at once instead of over several weeks through the summer and some growers are reporting a serious glut. Unable to sell all their fruit, tonnes of it are ending up in anaerobic digesters.
Which skills are essential to maintain the countryside? Hedging, walling, tractor driving, yes, they’re all important but there’s a far wider range of expertise required by farmers nowadays, taking in things like computer mapping, conservation and even drone flying. We’re going to be talking rural skills all this week and to start, we speak to the Royal Agricultural University at Cirencester where they’re currently updating their courses and thinking about what rural skills the next generation needs to be learning.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A BBC Local Radio 24 hour farming event to encourage young farmers to support each other with their mental health.
Farmer led badger vaccination could be a way forward in eradicating TB in cattle, a study of a four year pilot programme in Cornwall says that it has seen the percentage of badgers testing positive for TB drop from 16% to zero.
Timber is an issue here in the UK, we import more than 80% of the wood we use and there are calls for far more of that to be home grown.
In the south of Scotland the Government agency Forestry and Land Scotland is still clearing up the damage caused after Storm Arwen hit in 2021.
When it comes to the physical felling of trees or carrying out pruning at great heights, it’s a potentially dangerous profession, so comprehensive training is essential.
And an Olympic event that isn't, but really should be, shearing over 500 sheep in nine hours to reach a world record.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
The latest comprehensive survey of woodland across Scotland, Wales and England has just been published. The Bunce report first carried out woodland surveys across 103 woods, back in 1971. They were revisited in 2001, and the same sites were surveyed again in 2021. The latest report, commissioned, initiated and coordinated by the Woodland Trust has now been published. Some of the things that have changed: there are now fewer larger trees, but diseases like ash dieback and Dutch elm disease have created gaps in the canopy; shade-tolerant plants like bluebells are more frequent; and climate change and warmer winters have led to an increase in holly. We speak to Chris Nichols from the Woodland Trust who oversaw the latest survey.
Forestry England is creating 8000 hectares of wild areas in four of the nation's forests, places where the focus will be on rewilding. We visit Kielder Forest in Northumberland which has been selected as part of the project.
We visit a smallholding in North Wales where donkeys are helping people with disabilities or who're struggling with their mental health. A herd of twelve donkeys are working as part of a programme of equine assisted learning.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
BBC Local Radio holds a special 24 hour farming event to encourage young farmers to support each other with their mental health.
A man from Essex has a childhood dream come true - experiencing harvest from inside a combine’s cab.
And when it comes to the physical felling of trees or carrying out pruning at great heights, it’s a potentially dangerous job - so comprehensive training is essential.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
This year the UK is growing less oilseed rape than it has for 30 years, it has become too expensive and risky for many farmers to use it as a crop.
Clearing up a green, smelly carpet of seaweed known as sea lettuce from the beaches of Jersey.
And we import more than 80% of the wood we use in this country, and there are calls for far more of that to be home grown.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
The results of a farmer led badger vaccination trial against Bovine TB which are being released today show promising results.
A clear up campaign from the damage caused to forests in Scotland by a storm in 2021 continues to this day.
And a pilot project in Wales which aims to get more Welsh vegetables into schools, the plan is to grow the horticulture sector and provide children with locally grown healthy food.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
A third of farmed land in England and Wales is rented, and there are warnings that tenant farmers are facing more challenges than those who own the land they work. A government survey carried out in April this year and published last week found that when asked if they were very confident that changes to the post-Brexit payment schemes in England will lead to a successful future for farming, none of 130 tenant farmers questioned said that they were. Meanwhile the Tenant Farmers Association says it's seeing less land being made available for rent, putting additional pressure on the sector.
Blue-green algae in Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is now at the same level as last summer. Pollution from agriculture and sewage, along with the weather, has been blamed for much of the problem, which is making the water toxic. Last year some dogs died after swimming in Lough Neagh. Now scientists expect the blooms to start moving beyond the lough up to the North Coast.
All week we're looking at forestry. The UK target is to plant 30,000 hectares a year - last year 20,000 hectares were planted. The new government says it will introduce a Tree Planting Taskforce, and create three national forests. It also wants to increase the amount of timber grown in the UK. We speak to the Confederation of Forest Industries.
Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Many rural people are feeling 'vulnerable and intimidated' because of crime according to the National Farmers Union. Figures out this week from the insurers NFU Mutual put the cost at just under £53 million last year - up from 50 million in 2022.
The new Labour government is putting renewable energy at the heart of its plans - it wants to double the power from onshore wind farms and triple solar power - both on buildings and in fields.
One farm is benefitting from the rain we've endured over recent months, because they want their farm to be more sustainable. So as well as reducing inputs of bought-in feed, fertiliser and fuel and creating new habitats, they are producing hydro-electric power. It keeps their bills down and they can sell electricity back into the grid.
A survey by the NFU has shown that while there has been some improvement in the provision of superfast broadband, only 34% of farmers who responded have a fibre connection.
And the combines are out at last, one farmer reflects on the joys of a little sunshine.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
County councils are concerned about how rural areas will cope with new housing targets set by the Labour government. It plans to build one and a half million homes by 2029 and is setting mandatory targets for councils. Many of those new homes are to be built on bits of the green belt which will be reclassified as grey belt - what does this mean for rural England? The County Councils Network says planning needs to be strategic, and that infrastructure like local roads and health services need to be in place before new houses are built.
All this week we've been looking at the impact of the expanding renewables industry on the countryside, today we turn to battery storage facilities on farms. They store the energy generated by solar and other renewables. That energy is then sold back to the grid at times of high demand. They also give farmers a guaranteed income, as energy companies pay them to have the batteries on their land. We visit one farmer who's got battery storage on his land in Hampshire.
The farmer who bought a herd of buffalo after inheriting the family farm. Dagan James' idea was to turn what had been an intensive arable farm into a grassland farm, with more space for nature alongside the livestock. That was 24 years ago, the herd's not as big as it once was, but he says the farm's more sustainable, both financially and environmentally.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The latest figures out today from the insurers NFU Mutual put the cost of rural crime at just under 53 million pounds last year - up from 50 million in 2022.
The renewable energy options open to farmers are various, and the one that would seem to be tailor made for agriculture is anaerobic digestion - or AD.
This is the process where silage and slurry are processed in a sealed tank to produce gas that is then used as a fuel to power the farm and possibly put energy back into the grid.
And according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board - AHDB - 440 farmers got out of dairy between April 2023 and this April.
However the total number of dairy cows is about the same - suggesting that the trend towards bigger farms continues - there are now 7,130 dairy farms in England, Scotland and Wales.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
The family of a famer who took his own life say they believe a farm inspection which found he had used the wrong sort of ear tag on just 18 sheep contributed to his death.
The National Sheep Association welcomed the new farming minister Daniel Zeichner to its biennial show.
And a farmer saves on his electricity bills using the power of water on his farm.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
A survey by the NFU has shown that while there has been some improvement in the provision of superfast broadband, only 34% of farmers who responded have a fibre connection.
A farmer in the depths of his harvest has his fingers crossed that this spell of hot sunny weather will continue.
Solar farms built on farmland are an increasingly controversial topic, one farmer is looking to expand his by over 80 acres.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
Campaigners are calling on the Welsh Government to do more to clean up the River Wye, after people were warned not to swim in a section of the river - which was only recently named the first official river bathing area in Wales.
An expert outlines the challenges of providing rural renewable energy infrastructure without upsetting the people who live there.
And a game processing facility in Berkshire, reported to be the first butchery to open in 40 years, is about to process its first venison.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
A special panel programme recorded in front of an audience at the Royal Welsh Show. Charlotte Smith discusses the future of agriculture in Wales with Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy president of NFU Cymru, Abi Reader and Rachel Sharp, director of Wildlife Trusts Wales.
Produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Angling groups have warned that illegal fishing is an "out of control" problem on rivers in Wales with serious impacts for endangered species like salmon, and physical danger for anglers.
Mobile sheep shearers are hard at work on a farm near Edinburgh, before the head woman Una Cameron tries to break the world record for shearing in a few weeks' time.
A Cumbrian flower nursery specialises in wildflowers, and growing them can be a far more complex business than garden varieties.
And the farm dog with a difference - it’s a robot!
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
This programme comes from the 120th Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells. 250,000 people are expected to attend across 4 days, with 7000 livestock entries.
It comes during an eventful week in Welsh politics, with the Cabinet Secretary of Climate Change and Rural Affairs in the Welsh Government set to become the new Deputy First Minister. So what does it all mean for future farming policy?
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Heather Simons
A report by the National Audit Office into farming published today shows much room for improvement.
A tree nursery in Fife has been working hard to become better for the environment, and is now pushing to become carbon-negative.
The longest running scientific study into the impact of cereal farming on invertebrates, the Sussex Study which is run by the Game and Conservation Trust, has just published a new paper analysing 50 years’ worth of data.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
Three conservation groups say farming budgets need to rise substantially to meet legally binding targets on nature and climate.
Scotland is to have a new national park and Galloway, in the south west of the country, has been chosen as the preferred location. Not everyone is happy, a local farmer gives his views.
Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed it will switch officers from their rural crime team to other roles for the next few months because staffing is so stretched.
UK households spent around £8 billion pounds on gardening products last year according to the Horticulture Trades Association, which is complaining border delays are hitting its industry hard.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
New figures out today confirm that farming is the most dangerous job in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive says 35 people lost their lives on farms last year.
A Kent nursery which imports more than £3 million worth of plants a year has built a control point on its premises to help it save money on post Brexit checks on the UK border.
And there were a record number of flood warnings for England's best farmland last winter, according to analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. The ECIU warns that climate change 'presents a systemic risk to our best farmland, and therefore our food security.'
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
What will this week's announcement by the Government on changes to the rules on planning permission for large scale housing projects and for solar farms on agricultural land mean for the countryside?
The Welsh minister in charge of policy on climate change and rural affairs has drawn up new payment schemes for farmers to apply for as the EU's Common Agricultural Policy is replaced.
And one of the country’s large dairy processors is ending contracts with many smaller farms because it says they don’t supply enough milk and there are welfare and sustainability concerns.
A BBC Audio Bristol production presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Heather Simons
Examining the findings of seasonal workers visa review and the potential impact of any scaling back of the scheme on food security.
As more people across the world take up cricket Marie Lennon investigates the demand for bats is having on willow production.
And reporter Sarah Swadling meets an accountant turned organic farmer who says the weather this spring has made her consider throwing in the towel.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Tory Pope
One of the country’s large dairy processors is ending contracts with many smaller farms because it says they don’t supply enough milk and because of welfare and sustainability concerns.
What will the announcement by the government on changes to the rules on planning permission on large scale projects in housing and for solar panel farms mean for the countryside.
And range anxiety for electric vehicle drivers searching for charging points in rural areas.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
The Welsh minister in charge of policy for climate change and rural affairs has drawn up the preparatory offer to farmers for the replacement to the EU payments scheme.
Getting an appointment with a doctor when you live in a rural area presents challenges, one GP surgery outlines how it deals with the issue.
And could drones help with some aspects of health delivery in remote areas? It's something being tried out in Wales.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
A climate change think-tank is urging the new government to enable farmers and landowners to pick up the pace to meet net zero emission targets.
People living in a Gloucestershire village who have been campaigning against house building, have formed a Community Land Trust to plan and propose new developments that they do want to see - smaller homes for housing association tenants.
And urban school children have been learning about life and work in remote stretches of moorland in County Durham.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
The Great Yorkshire Show was the first chance for the new Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, to chat with farmers since his appointment, less than a week before.
The new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has committed to relaxing planning rules for house building. It could mean quite a change for rural areas; especially as the boundaries of greenbelt land will be 'reviewed'.
The Welsh Government has just published its response to the consultation on its controversial farm payment scheme.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
There is a response from farmers to the Welsh government consultation with its farmers on the replacement for EU funding which previously caused mass protests.
A personal tribute to the late broadcaster and doctor Michael Mosley known on Radio 4 for his series Just One Thing, which was aimed to improve our health, and wellbeing.
A preview of Radio 4's Rare Earth programme which looks at the issues surrounding growing meat in a laboratory.
And how Artifical Intelligence can help farmers gauge the health of ecosystems.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
The 165th Great Yorkshire Show takes place this week just outside Harrogate. There are 35,000 people due to attend on each day and 8,500 livestock entries taking to the show rings.
Anna Hill meets some of the people showing their pigs, learns about different breeds of pigeon and attends the Battle of the Butchers. She also meets the new DEFRA Secretary, Steve Reed - whose attending the show on his first outing since taking on the job.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farmers at the 165th Great Yorkshire Show say what they are hoping to come from the new Labour government.
The dream of farmers is to be able to accurately predict the weather, now a group of scientists are pitching in to help with AI – Artificial Intelligence.
AI is also assisting on a pig farm, helping the farmer to predict if any of his animals are developing a disease.
Presented by Anna Hill
Produced by Alun Beach
The new Chancellor Rachel Reeves has committed to relaxing planning rules for house building, a representative of various rural groups gives her response.
Corinne Pluchino is the new Chief Executive of Action with Communities in Rural England - ACRE - a national charity representing 38 county based organisations across England.
The new Secretary of State for the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs is Steve Reed, he had been serving as the Shadow at DEFRA for several years.
He is a London MP, so not exactly a country man, Andrew Meredith the Editor of Farmers Weekly gives his view on the appointment.
All week Farming Today is exploring the brave new world of Artificial Intelligence, AI, and how it is being used in farming. A Staffordshire farmer demonstrates how his recently acquired droid is weeding his crops.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Alun Beach
From interpreting pigs coughs to detect disease to analysing biodiversity data; all this week we’re going to be talking about artificial intelligence and its use in agriculture. Today, how AI is being used to sift out inaccurate agricultural market research.
A year ago the RSPB started turning land that was once arable fields, next to its site at Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk, into a wetland habitat. The hope being that they’d see many species of rare wildlife return, and it’s working. It’s giving the marsh harrier and wildlife more space to thrive.
Indoor vertical farms claim to provide the solution to unpredictable weather, growing salads in controlled conditions under lights and stacked in layers. But it's an expensive way to grow, and involves high energy consumption. We visit the Jones Food Company vertical farm in Gloucestershire.
Presented by Helen Mark and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Labour have won the General Election - so what does it mean for food, farming and the environment across the UK?
We visit a soft fruit farm where flexible solar panels are being draped over the polytunnels to produce both electricity and strawberries from the same land.
And most beekeepers sell honey - but we visit a pair who also sell queen bees, which they send to customers through the post.
Presented by Helen MarkProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Reading University has bought £16m worth of farmland to improve its research into food and farming. The 635-acre site at Tanners Farm, Farley, includes pasture, arable land and woodland and is an addition to the farmland and facilities the university already owns. The university's vice-chancellor said the purchase would help secure the future of agriculture at Reading for the next century to come.As more people flock to the countryside, paths are becoming eroded. Add to that the wet weather and many tracks need urgent repair. We join the North York Moors National Park as they transport stone to the top of a local viewpoint by helicopter.We're looking at the soft fruit industry this week and today it's the blueberry. Hard to grow because of its acidic soil requirements, it does thrive in some regions. We visit two farms, in Devon and Cornwall.And we meet Jim Smith, the beef and sheep farmer from Perthshire who's turning his hand to stand-up comedy. He draws on his own experiences to show the funny side of what can be a difficult and stressful job. Presented by Steffan Messenger, and produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sally Challoner.
A creamery which has been producing Stilton since 1780 is due to close its doors with the loss of 60 jobs. Tuxford and Tebbutt in Melton Mowbray is owned by the farmer co-operative Arla, which has been trying to sell the creamery as a going concern.They've blamed the closure on what they say is a decline in the speciality cheese market. Dairy industry analyst Chris Walkland explains what's happened.
There's been some debate about whether this wet spring has had an effect on the bee population. Ian Campbell is a spokesperson for the British Bee Keepers Association. He says this has been a challenging year for honey bees.
A farmer who switched from intensive cereal production to wildflower meadows, and open access to walkers, says the farm is now just as profitable as when he was feeding people. Chris Skinner runs High Ash Farm just outside Norwich. He says even though he’s not producing food, he feels he’s still giving people a valuable benefit...and many visitors are happy to donate to support his wildlife work. Anna Hill joined him for a walk in the meadows.
Scottish raspberries are famed for their flavour and quality...But disease, labour costs and supermarket prices mean the industry is taking a beating, with some growers pulling out or cutting production.Now the James Hutton Institute is developing varieties and growing techniques which can solve at least some of these problems. Richard Baynes has been to Invergowrie on Tayside to find out more.
Danish farmers are facing a tax on methane from cattle, pigs and slurry. The charges will be based on how many animals a farmer has, and what sort of farming system they use. There will be money available for farmers to introduce technical solutions, such as covering up slurry storage, to reduce emissions.
We visit a soft fruit farm in Kent which is part of a trial to generate electricity by draping lightweight, flexible solar panels over some polytunnels.
And a study by researchers at the University of Cambridge has looked at the urban / rural divide in voting habits - and found what it called a gradient of disenchantment and distrust in democracy, that increases as it moves from urban centres through suburbs, towns, villages and out into open country.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
"Fishing is about food - it's not a conservation problem, or heritage activity, or a hobby" the words of the fishing industry to politicians as we enter the final few days of campaigning before the general election. The National Federation of Fisherman's Organisations is calling for an incoming government to develop a national fishing strategy.
Now most beekeepers sell honey - unless they eat it all of course - but few also sell bees. We speak to a pair of commercial bee keepers who produce honey and queen bees for sale. The pair produce 18 hundred queens a year and sell them to other bee keepers for breeding.
Wimbledon is upon us, and with it an appetite for strawberries, but there are warnings that there will be millions fewer punnets of British strawberries on supermarket shelves this year, and that long term the amount of soft fruit we grow here could half. All this week we'll be looking at soft fruit, predominantly homegrown strawberries which were worth more than £470 million pounds last year and raspberries which were worth £180 million, both those figures from DEFRA. However the industry's warning that growers are reining in their planting plans.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Charlotte Smith hosts an "election special" looking at rural manifesto promises - she explores what's on offer on food, farming, the environment and rural services. She's joined by rural correspondents from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
All week we've been looking at party manifestos and politicians' pledges on food and farming. We've head from the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats - today we round up what the other parties are offering the countryside.
We meet a family of flower growers in Cornwall who've been farming in the Tamar Valley for half a century. Barry Richards built his first glasshouses in the 1970s before the flower market became dominated by imports which pushed many British flower growers out of business. However the Richards have diversified to become importers and distributors. They've massively increased the number of varieties they produce and now grow all year round.
This year's wet weather means farmers are seeing hemlock in places they wouldn't usually see the plant. It's extremely poisonous for animals and people. Agronomists say it's highly unlikely it will get into the food chain, but say farmers need to be vigilant.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
All this week we're hearing from the main political parties on what they're offering farmers and rural communities this election. Today it's the turn of the Liberal Democrats who say they'll put an extra £1 billion a year into the agriculture budget.
When the Groundswell show started eight years ago it was a small event for the then rather niche 'regenerative farming'. This year's show still held on the Cherry family farm in Hertfordshire expects thousands of visitors to discuss, debate and look at machinery, as regen ag is becoming far more mainstream. We hear from tenant farmer Andy Cato of Groove Armada and Wildfarmed on how to make it pay.
Keep Sundays special or move with the times? That's the debate in Channel Island of Sark, as politicians consider whether to change a law that means tractor drivers have to have written permission to go out on Sundays.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A "New Deal for Farming" including better trade deals and more public procurement of home grown food - we hear what's in the Labour Party manifesto on farming, the environment and rural communities. It's part of a series of political interviews with the main parties that will run on the programme across the week.
Groundswell is the biggest UK event for "regenerative farming" - and around eight thousand people are expected to attend this week's show. But some farmers worry that switching to growing food without relying on chemicals will lead to lower yields and less profit. So what's the solution?
And, we meet the seed breeder who produced a variety of wheat called "Champion" which was used by the Lincolnshire farmer who holds the World Record for the most wheat produced per hectare of land.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
An extra billion pounds across the next Parliament for farming and legally binding targets on food production - we hear what's in the Conservative Party manifesto on farming, the environment and rural communities. It's part of a series of political interviews with the main parties that will run on the programme across the week.
Learning about food and its link to farming can be a challenge in the classroom - but what better way than to actually farm your school dinners? We visit Maple Hayes Dyslexia School in the Midlands where they're doing just that. The school set up its own herd of deer in the grounds, some of which end up on the lunch menu.
And the population of hazel dormice in the UK has declined by over two-thirds since 2000. Earlier this month 10 were reintroduced into a secret Bedfordshire woodland with the aim of creating a more genetically diverse population in the area.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The 240th Royal Highland Show is taking place just outside Edinburgh, and more than 200,000 people expected to attend over the 4 days of the show. We hear from some of the breeders showing cattle at the show.
In 2022, the UK grew 162,000 tonnes of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers and celery - worth more than 200 million pounds. This time of year is normally peak salad season, but the months of rain and below average temperatures have been bad news for the country's salad growers. We find out what that means for both field crops and those grown in glasshouses.
An e-coli outbreak across the UK has been traced back to some salad leaves, which were used in a wide range of food, including sandwiches and wraps. The Food Standards Agency has not been able to say whether those leaves came from UK farms, or were imported. We ask what it means for farmers.
And could the plant breeding achievements of the Green Revolution be started again from scratch? That's the hope of scientists at the John Innes Centre, who say modern commercial varieties of wheat used by farmers could be replaced with better ones, using wheat lines collected a century ago.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Charlotte Smith visits the Royal Highland Show for its 240th year to talk cattle, politics and farmers' health.
Produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Could the plant breeding achievements of the Green Revolution be started again from scratch? That's the hope of scientists at the John Innes Centre, who say modern commercial varieties of wheat used by farmers could be replaced with better ones, using wheat lines collected a century ago. Back in the 1920s, an enterprising plant scientist named Arthur Earnest Watkins sent out letters to other Brits around the world, asking them to collect locally grown wheat, hoping the traits in those local cultivars would come in useful in the future. That original Watkins Collection is now based at the John Innes Centre in Norwich - but a massive 60 percent of the genetic diversity held within it, has never been looked at.
The Landworkers' Alliance is one of the smaller groups. It speaks for regenerative and sustainable agriculture, but with an emphasis on local production, and getting more people involved in growing food. We hear what they want from the next Government.
And we visit a new "Centre of Excellence" in glasshouse growing at Hadlow College. It's been set up with Thanet Earth - the biggest greenhouse complex in the UK, growing salad veg.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A recent E-coli outbreak is thought to have been caused by contaminated salad leaves. There have been over 200 confirmed cases of food poisoning across the UK caused by e-coli bacteria found in manure, with nearly half those affected admitted to hospital. So how does the bacteria get into the salad, and what are farmers doing to prevent it?
As part of our week looking at salads, we visit Evesham Vale Growers in Worcestershire, where they grow 500 acres of spring onions outside and some 70 acres of premium tomatoes in glasshouses. Alongside salad production, they grow crops including maize and wheat to feed anaerobic digesters for gas and electricity, and there's a solar farm. Some of the gas and electricity is used to heat and light the glasshouses - insulating them somewhat from fluctuating energy prices.
The Soil Association, which campaigns for sustainable and organic food and farming, has published it's list of demands in the run up to the election. It wants the next Government to 'grow green jobs' by backing sustainable British farming and protect the NHS by supporting healthy and sustainable food.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
With the rain continuing and below average temperatures, the outlook isn't so sunny for UK salad growers.
We look at some of the detail in the main parties' manifestos to see what they're promising on issues like the agriculture budget, food security and England's badger cull.
Sometimes described as a farmer's best friend, dung beetles consume, bury and break up dung, improving soils as they go. Earlier this month vets and farmers met at a conference in Somerset devoted to the dung beetle.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Three UK vet practices are now offering IVF for cows. It's a common practise for dairy cows to be made pregnant using artificial insemination, but IVF is more specialist. It allows for multiple embryos to be produced from one particularly good cow, meaning the genetics of a herd can be improved more quickly and its health and productivity improved. But it means hormonal treatments and some invasive procedures for the cow - so is it ethical?
In a world first, methane from slurry on a farm in Somerset is being broken down and turned into hydrogen gas and graphene. Graphene is a material that was discovered in the UK 20 years ago, and is normally made from mining graphite rock. But a company called Levidian has developed a process which separates the carbon and hydrogen in methane gas, to make graphene and hydrogen.
And ten police forces across the country will soon be trialling new forensic technology to help identify dogs involved in livestock attacks. We hear from farmers affected and find out why the police think this new kit will help.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The vets using IVF to improve dairy herds, and could a new 2-stage planning system help kickstart the rural economy? We hear from the CLA on what it wants from the next government.In a special episode of On Your Farm recorded at the Hay Festival, Kate Humble explains how she accidentally ended up buying a council farm in the beautiful Wye Valley in Wales.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
We’re talking about vets all this week and one of the most difficult and unpleasant jobs they face is dealing with serious illness and disease in livestock, like the devastating foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. Breaking the painful news to a farmer that their whole livelihood is under threat is something no one wants on their job description. The threat of bovine TB can take a heavy toll on the mental wellbeing of both farmers and vets. We meet a dairy farmer in Derbyshire who's lived under the shadow of TB all her life, and also the farm vet who runs the TB Advisory Service which supports farmers and vets.
As the general election campaigning continues, party manifestos are coming out, thick and fast. We’re going to be taking a detailed look at all of the main manifestos with key party spokes-people, the week before the election on 4th July, but we’re also hearing from a range of campaign groups and organisations that live and breath farming, rural life, wildlife and the environment to find out what they would like from the next government. Today it’s the Wildlife Trusts, the organisation that campaigns for wildlife and wild places.
Ten police forces across the country are to trial new forensic technology to help identify dogs involved in livestock attacks. It involves collecting canine DNA at the scene.The South West of England has more dog attacks of this kind than anywhere else in the country – last year, farm animals worth hundreds of thousands of pounds were severely injured or killed by dogs, according to NFU Mutual. The hope is these new DNA test kits will recue the number of dog attacks.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Post-Brexit trade barriers are leaving the UK behind when it comes to introducing new varieties of crops - according to the British Society of Plant Breeders. Anna Hill reports from the arable event, Cereals 2024, where seed breeding is centre stage.
After one of the wettest years on record left many farmers have been struggling to get out into the fields to plant or spray crops...but new drone technology could help - making it possible to spray on land that's still too soft to put heavy machinery on.
And away from the show, we visit a Welsh livestock farm to find out how vets and farmers are working together to reduce the use of antibiotics.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
In a world first, methane from slurry on a dairy farm in Somerset is being broken down and turned into hydrogen gas and graphene. The farm involved is Worthy Farm, which hosts the Glastonbury Festival. It already has an anaerobic digester which uses slurry from their dairy cows to make methane which is used to make electricity, and now also used to make graphene. We find out how it all works.
Last year tens of thousands of sheep in the Netherlands died after contracting bluetongue - a virus transmitted by biting midges. Famers in England are being warned to be vigilant for signs of the disease, and scientists at the Pirbright Institute in Surrey are studying midges to try to predict what might happen this summer.
And a shortage of vets means recruiting can be a challenge - and it can be even harder for practices in remote areas. We visit from practice in Fort William in the West Highlands who are finding it difficult to recruit a new member of staff.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farmers need more money - so says the National Farmers' Union which says the incoming Government should increase the agriculture budget. Over the next few weeks as well as hearing from politicians about what they propose for farming, the environment and rural communities, we're also going to hear from rural and wildlife groups about what they think incoming MPs should be focusing on. Starting with the NFU which launched its manifesto at the end of last year.
Fishermen in Looe say the closure of the Plymouth Fish Market is a disaster for their industry. Now the day catch has to be sent around 30 miles further, to Brixham Harbour for auction. The Looe Harbour Commissioners are trying to help the fishermen by transporting the fish to Brixham.
Our topic for the week is vets. While they'll still be involved in a emergency, the role of a farm vet has changed a lot over the years. They now work with farmers on whole herd health. But that doesn't make the job any easier and as we'll hear this week recruiting vets in rural areas can be a challenge.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Spruce trees may not be viable in the UK in the long term because of a pest which is now in the country. Restrictions on spruce trees have been extended after spruce bark beetles were found in East Anglia. The beetle was first found the the UK in 2018 and areas of the South East of England have been under restriction - that has now been extended to cover much of Norfolk and Suffolk. In the longer term, foresters may have to look for alternatives to Spruce.
A chicken producer in Northern Ireland has breached environmental laws repeatedly, but not faced prosecution. An investigation into water pollution by BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight found that Moy Park, Northern Ireland which supplies chickens throughout the UK and Europe, has breached laws on more than 500 occasions.
And pollinators are very important to farmers - pollinating crops from apples to oil seed rape and field beans - and so are worth millions to the UK economy. But across Europe, numbers are declining. The UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee has found that, as of 2022, there had been a 24% decrease in pollinator numbers compared with 1980. We visit several farms where efforts are being made to increase their numbers.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Spruce trees may not be viable in the UK in the long term because of a pest which is now in the country. Restrictions on spruce trees have been extended after spruce bark beetles were found in East Anglia. This week, we've been hearing from BBC correspondents in the nations about what farmers want from politicians. Today, we hear from Northern Ireland.A study by the University of Sussex found that moths are even more efficient pollinators than bees. So are these nighttime creatures being overlooked in their role as a friend to crop growing farmers? Delays in organising the post-Brexit regulation of agricultural chemicals are making planning on farms harder, according to the Agricultural Industries Federation. It follows calls from the Royal Society of Chemistry for a new UK Chemicals Agency to regulate across all chemicals.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The UK is vulnerable to animal diseases because of the ongoing trade in illegal meat, according to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. The CIEH says that a lack of proper inspections at UK borders makes it easy for criminals to bring meat in.
We visit a couple of fruit farms in Herefordshire to find out how they encourage the insects that pollinate their crops.
And although agriculture is devolved, so farm policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland won't be decided by the General Election, the budget is set by Westminster...and that's being discussed on the campaign trail across the UK.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The agri-food company Moy Park, which supplies chickens throughout the UK and Europe, has breached environmental laws on more than 500 occasions without facing prosecution. A BBC Spotlight investigation into water pollution uncovered the breaches at three different sites in Northern Ireland - including Lough Neagh.
Holidaymakers and walkers in Scotland are being warned not to light camp fires. Last year, a wild-fire tore through forestry at Cannich, south of Inverness. It burned for two weeks on the surface and even more damage was caused underground, as peat burnt beneath the soil. The commercial forest is now being felled, 20 years earlier than expected, and has lost 60 percent of its value. The fire also had a serious impact on the RSPB Scotland nature reserve, at Corrimony.
As the election campaign continues, and politicians travel around the UK to drum up support, on Farming Today we've asked our correspondents this week to explain what the agricultural sector is looking for. Agriculture is devolved, so policies are drawn up separately in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Today we discuss what farmers are looking for in England.
We're looking at pollinators all week: over the past ten years, honey bees have become an integral part of the way the 75,000 acre Lowther Estate in Cumbria is managed, with around 500 colonies producing between 12 and 15 tonnes of Lake District honey every year. As well as its home hives, the estate also sends out around 200 bee colonies to other local landowners, which feed from and pollinate arable crops throughout the Eden Valley. Cumbria’s only producers of rapeseed oil, farmers Ben and Jannike Taylor, are accommodating some of the Lowther bees this spring.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme has been running for over 6 years now, with thousands of people counting insects in gardens, parks and on farms. So how are our pollinators faring?
We visit a network of connected land in Ayrshire, designed to encourage pollinators. The network is being expanded after receiving funding from the Scottish Government. It was set up over the last decade or so, and includes farmland, council land and some unexpected leisure areas.
And according to a recent study from the charity the Farm Safety Foundation, 95% of UK farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today. Farmstrong Scotland is doing what it can to help, by organising events where people can get together to discuss wellbeing. We report from one of them - on a farm in East Lothian, which has a recently opened outdoor sauna.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
A selection of farmers outline what they would want from the next government.
Bees may be the best known of the UK’s pollinators, but there are many more insects involved in the process which is vital to our food production.
And farmers celebrating decades of hard work are recognised with a long-service award.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
House prices in the Lake District are likely to fall because of plans to control the number of homes being turned into holiday lets, according to the most senior planning officer at the national park authority. This is already being done in Wales where it has been causing a lot of controversy.
A ten year study of beavers in Devon shows that they are having a positive impact on flood and drought alleviation – according to researchers at Exeter University who have been following the beavers on the river Otter, some farmers disagree with the findings.
And a grandfather and grandson team of bee keepers rent hives to apple growers in Northern Ireland so the bees can pollinate the crop.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
A Welsh cheesemaker which described itself as innovative and with the highest sustainability standards has announced it cannot continue in its current form. The 321 farmers who supply milk to Mona dairy on Anglesey have been reassured that an interim buyer for their milk has been found, while the dairy's owners search for new investment.
The Campaign for National Parks and the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes has produced a 10-point National Parks Action plan for the new Welsh government.
The proposals include increased funding, an end to water pollution, improving sustainable travel links and a new National Park for North East Wales.
Amidst fears over reduced numbers of earth worms across the UK, one farmer who supplies them to gardeners, is increasingly supplying to other farmers.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
Scotland is to get at least one new national park - due to be designated in 2026. Groups in Tay Forest, Loch Awe, Lochaber, Galloway, and the Borders have now submitted formal bids for the Scottish Government to consider...but not everyone’s keen on the idea.
Farming traditional native breed cattle with horns, like Gloucester’s and Longhorns, is becoming increasingly difficult because abattoirs don’t have the facilities to deal with those horns. We hear from one farmer who says his herd of 80 longhorns may no longer be viable.
And we head out on a night time, biofluorescence safari to see the natural world in a whole new light.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Environmentalist Ben Goldsmith blames sheep grazing for turning the UKs National Parks into ‘dead zones’.
Neil Heseltine the chair of National Parks England responds, and explains what role he sees for these institutions.
One of the two scientists who was instrumental in creating a back-up vault of the world’s crop seeds to protect global food security, explain how it works.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
To mark the 80th anniversary of Vernon Harwood tells the story of Britain's D-Day farms.
As dawn broke on the morning of the 6th June 1944 thousands of Allied ships and landing craft carrying more than 150,000 troops approached the beaches of Normandy in Northern France as the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare got underway. Meanwhile the airborne assault involved more than 11,000 aircraft making it the single largest aerial operation ever seen. D-Day had arrived. Code-named Operation Overlord, it would eventually result in the liberation of Western Europe, the defeat of Hitler’s Germany and the end of the Second World War. But what part did the fields, farms and country estates of England have in the success of the Allied invasion?
Landowners, farmers and their families played a vital role in the crucial months leading up to D-Day. Large parts of rural England were taken over by the military and transformed in the process.
The journey starts at The D-Day Story in Portsmouth where the museum archives and exhibits help reveal the background to this complex strategic and logistical exercise. At Chavenage House in Gloucestershire, the Lowsley-Williams family moved out of their home to make way for an American unit working on ‘ultra-secret’ maps. The Hampshire village of Southwick hosted General Dwight D. Eisenhower while U.S. troops helped with the haymaking and in Dorset an historic farm at Tarrant Rushton was flattened in favour of an airfield. Produced and presented by Vernon Harwood.
This week as the Prime Minister sets the date for the General Election, we ask what farmers will be looking for.And as antidote to all the politics, we bring you flowers. All week we've been taking time to enjoy the blooms, inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers from different parts of the industry say what they want from the next government.
A woman who swapped a life in the luxury hospitality business in Jamaica for mushroom farming on Scotland’s west coast.
And an arable farm which specialises in growing flowers for the British market.
Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Alun Beach
The date's been set for a general election. Some would argue all the main political parties have been wooing the farming and rural vote for months now, Rishi Sunak was the first PM in 16 years to appear at the NFU conference this spring, Labour’s promising a rural crime strategy and the Lib Dems say they’d put an extra billion pounds into farming budgets. According to the Rural Service Network 40% of constituencies are rural, and that rural vote will be a key battleground, especially in the light of the recent local elections where the Conservative party had its worst results in years.
The wet weather we’ve experienced this year has been a real challenge for farmers and that's affected flower growers too. As part of our week-long look at the flower-growing industry in the UK, we’ve been finding out how the weather’s affected this year’s daffodil harvest with a visit to a grower in Cornwall.
Changes to planning law came into effect this week making it easier for farmers to convert unused farm buildings into new homes and new businesses like farm shops. It means buildings can be altered to create up to 10 homes, without planning permission. Some are worried that this is going to push up the value of land with farm buildings, and price smaller farmers and new entrants out of the market.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show a record number of people are not employed due to long term sickness. The Government's launching a new task force with the aim of getting people who are off work and on benefits, back on the payroll. The Prime Minister has suggested they could they be persuaded to get out into the fields to pick fruit and veg.
The wet weather is impacting farmers across the country - and flower growers are being hit too. For many of those exhibiting this week at the Chelsea Flower Show, the heavy rain has meant losses of precious stock. Some haven't been able to exhibit this year at all.
And animal welfare organisations have welcomed a ban on exports of some live animals from Great Britain for slaughter and fattening, which has come into law this week. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses are covered by the ban - but animals can still be exported live, for breeding and competitions.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Changes to planning law will allow more freedom for farmers and landowners in England to convert unused buildings into new homes, or new businesses like farm shops. The relaxed rules make it possible to alter buildings to create up to 10 homes, without planning permission. In addition, the amount of floorspace that can be changed from agricultural to commercial use has been doubled.
When you pick up a potted rose in a garden centre do you think about how long it's taken to get there? At Whartons Gardens Roses, based on the Suffolk / Norfolk border, it takes them 4 years to produce a rose, from land cultivation, through growing the root-stock and bud grafting. They produce 1 and a half million rose plants each year for garden centres across the UK.
And at this time of year, as dairy cows are out eating the lush spring grass the industry normally sees a glut of milk, known as the Spring Flush. But this year, its been more of a Damp Squib, as the persistent heavy rainfall has left some pasture struggling to grow, and milk production is reportedly a million litres a day less than expected.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
There's an update on the saga of illegal waste dumping at a protected woodland in Kent. The BBC has learnt that the Government is planning an emergency intervention to clear thousands of tonnes of rubbish. Locals say that as many as 30 lorries a day were illegally dumping rubbish at Hoads Wood near Ashford at the height of the problem last year. The woodland is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is site of special scientific interest . Now one conservation group describes the site as a 'desolate wasteland' and it's estimated that a clean up operation will cost £10 million.
170 farms are to have their carbon footprint measured to create a more accurate picture of the emissions they produce and the carbon they sequester. The project, led by the levy body the AHDB, aims to give both farmers and the rest of us, a better understanding of agriculture's environmental impact. It's a pilot scheme which will measure greenhouse gas emissions, landscape and soil carbon stocks and water run-off, as well as using soil analysis of individual farms. The AHDB hopes to see it rolled out to all farms in the future.
It's the RHS Chelsea Flower show and all week we're looking at flowers and plants. As a nation of gardeners we spend around £3 billion a year on plants and trees for our gardens, according to the Horticultural Trades Association. Chelsea's a highlight in the calendar for the industry, but they're facing many challenges: from the use of peat, to the wet weather and the new inspection regime at the UK border.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Anna Hill reports from the second Farm to Fork Summit held this week in Downing Street. To coincide with the event, the Government released it's Food Security Index - which looks at how much of the food we eat is produced here, but also takes into account other things, like fertiliser prices, global trade and biosecurity risks. The Prime Minister said he wants to expand UK fruit and veg production.
Around 120,000 visitors and 4,000 head of livestock have been at the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland this week. Helen Mark reports from the show, and grills the NI Farming Minister over his plans for future farm payments.
And South East Water has launched a 25 Year Environment Plan, which includes creating a new super nature reserve. More than 80% of the area covered by the company across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, is agricultural - so what will this mean for farmers?
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Helen Mark visits the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland. In the week when the Northern Ireland Assembly has declared the country to be in an ecological and biodiversity crisis, Helen asks the new Minister for Agriculture, Andrew Muir, how he sees farming and the environment working together.
Produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers are being asked to support South East Water with its new 25 year environment plan - launched this week - which includes creating a new super nature reserve. More than 80% of the area covered by the company across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, is agricultural. The company is under investigation by OFWAT after it was revealed as the worst performer for supply interruptions last year, and some local farmers are not impressed by the new plan.
Land use and the rules around it are back under the spotlight following new government advice on planning for solar farms. It's made clear that councils should only give permission for panels on high quality farmland when "necessary", and that they should take into account any other solar farms in the area to consider their cumulative impact. This follows changes earlier this year which made it harder to put panels on the 'best and most versatile' farmland.
We reflect on new Government plans for horticulture revealed at the Farm to Fork Summit.
And we meet the Northern Ireland sheep farmer who has turned his everyday life into a tourist attraction.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
In this special programme, Anna Hill reports from the second Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street.
The Government says it wants to increase the amount of home grown fruit and veg - after figures released this week who only 17% of fruit and 55% of vegetables eaten in the UK, are produced here. More money will be released to help fruit and veg farmers invest in new equipment.
As well as interviewing Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, we hear from delegates who were invited to the summit about what it could mean for food and farming.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Government says it wants more home grown fruit and veg - after releasing figures that show only 17% of fruit and 55% of vegetables eaten in the UK, are produced here. It's releasing more funding to help fruit and veg farmers invest in new equipment. The announcement come as the Prime Minister hosts his second Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street.
New rules in Wales mean holiday-let owners now have to rent their accommodation out for at least 182 days a year in order to qualify for business rates. It's designed to help develop a fairer housing market for locals, but farmers who have diversified with self catering accommodation in old farm buildings say it's bad news.
And we meet the conservation sniffer dog helping to track down rats and ferrets that are threatening seabirds on Rathlin Island off the North East coast of Northern Ireland.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farmer confidence is at an all time low: that's according to a new survey published this week by the National Farmers' Union. It says the wet weather has had an impact, but farmers also point to worries about the future of their businesses.The Government’s announcement that the seasonal worker visa scheme is being extended for five years has been welcomed by farming organisations. It comes as part of Defra's response to an independent review into labour shortages in the Food Supply Chain which was published last summer. The Government had said it would respond to it last year.The RSPB says it is "vital" that a UK ban on fishing for sandeels in the North Sea remains in place. The ban, which stops sandeel trawlers fishing in English and Scottish sections of the North Sea, came into effect in April following a long campaign by conservationists concerned about declining seabird populations, particularly puffins and kittiwakes. Fishermen in Denmark are supporting a challenge by the European Union to the UK ban, claiming they have lost half of their fishing grounds because of the new restrictions.Cornish journalist and farmer, Stuart Oates, has been taking a European road trip in his fairly ancient land rover, peering over as many hedges as possible. From mangoes in spain to rice in Portugal, he started at the heart of the global wine industry in France. In the UK wine production has become a thriving business, but in Bordeaux things aren't looking so good.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Government’s announcement that the seasonal worker visa scheme is being extended for five years has been welcomed by farming organisations. It comes as part of DEFRA's response to an independent review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain which was published last summer. Also in that response is a commitment to "turbo-charge" investment in automation with an extra 50 million pounds of funding for new technology for automating pack houses and to improve robotic pickers.
Jon Old’s family own around 16 hectares of watercress beds across Hampshire and Dorset. Their watercress ends up on the shelves of major supermarkets but since 2010, they’ve also been growing something else: wasabi. Wasabi is particularly difficult to grow - Jon calls it the the “Goldilocks Crop” because everything has to be just right!
And our whistle-stop tour of farming in the West of Europe with Cornish farmer and Farming Today journalist Stuart Oates concludes on the Coast of Portugal, where one of the crops he discovers is rice.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The boss of Waitrose has told Farming Today that the value of food needs reappraising and that in some cases higher prices should be considered. It comes as the supermarket announces that from 2035, it’s UK produced meat, milk, eggs and fruit and veg will come from farms that practice regenerative farming. There is no precise definition for regenerative agriculture, but it focuses on improving soil health by reducing or removing cultivation, growing cover crops to protect the soil and using fewer chemical inputs. It can also involve re-integrating livestock into an arable system. So what will it mean for the 2300 farmers who supply Waitrose?
The Government needs to take “urgent action” to meet it’s own targets for cleaning up our waterways…according to a new report from the Office for Environmental Protection. The Government has committed to bring 77% of England’s surface water bodies, like rivers and lakes, to a good ecological condition by 2027…but the OEP says without a significant strengthening in the enforcement of environmental law, that figure will be more like 21%.
More than 500 workers at a tractor factory in Basildon in Essex are to go on strike across the next three weeks over pay. The CNH factory produces New Holland tractors that are shipped all around the world.
And our European road trip continues with a hunt for the farmer who produces the world's most expensive ham.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The King Charles III England Coast Path was named to celebrate the coronation last year - and the plan was to make 2,700 miles of coastal path available to walkers. But, on the Isle of Wight, the Ramblers Association says some landowners won't allow access for the path, so it will have to detour away from the coast. One of those is the Osbourne House Estate - the former home of Queen Victoria, which was given to the nation in 1902.
A bio-tech company has developed a new technique to enhance carbon capture in the soil. Crushed basalt rock can added to soil to capture carbon in a process called "enhanced rock weathering". Now, FabricNano has developed a protein powder made of enzymes which are already found naturally in the soil, which speeds it up.
And for farmers struggling with low prices, selling produce direct to the consumer can be a solution. But platforms to access markets large enough to sell entire crops, have been thin on the ground. We hear from farmers in Southern Spain who are now selling hundreds of tonnes of their fruit directly to consumers across Europe every year through a website called Crowdfarming.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The RSPB says it is "vital" that a UK ban on fishing for sandeels in the North Sea remains in place. The ban, which stops sandeel trawlers fishing in English and Scottish sections of the North Sea, came into effect in April following a long campaign by conservationists concerned about declining seabird populations, particularly puffins and kittiwakes. Fishermen in Denmark are supporting a challenge by the European Union to the UK ban, claiming they have lost half of their fishing grounds because of the new restrictions.
Farmer confidence is at an all time low; that's according to a new survey published by the National Farmers' Union. It says the wet weather has had an impact, but farmers also point to worries about the future of their businesses. 65% of the 797 farmers surveyed at the end of last year say profits have fallen or that their businesses may not survive. 86% expect the phasing out of direct subsidy payments to have a negative impact on their farms, and 80% expect regulations and the price of inputs to hit their businesses.
We visit the heart of the global wine industry in France. While in the UK wine production has become a thriving business, in Bordeaux things aren't looking so good.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Just what happens when a foreign billionaire buys a vast tract of the Scottish Highlands and sets about changing it? Does Scotland’s biggest landowner Anders Holch Povlsen dictate everything that happens on his 80,000 acres of the Cairngorm National Park? Is he making money from it? Richard Baynes has been to the heart of Povlsen’s Wildland estate, talking to those charged with restoring nature on it and finding out how they work. Produced and presented by Richard Baynes.
New physical checks have been brought in on some imports of food and plants from the EU. Products deemed high or medium risk now have to be inspected - including live animals, meat and some plant products. We report from a border control post to find out how it works.
An investigation is under way following the large scale illegal dumping of waste at a site in Kent. Local residents describe a steady stream of lorries carrying waste being brought to the site.
And the largest cider manufacturer in the UK - Heineken - has ripped up thousands of apple trees in a 140 acre orchard in Monmouthshire. The orchard was planted by Bulmers - which is now owned by Heineken - more than twenty years ago. Some local people have raised concerns about the effect on ecosystems in the area, but the company says it’s selling the land due to a fall in the cider market.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The latest figures from Defra show nearly 20,000 badgers were killed across England last year, as part of the Government's policy to tackle TB in cattle. Badger campaigners say that the continued culling is leading to local extinctions. Defra says there are no easy answers, but badger culling "has proved highly effective and needs to remain a part of our holistic approach".
Jeremy Clarkson says if he wanted to make money from his thousand acre Oxfordshire farm he'd put as much as possible into government environmental schemes. Instead he's turned it into a TV show and for the third series, which starts today, he's gone into pigs.
Fusarium basal rot: its a fungus and apparently the single biggest problem facing the country's onion growers. This week we're looking at crop pests and diseases and the efforts being made to combat them. Researchers are looking into technology which can sniff-out early stage disease.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
An investigation is under way into a case of large-scale illegal waste dumping in Kent.
According to a House of Lords committee report, up to a third of veterinary medicines currently used in Northern Ireland could cease to be available to farmers when a grace period ends next year.
A Natural Products BioHub has been launched at Swansea University, which will support researchers and businesses specialising in pesticides which control pests without the need for chemicals.
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
New physical checks have been brought in on some imports of food and plants from the EU. Products deemed high or medium risk now have to be inspected - including live animals, meat and some plant products. Inspections can be done either at Government run sites or at commercial facilities - we report from both to find out how it works.
The major political parties are all competing for the rural vote ahead of the local elections. A combination of councillors, mayors and police and crime commissioners will be selected across England and Wales.
And, blackgrass is a weed that can grow amongst fields of commercial crops, competing for nutrients in the soil, and reducing yields. We meet a team of scientists at Rothamsted Research who are looking into how to tackle this pernicious weed.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
New border checks for imports of food and plants coming into the UK from the EU, start 30th April 2024. Some farming groups have been calling for these checks for some time - saying they will give producers here more of a level playing field with EU producers, because UK exports have had similar checks since Brexit. But some importers say inspection costs are prohibitive.
We hear from the conference to celebrate the World Organisation for Animal Health's 100th anniversary, where avian flu is on the agenda.
And, we’re getting to the time of year where young plants in the field are susceptible to pest damage. Rather than rely on chemicals to fight them off, under the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which is part of England's new farm payment system replacing EU subsidies, farmers can be paid for using "Integrated Pest Management". We visit a farm to hear how it works.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Illegal fishing on rivers and watercourses is on up according to the police, who are stepping up patrols with other agencies. Angling clubs pay thousands of pounds every year to stock rivers with fish for members and taking fish without permission is theft. Better training of police in poaching laws has led to a recent spate of convictions and a legal first for volunteer river bailiffs.
MPs have highlighted the impact of changes in welfare payments on farmers. Farmers historically claimed tax credits to boost low incomes, but the system has changed and they now apply for Universal Credit. But eligibility is calculated using monthly income and expenditure, which doesn’t sit well with farm businesses where these can vary enormously depending on the season. The transition process has been described as a nightmare which is having an impact on farmers mental health.
Around 38 million acres of Ukrainian farmland has now been rendered too dangerous to farm by Russian mines. According to the Mines Advisory Group charity there have been more than a thousand mine accidents in Ukraine since 2022, with farmers making up one of the largest single groups of casualties.
From Welsh government plans to get them planted on farms to the ever missed English planting targets and the recent cuts to the budget for planting in Scotland, trees are the subject of much debate in rural areas. All this week we've been discussing trees and despite our fondness for them and need for timber, we still don't like commercial forestry.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The National Sheep Association says it has no confidence in the Red Tractor assurance scheme's executive.
MP's have highlighted the impact of the changes in welfare payments on farmers, who historically claim tax credits to boost low incomes.
A tree nursery manages to combat the adverse weather conditions, and a breed of cattle found on a remote Scottish island
Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Alun Beach
Fishing is a very popular pastime. In England alone, the Environment Agency issued more than 900,000 fishing licenses between March 2022 and April 2023. But illegal fishing on rivers and watercourses is on the up, according to the police, who are stepping up patrols with other agencies. Angling clubs pay thousands of pounds every year to stock rivers with fish for members and taking fish without permission is theft. Better training of police in poaching laws has, however, led to a recent spate of convictions and a legal first for volunteer river bailiffs.
A new housing development in Essex is welcoming some new arrivals, but they're not excited home-owners. That’s because houses on the estate at Manningtree come complete with their own flock of sheep and a full-time shepherdess.
We’re talking about trees all this week and today it’s the threat to our trees from pests, pathogens and disease. Climate change, pollution, land use change and invasive species are all making trees more vulnerable to pests and diseases, like ash dieback. It was first detected in the UK back in 2012, since then it’s swept across the country with devastating effect on our third most common broad-leaved tree. According to the Woodland Trust, ash dieback will eventually kill up to 80% of ash trees across the UK. Dead trees are dangerous trees, so local authorities are spending millions of pounds managing trees that are deemed unsafe.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Labour Party has launched a Rural Crime Strategy, saying crime is rising faster in rural than urban areas. Research commissioned by the party, and based on information from the House of Commons Library, shows rural crime has risen by a third since 2011, compared to a rise of 24% in urban areas. Labour says the new Strategy would include increasing rural police presence by 13 thousand community and neighbourhood staff. We hear from the Shadow Policing Minister.
In February, we reported that Scotland’s forestry grant scheme was facing a 41% cut, lopping £32 million off the funding to help pay for new woodlands. Two months on, what is it meaning for rural communities?
And, deer can strip bark from trees, making them more vulnerable to disease. They can also eat young trees, killing them before they’ve had a chance to grow. DEFRA released its consultation on a Deer Management Strategy back in 2022 - but it still hasn't been published. We look at what it could contain.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Around 38 million acres of Ukrainian farmland has now been rendered too dangerous to farm by Russian mines. According to the charity the "Mines Advisory Group", there have been more than a thousand mine accidents in Ukraine since 2022 - with farmers making up one of the largest single groups of casualties. We hear from the man in charge of clearing land mines there.
Farmers can be paid to integrate tree-planting into their farm management plans through Government schemes like Countryside Stewardship. We visit two farmers in the Lake District who are being advised by The Woodland Trust on how trees and food production can go hand in hand.
And an environmental charity in Germany, which invests in projects around the world, is donating more than a million euros to re-wet peatlands in England. We speak to NABU about what the UK offers.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Today trees: from Welsh Government plans to get them planted on farms, to the ever missed English planting targets and the recent cuts to the budget for planting in Scotland, trees are the subject of much debate in rural areas. Despite our fondness for them and need for timber, we still don't like commercial forestry. Foresters warn the public's perception is hampering efforts to grow more timber. We get an overview of the state of British woodlands.
The Scottish Government wildlife agency NatureScot has been holding advice sessions on wild boar and providing help for farmers and crofters dealing with them. Concerns are growing about the damage they do to grazing areas. It's claimed they kill and eat sheep and lambs, and farmers believe the Government should have taken action years ago.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Wales' new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs says his first job it to listen to farmers. It comes after unrest and large protests in Wales by farmers, angry about the Welsh Government's approach to farming. In particular, the way its tacking TB in cattle, stricter rules on pollution and the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which will replace EU subsides in Wales and requires farmers to plant trees on 10% of their land. We put their concerns to Huw Irranca-Davies.
The UK Government has admitted that it unlawfully issued some licences for releasing game birds last year. The campaign group Wild Justice challenged the licences granted in the Deben Estuary in Suffolk and Breckland in Norfolk. While DEFRA concedes that it didn’t follow Natural England's advice and that the assessment it carried out wasn’t in line with the rules – it strongly refutes Wild Justice's claim that the decisions 'were tainted with the appearance of bias'.
And we visit a farm in Herefordshire where they rear tens of thousands of worms to sell for live bird feed, for improving the soil, and for composting.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Most UK dairy farms are failing to meet environmental regulations aimed at protecting rivers from pollution; so says the campaign group River Action which has used freedom of information requests to find new data. It says dairy farms are one of the biggest causes of river pollution. The National Farmers' Union says farmers are getting better.
Companies importing food to the UK say the Government's plans to bring in physical checks for food coming from the EU is going to lead to higher prices, and eventually less choice.
All this week we're talking about diversification, and for farms which are near towns or cities attracting visitors onto the land can be profitable. We hear how a Devon farm has diversified into Halloween pumpkins.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Government has admitted that it unlawfully issued some licences for releasing game birds last year. The campaign group Wild Justice challenged the licences granted in the Deben Estuary in Suffolk and Breckland in Norfolk, saying that ministers had ignored the advice from the wildlife regulator Natural England, and that a proper assessment of the impact hadn't been carried out. By law under the Habitats Directive there must be an assessment of the impact of any release near Special Protected Areas, and advice from Natural England must be taken into account for a licence to be granted. While Defra concedes that it didn’t follow Natural England's advice and that the assessment it carried out wasn’t in line with the rules, it strongly refutes Wild Justice's claim that the decisions 'were tainted with the appearance of bias'.
A new assessment of the UK vegetable oil harvest has been made and found that oilseed rape production this year could be reduced by as much as 38% compared to last year, partly due to less area planted but also because of the wet weather. Added to that, production of olives in Southern Europe is also facing climate challenges, and the price of olive oil has shot up.
Some farmers coping with challenging weather will be thankful if they have income from a diversification on the farm. All week we're hearing how farms are running extra businesses alongside their core work. Tens of thousands of worms might not be the first thing you’d think of to help a traditional farm survive. But near Hereford, the Gorringe family have set up a sideline which is helping prop up their arable and beef business.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A total wipe-out of crops is now a possibility for some farms - it follows the record rainfall over recent months. Crops on thousands of acres of highly productive land have been destroyed and even now fields are too boggy for machinery to harvest or plant crops for the months ahead. So what impact will this have on our fresh produce supply chains?
Tenant farmers "can't be left to go by the wayside" - that's the message from the NFU Tenant Farmer Conference. English farmers who rent some - or all - of the land they work face many challenges at the moment. From landlords taking land back for solar farms or the ELMs environmental schemes, to rising rents and the phasing out of subsidy payments under the basic payments scheme or BPS.
And we visit a former dairy farm where cattle barns have been turned into a microbrewery, a taproom and a wedding venue.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
After farmers held protest against post-Brexit agricultural policy in Wales, is the new Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs ready for the challenge? In his first interview for the programme, Anna Hill asks him about the 10% tree policy, how they plan to tackle bovine TB and whether they're doing enough to clean up Welsh rivers.
The Government has published its long awaited River Wye Action Plan, which includes the doubling of grants for farm slurry stores and up to £35 million worth of funding for poultry manure combustors. Campaigners say the river is in an ‘ecological death spiral’ and blame the spreading of manure from intensive chicken farming onto fields in the catchment, resulting in pollution going into the river. Research led by Lancaster University showed that 70% of the excess phosphate in the Wye, comes from agricultural waste.
And many farms have ventured into retail and hospitality in the hope of selling some of their produce direct to customers. We visit a farm which has gone one step further, and as well as having a farm shop, butchery and cafe, it also rents farm buildings to other small businesses.
Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Changes to farm support payments after Brexit, increasingly unpredictable weather, not to mention a cost of living crisis means farmers are relying more on additional income streams to boost their farm profits. We’re going to be looking into farm diversifications all this week, and while you might think the most common sources of extra income would be accommodation for tourists and things like farm shops, in fact letting out buildings for businesses and producing solar energy were the top two diversifications in 2022 - 23, according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
It's an election year and the controversial topic of hunting is being raised again; the Labour Party has vowed to ban hunting with dogs completely in their first 5 years of government. Fox hunting’s been banned in England, Wales and Scotland for twenty years now, but hunting groups are allowed to lay a ‘scent trail’ for hounds to chase. Trail hunting is controversial, with some hunts accused of using it as a smokescreen for hunting foxes. Just last month one hunt member in Wiltshire was sentenced for helping throw a live fox to hounds, and a different hunt, in Warwickshire, was charged over the alleged death of a fox. But a leading wildlife campaigner and hunt saboteur says he thinks one hunt in Sussex is now paving the way for how trail hunting could be done around the country in a pared down and more open way.
New varieties of organic hops that are resilient to climate change are being trialled by British beer makers. The Innovative Farmers Hop Trial aims to boost the cultivation of UK crops after falling production levels.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Changes have been made to the UK Government's Farming Recovery Fund after the NFU reported "major issues" with the scheme. The Fund was announced back in January, to provide up to £25,000 to farmers affected by Storm Henck to go towards repairs to their land. Four months later, this week the Government opened that fund to applications...and almost immediately some farmers reported problems...
We are still in the midst of the worst Avian Flu outbreak we have ever seen - the highly infectious strain of the virus has reached every continent except Australia. Now, dairy cows on several farms in the USA have been infected with bird flu and a farm worker there has also tested positive. We hear from a virologist about what it could mean for farmers here.
And who should decide whether an area of land is of such great environmental importance it should be given legal protection? Currently, it's the Government’s advisor for the natural environment "Natural England", which has the power to designate Sites of Special Scientific Interest. But a group of Conservative MPs wants that to change - with the final decision being made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs instead.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A new report has put a price on how much the changing climate is affecting farmers. Commissioned by WWF Cymru, looking specifically at Wales, it estimates that extreme weather events are already costing farms tens of millions of pounds a year. Can hill farming and conservation work together? Since taking over the tenancy of a Lake District farm in 2011, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has drastically reduced the number of sheep grazing on the hills, focusing instead on nature and land restoration. It's been a controversial move, attracting some fierce criticism. Labelling on pork products is not particularly helpful for people wanting to make informed choices about what to buy; that's according to what's been described as the largest study of its kind by researchers at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Sao Paulo. They evaluated different methods of pig farming, assessing each systems' impact on biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, use of antibiotics and animal welfare, and found that none of the farm types performed consistently well across all four areas.
Presented by Steffan Messenger and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The UK Government's Farming Recovery Fund had opened to help farmers badly hit by Storm Henck back in January to pay for repairs to their land. The fund provides those who are eligible with up to £25,000 but some flood-hit farmers say they won't get as much as they'd hoped, because the pay outs only apply to fields within 150m of specific rivers.
There are many different ways of rearing pigs. Piglets can either be born indoors or outdoors, then once they're weaned most are reared inside. There, they can either be housed in barns with a slatted floor, which allows the muck to drain through, or they can be raised in barns with straw bedding. We visit a farm where straw bedding is the chosen option.
And a London-based agri-tech firm has been awarded one and half million pounds by the UK Space Agency to try and develop a prototype farm for low-Earth orbit. Vertical Future will use the money to adapt its existing vertical farming system - which involves growing plants in stacked layers in a controlled, indoor environment. It's hoped it can eventually be deployed on the first commercial space station, set to be fully operational by 2030.
Presented by Steffan MessengerProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Who should decide whether an area of land is of such great environmental importance it should be given legal protection? A bill being considered by Parliament at the moment wants the power to designate Sites of Special Scientific Interest transferred from Natural England - the Government’s own advisor for the natural environment in England - to the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The Private Member’s Bill has the backing of former DEFRA secretary, Thérèse Coffey, and two former DEFRA ministers, but critics say it would turn the process into a subjective, political one rather than one based on the scientific evidence.
The Government has opened the Farming Recovery Fund for applications from farmers who were affected by Storm Henck, which brought damaging winds and heavy rain to South and Central parts of England and Wales back in January.
And although many sows in the UK have their piglets outside - the majority of those piglets are then taken indoors after they’ve been weaned, to be reared. Rearing piglets outside can take longer, and it needs more land, but we visit one farm near Wolverhampton where that's exactly what they do.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The relationship between landowners and tenant farmers can be a difficult one - but it’s hoped a new Code of Practice could help improve things. It was one of the key recommendations of the Rock Review into tenant farming in England. The Tenant Farmers Association has called it a “major step forward”, saying “for too long tenants have felt marginalised and mistreated.”
And we visit a state of the art pig farm to find out about a replacement for ‘farrowing crates’. These are the small pens where sows are confined by rails while, and after, giving birth to stop them lying on and smothering their piglets. Sows can get up and lie down, but not turn around or move about until the piglets are weaned when they’re about a month old. The use of these crates is banned in Sweden, Norway and Switzerland and they may also be phased out in the UK.
Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Should cages for laying hens be banned? The Scottish Government is consulting on phasing them out, in order, it says, 'to improve their welfare by allowing birds to exhibit their normal behaviours.' Egg producers warn it would mean Scottish consumers paying more for eggs - or potentially being offered English imports - and say the ban is being proposed without a full understanding of the larger enriched cages currently used. Farming Today hears from one producer who says the ban will hurt the industry, and from Scotland’s Farming Minister Jim Fairlie.
We visit a farm in Cheshire which is training vulnerable young adults to become "farm rangers". Let’s Farm was set up as a community project for people aged 18 to 35 with learning disabilities and difficulties. They take part in all aspects of farming life which the organisers say brings huge benefits and could lead to a future career.
All this week we're talking about pigs. There has been somewhat of a crisis in the industry over the last two years, with falling prices, high feed costs, delays at abattoirs and as a result, there has been a reduction in the breeding herd. But things are starting to look up.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Marie Lennon
The Food and Drink Federation says new labelling rules will cost food companies million of pounds. From October dairy and meat products for sale in Great Britain will have to have "not for EU" on the packaging, just as products on sale in Northern Ireland have had since last year. The Government says the aim is to make sure that Northern Irish consumers have access to the same goods. The FDF says that's unnecessary could have "grave and unintended consequences" for the UK food and drink sector. We hear from the boss of a dairy company who says it will cost them at least £300,000 to make the change.
According to new figures from the insurers NFU Mutual, more than £900,000 worth of farm animals were injured or killed by dogs last year in Wales alone. It's not a new problem. So what's the solution?
At this time of year farmers should be putting their cattle out to graze, but in many parts of the UK it hasn't stopped raining long enough for the fields to dry out. Farmers trying to plant crops are also being delayed by the weather as it's too wet to get machinery onto the fields. We look at how much the wet weather is costing the industry.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Flooded and waterlogged farmers are asking what's happened to the Government's Farming Recovery Fund. It was announced after storm Henk back in January and offered up to £25,000 to farmers towards the clean up after the storm. Well since then, the rain has kept on falling - but no sign of the fund. We hear from one flooded farmer who needs the money to clean up a 10 mile stretch of flood debris.
Today the Ramblers organisation launches its 'Outdoors Unlocked' campaign, urging the Government to remove all unnecessary barriers to access within the next five years. They say that accessing green spaces can be daunting and difficult for people with mobility or visual impairments. We find out how Farming Today listeners can help.
And wool if often worth less than it costs to shear the sheep. But one farming family have come up with a way to make a bit more money from them. David and Ruth Wilkinson have opened a tiny wool mill factory on their Dorset farm.
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Marie Lennon
Muddled, costly and unnecessary regulatory burdens - that's the Food and Drink Federation's description of new labelling rules which it says will cost food companies million of pounds. From October dairy and meat products for sale in Great Britain will have to have 'not for EU' on the packaging. Just as products on sale in Northern Ireland have had since last year. The Government says the aim is to make sure that Northern Irish consumers have access to the same goods, as with the same labels there isn't an incentive for companies not to sell in Northern Ireland. The FDF says that's unnecessary. We hear from the boss of a dairy company who says it will cost them at least £300,000.
Succession is something we talk about a lot on Farming Today - for farming families where no one wants to take over the business, share farming can be a solution. We visit a couple who have set up a share farming deal with one young farmer to see how it works.
And 30 million pounds is needed to improve mountain paths in Scotland - that's on top of the five million already spent on 140km of trails in the two National Parks. The government agency Nature Scot says paths in the uplands need work. But what’s in it for land owners and managers?
Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Earlier this week English farmers drove tractors into London and held a rally outside Parliament, protesting at what they say is a lack of support for British food production.
Just a few hours before that rally the Government announced a change in the rules for environmental schemes. Farmers will now only be able to put 25% of their land into schemes which take land out of food production to try to address concerns about food security.
Brexit has cost Scotland up to £100m a year in 'lost' salmon exports, MSPs were told this week.
Why is wool so worthless for farmers? The price they get for a fleece barely covers the cost of shearing.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
This year the warm and still weather has led to a surge in flea beetles, which can destroy oil seed rape, while it's still in the early stages of growth in the fields. Farmers used to rely on neonicotinoid chemicals to protect the plants and kill flea beetle larvae, but they have been banned. We speak to a farmer who's been spraying his crop at night to try and tackle the pest, but now he's having to re-sow much of his crop, some of it by drone.
This year's sugar beet harvest, known as a 'campaign', has just started. The harvest last year was poor and the cost of processing sugar-beet rose dramatically. Farmers and businesses which want to use British sugar in their products are hoping for a better season this year.
Picking apples has always been labour-intensive, but things are changing with the development of new machinery to aid - or even replace - pickers. One such machine is called the REVO and it’s being used this year by a major grower in Kent. Adrian Scripps has 250 hectares and produces up to 200 million apples a year from its orchards near Tonbridge, it's invested in a fleet of harvesting platforms.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
Two cases of avian flu have been confirmed on game farms in Cheshire and Staffordshire, where pheasant and partridge are produced for shooting. Every year more than 40 million partridge and pheasant are released into the wild from game farms, to populate land for shooting. In May the RSPB called for more restrictions on releasing game birds into the countryside, to reduce the risk of new strains of avian flu, but the British Association for Shooting and Conservation says a ban on releases of game birds is not the answer.
Sir Ian Wilmut who led the research team that produced Dolly the cloned sheep at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, has died at the age of 79. The team used a cell from the mammary gland of a dead adult sheep to create a living animal that was genetically identical to the donor. The work laid the foundations for stem cell research, a technology which aims to cure many of the diseases of ageing by enabling the body to regenerate damaged tissue.
All week we're picking out the stories from top-fruit farming - that's apples, pears, plums and cherries. One fruit grower in Kent says he is giving away all his crop to charity, because he says he can’t make any money selling it.
The Canary Islands have banned imports of UK seed and eating potatoes to their Islands after Colorado beetles were found in potatoes in Kent and Hampshire in July. Each year, the UK exports 50 thousand tonnes of potatoes to Spain, and the Canary Islands are the fourth largest export market for seed potatoes from Scotland. The government's Animal and Plant Health Agency says the Spanish National Plant Protection Organisation has agreed to import potatoes again under new criteria and the APHA is discussing this with the sector.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
Top fruit farmers say they're not being paid enough by retailers for their crop, and lose money on fruit which doesn't reach the top specifications.Scottish farmers press for food production to be higher up the government's agenda when it comes to the First Minister's 'programme for government'.And why a rare pine martin was spotted in Yorkshire, miles from where it would usually be spotted.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Following Government reviews into the dairy and pig sectors, there will now be a new inquiry into the fruit and veg supply chain later this autumn. It follows salad shortages on supermarket shelves and complaints from growers that the price they're paid doesn't always cover the cost of production.Agricultural research may be a little bit easier after the Government's announcement this week that the UK is to re-join the EU's flagship scientific research scheme, Horizon. We've been excluded from the scheme for the last 3 years because of disagreements with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol. For the agricultural research institute, Rothamsted Research, that's meant a 20% a drop in EU funding, so the latest news brings fresh hope.And how do you keep a pig cool in this hot weather? The answer is - give it a bath.Presented by Charlotte SmithProducer for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The government says it wants fairness in supply chains and will launch its inquiry into the fruit and veg supply chain later this autumn.Natural England releases details of the controversial licences for badgers to be culled across 19 counties in England.Scientists look at how to develop specific chickpea varieties which can be grown in the UK.And the Scottish nursery that went from having 70 herb species to more than 400.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
How science is shaping British and global farming for the future.Assessors for Unesco have been visiting peatlands in the Flow Country in Scotland to see if it qualifies for World Heritage Status.All this week we're looking at herbs and how they're grown in the UK. Today we're heading inside a huge glasshouse.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
How can trees be integrated into all types of farming? The UK's first agroforestry show is trying to find out.We hear from a Norfolk farmer working hard to keep his 72,000 free range pigs cool.As part of our week looking at UK grown herbs, today we focus on native herbs like sweet woodruff, musk mallow and rock samphire.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Thousands of invasive species around the world are a major part of biodiversity loss; a new report says the evidence is being ignored.This week we're exploring farming herbs in the UK. Today Anna Hill visits a farm growing chives out in the field, and hears how basil can been produced indoors all year round in a vertical farm.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Last week, the government announced new plans to scrap water pollution restrictions for housing developments in order to build new homes - some farmers warn that the government is undercutting its own environmental schemes.The Government consultation on proposals to allow the conversion of barns and disused shops into houses without the need for planning permission ends later this month - it is considering extending these changes into the National Parks, which have had long held protections against such developments. And all this week we look at growing herbs in the UK.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Farmers on a newly designated protected site say they're being forced to sell up. Natural England has designated 3,000 hectares of the Lands End peninsula in Cornwall as a Site of Special Scientific Interest -or SSSI - that brings in more protection for the area, and stricter rules on what farmers can and can't do. Some who work the land affected - West Penwith Moor and Downs - say the impact on their businesses is so bad that they're leaving. After multiple delays, this week the government announced it will be bringing in full post-Brexit border checks for some goods imported from the EU from January next year. British farmers have had their produce checked as it goes across to the continent since we left the EU in 2021. leading to higher costs, and delays for exporters. From January some animal products, plants, food and feed will need certification before entering the UK to make sure they're safe. The news has been welcomed by safety groups and farmers, who said the fact that imported food wasn't being checked was putting animal disease protection at risk. It's harvest time, and arable farmers have been in a race against time to get the crops in during brief dry periods. But it's not just wheat and barley that are being harvested. We also visit farms where blackcurrants are being harvested for a well-known fruit cordial, and report on an experimental harvest of flax in Scotland. And Sarah Swadling heads to a farm in Dorset where they're trialling artificial intelligence as a way of measuring the amount of wildlife on the site. The equipment can distinguish between different species of bee, for example, and the scientists say it could help in our bid to tackle the nature crisis. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner
Farmers in West Penwith, Cornwall say Natural England's designation of 3,000 hectares as a site of special scientific interest in the county will put them out of business.Steam weeding - an alternative form of weed control - is being trialled on an agricultural scale in Scotland.And how the past year's changeable weather has affected the blackcurrant harvest.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Nearly 4,000 farmers who farm common land in England face delays to being able to apply for - and therefore receive payments from - the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the most basic element of the Environmental Land Management Scheme which is to replace the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.
A farm worker in Wiltshire shares his recent experience of what happened when he confronted hare coursers.
And why there's growing interest in using flax for sustainable fashion.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
After multiple delays, the UK government announces it will be bringing in new border controls for imported goods from the EU from 31st October 2023.
How new innovations and technology are helping the growth and storage of potatoes.
And as we continue to look at harvest this week, we take a look at the challenges farmers face when taking their tractors off the fields and on to public roads.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
After the hottest June on record and weeks of wet weather afterwards, we ask how good will this year’s harvest be. It’s been like playing cat and mouse dodging the showers, and trying to get into the fields whenever the sun’s out long enough to dry the crop. Last year’s harvest was very good, 90% of it was in by now, and yields and prices were up too. This year is a different story. Whereas wine growers across the south of England are expecting a bumper harvest this autumn. Expectations are high and some smaller producers may even need volunteers to help pick the grapes. More than 80% of the UK’s peatlands are in poor condition. In England the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has just given £16million worth of funding to 12 new landscape scale peatland restoration projects.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
As farmers share how their crops have been destroyed by dogs and walkers, and livestock have been scared by joggers, just how can the Countryside Code be better followed, publicised and communicated?
A consignment of British sheep embryos was shipped to the US this week - it’s the first time embryos have been allowed to be exported to the States, following the lifting of a 33-year-long embargo on lamb and embryos from countries where livestock has been affected by BSE.
We explore the world of growing salad, from vertical farming baby leaf salad in a giant warehouse to growing microgreens in a home office.
And an endangered bird species returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in years.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Which is better - roots deep in the earth or in a nutrient cocktail on a vertical farm? We hear about the biology of how salad crops are grown without using soil. As part of our week focusing on salad, we visit a micro-farm growing micro-greens. It's harvest time for broad beans, but one grower calls them “the forgotten vegetable”.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The first ever shipment of UK sheep embryos has just arrived in the United States. We ask how significant the trade could be and hear from one of the farmers exporting his flock’s genetics. This week we're talking about salad. The University of Warwick has been awarded £1.4million by the Government to carry out research into the use of robotics in horticulture. Scientists and engineers are working with a large salad grower experimenting with new technology.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers share their experiences of having their crops damaged, their livestock scared, and signs on footpaths being discarded by the general public accessing their land. What should be done to ensure the Countryside Code is followed?
A sugar shortage in the UK sees supplies imported from Central and South America.
And how a warehouse in Kent is growing salad crops, vertically.
Presented by Steffan Messenger and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
A water company in the east of England is to build a pipe "longer than the M1" to bring water from the Humber to counties further south, in an attempt to tackle water shortages and meet future water demand.
Why some salad producers are switching from growing cucumbers to aubergines.
And building Cornish hedges has been put on a red list of endangered skills.
Presented by Steffan Messenger and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Water shortages in Suffolk have lead one water company to refuse connecting up new businesses who use a lot of water, or allowing more use of water of expanding business who also use a lot of water.
Two lapwing breeding pairs and chicks have been found on a farm in Northern Ireland; it is the first time the endangered birds have been seen in the area for several years.
And an expert in crop and environmental science shares his thoughts on the state of salad production in the UK this year.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
The price of petrol in rural areas: supermarkets charge up to 15p more per litre if you live in the countryside. The Climate Change Committee has called for a 40% increase in hedgerows in the UK by 2050 to help tackle global heating. Defra says it wants to create or restore 45 thousand miles of hedges in England by 2050, and is asking farmers how it can support them to achieve that goal. It’s a far cry from the post-war farming policies that led to hundreds of thousands of miles of hedges being ripped out. And can the River Wye look forward to a cleaner future?
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The latest figures for the brood management trial for hen harriers have been released.
The Welsh Agriculture Act has received Royal Assent.
And, how hedgerow management makes a difference to farms and the land.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Petrol prices have hit their highest in the past six months, but why does it cost more to fill your car in rural areas compared with urban ones?
A countryside charity releases its latest report into the use and future of green belt land in England.
How hedges can be used for shelter on farms.
And the Farming Today finalists for the BBC Food and Farming Awards are revealed.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Organic farmers and businesses in Wales say they have been 'forgotten' by the Welsh government; they say millions of pounds worth of support is being withdrawn under the new farming policy proposals.
The 1947 Agriculture Act aimed to get farmers producing more food to shore up Britain’s self sufficiency following the pre-War depression, and it rewarded farmers financially for removing their hedgerows. Decades later, hedges are increasingly being reinstated.
How musical collars instead of fences are keeping cattle in their fields.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
The largest poultry processor in the Wye catchment area has announced litter from its supply chain will no longer be available for sale, as fertiliser, within the Wye catchment, as a way to help better manage their supply chain, in relation to the health of the River Wye. A conservation group responds to the news.
NFU MIdlands members are asked for their thoughts on the government's hedgerow consultation.
And a fifth generation farmer in Kendal shares why hedgerows are not just important for farming, but local history and culture, too.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
A hedge to the uninformed eye might just look like a line of bushes, trees and weeds marking out a field, but there’s much more to them than that. So much so that the independent body which advises all of the UK governments on climate change, the Climate Change Committee, has called for a 40% increase in hedgerows in the UK by 2050 to help tackle global heating. DEFRA says it wants 45000 miles of hedges in England by 2050, and ministers are currently consulting on how to make that happen. It’s a far cry from the post war farming policies that led to hundreds of thousands of miles of hedges being ripped out. All this week we’re looking into hedges, starting with their ability to sequester carbon.
King Edward, Maris Piper, and Shetland Black; just some of the varieties of spuds that were on display last week at the UK potato industry's biggest field-based event, Potatoes in Practice, which takes place annually in Scotland.
Interest in UK farm holidays has doubled over the last decade according to the farm holiday co-operative, Farmstay, which has just clocked up 40 years of supporting and advising farmers who welcome holiday makers onto their farms.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A look back on some of the best bits from Farming Today over the past five days.
The government is consulting on whether landowners and farmers in English national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty should be allowed to convert barns into housing without planning permission.
Scientists research how much crops can be deprived of water without affecting their growth.
And the shooting season for red grouse gets underway.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
The guns will be out on the moors for the Glorious Twelfth tomorrow, the first day of the grouse shooting season. We ask what’s the appeal and as more landowners ban grouse shooting, what kind of a future does it have.
Flavian Obiero moved to the UK from Kenya as a teenager, and was bitten by the farming bug after a stint of work experience on a farm near Basingstoke. Charlotte Smith visits Tynefield farm to find out how the new venture is going.
All this week we’ve been speaking to people about their visions for 2050 when, if the Government hits its target, the UK will have reached net zero emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Today we hear from a young farmer who you may have seen on TV because she makes video diaries about her farming life for the BBC’s Countryfile programme. Emily McGowan is gradually taking responsibility for the family farm just west of Strangford Loch in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers in Scotland have criticised what they say is the government's 'lack of joined up policy' after it emerged that over the past 23 years nearly 16 million trees have been felled to make way for wind farms. The Scottish government says that there is a planning presumption to protect woodland and that developers would be expected to plant trees elsewhere to make up for the loss. All this week we’re looking ahead to 2050 when, if the government hits its target, the UK will have reached net zero emissions of the greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. So what should and could farming and the food system look like? It's a question we've put to a range of people over the week, farmers, conservationists and today an architect turned writer who has given a lot of thought to food and its place in our lives. Carolyn Steel is the author of Hungry City: How Food Shapes Our Lives and Sitopia: How Food Can Save the World. She argues that food is a powerful force and we don't give it the value it deserves.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The government has launched a consultation on whether farmers in English National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty should be allowed to convert barns into housing without planning permission.
A conservation scientist shares his vision for 2050 in trying to reach net zero carbon emissions.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Scientists experiment with how much crops can be deprived of water without affecting their growth.
A farmer in Gloucestershire shares her weather woes as she tries to cut hay.
And a young environmental activist and ornithologist gives her vision for 2050 when it comes to reaching net zero carbon emissions.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Imports of eggs are up 276%; the latest figures from the government show that just under 7 million dozens of eggs were brought into the UK in May.
The cost of rural crime in the UK increased by 22 per cent last year, with high-items such as tractors, GPS systems and power tools being the most sought after things to steal.
Farmers share how they are trying to deal with the damp and inconsistent weather as they try to harvest.
And wild camping is allowed back on Dartmoor.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Farmers react to post-Brexit checks being delayed again on EU food coming to the UK.
Fishermen describe the "catastrophic" decline in salmon stocks in UK rivers over the last 30 years.
And the difference mobile libraries can make to remote rural communities.
Presented by Steffan Messenger and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Last month was the sixth wettest July on record according to the Met Office. But just how has the weather impacted farmers trying to harvest?
Plus, the challenges of recruiting and retaining GPs in rural communities, and the company looking to turn chicken manure into biochar to prevent river pollution.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
The Court of Appeal allows wild camping to come back to Dartmoor.
How community shops can take place of village shops.
And Anna discovers what a spornado is at a tech tent at the Norfolk Show.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Imports of eggs are up 276%. The latest figures from the Government show that just under 7 million dozens of eggs were brought into the UK in May, giving that massive year-on-year increase. British egg producers say they're not surprised; facing increases in the price of feed and restrictions because of avian flu, they warned last year that retailers weren't paying enough and that was forcing people to either cut the number of laying hens they kept or give up altogether. That led to shortages on supermarket shelves and the appearance of Italian eggs instead of British ones.
This week here on Farming Today we're going to be looking at rural services. From GPs and buses to shops and pubs, getting and keeping basic services in the countryside can be problematic. We'll find out why that's still the case and what communities are doing to get round the barriers. In England 13 rural organisations have come together to form the Rural Coalition, calling for a rural strategy, fairer funding and investment in infrastructure, so people in the countryside are not, as they put it,' unfairly disadvantaged'.
The sea off England's north east coast is getting hotter, and that's bad news for wildlife. It causes huge problems for birds, fish and plant life. Scientists and wildlife experts say they are seriously worried.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Anna Hill hosts a special panel debate on the subject of land use in Wales, in front of an audience at the Royal Welsh Show.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Forestry industry leaders say a workforce "crisis" threatens the UK's ambitious tree-planting targets. Young people with a passion for the environment are being urged to train as foresters and told they're pretty much "guaranteed a job". Welsh food and drink exports are up to a new record high according to the Welsh Government latest figures, which show £797 million pounds worth of goods were sold abroad between 2021 and 22, an increase of more than 24%. And a team of enthusiasts has taken over 100 acres of prime farmland to the West of Edinburgh and are now learning how best Lauriston Farm can be used to feed local people, and feed the need for nature and outside space.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton
Berry growers are warning that what they say is a lack of support from retailers will mean fewer British strawberries, raspberries and blueberries next year. Growers say that while prices for consumers have risen they're being paid the same, despite increases in the cost of production. They warn some will chose not to grow in the future. In many agricultural communities in Wales the first language is Welsh, in fact more than double the number of people in farming speak Welsh compared to the population as a whole. We visit Carmarthen livestock market to hear about the importance of the Welsh language for rural communities. The UK's last ammonia plant is to close permanently; CF Industries says it 'will not be cost competitive for the long term'. The company plans to continue to import ammonia to make fertiliser at Billingham but 38 jobs are at risk. Ammonia is a key ingredient in nitrate fertilisers; in 2021 the National Farmers Union says British farmers used just over 3.5 million tonnes of fertiliser. It's described the closure as 'concerning' and called on the Government to look at how relying on imported ammonia could impact food security. In recent years Whitby has become a major fishing port for lobster, putting pressure on numbers. Now the Whitby Lobster Hatchery aims to release hundreds of thousands of juvenile lobsters back into the seas, to restore the ecological balance.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
There are 7,000 livestock entries at this year's Royal Welsh Show - from rare breed sheep to huge commercial beef cattle. Anna Hill meets the farmers with a passion for showing their animals including a sister and brother pair who've picked up rosettes for their Welsh Black Cattle.
We also hear from a scientist who grows duckweed on slurry with the aim of producing a new source of protein for animal feed, and quiz Wales' Shadow Rural Affairs Minister over water pollution, bovine TB and funding for farming.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons and Beatrice Fenton
250,000 people are expected to attend this year's Royal Welsh Show. After several years of disruption because of the pandemic, the show is well and truly back.
Anna Hill visits Builth Wells, to speak to farmers and politicians.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons and Beatrice Fenton
Farmers say too many applications for environmental payments in England are being turned down.
How listening instead of digging for earthworms could help farmers.
As the Royal Welsh Show gets underway, Farming Today takes a look at farming issues in Wales.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Defra has dropped its plans add animal welfare to food labels. Farming and food industry figures say it’s just too complex to do, but others disagree. Good news for short snouted seahorses, the endangered wart biter cricket and the elusive twite. They’re three of the species which will benefit from £7.4 million pounds worth of funding for six new landscape scale Nature Recovery projects. This week we’ve been looking at the role of co-operatives in UK farming. The idea of a co-op is that farmers work together to share risk, cut costs, increase resilience and gain more control over their supply chain.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Defra drops its plans to consult on putting information about animal welfare on food labels.
How daffodil bulbs grown in Scotland as part of a co-operative are sold globally.
And what it's like to supply major British retailers with around a quarter of a billion tomatoes a year.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
With temperatures reaching the 40s in some European countries, crop yields and quality look likely to suffer.
Natural England and the government announce six new nature recovery projects.
And what it's like to be part of a small-scale farming co-operative.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
Increased profits for companies supplying fertiliser in the UK.
The government releases the third National Adaptation Plan for England,
And what's it like to be part of a national co-operative for the grain market and arable inputs?
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
The government announces details of its Fisheries Management Plans.
A North Yorkshire farmer who's also an A&E consultant shares his unique perspective on farming safety.
What it's like to play a role in a multinational dairy co-operative.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
All week we're looking at co-operatives. They're a big part of farming networks on the continent, so are English and Welsh farmers missing out a trick?
The rise and rise of English and Welsh wine. New figures from land agents show an increase in number of vineyards and the amount people are paying for their produce.
Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Rebecca Rooney
Great Yorkshire Show: we ask the Defra Secretary what the new rules on pollution mean for farmers. Why MPs are calling for a rethink on beavers. And dairy farmers welcome new government measures to protect them from unfair contracts with milk companies.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers are warned they will pay the price if they exploit their workers from overseas as recruiters give evidence to the Horticulture Sector Committee about seasonal workers.
How fruit and vegetable growers in Scotland are managing water supplies after two hot, dry summers have increased pressure on rivers and reservoirs.
And why the National Food Crime Unit wants greater powers to tackle serious, organised and complex cases of crime relating to food.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
A special programme for the Great Yorkshire Show. Over four days, 200 acres of show ground in Harrogate will welcome around 140,000 visitors. We speak to the Defra Secretary who's unveiled tougher new plans for water polluters - what will that mean for farmers? We meet a delegation of overseas buyers interested in exports of red meat. In the new tech innovation zone, we look at a machine that enriches manure by replicating lightning and Caz sits in a methane-powered tractor.
Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
Dairy farmers welcome changes to milk contracts, to make them more transparent
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee recommends a review into the reintroduction of beavers.
How a farm in Essex is putting in place a 'whole farm reservoir'.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
A new report into the conditions for migrant seasonal workers in the English horticulture industry says they are vulnerable to exploitation, and calls on the government to amend the seasonal worker visa scheme.
Why scientists are genetically editing the genes of grass peas to reduce their toxicity.
A dairy farmer in Cornwall shares how they're trying to cope with a drought that's lasted nearly a year.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.
As we take a look at water security in farming this week, the NFU's water specialist gives us an overview of the issues farmers are facing at the moment. New research looks at why bees are emerging earlier in the year and how this might impact crops. Scientists from the University of East Anglia and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory have installed sensors that can 'sniff' for a gas which could, one day, help mitigate the impact of global warming.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
All week on Farming Today we've been looking at egg production. We've had unique access to a hatchery in Peterborough, which provides chicks which will grow up to be the hens which lay our eggs.
One of the processes used in hatcheries, is to remove the tips of the chicks’ beaks with an infra-red laser. It’s known as beak trimming and it’s a means of stopping the mature birds from hurting each other by pecking at each others feathers - a behaviour which is common in chickens when they’re commercially farmed in big flocks. However there's been debate for years about whether the practice should be banned. We speak to campaigners who'd like it to be phased out.
We visit a free-range egg producer who is still keeping his birds indoors because even though he's allowed to let them out, he says the risk of bird flu is too great. He says a vaccine is the answer. We ask the chief vet how close farmers are to having a commercial vaccine to protect their flocks against influenza. Also we visit an egg producer in Shropshire who’s breaking 20 tonnes of eggs a day - on purpose! He's an egg farmer who specialises in producing liquid eggs.
And a trip to RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival where flower farmers are promoting home-grown blooms to shoppers and florists.
Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
As part of our week focussing on the egg industry we visit one of just two hatcheries in England. We ask how close are we to banning the trimming of chicks’ beaks. Caz Graham visits award winning cheese producers near Wigton in Cumbria. Two men have been given community service orders and fined by Swindon Magistrates Court for hunting offences.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Chief Vet says vaccination is still not an option for tackling bird flu in free range hens, but that progress is being made. We visit a Shropshire egg producer who’s breaking 20 tonnes of eggs a day, on purpose! Flower farming in the UK is on the up and florists, and the public, are being urged to buy British blooms to support it.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
All week we're discussing egg production. The industry's been hit very hard by a combination of rising costs for feed and fuel and bird flu. The disease is still prevalent and some free range producers are keeping their birds inside because they're too worried to let them out. We speak to one family about the toll bird flu's taken on both birds and farmer. They're calling for a vaccine.
It's ten years since the government gave the go-ahead to a cull of badgers, to try and control the spread of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. The cull that started in a small corner of Gloucestershire has now spread to much of England. More than 210,000 badgers have been culled since 2013, and more than 330,000 cattle put down because of the disease too. It's been a area of fierce debate between farmers and conservationists. Now the government says it now wants to move towards a vaccination programme instead.
This June has been the warmest on record, according to the Met Office, but high temperatures can cause problems for plants and growers. We speak to meteorologist and Gardeners' Question Time host Peter Gibbs about changing weather patterns and their impact.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
New project to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon-footprint. Sheep farmers and scientists are taking part in a £3 million Defra project to measure the methane emitted by sheep, monitoring around 13,000 animals across 45 different flocks.
All week we're looking at eggs. According to the industry body British Lion Eggs, we ate 5.9 billion of them in the UK last year. Nearly three quarters of the eggs we eat in the UK are free range , so to begin our week we're speaking to the British Free Range Egg Producers Association.
A conservation project to reintroduce the UK's rarest reptile on heathland in Devon. Numbers of smooth snakes have dwindled as their habitats have disappeared.
Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The long awaited publication of a government independent review Into labour shortages in the food supply chain is about to be published. We find out what farmers would like to see in the review, and what they need when it comes to labour.
The Scottish government has scrapped plans which would have meant the creation of Highly Protected Marine Areas in 10% of Scotland's seas. The proposals would have restricted fishing and other human activities in some coastal areas, in an attempt to protect the environment. Members of the fishing industry and some island communities raised concerns about the plans.
We’ve been discussing bacon all this week- today we visit a butchers to find out how it's cured. We also speak to food safety expert Professor Chris Elliott form Queen's University in Belfast, who is campaigning to have the use of nitrates in pork processing banned.
Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Rebecca Rooney
It’s a landmark week for farming in Wales. Members of the Senedd, the Welsh parliament, have voted through the first ever ‘made in Wales’ Agriculture Bill. It’s the first of the devolved nations to vote through its own home-grown agriculture bill since the UK withdrew from the European Union and the CAP, or Common Agricultural Policy. The bill sets out the framework for future food and farming policy in Wales, including how farmers will be supported for the work they do as the old EU system of subsidies, based on the amount of land farmed, is phased out.
All this week on Farming Today we’re talking bacon, specifically the bacon butty and how the bacon in our butties gets from the pig to plate. We visit a meat processing plant in the South West to see how pigs are slaughtered
The Silver Lapwing Award is one of the most prestigious and long standing accolades for farmers who are committed to making space for nature while running a working farm business. We meet last year's winner and the Welsh beef farmer who's been given the award this year.
Presenter - Caz Graham Producer - Rebecca Rooney
The Climate Change Committee has published its annual report. The independent body, set up to scrutinise government progress towards net zero, says that it's less confident that the government will meet its goals, than it was a year ago.
MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee have been drilling down into Baroness Rock's report into tenant farming which was published last October. It's estimated that 64% of farmland in England is rented. Baroness Rock told the committee that there's an unbalanced power dynamic between tenant farmers and their landlords and that plans for an independent commissioner to help tenant farmers are still some way off.
All week we're taking a closer look at the breakfast bacon buttie - and finding out about how that bacon gets on our plates. We've heard about breeding and rearing pigs for bacon, today we speak to buyers at a pig market in Somerset.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
It'll take one billion pounds over five years to rescue England's ancient woodland, according to the Woodland Trust. It's published a report titled "Trees and Woods at the Heart of Nature Recovery" which claims that saving woodland and trees should be the starting point for national nature recovery. The plan proposes extra funding on top of government money set aside for tree-planting - including £150 million for temperate rainforest restoration, £250 million for restoring ancient woodland and £350 million for landscape-scale woodland projects.
Crofters in the Scottish Isles say the crisis in ferry services is having a devastating impact on businesses and threatens their way of life. There've been protests about the lack of services to South Uist, after sailings were stopped this month - there aren't enough boats because many need repairing. Now an inquiry has concluded that root and branch reform is needed. A report by the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee says rapid turnover of transport ministers has made things worse. It's calling for a longer contract for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service, and it says the Scottish Government should consider whether the infrastructure should be taken under state control.
All week we're charting how the bacon in a bacon buttie gets to our plates. We've spoken to a pig farmer about what they're getting paid, next we look at what traits farmers look for in their bacon-producing herd.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh - with everything from: robots that will weed fields and crop scientists who may breed plants that are easier for robots to work with.; Pampering sheep for show time; Food and drink producers and what they'd want to see in a food strategy for strategy; and the politicians who work with farmers to deliver that.
Presenter = Rebecca Rooney Producer = Charlotte Smith
A special programme from the opening day of The Royal Highland show in Edinburgh. Over four days, it'll play host to some 200,000 visitors and around 8,000 animals. We'll speak to the organisers, visit the big working horses - the Clydesdales, and pre-view the international sheep shearing competition "The Golden Shears" which is being held at the show this year.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The Government has today published details of how farmers in England can make their industry more environmentally friendly, and claim taxpayers money for doing so. On leaving the European Union, a new payment system for farmers was set up called the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs), it aims to reward farmers for providing "public goods", such as improved soil health, and more wildlife habitats, rather than just for the amount of land they farm. One of the threads of this new system is the Sustainable Farming Incentive; it's the lowest rung of the environmental schemes and the one the government wants the majority of farmers to join. Today after much piloting and preparation the detail is being published in full- with a 150 page handbook being made available to farmers to guide them through their choices. Farm Minister Mark Spencer goes through the details with Anna Hill.
All this week we're looking into sheep production - today we visit Scotland's Agricultural College to look at a new system for measuring how much methane sheep produce, and find out how that information can be used by farmers and breeders.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Over the last fortnight fire crews across the UK have been tackling wildfires as dry weather and high temperatures combine. Experts says they're going to become more frequent. We ask how land can be managed to help avoid them in future.
Rural communities often lack a decent broadband connection. Under the government's levelling up agenda there is a commitment to connect parts of rural Britain to ultra fast broadband, through Project Gigabit. As part of the scheme, homes and businesses can apply for up to £4,500 to help to cover installation costs. The money is applied for on behalf of the customer by a broadband supplier, often a smaller, independent network provider but many of them are under financial pressure. People living in West Wales are now calling for urgent action because the company that was supposed to connect them, went into administration.
All week we're looking at sheep. Farmers in Scotland having been taking part in a trial where sheep are used to control giant hogweed - an invasive alien plant which can overwhelm native plants by its vigorous growth. Its sap is also toxic to human skin, leaving blisters and long term sensitivity to UV. Sheep however love nibbling it and are being used to stop it spreading.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
A new report calls on UK farmers to grow more protein crops for livestock to reduce the amount of imported soya, and says that for that to happen, we all need to eat significantly less pork and chicken. The Landworkers' Alliance, Sustain, Pasture for Life and Hodmedods say there is an urgent need to reduce our reliance on soy, which they say is linked with deforestation and is expensive, putting pig and poultry farmers under pressure. They say to feed livestock on home-grown proteins would mean reducing our poultry intake by 86 per cent and pork by 82 per cent.
Shearing season is underway. Wool prices have been depressed in recent times, most sheep farmers send their ‘clip’ to British Wool, a marketing organisation that’s owned by the farmers themselves. What they’re paid depends partly on the quality of the wool. We find out how it’s graded at British Wool’s busy West of England depot.
All week we're talking about sheep, and there is a lot to discuss, from wool prices to trade deals and the environmental impact sheep can have. There are about 30 million sheep in the national flock, and the National Sheep Association reckons sheep are worth 290 million pounds a year to the British economy, supporting 150,000 jobs.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
18 people have died on UK farms so far this year, nearly double the number at this time last year. After years of campaigning, why are more people dying? Some farmers are asking if one of the problems is the design of agricultural machinery and the cost of buying and fitting safety measures to it.
England has missed the government's tree planting targets - again. The goal is for 7,500 hectares of woodland to be planted every year - but the new figures show that in the past year 3,100 hectares have been planted. The government says this puts tree planting at a record levels - and is a 40 per cent increase year-on-year - others, like The Woodland Trust, are less impressed.
All week we've been looking at how a Norfolk estate juggles farming with conservation and tourism. Even for smaller farms, diversifying into venues, camping or bed and breakfast, can be an important part of bringing in new income. On the estate we've been visiting, they employ more than three hundred people, and welcome nearly a million visitors to the house, the grounds, and the beach.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
England has missed the government's tree planting targets for every year of this parliament, and is expected to miss them again when figures are published later today. The government aims to plant 7,500 hectares a year which is 90 to 120 million trees. However a report from the National Audit office last year pointed out tree-planting rates have not reached Defra’s 7,500 hectare per year target in the past 50 years and rates have only been above 6,000 hectares a year for three of the past 50 years. The Woodland Trust describes progress as 'glacial at best' but Sir William Worsley Chair of the Forestry Commission says things are improving.
Farmers should be able to make a profit from public money when they're providing public goods - so says the former Environment Secretary George Eustice. He argues that increasing the payments for things like planting hedgerows would be more effective than compensating farmers for revenue they've lost. The Farming Minister says payment rates are being set at a level to encourage widespread participation.
All week we've been exploring the different aspects of running a large agricultural estate, juggling farming with conservation and tourism. Today we speak to the head gamekeeper. The estate in Norfolk has five gamekeepers and runs a number of shoots, most are private but some are commercial and they fund the work that the gamekeepers do.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
Pig farmers across the UK have reduced their use of antibiotics in their herds by 75% over the last eight years. That's according to figures released by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. A 30% reduction target in total antibiotic had been set by a Targets Task Force (TTF) between 2020 and 2024, so this has now been passed. We asked the Pig Veterinary Society, whether the reduction was large, because farmers had been using too much antibiotic in the past.
Wales is famous for its lamb, which has protected geographical status and is exported across the world. The same can’t be said for its wool however, in fact the fleece from a typical Welsh mountain sheep can fetch less than thirty pence, it costs far more than that to shear the animal. Work has now started to breed a variety of sheep that's good for its lamb and its wool.
All week we've been visiting a big country estate, where farming, tourism and conservation have to work hand in hand. The Holkham National Nature Reserve is managed by Natural England and the estate itself. It's an internationally recognised site for breeding birds, but it's also part of the estate's grazing area for their 800 beef cattle. Getting the balance right, on sensitive marshland just behind the dunes on the coast, is crucial.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmers are hoping for an announcement soon on more help for small abattoirs, which have been in decline for many years. This means farmers have fewer options when they sent animals for slaughter, and the animals themselves have to make longer journeys. Farming Minister Mark Spencer promised to do something about it in his speech at the National Farmers Union Conference back in February. Since then, no specific announcements have been made, although the recent Rural Action Plan launched by DEFRA mentions consultation. We speak to Marisa Heath who set up a cross-party Parliamentary inquiry into small abattoirs.
Hundreds of farmers are gathering at the Cereals event in Nottinghamshire and after one of the most volatile years arable farmers can remember there'll be a lot to discuss. Some figures calculate that UK arable farmers are facing more than a 50% drop in profits from harvest 2023.
All week we're taking a look at what it takes to run a big estate and how they juggle farming with tourism and conservation. Today we speak to the accountants in the office who manage all the money for the farm business.
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The shooting organisation BASC says itis taking legal action against the government over gamebird licences in England. Following a legal challenge by campaigners Wild Justice, since 2021 the release of birds like pheasants has been licensed by Natural England. Because of concerns about avian flu, this year the licence doesn't cover protected areas. Anyone wanting to release red legged partridge or pheasants within 500 m of a Special Protection Area, which protects rare, vulnerable and migratory birds, must get permission from Natural England. BASC says there has been no consultation on the change and it was announced too late to give shoots time to adapt.
We start our theme for this week: agricultural estates. They are complicated businesses, with farming often at the heart but diversifications from holiday homes to shoots and micro-breweries helping to pay the bills. This week we're going to take a tour round the Holkham Estate in North Norfolk, owned by the Earl of Leicester. The estate covers 3500 hectares, growing salad potatoes, malting barley for beer, wheat and sugar beet, and maize for a biodigester. It includes forestry, a national nature reserve on the coast, grazes 900 beef cattle and 600 breeding ewes. It's also a tourist attraction.
And a Leicestershire beekeeper says he has noticed a forty percent increase in honey production from hives near a solar farm.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The breaching of a major dam on the Dneipro river in southern Ukraine is unfolding as a human, environmental and economic tragedy for thousands of people who live downstream. But there are global implications too. Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest wheat producers.
A group of farmers have driven from John O’ Groats to Land’s End in a large green combine harvester to raise awareness of suicide and mental health. The National Farmers Union has this week published a survey showing that the soaring costs of energy, fuel and fertiliser along with increased market volatility over the last year have all had a negative impact on farmers’ mental health.
The government launched a rural action plan this week. The initiatives include: improving rural broadband; relaxing planning rules around developing farm buildings; new strategies for rural transport; a fund for smaller abattoirs; and higher penalties for fly tipping. Some campaigners say the plans need to be underpinned by fairer funding for rural areas.
All week on Farming Today we looked at gene editing. The government in England has changed the law to allow the development and marketing of gene edited crops. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the law hasn't changed. Gene Editing is not the same as genetic modification - GE allows researchers to make a specific edit to a plant's DNA, no new genes are added as they would be in GM plants.
A government inquiry has been told the reduction in the number and variety of insects in the UK and around the world is a risk to food security. Scientists have given evidence to MPs are examining the reasons for the decline and the impact on food security and the environment.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
A reduction in the number and variety of insects in the UK and around the world is a risk to food security, a committee of MPs heard yesterday from some of the leading scientists in the field. A government inquiry is examining the latest evidence for insect decline in the UK, as well as the key drivers of insect loss, and the potential impacts on food security and the environment.
A group of farmers are driving from John O’ Groats to Land’s End in a large green combine harvester to raise awareness of suicide and mental health. The National Farmers Union has this week published a survey showing that the soaring costs of energy, fuel and fertiliser along with increased market volatility over the last year have all had a negative impact on farmers’ mental health, so it’s a timely roadtrip.
All this week we're looking at gene editing and the implications of the UK Government's new Genetic Technology Act. A change in the law, which only applies in England, means the development and marketing of gene edited crops is now legal. Earlier in the week we heard from GM Freeze who told us the safeguards surrounding gene edited crops aren’t strong enough, and unforeseen consequences could arise if they’re introduced. In Scotland, the Holyrood Government has made it clear that its stance on genetic technology has not changed. So what does that mean for Scotland-based scientists who work on gene editing?
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
At the Future Countryside Conference in Hertfordshire policy makers and farmers, land owners, conservationists and campaigners have been discussing how to make the countryside inclusive and meaningful for everyone. How can it deliver food, cleaner rivers and air, store carbon and offer people a place to visit and enjoy? We hear how this vision relies on a combination of personal will and public policy-making
All week we're discussing gene editing - also known as precision breeding. It’s been just over two months since The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act passed into law in England (but not in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland). The government says it's a major step in innovation and will help ensure food security in the face of climate change. The change in the law comes just as the results of Europe’s first-ever field trial of a gene-edited wheat, are published. We report from the trial site at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire where scientists are developing a variety that will produce less harmful acyrilamide
Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The government has launched a Rural Action Plan, which it says will help grow the rural economy and support people living in remoter communities. The initiatives include improving rural broadband, relaxing planning legislation on developing farm buildings, new strategies for rural transport, a fund for smaller abattoirs and higher penalties for fly tipping. However, some of the ideas are consultation processes, rather than action. Anna Hill asks the rural affairs minister Lord Benyon about the plans.This week we're discussing gene editing - the technique for breeding crops with specific traits by editing a plant's DNA. In England, legislation has been brought in to enable gene editing in crops, but this has not been introduced in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Scientists and many, but not all, farmers have welcomed the move. Campaigners at GM Freeze say the safeguards surrounding gene edited crops are not strong enough, and unforeseen consequences could arise from their introduction. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmers are being asked to conserve water as it is currently 'scarce in most of Scotland' according to SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It says 12 areas in the Northwest and Southern Central regions have been put on alert and businesses extracting water are being urged to put their water scarcity plans into action now to reduce pressure on the environment and preserve water resources. When we left the EU, the government delayed introducing a new system for checking food imported from the EU, although UK exporters to the EU have faced checks since the beginning of 2021. The new UK system will be phased in from October meaning big changes for food inspection teams at our ports. More than double the amount of food and live animals are imported from the EU than the rest of the world. A 100-strong team works at Felixstowe port in Suffolk to keep the food on our plates safe to eat and we hear from some of the staff on the front line.All week we're looking at gene editing. It was promoted as a Brexit benefit and the government in England has changed the law to allow the development and marketing of gene edited crops. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the law hasn't changed. Gene Editing is not the same as genetic modification - GE allows researchers to make a specific edit to a plant's DNA, no new genes are added as they would be in GM plants. This week we'll hear what impact the change in the English regulations is having and discuss some of the concerns that are being raised. We start off by hearing from Jim Dunwell professor of plant bio-technology at Reading University.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
This week the first Trade Deals made since the UK left the EU came into force - with Australia and New Zealand. Some farmers are concerned the deals will lead to the UK being flooded with cheaper imported meat. We hear from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) which has been using modelling developed by Harper Adams and Exeter Universities to asses the potential impact on UK agriculture.
For the first time the UK Government has given permission for commercial drones to be used for the aerial spraying of weeds with pesticides. At this stage it will only be used on railway bridges where working at height can be dangerous. But using drones in British Agriculture is gathering pace, as our reporter Sarah Falkingham has been finding out.
And a question from a listener about the porcine products in her medicine leads the team to take a look at how products reared and grown on farms are used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Natalie Donovan
There's been a truce in the row over sheep on Dartmoor. Farmers were told they must radically reduce the number of sheep and other livestock on common land if they wanted to remain in government schemes. Natural England wrote to commons associations which cover much of Dartmoor, offering rollovers of existing Higher Level Stewardship Schemes, farmers said the new agreements would not allow winter grazing, and the number of animals on the land in the summer had to be reduced, on some commons by an average of 75 percent. Farmers said that wasn’t viable and protested, others called it re-wilding by the backdoor and the Farming Minister agreed to an Independent Review. Now, following a parliamentary debate and some meetings, Natural England is proposing a one-year extension to existing stewardship agreements with no reduction in livestock numbers in most areas and then further four year agreements which will take into account the results of the review. Farmers in the East of England have faced water shortages for some time, but now there's a pilot project to try and tackle shortages in the West. South West Water and the Westcountry Rivers Trust are looking at paying farmers to store water on their land to help reduce demand during droughts. All week we're looking at farming pharma - the pharmaceutical products which are produced on farm, some as by-products and others as a crop in their own right. Poppies were grown here for medicine until the UK's only processing plant was closed back in 2016. Now farmers need a licence to send poppies to be processed for medicine abroad. They say they've been asking the Home Office for one for years, but still can't grow their crops for the medicinal market.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The first of the UK’s post Brexit trade deals are coming into force from 1 June. Some farmers are concerned the deals with Australia and New Zealand will lead to the UK being flooded with cheap imported meat, but analysis say markets with Japan and China are far more important for Australian beef farmers and New Zealand isn't using up all its existing quotas for exporting lamb. We speak to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board which has been looking at the impact of these deals on UK agriculture.For the first time the Government has given permission for the aerial spraying of weeds with pesticides by commercial drones. It’s not on farms at this stage, only on railway bridges and it’s been sanctioned by the Health and Safety Executive. However using drones in British Agriculture is gathering pace. Our reporter has been to watch a practical demonstration at an international conference near York.All week we're looking at a niche sector of the agricultural world - farming crops and using animal products for medical purposes. Since 2018 it’s been legal to use cannabis under prescription in the UK, for certain conditions including epilepsy, and around 25,000 patients are thought to be using it. A few companies have been working through complex and demanding regulations to produce the drug for the UK market. We visit one of them - Hilltop Leaf in southern Scotland.Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Aardman Animation's world famous animated sheep is being adopted by Natural England to teach children how to behave in the countryside, in a new campaign which aims to teach how to 'respect, protect and enjoy' it. The UK's first indoor salmon farm could be built in Cleethorpes. The company behind it says it's a safe and efficient way to produce fish and avoids the potential problems of sea lice, pollution and escapes faced by farms at sea or in lochs. Opponents say it's factory farming.All week we're looking at growing the ingredients for medicines. Today we hear about animal products in pharmaceuticals. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
All year long, Young Farmers' Clubs prepare for a big competition - the county rally. We join young farmers from across Wiltshire as they vie for the trophy. Activities range from practical skills, like fence erecting, cooking, tractor reversing and flower arranging, to the silly - like making cocktails in costume or hooking ducks with a mini digger. This year's theme is "a day at the races" and it coincides with the 90th anniversary of Malmesbury YFC who are hosting the rally at Aquetong Farm near Malmesbury.Produced and presented by Rebecca Rooney.
The Government has dropped the Kept Animals Bill. It would have banned the live export of animals from the UK, the bill would also have brought in new measures to tackle dogs worrying livestock and puppy farming. The Farming Minister Mark Spencer told the House of Commons the bill "risked being extended" beyond its original commitments and was being dropped. Compassion in World Farming has condemned the move.Some English farmers are celebrating a government u-turn on payments to hill farms. We find out what the changes are and what they could mean for farmers.Tenant farmers in England criticise the Government response to a review of the sector.Defra says it plans to get rid of EU regulations, a move which it claims will release £180 million into the the UK's wine industry. Plans would enable growers to import hybrid vines, adding new grape varieties into higher quality wines grown in England and Wales. The changes would also include new labelling to show where the grapes are from, and not where the wine was bottled.This week the World Farmers Organisation has been meeting in South Africa and Farming Today has been looking at some of the challenges facing farmers around the world. We report from the Netherlands, where there are radical proposals to reduce the number of farms. Also we speak to a farmer in Ukraine about farming in a war zone and hear from fruit growers in Ghana where there's a glut of watermelons.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The government has dropped the Kept Animals Bill. It would have banned the live export of animals from the UK . The commitment to banning the export of live animals for slaughter was made in the Conservative Party's election manifesto in 2019 and the bill would also have brought in new measures to tackle dogs worrying livestock and puppy farming. The Farming Minister Mark Spencer told the House of Commons the bill "risked being extended" beyond its original commitments and was being dropped. Compassion in World Farming has long campaigned against live exports and has condemned the move.Some English farmers are celebrating a government u-turn on payments to hill farms. Charlotte Smith finds out what the changes are and what they could mean for farmers.This week the World Farmers Organisation has been meeting in South Africa and so all this week Farming Today is looking at some of the challenges facing farmers around the world. Today we report from the Netherlands, where there are radical proposals to reduce the number of farms.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Tenant farming groups in England have criticised the Government response to a review of the sector. The review by Baroness Kate Rock was published last year and made 74 recommendations, including a tenancy forum, a tenant farming commissioner and improvements to tenancies, as well as making the new Environmental Land Management schemes more accessible to people who don't own the land they farm. The Government has responded by announcing a new Farm Tenancy Forum and will consult on a commissioner. Tenant Farmers Association's chief executive, George Dunn says “the last thing we need is a review of the review".The price UK farmers will be paid for wool this year is going down, and won't cover the cost of shearing. British Wool has annouced it'll pay around 30 pence a kilo, which means many farmers will get less than £1 per fleece. Shearing costs about £1.65 per sheep according to the National Association of Agricultural Contractors. This year's wool price is a drop from last year when farmers got around 36 pence a kilo, prices vary according to the type and quality of the wool.All this week as world farmers meet in South Africa we're looking at some of the challenges faced by farmers around the globe. Farming in a war zone is obviously difficult, both the day to day stresses but also the bigger picture as Ukrainian farmers struggle to export their produce. They have been big exporters of grain and oilseeds and as we've reported the war has impacted both availability and prices across the world. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Food companies and retailers have been in talks with the chancellor Jeremy Hunt about addressing issues with the food supply chain. An investigation has already been carried out by DEFRA into the pig supply chain and its report, back in April, said new regulation for written contracts would be brought in, to provide 'fairness and certainty'. One of the largest pig processing companies, Cranswick, has just announced a rise in profits, while at the same time another large pig processor Pilgrims has closed its plant at Ashton in Manchester.The government's launched a new Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code in England, which encourages people visiting coastal areas to respect marine mammals and birds. The guidelines include not approaching wildlife on beaches, including seals, and taking care when swimming or using craft such as jet skis. The Office for Environmental Protection is to investigate the Department for Agriculture in Northern Ireland - or DAERA - after concerns that it breached environmental law on ammonia guidance. Ammonia from cattle slurry can be damaging to the environment and air quality, and has been an issue in agriculture in Northern Ireland for some time.We often talk about food loss and waste in the UK market, and as part of our World Farming Focus week we are putting a spotlight on the excess production of fruit in Ghana. Every year the country’s farmers produce a glut of fruit like watermelon, mango and oranges, with no ready market, meaning it’s left to rot on farms and along roadsides. Research estimates that some 3.2 million tons of food is either lost or wasted along the supply chain in Ghana.Presenter - Anna HillProducer - Rebecca Rooney
The government says it plans to get rid of EU regulations, a move which it claims will release £180 million into the the UK's wine industry. The plans mean growers would be able to import hybrid vines, adding new grape varieties into higher quality wines grown in England and Wales, which have PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) - a status which protects food products with a unique regional character. The changes would also include new labelling to show where the grapes are from, and not where the wine was bottled.Brazil has come under global pressure to stop deforestation, as the demand for beef rises. Deforestation has long been linked to agricultural activities, including cattle ranching. With the global demand for beef rising, the pressure on Brazil's forests has intensified. We find out what's being done to change the way farmers produce beef in Brazil and how that might reduce deforestation.There are sixteen agricultural universities in the UK which are members of the Agricultural Universities Council. They teach degrees in agriculture-related subjects but also carry out research into a wide range of rural and farming subjects. Now the council has decided to do more to join up the research the universities undertake, so that it has more relevance to farmers and answers the questions they are asking. Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Scotland has a new Food Security Unit - which the government says will 'monitor food system resilience'. The unit was reccomended by a food security and supply task force which the Scottish government set up with the food industry immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Farmers from around the world are meeting in South Africa this week for the World Farmers Organisation General Assembly - they'll discuss international trade, farmer driven innovation and climate change - amongst other things. All week we'll take a look a some of the issues farmers in other countries are facing.As many keen gardeners and indeed farmers will tell you seeds grown locally are best suited to the local as they're used to the exact conditions. A group of growers in West wales are championing seeds with links to Wales - we visit the Wales Seed Hub.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
This week farmers and food producers were invited to Downing Street to discuss the whole food chain; from the high costs farmers are facing to produce food, to the shortage of labour for harvesting and processing, and from trade to supply chain transparency. We speak to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, about his commitments to British food. Was it a photo op or a serious meeting? We hear reaction from those who were there, and from those who weren't invited.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farming communities are struggling with their mental health and urgent action's needed to help them cope with the trauma of dealing with the aftermath of things like avian flu which has involved mass culls of birds. A report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee says farmers and vets are facing mental health trauma with little support.All week we're focusing on growing under glass. With sky-high energy costs, some salad growers have stopped planting crops. One farmer in Scotland is heating his glasshouse using renewable energy, harvesting methane from slurry.The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is marking its 50th birthday - we report from a special event in Penrith in Cumbria, where farmers, conservationists and chefs celebrate rare and native breed livestock. Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A response to the Prime Minister's Farm to Fork summit from those who were missing. The chief executive of Sustain Vicki Hird tells Anna that she was disappointed at the omission.The last 18 months has been a fraught time for glasshouse growers, but a group of tomato farmers in East Anglia have managed to weather the storm.And many people across farming and the countryside have been paying tribute to Christopher Jones MBE, who has died and was a regular contributor to the programme.Presented by Anna HillProduced by Alun Beach
Special programme from the Food Summit at Number 10 including an interview with the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is holding a 'farm to fork' summit at Downing Street with people from the farming and food industries. They'll be discussing the whole of the food chain, from the high costs farmers are facing to produce our food, to the shortage of labour for harvesting and processing. They'll be talking about transparency in the food chain - and how consumers facing the cost of living crisis can be supplied with UK-grown, affordable food. We find out what farmers want from it, and from the former food Tsar Henry Dimbleby who's hasn't got an invite, but tells us what he expects will be discussed.All week we're talking about growing under glass. It takes a lot of energy and a lot of people and the combination of war in Ukraine and Brexit, made both energy expensive and staff hard to get hold of. As a result, many farmers in Lea Valley, which covers more than 180 hectares of glasshouses run by 80 growers, decided to stop production altogether. We catch up with Lea Valley Growers to find out whether things have improved.A former golf course in Kent is being re-wilded under a scheme which raises money by selling carbon credits to companies wanting to improve their environmental credentials. Heather Corrie Vale is a 125-acre site near Sevenoaks and is one of the first to benefit from Kent Wildlife Trust's Wilder Carbon initiative. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Food is high on the political agenda this week, with the Prime Minister holding a food summit at Downing street tomorrow. With high food price inflation following egg and salad shortages on supermarket shelves its perhaps not surprising that there is a summit, and we will of course be there. All this week we're looking at growing under glass. This year growers struggled with higher energy and fertiliser bills and some simply didn't plant, but the Government is keen to grow the sector. We hear from Professor Richard Napier from the University of Warwick on the challenges and opportunities for the sector.Some of the best growing land in the country is drained lowland peatland. It's good for raising veg but bad for emissions as it releases both C02 and nitrous oxide. To cut emissions we could re-flood the drained land but that would have an impact on food production. To work out the pros and cons scientists are now measuring the emissions from drained peatlands, and Anna Hill has been to Cambridgeshire to meet Dr Ross Morrison, Bio-meterologist with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.The trail around the English coast will be, when it's complete, the longest managed coastal trail in the world. It's now called the King Charles the third coast path, and a new section has recently opened in East Yorkshire.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
With food price inflation at its highest since the 1970’s, a committee of MPs has launched an investigation into how the supply chain is working. The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee will look at how risk and profitability is shared between farmers, processors and retailers, and how government monitoring and regulation impacts it. DEFRA's IT systems are outdated and inefficient - with two thirds of transactions every year still needing paper forms. That's according to a report published by the Public Accounts Committee of MPs, which says a multi-million pound "complete overhaul" is needed. We hear what it means for farmers on the ground.And with The Small Robot Company fighting for survival after a major investor pulled out, we ask what it says about agri-tech investment in the UK.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farmers' barns are full of stored wheat and barley which was produced at high cost last summer, but now can only be sold at a loss. We hear what that could mean for grain markets.All week we're hearing about rural tourism: a Northumberland tourist attraction and whisky distillery is using local farmers to supply the barley for the whisky. It's show time again, and one of the first of the season is the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland. It's a highlight in the agricultural calendar, important for socialising and showing off the hard work farmers put in, but post-Brexit it's also become a focal point for trade in breeding stock.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The sun sets on the Government’s ‘sunset clause’ which would have meant thousands of laws inherited from the EU disappearing at the end of the year. The Wildlife Trusts welcome the news.Avian flu has had a devastating impact on seabird populations. Today though, some rare good news: the Noss National Nature Reserve just off the east coast of Shetland is reopening to the public after closing last year due to the virus.As part of our week looking at rural tourism, we visit a b&b in Devon which has been inspired by an Italian agriturismo, a farm where the food grown is part of the accommodation experience. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
DEFRA's IT systems are outdated and inefficient, with two thirds of transactions every year still needing paper forms. That's according to a report published by the Public Accounts Committee of MPs, which says a multi-million pound "complete overhaul" is needed, to ensure air quality, safe food and water supply. The Department and it's agencies, provide services ranging from permits to move animals, and monitoring air quality, to paying grants.We visit a pop-up campsite on a farm in Cornwall. Until the end of 2021, landowners and farmers, were granted temporary licences to run pop-up sites for 56 days, using facilities which could be dismantled at short notice. Last year those rules changed again, back to the standard 28 days. Operators are now waiting to hear the outcome of a consultation, which could allow temporary sites to operate for longer. And Spalding Flower Parade used to take place each year to celebrate the tulip growing industry in Lincolnshire. But as tulip growing decreased and more flowers were imported, the parade died out, and the last one was held in 2013. Now,10 years on, the parade is back - and more than a million tulips are being cut, to adorn the floats for the event.Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A British farm robot firm is fighting for survival after a major investor pulled out. The co-founder of the Small Robot company Sam Watson Jones tells Charlotte that they are now aiming to raise one and a half million pounds through crowdfunding. Dr Belinda Clarke the director of Agri TechE - an organisation which brings together farmers, scientists, and entrepreneurs - says it is a challenging sector in which to attract investment.And a look at agritourism - the farm based holiday experiences on offer up and down the country – today a luxury romantic "Hideaway" farm stay business near Dundee. Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach
As a new King is crowned, Vernon Harwood looks at the role Charles III has played in shaping and supporting farming in the UK. From his first major speech on the environment as a young Prince of Wales in 1970, to his unconventional and often criticised organic farming methods in the 1980s, he continues to be concerned about the future for upland farmers and the profitability of small family businesses. We hear insights from the King’s former Farm Manager in Gloucestershire, the Cumberland Bed-and-Breakfast owners who formed a lasting friendship with the monarch and the fifth-generation Exmoor farmer who sees first-hand the impact the Prince’s Countryside Fund has on isolated communities. For decades Charles was a passionate and sometimes forthright voice supporting everything from traditional country crafts to Britain’s native farm breeds. But with new responsibilities as sovereign, what now for the man dubbed ‘Britain’s most famous farmer’? Produced and Presented for BBC Audio in Bristol by Vernon HarwoodArchive material used in this programme:Conservation Year Speech in Cardiff; BBC Radio 4 Wales, 19/02/1970 Rethinking Food & Farming – Farming Today; BBC Radio 4, 26/06/2020 Royal visit to Cumberland – Six O’Clock News; BBC Radio 4, 25/09/2001 Highgrove event – Country Matters; BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 26/07/2015
The Climate Change Committee, the independent body which advises all of the UK governments on climate change, says that to meet targets on lowering emissions, we need to eat and farm less beef. We hear how researchers and farmers have been working to reduce the carbon footprint of beef.There will not be a government horticulture strategy in England. One was promised last June as part of the Government Food Strategy, which committed to developing a 'world-leading horticulture strategy for England’. But despite recent shortages of some vegetables in the supermarkets, this week the Farming Minister confirmed it would "not be developing a published strategy...as originally envisaged".Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Climate Change Committee - the independent body which advises all of the UK governments on climate change - says that to meet targets on lowering emissions we need to eat and farm less beef. The Committee Chair Lord Deben explains why, and Tom Bradshaw from the NFU tells Caz Graham that UK beef production could actually help reduce global beef emissions. Gloucester cattle have been categorised by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as a 'priority breed'. Farming Today has been to visit a farm to hear how the Gloucester Cattle Society is helping maintain and improve the breed. Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Alun Beach
Anna has joined academics from Cambridge University and a group of farmers to see how they are hoping to tackle the dilemma of growing vegetables without drying out lowland peat lands, which can release carbon into the atmosphere.And staying on this theme, an agricultural university is experimenting with methods of raising beef with the lowest possible carbon footprint. Nick Allen the Chief Executive of the British Meat Processors Association gives his view on whether the resulting meat will be welcomed by supermarkets, or not.Presented by Anna HillProduced by Alun Beach
The runways impacting rivers: people living in villages near the East Midlands Airport are concerned local water courses are being contaminated by de-iced aircraft.Thousands of native oysters are being reintroduced into the Solent more than 30 years after stocks there declined.This week we'll be looking at the business of beef. Edward Hawkins from Somerset is striving to improve his farm's carbon footprint, working to improve the grass, soils and the efficiency of his farm.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The number of Red Deer in the Scottish Highlands has doubled in the past 50 years. It's great news for wildlife-watchers, but it's also causing problems because the deer are damaging woodlands and other fragile habitats.So what's the solution? Richard Baynes investigates.
An investigation into the death of more than 100 cows on Jersey has found that the most likely cause of death was botulism in cattle feed. The farm has now told the BBC that rebuilding its herd will take seven years, and they face particular challenges because of the island’s ban on importing Jersey cows to protect the national herd’s genetic purity. He has millions of followers on social media, but manages to get up at the crack of dawn to help with lambing: Will Young, also known as Farmer Will on ITV's Love Island. He's now back in Buckinghamshire on the family farm, joined by his TV partner, Jessie.The 'nature markets framework' has been published by the government outlining how farmers will be able to have multiple payments if several different environmental improvements are made on one piece of land, it's known as stacking. It's to do with the Environmental Land Management Schemes or ELMS - which are coming in in England and will pay farmers public money for environmental work. A glimmer of hope for Scottish seed potato growers, as Defra minister confirms exports to Northern Ireland will be allowed again from the autumn.Engineers have developed a unique burrowing robot which ‘swims’ through grain stores to ensure the seeds are kept properly. The t-shaped robot has been launched by an agritech developer at Scotland's National Robotarium, based at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. It's designed to help farmers look after their grain more efficiently, without having to carry out labour-intensive checks.The teenage farmer who's got the tenancy for a 600 acre farm in the Outer Hebrides.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A glimmer of hope for Scottish seed potato growers, as Defra minister confirms exports to Northern Ireland will be allowed again from the autumn.On the Humber Estuary conservationists are encouraging seagrass to return by planting tens of thousands of seeds by hand.The agricultural industry spends millions of pounds a year on seeds for cereals, but where do farmers get them from and what happens to them before they’re sold? Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Frosty mornings and bright sunlight can be damaging for crops in the field. Now, scientists have discovered that crops which face those conditions have a special gene to repair the damage, but it's only switched on by the plant's own circadian clock, which recognises night and day. Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have been working in a special light-restricted laboratory and their findings could lead to precision breeding crops which will cope better in northerly latitudes.He has millions of followers on social media, but manages to get up at the crack of dawn to help with lambing: Will Young, also known as Farmer Will on ITV's Love Island. He's now back in Buckinghamshire on the family farm, and he's also been joined by his TV partner, Jessie.Engineers have developed a unique burrowing robot which ‘swims’ through grain stores to ensure the seeds are kept properly. The t-shaped robot has been launched by an agritech developer at Scotland's National Robotarium, based at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. It's designed to help farmers look after their grain more efficiently, without having to carry out labour-intensive checks.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The Government's confirmed that landowners and farmers will be able to have multiple payments if several different environmental improvements are made on one piece of land, it's known as stacking and an expert explains how it works.After a Herefordshire farmer was jailed for wrecking the River Lugg as it ran through his land, water companies have come under renewed criticism for failing to stop sewage polluting rivers. Wessex Water is paying a total of more than £200,000 to executives, despite discharges of foul water into its rivers after heavy rain. Wessex Water has defended the bonuses, saying the company has exceeded its targets.This week we're looking at seeds, and we visit a trial site where one of the UK's largest grass seed breeders plants thousands of different grasses to develop new varieties. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A farmer was jailed last week for what the Environment Agency and Natural England describe as the ‘worst case of riverside damage’ they’d ever seen. John Price admitted seven charges of damaging a stretch of the River Lugg in Herefordshire. He was sentenced to a year in prison and has to pick up the £600,000 bill for restoring the river. What are the implications of this when it comes to protecting our waterways in future? We speak to Natural England and the Wildlife Trust who raised the alarm. All week we're going to be looking at one of the fundamentals of farming: seeds - from seed banks to seed breeding and the work being done agricultural seed companies. We start off with a seed expert and professor of crop production from the University of Reading. Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
New compulsory medical tests for fishermen: a leap forward for safety at sea or an over-rigid interpretation of the law that could devastate the inshore fishing fleet?According to the Forestry Commission, on average 30 per cent of newly planted trees in towns and cities will not survive more than 12 months. Foresters says they’re on the verge of going bust because of delays to tree-planting contracts.Broadcaster Vanessa Feltz takes a trip to Kent to visit Sadeh, a seven-acre Jewish market garden and environmental community, which runs educational events exploring the links between Judaism and food production.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
From November all fishermen will have to get a medical fitness certificate to continue fishing, even those on boats that are under 10 metres long. The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations says livelihoods will be lost and that fishermen will have to prove a higher standard of fitness than ambulance and HGV drivers. The government says the certificates are required by international law and aim to save lives. The West Wales coastline has been well known for its shellfish and traditional fishing pots since the 19th century, and many boats have been passed down through families, but there now seems to be a shortage of the next generation of shell fishers. We visit Solva in Pembrokeshire to find out more.A Herefordshire farmer has been sentenced to a year in prison for what the judge described as ‘ecological vandalism on an industrial scale’ of the River Lugg. The river, a site of special scientific interest, was dredged, woodland cut down and the banks flattened destroying otter, kingsfisher and salmon habitats. Natural England and the Enviroment Agency welcomed the sentence and said the damage was the worst case of riverside destruction they’d ever seen. John Price admitted seven charges of damaging a stretch of the River Lugg in Herefordshire, including failing to stop pollution entering the water. All this week we're talking about our land - who owns it, what they're doing with it, and how that's changing. One idea that's taken hold is for polluting companies to pay for trees to be planted in their name - to 'offset' their carbon footprint. One Somerset removals company has gone a step further: they've bought land which they're rewilding with native trees.Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Forestry contractors say delays to paperwork are holding up tree planting. One forester says the waiting nearly cost him his business, and he feared he'd go bust. He also says delays in the system mean the government won't meet its ambitious tree-planting targets. We are looking into landownership all this week - and the value of arable land in England is currently at an all time high. There are many reasons and tax has its part to pay too, both inheritance tax and capital gains tax. We speak to an accountant about how tax affects the price of land.We've often talked about the future potential of insects both for feeding livestock and feeding us. At the moment insects can legally only be fed on vegetable matter, but a new research project being carried out for the Food Standards Agency is looking at the feasibility of using other types of food waste. It’s being run by Fera Science Ltd, alongside the University of Surrey. Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Despite the joy at seeing free-range poultry allowed back outdoors again, the country's leading free-range chicken producer has told Farming Today that he is unable to re-stock any of the thousands of sheds which had been infected, because there is no agreement on a disinfection protocol, six months after the disease swept through the free-range poultry industry. Millions of free-range poultry are now allowed out once more after an unprecedented lock-down because of avian flu. We speak to Mark Gorton from Traditional Norfolk Poultry, which produces free-range and organic chicken and turkeys on more than fifty farm sites.The Government has agreed to set up an independent review into the management of Dartmoor. It follows pressure from a group of MPs representing areas of Dartmoor alarmed at recent proposals from Natural England to significantly reduce grazing levels on the moor. All week we're looking at land ownership, the idea of community land has taken root in Scotland, with more than 500,000 acres of the country now owned by local community groups, and a Scottish Government fund of ten million pounds a year has been made available for community land buyouts. The majority of the community-owned land is in the Outer Hebrides, with 70 per cent of the people there now participating. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
As the UK aims to meet its target of becoming net zero on carbon by 2050, millions of trees are being planted, but will all these new trees survive? According to the Forestry Commission, on average 30% of newly planted trees in towns and cities in the UK will not survive more than 12 months and a long term programme of planting trees along the A14 has been badly hit: the Highways Agency told us since 2018 around 40% of newly planted trees along the road had died. Since then, with the very hot summer last year, they are expecting that number to rise. We speak to the Woodland Trust. After months of being kept indoors to prevent the spread of Avian Flu, free range poultry is being allowed outdoors. DEFRA's latest figures show Avian Flu outbreaks have been the worst recorded this winter, with more than 330 outbreaks confirmed across the country since late October 2021. Enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone will remain in force as infection may still be circulating for several more weeks. A business start-up is producing soldier larvae to feed to chickens. It uses surplus fruit and veg from supermarkets to grow maggots. The company is now working with several egg farms in Wales, who are installing converted containers next to their hen houses, so the live grubs can be fed to the chickens.Estate owners in Scotland are tapping into the growing carbon market to make money from "natural capital" such as peat and woodland restoration. One landowner rejects the term "green laird" and insists he's interested in looking after the land for the long term.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Brecon Beacons national park is to be known as Bannau Brycheiniog national park. The switch to the Welsh language name takes effect on its 66th anniversary. Park bosses say the name change will help celebrate and promote the area's culture and heritage. It's part of a wider overhaul of how the park is managed, to try and address serious environmental challenges.Planning is a subject which farmers talk about a lot at the moment: some say while the government in England is encouraging them to diversify their businesses, planning rules and local councils are making that difficult, if not impossible. The Country Land and Business Association or CLA says a survey of 600 members reveals that what it calls 'outdated and under resourced planning procedures' are costing them money, and three quarters say they've been forced to abandon investment plans. We speak to a family run commercial nursery in Surrey, trying to build a new house on land that's being planted as the business is expanding. We also hear from the think tank, the Local Government Information Service.Campaigners in Scotland are calling for special 'go-fish zones' to be introduced. Conservationists from "Open Seas" say the areas could form part of plans by the Scottish Government to designate a tenth of seas as highly-protected, where no commercial activity would be allowed. Some fishermen say they fear going out of business with the continuing squeeze being placed on them.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Fly-tipping can be a big issue for farmers who have to pay to clear any rubbish left on their land. Now, the Country Land and Business Association says there should be a "National Fly-Tipping Tsar" to take charge of the fight against the problem. The Government has recently announced new grants for councils and bigger fines for fly-tippers - will it be enough?As we've reported on this programme, sheep have been getting a bit of stick recently - accused of damaging habitats through overgrazing. But in Suffolk, the National Trust is using a small flock of rare breed sheep to improve habitats for wading birds at Orford Ness Nature Reserve.And we hear from a Welsh beef farmer who has been seeing how it's done in Chile.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Free-range hens in England and Wales can roam free again from next week, some birds will never have seen the outdoors, Charlotte hears how this new-found freedom will affect them and farmers.A research project is looking at innovative ways of controlling slugs for farmers, can a new variety of wheat spoil their appetite, or perhaps beetles are the answer?And a report shows the price being paid to apple growers for their fruit is not keeping up with the cost of growing them.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach
A decision by the Duchy of Cornwall to phase out farming of Pacific Oysters in all the estuaries it owns is leaving several oyster farms in Devon and Cornwall facing closure. Meanwhile in Scotland there is just one remaining native oyster fishery, but there are plans to re-introduce them into an environmentally protected area of the Dornoch Firth in the Highlands. The mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England and Wales in the autumn to help stop the spread of bird flu last year, are to be lifted next week.And research into new ideas and approaches in farming, that take place not in a university or company lab but literally in the field, or greenhouse or milking parlour. Presented by Caz GrahamProduced by Alun Beach
Think rainforest and you might think of the Amazon or Sumatra, but Britain has its own rare rainforest habitat, known as ‘temperate rainforest’. The Wildlife Trusts are beginning an ambitious project to restore and create more of them, using £38 million of funding from the insurance company Aviva.The impact of climate change on UK agriculture is something we often discuss on this programme, and many farmers are working closely alongside scientists to help prepare for the different growing conditions we’re likely to experience in future. We visit the James Hutton Institute to hear about the latest in blackcurrant research and breeding.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The area of maize grown in the UK has roughly trebled since the 1990s. Is that a good or bad thing? Fans of maize say it's a cheap crop to grow, needing little fertiliser and producing high quality livestock feed. But others see it as an environmental menace, which often leads to soil compaction and run off. So can things be done differently to reduce the negative impacts of maize while still benefitting from the positives?Produced and presented for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sarah Swadling
The government’s announced its new plan for water in England. Critics say it's a rehash of previous policies, but the farming minister says there will be £10 million more funding for constructing reservoirs on farms and better irrigation systems and nearly £34 million pounds to help livestock farmers improve their slurry storage. River Action is making a formal complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about Red Tractor after an internal Environment Agency Report concluded Red Tractor membership was 'not a good indicator of environmental protection'. The charity says Red Tractor ads are misleading as they claim to be a world-leading standard and their environmental standards aren't good enough. Red Tractor says that the analysis of the data is misleading and insists farms that belong to its scheme fare much better in inspections than those that don't. National Pig Association welcomes a government plan to ensure fairness and transparency in the pork supply chain. Egg producers fear UK animal welfare standards will be undermined by the latest post-Brexit deal agreement, the CPTPP. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, whose members include Mexico, Canada and Japan, will have quotas for imports of ‘sensitive’ products like beef and lamb, but not eggs. The industry says 99% of Mexico’s eggs come from caged birds, a method of production banned in the UK in 2012.Dartmoor National Park Authority has been granted permission to appeal against a High Court decision in January that led to wild camping being banned. Recordings of skylarks and blackbirds.Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The UK's National Willow Collection was set up in the aftermath of WWI when a War Office review identified there had been a shortage of willow to make containers for ammunition.100 years on, plastic is now used to do many of the jobs willow once did. But the collection is now run by Rothamsted Research, where scientists are looking at the potential for new materials to be made from willow that could replace plastic.In this programme, Sarah Swadling visits the Collection, which has over 1500 different willows and celebrates it's 100th anniversary this year.Presented and produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Sarah Swadling
UK egg producers say the new trans-Pacific free trade deal is bad for animal welfare and bad for the British egg industry. The British Egg Industry Council fears that UK animal welfare standards will be undermined and producers will be put at a commercial disadvantage by the latest post-Brexit trade agreement, the CPTPP. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, whose members include Mexico, Canada and Japan, will have quotas and permanent limits for imports of ‘sensitive’ products like beef and lamb - but not eggs. The Council's chief executive, Mark Williams, says 99% of Mexico’s eggs come from birds that are kept in battery cages, a method of production which was banned in the UK in 2012.We’re talking about food labelling all this week. The Government is expected to consult later this year on plans to introduce mandatory welfare labelling for poultry and pork products with labels explaining how the livestock’s been farmed. There are already many different voluntary schemes with labels on pork relating to how pigs are reared, but is focusing on production methods alone a good measure of animal welfare? Cambridge University scientists have come up with a system of measuring welfare that uses what they say is a reliable comparison across different types of pig farming. People who want to camp out on Dartmoor may have that right returned. The Dartmoor National Park Authority has been granted permission to appeal against a High Court decision in January that meant the right to wild camp anywhere on Dartmoor was removed. The ruling came about after a landowner challenged a longstanding assumption that the public had an automatic right to camp without permission. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Details of government’s new plan for water in England. It says extra funding will give farmers more free advice from the Catchment Sensitive Farming scheme and promises more funding for constructing reservoirs on farms. It's also earmarked nearly £34 million pound to help livestock farmers improve their slurry storage. We speak to the farming minister Mark Spencer.A group in Devon is using bunds made from sheep's wool and moss to help restore peatlands on Dartmoor. The aim is to capture carbon - and make a statement about the climate emergency. It's part of a project called How to Bury the Giant.This week we're taking a look at labelling. A new study from Rothamsted Research examines whether food labels should take into account ‘the bio-availability’ of the nutrients in different foods, and how that would affect their overall carbon footprint and sustainability.Presenter =Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
River Action, the charity that campaigns about river pollution, is making a formal complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about Red Tractor after an internal Environment Agency Report, seen by the Times newspaper, concluded that Red Tractor membership was “not a good indicator of environmental protection”. The river charity says Red Tractor ads are misleading because they claim to be a world-leading standard and their environmental standards aren't good enough. However, Red Tractor says that the analysis of the data is misleading. It insists that farms that belong to its scheme fare much better in inspections than those that don't. It says it inspects all its farmers and anyone found causing pollution would be reported and taken to task. A farmer who recorded a skylark using a microphone tied to a fishing rod and suspended from a weather balloon really did get a recording of the bird this way - it wasn't an April fool!Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Incidents like the food fraud allegations that hit the headlines last week can make shoppers really question the value of labels on food. What’s the point in believing a label that says meat is British, if it might not be? All this week we’re going to be looking into labelling and how well it serves us.Natural England has launched a new 18 million pound Species Recovery Grant Scheme. It aims to help protect rare and endangered species like the Ladies Slipper Orchid and water voles through things like habitat restoration and by relocating some species to new areas. From next year consumers won’t be able to buy bags of compost that contain peat. Now the government has confirmed that it is phasing out peat for the professional growing sector from 2026 - with a complete ban from 2030. Conservationists say that’s not soon enough, but the horticultural industry says it needs more time to find alternatives.Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A new Trans Pacific Trade Agreement: what will it mean for farmers and food producers in the UK? How the farming industry is tackling the problem of waste.For the second time in a matter of weeks it’s been revealed that the National Food Crime Unit is investigating claims of food fraud, this time a rogue meat supplier that falsely labelled huge quantities of foreign pork as British. And a furious skylark in Norfolk.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The UK is on the verge of joining the Trans-Pacific Trade Pact, or CPTPP. Signing up to the "Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership", to give it its full name, joining Chile, Canada and Vietnam amongst other Pacific-rim countries. The deal has been a cause of concern for farmers who’re worried they may be stuck with a bad deal that could also open the door to beef treated with hormones. A Green Finance Strategy setting out plans to encourage private investment for nature-recovery and a ‘Nature Markets Framework’ have been published as part of the government’s new net zero plan. The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs says there are multi-billion pound opportunities for farmers and landowners in the carbon market and have committed to develop a new harmonised approach for measuring on-farm emissions, as well as greater support for farmers to calculate and reduce their carbon footprint. We ask the Nature Friendly Farming Network what they think of the plans.The Welsh government has set up two new taskforces, made up of farmers, vets and academics, in an effort to eradicate bovine TB by 2041. A refreshed strategy for tackling the disease, which led to the slaughter of almost ten thousand cattle in Wales last year, was announced in the Senedd this week. The new First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf has announced his new cabinet. Mairi Gougeon, who became the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands back in 2021 keeps her job and Land Reform has been added to her brief too.All this week we're discussing how farming and rural businesses are tackling waste and putting it to new purposes. In East Yorkshire two young friends, both farmers' sons, looking for extra work during the winter months found a gap in the market connected to the millions of shotgun cartridges used on clay shooting ranges every year. They collect, shred and clean the used cartridges, which are turned into plastic pellets which can be used to make things - including road surfaces.Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The Cotswold Hunt has been has been suspended by the British Hound Sports Association, after hunt saboteurs released video footage of a fox which had been tied inside a bag and appeared to have been hidden underground so it could be released later for hounds to chase. The allegations were revealed by Channel 4 News. Gloucestershire Police have confirmed they’re investigating.Today has been dubbed "Green Day" - the day when the UK government is expected to announce its revised plans on how to achieve net zero. Government figures show that that agriculture accounts for 11% of total UK net greenhouse gas emissions. We speak to the Green Alliance which has been tracking how well government policy is addressing its net zero targets.It's reported that Britain is close to reaching broad agreement on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The government argues that joining the trade pact would mean the UK enjoying tariff-free trade with a greater range of countries, but farmers have been concerned it could prove a prove a bad deal for UK agriculture.All this week we're looking at waste on farms. It's estimated that nearly three million tonnes of edible food is thrown away from farms every year - enough for almost seven billion meals. We report on a charity which is collecting crops that would otherwise have gone to waste, to give to families struggling with the cost of living.Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Releases of millions of game birds in Wales could be subject to licensing laws. Natural Resources Wales is advising the Welsh Government to launch a consultation about general licensing for all releases and special licences in sensitive areas. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation has called the move ' a systematic attack' against game shooting. The campaign group Wild Justice has welcomed the move.The DEFRA Secretary has said fresh tests are being done to look for pathogens that could be affecting crustaceans off England's North East coast. Tens of thousands of crabs and lobsters were washed up dead on beaches there in the summer of 2021, and catches have been down since. Fishermen have blamed old industrial chemicals released by dredging, but a DEFRA inquiry found the deaths were 'most likely' down to a new disease or parasite. Last week we heard calls from local fishermen for the Government to open a new inquiry, after prawn catches started being affected too. The Efra committee's been told the government's now commissioning further tests.All week we're looking at new ways of managing farm waste. Some water companies are using micro algae to eat contaminants like phosphorus and clean up waste water before it's discharged. That same technology is now being tested on livestock slurry. We hear from a pig farmer who's trialling the system on her farm to better use pig muck as fertiliser.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
DEFRA has failed to file dozens of reports on environmental legislation, which it is legally bound to do. The reports are essential because they show the public and campaign groups how effective laws are at achieving their goals. The findings are published in a report by the Office for Environmental Protection, or OEP, which was set up to monitor how well environmental regulations are working and whether government departments are implementing them properly.The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that one person has died following an outbreak of listeria. It is warning people not to eat any Baronet soft cheese products after high levels of listeria monocytogenes were found, although the death has not been specifically linked to this cheese. The Old Cheese Room which produces Baronet told us in a statement that they have now changed their testing regime, and none of their other cheeses has been affected. A new report suggests supermarkets and the government need to do more to reduce the environmental impact of agriplastics. That's things like polytunnel plastic, plastic mulch - the sheeting that's put on the fields to keep the soil warm - irrigation pipes, fertiliser bags and even the microplastics present in fertiliser pellets and some composts. The Environmental Investigation Agency report says government policy around the production and disposal of agriplastics is lacking. As we continue our week-long look at farm waste, we visit one firm in South Wales which is turning waste farm plastic into products. They collect and clean materials like wrapping for silage or feed packaging, it's then turned into pellets which can be used to make things like fence posts.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Dartmoor MPs are calling for an 'independent process' to work out the balance between farming and conservation on the moors. This follows what some called 'rewilding by the back door' - Natural England's recent decision not to renew some farmers' Countryside Stewardship agreements on the moor, unless the number of livestock was significantly reduced, to try to improve the condition of some protected areas. The three conservative MPs for the area say that despite a working group being set up last year to achieve consensus, Natural England has gone ahead without talking to either the Commoners Association, the National Park or the Dartmoor Owners Association.From plastic bale wrap to out of date agrochemicals - what happens to the waste from farms? We'll be finding out all this week.And more than a quarter of urban air pollution starts on farms. A team from University College London looked at particulate pollution in cities, and found that agriculture created, for instance, 38% of Leicester's and 25% of London's in 2019. Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
As inflation soars, one Devon crab producer says its fuel costs have gone up more than 500% in the last five years, with additional costs for exporting to the EU since Brexit. However a growth in demand from the USA and Asia means they're still optimistic.The Duchy of Cornwall is to phase out the farming of Pacific oysters in all the estuaries it owns. Several oyster farms in Devon and Cornwall now face closure. They farm Pacific oysters which are classed as an invasive, non-native species. Defra has introduced tighter restrictions around oyster farms to prevent the spread of Pacific oysters and protect native ones. The shellfish industry says the policy is misguided. Fishing communities are calling for the government to open a new inquiry into the die-off of crabs and lobsters on England's North East coast. Fishing crews say further dredging in the area is causing problems and is now affecting prawn catches. A previous Defra inquiry concluded dredging was not to blame and say they've ruled out further investigationsThe new Precision Breeding Act has become law. It will allow the use of gene-editing technology to create new plant varieties. Defra says the new law will not allow for the indiscriminate use of gene-editing technology, but campaign groups, like GM Freeze, say it could have unintended consequences.Scottish grouse moors will have to be licensed under proposals in a new bill. The Scottish Government says the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill, if passed, will tackle the persecution of birds of prey. It would also bring in greater restrictions around muirburn, the controlled burning of heather, on peat soils. Gamekeepers say the changes would effectively put shoots out of business.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The Duchy of Cornwall is to phase out the farming of Pacific oysters in all the estuaries it owns, meaning several oyster farms in Devon and Cornwall are now facing closure. It comes after DEFRA introduced tighter restrictions around creating and expanding oyster farms in English waters with the aim of preventing the spread of Pacific Oysters and protecting native ones, which are now only found in a few strongholds. Pacific Oysters - the type used in oyster farms - are classed as an invasive, non-native species.Scottish grouse moors will have to be licenced under proposals in a new bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill - if it's passed - will implement the recommendations of the Werritty Report, which was published in 2019 and was a sweeping review of the impact grouse moor management is having on Scotland's wildlife.And changes to the rules around gene editing of crops take effect in England as the new Precision Breeding Act has become law. It will allow the use of gene editing to create new commercially available plant varieties, diverging from EU law. Similar rules on animals are due to be introduced at a later date.Presented by Charlotte SmithProducer for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Blue Sea Food Company sells Devon crab in the UK and around the world... and says their fuel costs have gone up more than 500% in the last five years... with additional costs for exporting to the EU since Brexit. But, a growth in demand from the USA and Asia means they're still optimistic.Spain is experiencing a drought. In Catalonia, the use of water for irrigation is subject to a mandatory 40% reduction. So with veg shortages already evident on UK supermarket shelves, could this exacerbate the situation?And a £1million training facility is being launched at Hadlow College in Kent, with funding from the Government to create a new vineyard and orchard. But can it really prepare students for the reality of life in an industry that's facing so many challenges? Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
All week we're assessing the state of the shellfish industry. Brown crabs are a lucrative catch for Northern Ireland's fishermen but concern about a decline in numbers has led to the fishers themselves calling for tighter rules about their extraction. Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has introduced measures limiting the size of crabs which can be landed and now it has gone further, banning fishermen from catching immature, soft shelled crabs. The charity Buglife, which supports invertebrates including crabs and lobsters, welcomes the scheme in Northern Ireland but is calling for improved protection measures for brown crabs around the rest of the UK. They say crab numbers have plummeted, and unlike fish, there are no quotas governing how many crabs can be caught. A multi-million pound oat processing plant will open later this year in Northamptonshire. The new company called Navara brings together a consortium of the growing group Frontier, Anglia Maltings Holdings, and cereal store specialists Camgrain. The plant will supply oats for cereal companies and possibly oat milk processors. It says it will have the capacity to be the biggest factory of its kind in Europe.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The government's "Food Tsar" Henry Dimbleby has resigned as the lead non executive director at DEFRA after what he called an "insane" lack of action on obesity. His National Food Strategy was comprehensive but many aspects of it were ignored. This week he publishes a book called "Ravenous", which pulls together his blueprint for government, the food industry, health and land use. He's calling for a Good Food Bill.All week we're talking about the future of the shellfish industry including crabs, lobsters, shrimps and bivalves, like mussels. One of the leading growers of mussels in Wales is Deepdock Mussels based along the waters of the Menai Strait off Angelsey. The company says since Brexit, the water monitoring for cleanliness is interpreted differently by the UK government than EU member states, and it puts them at a disadvantage. We often talk about bovine TB affecting cattle, but researchers from the University of Bristol are trying to understand why the incidence of people catching the bovine strain of TB are increasing and whether farmers are particularly at risk. 20 years ago there were about 20 cases of bovine TB in people a year - more recent figures record about 40 cases a year and in the South West in particular, show about 8% of all cases of TB in people are caused by the bovine strain, known as M. bovis. Heather Simons went to an event where farmers were doing a blood test as part of the research project - in return for a free lunch.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Fishing crews on Teesside say the government must re-open inquiries into the die-off of crabs and lobsters, they say further dredging in the area is causing problems and is now affecting prawn catches. Thousands of crustaceans washed up on beaches in the autumn of 2021, and subsequently catches are massively down. Fishermen blame old industrial chemicals released by dredging. DEFRA first blamed algae and then after an inquiry said dredging was not to blame and the deaths were 'most likely' down to a new disease or parasite. Fishermen from the North East Fishing Collective also say existing schemes to support the local fishing industry won't help the small boats.Shellfish producers are still struggling with changes in the wake of Brexit and also face difficulties because of measures designed to protect native oysters.All this week we're looking at shellfish, from farming to exporting. The Shellfish Association of Great Britain says some parts of the industry are doing well, but for others it's much harder.A taskforce has been launched to safeguard the rights of seasonal workers. Retailers, growers, recruitment companies and employment experts have joined forces to improve the situation of people recruited abroad to work on UK farms. This year there are 45,000 visas available under the seasonal workers scheme, allowing people to come here for 6 months to work on farms or in food processing, with 10,000 more available if needed. However there have been concerns about the way the people are recruited and the potential for them to be exploited. The Seasonal Workers Scheme Taskforce believes they can make a difference.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
This week sheep have been causing a bit of a stir, with those both pro and anti trading arguments on social media. We discuss the tensions between where sheep are, should be, should not be and who decides, with environmentalist Ben Goldsmith and the National Sheep Association's Phil Stocker.Farmers on Dartmoor say they've been told they must radically reduce the number of sheep and other livestock on common land if they want to remain in government schemes. Natural England has written to commons associations offering rollovers of existing Higher Level Stewardship Schemes, but farmers say these new agreements require the number of animals on the land in the summer must be reduced, on some commons by an average of 75%. Many farmers here are watching what's happening in the Netherlands, where a farmers' party has stunned Dutch politics, and is set to be the biggest party in the upper house of parliament after provincial elections. The Farmer-citizen movement (BBB) was only set up in 2019 in the wake of widespread farmers' protests. As we reported last month, the Dutch government wants to reduce livestock numbers near protected countryside, to reduce emissions. It has said it will force buyouts of the 3,000 worst polluting farms, if voluntary measures fail. The Dutch PM described the result as a ‘clear message from voters’.An investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the GLAA, has fund that hundreds of workers in meat processing, recruited from Nepal, were exploited and found to have paid £12,000 to find a job. Such fees are illegal in the UK.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers on Dartmoor say they've been told they must radically reduce the number of livestock on common land if they want to remain in government schemes. Natural England has written to commons associations, which cover much of Dartmoor, offering rollovers of existing Higher Level Stewardship Schemes, but only if they stop winter grazing, and drastically reduce the number of animals on the land in the summer - on some commons by an average of 75 percent. We speak to a farmer who's got to reduce his livestock by 91 per cent and the area manager for Natural England.Who should pay to restore biodiversity in the UK? Governments are keen to encourage private money to work alongside their schemes and Scotland's government nature agency, NatureScot, has announced a £2 billion private finance pilot designed to secure landscape scale restoration of native woodlands. Critics are concerned that carbon credit markets are unregulated and don't incentivise companies to reduce emissions.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Experts have been unpicking the budget and what it means for farming and the rural economy. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt billed it as a growth budget, to set the UK up as an enterprise economy. Agricultural advisors say tax breaks will encourage big farming companies to invest in new machinery and technology but smaller farms, that aren't limited companies may not benefit in the same way. There's no mention of support with energy bills for the horticulture or poultry sector.There was a £20 billion pledge to invest in carbon capture and storage over the next 20 years. The Green Alliance says a similar commitment was pulled in 2014, and say the scheme outlined in the budget is not focused on the kind of carbon sequestration farmers are involved with in Environmental Land Management Schemes, by planting cover crops, hedgerows and trees.A twenty year research project into the health of British and Irish plant species concludes there’s been a devastating loss of native flora. Not only have half of our native plants like heather and harebell declined, they say that non native plants now outnumber native British ones in the wild. The Botanical Society of Great Britain and Ireland says its newly published Plant Atlas 2020 is the most in-depth survey of British and Irish flora ever undertaken. Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmers and countryside communities are asking for more support in the budget, and a new book by academics specialising in rural affairs says "The needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people in rural areas, are ignored by the Government in a way that would not be acceptable in urban centres". The group of academics from Newcastle University, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Inverness Impact-Hub, have written a new book called Rural Poverty Today. For instance, it shows that those living in rural areas face energy costs 15-30 per cent higher than those in towns. We speak to one of the authors, Professor Mark Shucksmith from Newcastle UniversityImproving bio-diversity and sequestering carbon, and getting paid for it. That's an increasingly attractive proposition for farmers. But a growing number of them aren't applying for government money via Defra - public money for public goods. They're teaming up with the private sector. Brewood Park Farm near Wolverhampton is part of a group called "The Green Collective" - half a dozen farms are working with a local company called YourPact to get investment from businesses in the Midlands. Their money's helping to improve habitats for birds, improve the soil and plant cover crops.Tens of thousands of trees in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire are being removed because of the tree disease Phytophthora ramorum and re-planting schemes are getting underway. Larch, which are widely grown for the timber market, are particularly susceptible to the disease, which has been in the UK for nearly 15 years. It can be spread on plant material, or in waterways and through the air.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
An investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, or the GLAA says that hundreds of workers in meat processing, recruited from Nepal, were exploited and found to have paid 12 thousand pounds to find a job. Such fees are illegal in the UK. The company, Adept and Agile, has lost its licence and the two directors - one based in Surrey, the other in Nepal, have been handed an interim Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order. We speak to Nicola Ray, head of regulation at the GLAA.Conservationists in Wales hope to reintroduce white-tailed eagles. It's been done in Scotland, but NFU Cymru says farmers in Wales are concerned the birds of prey would hunt newborn lambs.All week we're looking at biodiversity. Wetlands are precious areas for particular species, and in Buckinghamshire a new project is creating a ten hectare site which will provide a home for wetland plants, aquatic and semi-aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and fish. Thousands of tonnes of topsoil had to be removed from the site on the Waddeston Estate which is managed by the Rothschild Foundation. The underlying clay will form the base for a series of ponds, and the plan is to allow nature to re-colonise the site.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The rising cost of food production is hitting farmers and growers all over the UK, from salad producers to livestock farmers and the fruit growers cancelling orders for new trees. Now some orchard owners say contracts to grow apples for supermarket chains are so uneconomic they're forced to destroy their existing trees. Later this week it's expected that the law on gene editing will officially change as the Precision Breeding Act gets Royal Assent. The Act allows the use of gene editing technology to create new plant varieties.Last night the UK got the big glossy nature programme treatment with the first episode of Sir David Attenborough's Wild Isles. With that in mind, all this week here on Farming Today we'll be talking about biodiversity. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Imported meat labelled as British has been sold by a retailer which advertises that it sells only British meat. The National Food Crime Unit is investigating after discovering that one of the retailers' suppliers has been selling it what's described as 'large volumes' of pre-packed South American and European beef, labelled as British. Ten years after the horse meat scandal, we ask how this sort of fraud can happen.Hill farmers describe new government payment scheme as "the greatest catastrophe for nature and farming in a lifetime". New figures from DEFRA show payments for upland farmers will be down 65% under the new Environmental Land Management Scheme or ELMS, compared to previous payments under the old EU system. Author and hill farmer James Rebanks says it will force farmers to increase the number of livestock they keep - the opposite of what the government says it wants. Farming minister Mark Spencer defends DEFRA's plans.As parts of the country struggle with snow, farmers in the east of England are hoping for more rain. East Anglia has had the driest February since 1959 - the third driest on record. We find out how farms are changing what they grow, to cope with a lack of water.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Imported meat labelled as British has been sold by a retailer which advertises that it sells only British meat. The National Food Crime Unit is investigating after discovering that one of the retailers' suppliers has been selling it what's described as 'large volumes' of pre-packed South American and European beef, labelled as British. Ten years after the horse meat scandal, we ask how this sort of fraud can happen.All this week we've been talking about dairy farming. One of their big challenges has been what to do with male dairy calves. Obviously only females produce milk and in the past thousands of male or ‘bobby’ calves were killed soon after birth. But the Red Tractor assurance scheme, which covers 95% of UK milk production, has banned routine euthanasia of calves from this year. We meet a farmer rearing male calves for veal.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
"The greatest catastrophe for nature and farming in a lifetime". That's the verdict of the lake district hill farmer and writer James Rebanks on the Government's payments to upland farmers. Figures from Defra that show incomes for upland farmers are facing a massive hit, as payments under the new post-Brexit scheme in England do not come up to the level of previous payments under the old EU system. Mr Rebanks tells us that will force farmers to increase the number of livestock they keep - the opposite of what the Government says it wants.A cow mattress, lameness monitoring or a cattle handling system - just some of the things farmers in England can now get a grant for as part of the Government's Sustainable Farming Incentive. Livestock farmers in England can now access grants of up to £25,000 to improve the welfare of their animals. This week we're focusing on dairy farming and so those grants might help buy ball toys for calves or a computer programme for monitoring lameness, and some of the available options were on display at this year's Dairy Tech event.Should everyone keeping hens have to register with the Government? At the moment only people who keep a flock of more than 50 has to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, but Defra is consulting on plans to extend that in an attempt to control the spread of avian flu. This would also cover birds of prey and pigeons but not pet birds kept inside. As we've reported, the past few years have seen the biggest outbreak of bird flu here and across Europe with tens of millions of poultry birds culled and a big impact on wild bird populations too. We hear from the Cheif Vet, Christine Middlemiss.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Poultry farmers are appealing to the government to include them on a list of industries which would get help paying their energy costs. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is being replaced by the Energy and Trade Intensive Industry Scheme - but agricultural producers are not included in either. Poultry production has declined recently, partly due to avian flu but also because of the huge rise in the cost of heating, ventilating and feeding indoor chickens for meat. The indoor vegetable industry is also asking the government for help with energy costs. While Scotland is battling with the snow, farmers in East Anglia and the South West are still hoping for more rain. East Anglia in particular had the driest February since 1959 and the third driest on record, and for a region where three quarters of the land produces grain and vegetables, lack of rain can have a serious impact nationwide. We visit the Euston Estate near Thetford to hear how low water levels have changed what they are growing.One of the big issues facing the dairy farming sector is pollution. Slurry that's not stored properly can pollute both air and rivers. Last year two thirds of dairy and beef farms in one region of England were found to be causing pollution, when the Environment Agency inspected 187 farms in Devon between 2016 and 2020. The EA report concluded that dairy farmers were taking a calculated business risk not to invest to stop pollution because the chances of being fined are so tiny. The Environment Agency has committed to introducing a system of environmental permits for dairy and beef farms to clamp down on pollution incidents, but the industry is worried. We visit a dairy farmer in Somerset. Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
New figures show incomes for upland farmers are facing a massive hit, as payments under the new ELMs scheme do not come up to the level of previous payments under the old EU system. The expected income for upland farm businesses, published by DEFRA, for 2022/23 is just £16,300 - that's a 65 per cent reduction. Hill farmers have always relied more heavily on subsidies, and the EU system of paying per hectare underpinned their income. It was hoped that post-Brexit, the new Environmental Land Management scheme or ELMs would pay farmers for providing public goods, such as carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat and flood mitigation, but upland farmers say they are getting less money for providing public benefits than lowland producers. A leaked document is said to show that the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, is lagging behind its official target of implementing green policies to combat climate change, and that it is in danger of missing a legal deadline to submit a climate plan for agriculture by the end of this month. DEFRA has faced criticism by government advisers on the climate change committee. We speak to the journalist who's seen the leaked documents, and hear from the chair of Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben.Most dairy farmers graze their herds outdoors on pasture for most of the year, only bringing them in during the winter. However, around a fifth of UK dairy farmers keep some or all of their cows indoors, all year round. We speak to a farmer in Staffordshire who's made the switch. He's built a new shed to house his animals all year round and says the livestock are healthier and the milk yields higher.Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
"If the customer is willing to pay the price, we have produce available." - Philippe Appeltans, CEO of the Belgian salad and fruit co-operative, BelOrta. In this programme Charlotte Smith has an in-depth chat with Philippe about how growing and selling on the continent compares to the UK. It comes as salad shortages continue on supermarket shelves here - blamed by retailers on bad weather in Morocco and Spain and by growers on retailers refusal to pay a realistic price for home grown produce.And can tech solve tail biting in pigs? We visit a research farm at Scotland's Rural College.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
If you were in a supermarket buying pork, would you know the difference between ‘outdoor bred’, ‘outdoor reared’, ‘RSPCA assured’ and ‘Red Tractor Assured’? Our reporter has been to the National Pig Centre near Tadcaster to look at the different systems. Currently there are no legal requirements to label produce with information on how animals are reared, with the exception of whole eggs. It’s 18 months since DEFRA held what’s called a ‘Call for Evidence’ on animal welfare and food labelling. This spring they’re holding a further consultation. We speak to Professor Richard Bennett, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Reading, he'd like to see labelling that shows how animals are reared, but in a way consumers can understand.On-going salad shortages have highlighted calls for a ‘horticulture growth strategy’. The NFU has just published a ten-point plan on how to boost UK horticulture. Now the Warwick Crop Centre, part of Warwick University, has published a discussion paper promoting the production of fresh produce in the UK. It says a ten-year-plus support plan is needed for the sector. Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Rebecca Rooney
The RSPCA is backing a legal challenge which says fast-growing breeds of chicken, which are slaughtered at around six-weeks-old, should not be allowed. The charity The Humane League is seeking a judicial review in the High Court, arguing that fast-growing broilers have intrinsic animal welfare challenges, including being unable to support their own weight. We speak to a poultry expert with the RSPCA and the British Poultry Council, which says welfare standards on UK farms are extremely high.A medicine which controls a serious illness in piglets will soon stop being used, and there’s concern that farmers will turn to antibiotics instead. Zinc oxide prevents post-weaning diarrhoea, but when it's excreted in pig slurry it can pollute soils, so its use is ending across Europe. Farmers in Northern Ireland say the new Windsor Framework is not changing enough. Sheep farmers in the province have traditionally bought stock in Great Britain, to bring in new blood to their flocks. But since leaving the EU, and with the Northern Ireland Protocol, that's been much more difficult and in some cases impossible to do. However, the National Sheep Association in Northern Ireland says the new Windsor agreement will do little to help them.Presenter - Anna HillProducer - Rebecca Rooney
The prime minister has announced plans for a new deal for trade between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU. The government says 'The Windsor Framework' agreement will ensure 'a smooth flow of trade within the UK'. Goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland only will have free passage, and goods then travelling on to The Republic of Ireland will be under separate scrutiny. We speak to the NFU's director of Trade and Business Strategy, Nick von Westenholz, about what this could mean for farming businesses.The past 18 months have seen massive disruption for pig farmers. A huge rise in the cost of production has meant producers have been making constant losses and although they might be keeping their heads just above water, it's the inability to re-invest in things like animal housing which makes their business unsustainable. We speak to a Suffolk farmer whose family produced pigs for more than a century, but now he's sold them all. The farm still produces arable crops and rents out its buildings for business training.Many UK farmers are watching what's happening in the Netherlands, where farmers are protesting over plans to cut ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. The Dutch government wants to reduce livestock numbers near protected countryside to reduce emissions and has said there will be forced buyouts of the 3000 worst polluting farms if voluntary measures fail. Farmers fear they will be driven out of business, but some of their tactics have been condemned after they staged a protest against the Dutch finance minister holding flaming torches.Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Pigs farmers are still losing money on every pig they sell for slaughter, despite record high prices. The latest figures from the industry body the AHDB show farmers have been losing money on pigs since late 2020, although losses have dropped from a high of £58 a pig to £17 a pig by the end of last year. As we've been reporting for the past few years, this is because of a combination of a shortage of butchers at abattoirs, leading to pigs backing up on farms, and increases in the cost of heating sheds and feeding the animals. Dairy farmers got record prices for milk last year to cover their increasing costs. But now those prices are falling and are expected to fall further as more milk becomes available in the spring. We hear from two farmer-owned co-operatives, Arla and First Milk.And we meet Sophie Mitchell-Smith - who has become a social media star through hoof trimming. She started helping her father Richard back in 2012 - and during lockdown began posting on Instagram, where she now has 15,000 followers.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
With bare shelves in supermarkets where tomatoes should be and some retailers rationing them along with cucumbers and peppers, we ask what's going on. Whose fault is it and is the solution turnips, indoor farms, or better contracts for farmers?In this programme we'll try to find out with a panel of experts and opinions from around the country and beyond. Charlotte Smith speaks to Kevin White, Fresh Foods Editor at The Grocer, Lee Stiles from Lea Valley Growers, Dr Kamran Mahroof, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Analytics at Bradford University, Johnathon Tremayne from Global Pacific which sources fruit and veg for supermarkets, and Ksenija Simović, Senior Policy Advisor at the European farming union, Copa Cogeca.Produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Acute labour shortages have led to some UK meat processors moving their work abroad. Whole carcasses are being exported overseas to be butchered and distributed because they can’t get the staff to do it here. The British Meat Processors Association says that affects productivity and investment in UK plants. They want butchers to be included on the Home Office shortage occupation list so that they can recruit more workers from abroad.Growing strawberries all year round is a challenge for British producers. We take a tour of the UK's first producer to do that. An entrepreneur has transformed a warehouse in Essex into a vertical farm. Fruit is grown on shelves reaching twelve metres up to the roof, under LED lights. The plants are pollinated by bees, while pests are controlled by predators rather than chemicals.We've been looking at reintroductions of plants, insects and mammals all week. Wildcats are the UK's only native cat species. They look like a large stocky tabby cat, but with a black banded bushy tail. Only small numbers remain in the Scottish Highlands, and even there they are close to extinction. But Wildcats could be reintroduced to Devon, if conditions are right and local communities support the idea. Devon Wildlife Trust is investigating the feasibility of bringing back Wildcats after an absence of more than 100 years. Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
As supermarkets ration salad, one tomato grower tells us what that what the sector really needs is government help to invest in hi-tech greenhouses. Flavourfresh near Stockport produce tomatoes under glass. They have their own power plant, selling energy to the grid. They use the excess heat to warm the glasshouses and the carbon dioxide to help plants grow bigger. However, large modern greenhouses like theirs cost millions. Producer Andy Roe says the sector needs help to finance state-of-the art sites like theirs, then he says they'd be able to grow more for the British market.The Defra secretary, Therese Coffey, has been addressing farmers at the NFU annual conference in Birmingham. She said the ELMS budget did not need to be increased to help farmers meet government environmental targets, and she also said that the challenges faced by pig and poultry producers did not equate to market failure and so she would not be using new powers under the Agriculture Act to intervene.Re-introductions of animals and birds usually feature high-profile species like beavers or wild cats, but there are others like the pine hoverfly - a small, elusive and very rare insect, whose habitat is among Scots Pine trees. The last population in Britain is in the Cairngorms National Park - and that's where conservationists from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland are involved in a breeding programme which has been releasing pine hoverflies back into the wild for the past two years.Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Rebecca Rooney
Farmers have gathered in Birmingham for the National Farmers Union conference. Delegates were told their industry is threatened by “Volatility, uncertainty and instability” and with an election looming, both government and opposition speakers have been at the podium. Prime minister Rishi Sunak addressed the conference via video link, and the farm minister Mark Spencer said seasonal workers won’t be paid more than the living wage from April, which will be a relief for many employers. He also announced £168 million pounds in grants for innovations on farms.Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer came to the conference too. He admitted that Labour is usually seen as an urban party, but told delegates his party does care deeply about the countryside - and he wants to forge a new relationship. On farming policy, he said although the new Environmental Land Management schemes in England are a step in the right direction, farmers needed transparency and certainty.NFU president Minette Batters drew a picture of British farming under threat, from climate change, the growing global population, and particularly huge rises in input costs which she said are already resulting in reduced production across eggs, salad, beef and sheep. She told the conference that the sector needs to boost productivity and manage volatility, while protecting the environment.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Social media has been awash with pictures of empty supermarket shelves - where there should be salad, nothing but gaps. The problem seems to be country-wide and across all stores, from the discounters to the big supermarkets. Dr Jim Monaghan, Professor of crop science at Harper Adams, says extremes of weather in southern Spain, coupled with ferry strikes have contributed to the shortages. Some British growers haven't planted early crops under glass this season because of the high cost of energy needed to heat them. Farmers say it's time that the prices for fresh produce reflect the seasonal variation in availability.An international investigation by scientists, to combat a new wheat disease which has devastated crops in South America and Bangladesh, has found part of the answer in grains gathered by British embassy staff from around the world, 150 years ago. Using brand-new gene data analysis called AgRenSeq, the scientists are now well on the way to tackling Wheat Blast - a fungal disease which can cause 100 percent crop loss in severe cases.We're talking about re-introductions this week, from birds and mammals, to insects and plants. Juniper was once a familiar site on the downs of southern England, but with changes to land use and agriculture, it's now a protected species, which has all but disappeared from much of the landscape. Conservationists are working to re-introduce it on the chalklands of South Wiltshire. Matt Pitt from the charity Plantlife has been working with volunteers to plant juniper on farmland in the Wylye Valley Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The Government needs to 'go back to the drawing board' and re-design the visa system for seasonal workers in food and farming. That's according to researcher, Dr Lydia Medland from the University of Bristol, who says the current scheme leaves both workers and operators vulnerable. 45,000 visas are available this year for people to come to the UK to work on farms or in food processing. Last week we reported that one of the 6 firms which operates the scheme has had its licence revoked - the Home Office wouldn't tell us why and the company says the revocation is unjust and is considering appealing.We hear how species re-introductions can be used to restore ecosystem services like pollination or nutrient cycling.And Asia and North Africa are the most exciting emerging export markets for British livestock farmers over the next decade - according to a new report published today by the industry body AHDB. Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
One of the firms which operates the Government’s visa scheme for seasonal workers in food and farming has had its licence revoked. AG Recruitment was one of six companies which brought temporary workers from Europe and around the world to work on UK farms. We ask British Growers what this means for a sector which is already struggling to find workers to pick their fruit and veg this summer.A farmer who lost all his ducks through bird flu, says delays with paperwork could jeopardize his plans to produce chickens instead. Tom McVeigh wants to house broilers on his farm in Suffolk after 95,000 ducks died because of avian influenza. He needs the Environment Agency to sign off on the the change of use but says they've told him staff shortages mean instead of taking six weeks to process the paperwork, it'll take six months.All week we are boldly going beyond our world to talk about how food and farming can benefit from our exploration of space. From satellites guiding tractors and scouting for illegal fishing operations, to zero gravity crops. We speak to: the UK Space Agency about how space exploration already has an impact on farms; an Israeli company which has produced lab-grown meat in space; a tech start-up which is taking technology designed for exploring Mars to weed organic crops; and a campaign group which is using images from space to keep tabs on illegal fishing.Early lambing's started, which means late nights and early mornings on some sheep farms. We join one couple who breed Texel rams in the lambing shed on their farm in Gloucestershire.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
One of the firms which operates the Government’s visa scheme for seasonal workers in food and farming has had its licence revoked. AG Recruitment was one of six companies which brought temporary workers from Europe and around the world to work on UK farms.Technology originally developed to explore Mars is now being used on farms, to weed. We find out more as trials commence in Spain.And Devon Closewools are classed as "At Risk" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust - with only around 3,000 breeding ewes, all concentrated in North Devon and Exmoor. We visit a flock at lambing time.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Illegal fishing is being monitored from space. Global Fishing Watch, a non profit organisation, uses information from a variety of tracking sources to work out which boat is which, where they are and what they're doing.There is a definite feeling of spring in the air - and fields - as early lambing is underway. We visit a lambing shed in Gloucestershire.And there are calls for farmers - and consumers - to do more to tackle air pollution. Figures released this week by DEFRA show 87% of ammonia emissions in 2021 came from agriculture - mainly from the spreading of manures, slurries and fertilisers. Ammonia by itself can damage sensitive habitats, but when it mixes with other gases in the atmosphere, like nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, it can also form particulate matter, which can cause health problems when breathed in.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A Suffolk farmer who invested in growing ducks but got hit by bird flu, is trying to switch to chickens instead but says his plan is being jeopardized because of labour shortages at the Environment Agency. Tom McVeigh from Kenton Hall lost 95,000 ducks to avian flu. He now wants to rear broilers but needs the Environment Agency to sign off the change of use. However, he says there are big delays to the paper work and it could stop the project going ahead.DEFRA Secretary Terese Coffey is in America and will be speaking at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Winter Conference. It's the first time a foreign minister has addressed the gathering. Dr Coffey is expected to talk about forging a sustainable future and US/UK co-operation.All week we're getting a very different perspective on farming and finding out how space research and exploration could impact agriculture now, and in the future. What do astronauts eat for lunch? Well if it's been pouches of pre-prepared meals they might like a change. How about steak? A company called Aleph Farms based in Israel has made lab-grown meat in space.Conservationists say offshore windfarms in the North Sea need to reduce the impact they’re having on seabirds. The warning comes as the latest windfarm, Hornsea 4, has been delayed, following concerns about the Kittiwake – an endangered species of gull. Hornsea 4’s developers say they’re working hard to ensure green energy and seabird populations can co-exist. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmers and crofters in Scotland have criticised the Scottish Government's lack of detail about future payments and the structure of farm support. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, announced a long-awaited 'roadmap' for agricultural reform at the National Farmers Union for Scotland conference, at the end of last week.And if you can't see the wood for the trees then a satellite might provide a much better perspective! We hear from a company monitoring forests, natural capital and carbon capture from space.Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Government says there will be no further investigation of what caused the mass die-off of shellfish on England's North East coast in 2021. Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, says "given the extent of the analytical work already undertaken... I have decided it is highly unlikely we will ever find the cause, so no further analysis will be undertaken by the government". She also says there is no question of the government providing compensation. We get reaction from fishing crews.Poor mental health is one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers - that's according to the Farm Safety Foundation. This week the foundation is running its 'Mind Your Head' campaign - highlighting what it says are deteriorating levels of mental wellbeing in agriculture over the past three years and the impact that can have on safety.And we boldly go beyond our world to talk about how food and farming can benefit from our exploration of space. From satellites guiding tractors and scouting for illegal fishing operations, to zero gravity crops!Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Scottish farmers say they need to know details of plans for direct payments - and fast. The National Farmers Union Scotland is having its annual conference and its president, Martin Kennedy, says his members need details of the new scheme which will replace CAP - and soon, or it will have a serious impact on food producers, processors and the whole Scottish economy. He says at the moment farmers still don't know how it will work, or what the budget will be.Horticultural peat will be banned next year, but peat is still being extracted from the largest remaining wetland in England - the Somerset Levels. Peat has been taken from the area for burning and for use as compost for over 2000 years – but the Government has now stopped granting licences for peat extraction in England as it's valuable for carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Extraction on the Levels will end when the current licences expire, so the company removing small amounts of peat from the Levels near Glastonbury is re-thinking the future.The right to roam is controversial topic, the Labour party says if it wins the election it will introduce the right in England. In Scotland there is a right to roam and wild camp. Richard Baynes visits a Scottish farming family which relies on tourism. The Duncan family farm beef cattle and sheep on three farms and one of them is on the edge of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National park. The family have two glamping pods, but they say some tourists can be problematic.Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Rebecca Rooney
The debate about where people can and can't go in the English and Welsh countryside is back on. The Labour Party says if it wins the next election it'll introduce a right to roam and will re-introduce wild camping on Dartmoor too, after a high court decision banned it. What do farmers think?We're talking about peat all this week on Farming Today and the Scottish Government wants to restore a quarter of a million hectares of degraded peat by 2030, under its Peatland Action programme. But it’s reckoned 1,500 more peat restorers are needed, so Scotland's first course in peatland restoration has been launched. The genome of 19 insects which damage crops have been mapped by scientists at Rothamsted Research and their work has been made public. They hope it will lead to more targeted pesticides and other non-chemical methods of controlling crop pests.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The DEFRA programme to pilot a vaccine for cattle against Bovine Tuberculosis is about the enter its second stage. This will involve five farms with 600 cattle. The trial combines the BCG vaccine and the DIVA test, which shows clearly which cattle have been vaccinated and which have been challenged by the disease, and it's hoped both together could work to identify where the disease is and also protect cattle at risk. There's been a re-organisation of government departments. Grant Shapps is the new Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary; Michelle Donelan becomes the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary. Both of those roles will have to liaise closely with DEFRA - on the future of land use for energy, and innovations including gene editing.All week we’re taking a look at the future of our peatlands. In many parts of the country lowland peat is drained and used to grow vegetables and other crops but this degrades the peat and emits carbon. Farmers in Germany are developing something called ‘paludiculture’, using re-wetted peat lands to grow water tolerant vegetation, which also has a market. A company called Wetland Products is growing bulrushes in water-covered peat and turning it into housing insulation, takeaway food packaging, and compost for commercial growers. Bulrushes and reeds also clean up the excess nutrients in the water where they grow. Also in the Fens, a group of farmers and scientists are working together to see if they can change the way farming food is done on peatlands. A collaboration called Fenland Soil has been set to try out new wetter farming techniques.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A major chicken producer claims it will clean up its use of manure alongside the River Wye but its plan won't be fully implemented till 2025. Avara Foods has 120 farms producing 16 million chickens for it within the River Wye catchment. It's faced criticism for failing to ensure the farms do not contaminate the river by spreading chicken manure on their land. Now the company says it will bring in a new regime which will regulate the use of the farms' manure much better and will not "contribute to excess phosphate in the Wye" by 2025. Nicola Cutcher from the Guardian has had exclusive access to Avara - she told us what the new company plan is.All week we're talking about peat. Commercial growers are still allowed to use it for now, but from next year, domestic gardeners won't be able to buy it. Retail sales are being banned to help the government reach its net zero targets, as peatlands are the UK's largest carbon store. Organic growers would like to be ahead of any mandatory targets but for commercial nurseries that rely on machines to plant blocks of plants, it's going to be a challenge.A farmer from Nottinghamshire hopes he's found a solution to the lack of affordable housing in the rural area where he lives. He’s built one of the most energy efficient groups of dwellings in the country and they’re only available for local people to rent. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Today we discuss restoring landscapes and how that fits in with growing food.Lord Deben, chair of the Climate Change Committee, says while the government has been 'excellent' at setting environmental targets it's been less good at delivering them.Volunteers are planting thousands of native plants at a Wiltshire wetland, aimed at reducing the flow of water and hence helping to reduce flooding.To start our week looking at peat, we hear from Professor Martin Evans from the University of Manchester on why our peatlands are so important to preserve.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Government published its new "Environmental Improvement Plan" this week, promising to halt decline in nature by 2030 - and outlining how it plans to deliver the Environment Act, with specific targets and deadlines. It includes: targets to tackle pollution from water companies and farmers and improve water quality; restoring a million acres of wildlife habitat; and a fund to protect species at risk. Defra wants the new Environmental Land Management Schemes or ELMS to be taken up by 60-80% of farmers.It's been a tough 12 months for potato farmers with huge hikes in fertilizer prices and a drought which forced them to irrigate much more than usual. Many are giving up on the crop altogether. We hear from two brothers who are drastically reducing their production and speak to the big potato processor McCain about what it's doing to persuade its farmers to keep planting spuds.Apple and pear producers have cancelled more than a third of orders for new trees this season, because they say the sums just don't add up. The figures, from the British Growers Association say costs for farmers have risen by nearly a quarter but the price they're paid for their fruit by supermarkets has risen by less than one per cent. They warn the industry's on a knife-edge. We speak to a farmer who's just cancelled an order for 72,000 new trees.All week we've been talking about an often hidden aspect of rural life - poverty. The Rural Services Network says : If England’s rural communities were treated as a distinct region, their need for levelling up would be greater than any other. We hear from people who've been homeless and those who are on the brink of losing everything.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The dental deserts in the UK's rural and coastal towns. Recent research showed that 90% of NHS dental practices in England were not accepting new adult patients. The All Party Parliamentary Health and Social Care committee is now investigating this struggle people are having finding a dentist.The Government is to spend £700,000 training people in forestry in England , so (ministers say) 'we have enough people with the right skills to plan, plant and manage new woodlands.' Scientists have discovered types of potato which can fight off an attack from worm-like pests called potato cyst nematodes. As PCNs can reduce yields or even destroy a whole crop, that's a big deal.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Apple and pear growing in the UK is on a knife-edge, according to a survey of apple and pear growers by the British Growers Association. More than a third of orders for new trees have been scrapped by farmers who say the sums just don’t add up. They say costs have risen by around 23% compared to an increase in the price they’re paid by supermarkets of just 0.8% We speak to a grower in Kent who's just cancelled an order for 36,000 new trees.All this week we’re focusing on rural poverty and the impact it’s having. We speak to an agricultural worker in Devon who’s struggling financially because of the impact of bird flu. He's lost his business, and he may also lose his home. The rural charity - The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution or RABI - is helping him and others who are struggling.The world records for top wheat and winter barley yields have been broken by a British farmer. Tim Lamyman grows cereals over 720 hectares on the Lincolnshire Wolds. He’s held the record for wheat yields before which makes him a ‘serial’ world record breaker for ‘cereal’ yields - he tells us how he did it.Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A major report into land use by the Royal Society warns the government not to 'over promise' what the countryside can deliver. It says government ambitions to use our land to boost food production, protect nature and fight climate change may not be achieved because of disjointed policy-making and a lack of robust data. We speak to Sir Ian Boyd, professor of Biology at the University of St Andrews who contributed to the report.Some potato growers have stopped growing spuds because of soaring costs and difficult weather. Oven chip manufacturer McCain has increased its payments to potato growers to ensure future supplies. The processor is the largest buyer of British potatoes and works with more than 250 growers, buying up to 15 per cent of the UK's annual crop. It's investing £35 million in its farmers this year and paying a supplement to those who’ve had to renew electricity contracts or are paying variable rates, totalling £50 million in two years. All this week we're looking at the cost of living and rural poverty. In rural areas, many homes aren't connected to the gas network, so depend on oil for heating - according to the Countryside Alliance more than half of rural homes are not on the gas grid, compared to just one in ten urban properties. We hear from a charity which helps households who are struggling to pay their fuel bills.Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
The government has published its Environmental Improvement Plan. This outlines a raft of goals which it says lay the foundation stones to halt the decline of nature by 2030, and then reverse it. It includes targets to improve wildlife habitats; air and water quality; species protection; and an investment in creating 70 thousand jobs connected to the countryside and the environment. All week we're looking at rural poverty. Homelessness in rural areas is something that often remains hidden. We speak to an academic who's been researching the issue and a woman who was once homeless and now helps others.Presenter: Anna HillProducer: Rebecca Rooney
The Welsh Government should add more clarity to the bill bringing in the ‘made for Wales’ agriculture policy. That's according to the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee which has scrutinised the bill, making 50 recommendations. It paves the way for a new Sustainable Farming Scheme - SFS - which is expected to come in 2025. It will pay farmers for efforts to protect and enhance Wales' scenery, environment and wildlife as well as good farming practice. We speak to the committee chair MS Paul Davies who say's it's a vital piece of legislation. Wandering through the average rural village, poverty is probably not what you see, we’re more likely to notice the picturesque pub or the well-appointed village green, but this week we’re going to be looking at rural poverty, often a hidden aspect of life in the countryside. The Rural Services Network says : If England’s rural communities were treated as a distinct region, their need for levelling up would be greater than any other." Janet Dwyer, Professor of Rural Policy at the University of Gloucestershire explains how the way we measure an areas affluence is part of the problem: An environmental group in Dorset is drawing up plans to plant a hedge that they say will cover nearly 100 miles. The volunteers behind the scheme hope the giant hedge will become a wildlife corridor and boost biodiversity. Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farming and the environment with the Defra Secretary, Therese Coffey.How should we use our land? With competing priorities of housing, solar farms, food production and woodland to name but a few, who decides? We hear from Sir Charles Godfray, director of the Oxford Martin School at Oxford University.And research on abuse of migrant labour within the fishing industry.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The secretary of state for the environment, Therese Coffey, has visited a farm in Berkshire to sell the updated version of the SFI - the Sustainable Farming Incentive which will pay English farmers to do good things for the environment, such as maintaining hedgerows or improving soil. It's the first tier of the Environmental Land Management Schemes - ELMs - which offer farmers payments for public goods, rather than direct subsidy, the BPS payments, as has been the case under the EU's CAP. The scheme's being expanded and that's been broadly welcomed by farmers - who can now get better payments for 280 actions they can take on their land, but conservationists question the level of ambition in the SFI, though welcome news that more projects will be supported under another ELMs scheme, Landscape Recovery.The main industry bodies representing fishermen in the UK say the industry faces a 'frightening' loss of fishing grounds over the coming decades due to the expansion of protected marines areas and offshore wind farms. The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation says there should be more engagement with the industry to minimise and mitigate the displacement of fishing activity. Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Rebecca Rooney
The Scottish Government says its Hunting with Dogs Bill, passed by MSPs this week, will end illegal hunts by closing a loophole in the law. It aims to prevent packs of dogs chasing and killing wild mammals, such as foxes and hares. But animal rights organisations say the provision of a licencing scheme leaves a loophole, while land managers say the change is unnecessary and impractical.The government is clamping down on the abuse of fishing crews; so says the fishing (and farming) minister Mark Spencer.More options, improved payments, and an accelerated rollout: today more details have been released on England's 'public money for public goods' payment system, and has got a cautious welcome from farmers and conservationists.And rural transport must change drastically if local bus services are to survive. That was the message yesterday to a special one-off session of Parliament's transport committee.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A new study has found that small-scale burning of heather on peatlands can be beneficial to ground nesting birds, and the peat itself. The practice of burning heather has been controversial - it's sometimes supported by managers of grouse-shooting moorland, but opposed by many conservationists. The study will span 20 years and is now half way through. It compares three different management techniques - controlled burning, mowing, and no-management. We speak to Associate Professor Andreas Heinemeyer, from the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York who's led the research.Experts from the Wildlife Trusts however, say peatlands are vital for carbon capture, and bogs should not be managed for heather. They say heather's a sign of peatland that's dried out and the best way to manage them is to re-wet them. They don't want any burning of vegetation on peatland at all.All week we're looking at the fishing industry. Recruiting more UK workers is a problem for the sector. A new Fishers Apprenticeship hopes to attract more young people.The programme is a collaboration between the fishing industry and South Devon College, and is open for applicants right now. We speak to a fishing company in Brixham who are looking for apprentices and South Devon College who'll be teaching them.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
All week we're taking a closer look at the UK's fishing industry. It was supposed to be a major beneficiary of Brexit. However fishing fleets across the country say although they can now catch more fish overall, current conditions mean they are still struggling. We report from Fraserburgh Fish Market where fishermen say one of the biggest problems they face is staff shortages. Scottish fishing boats were forced to leave 15 thousand tonnes of small haddock in the sea last year due to a reduction in on shore processing workers. The Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation wants the government to delay the introduction of new visas: instead of existing transit visas, which have enabled international fishermen to work on UK boats, in future they'll need a 'skilled worker' visas which includes passing an intermediate English language test.The debate around how we use land, is becoming ever more complicated, as homes, food, energy and mitigating climate change, are all pressing concerns. Recent figures show arable land prices rose 12 percent in 2022, partly due to higher grain prices following the war in Ukraine but there's also been a trend for more institutions to invest in land,. We hear from Tony Juniper, head of the Environment Agency and the Green Alliance who are publishing a report on communities and land use.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
How should we use our land? With competing priorities: housing, solar farms, food production and woodland to name but a few - who decides? Sir Charles Godfray, director of the Oxford Martin School at Oxford University, suggests that an apolitical body should look at land use, which he says will change as within a decade many processed meat products will be made with plant based meat substitutes. Disputes about sustainability and conservation, worries about attracting enough workers, and the slow pace of introducing change; just some of the issues we'll be covering this week as we look at the UK's fishing industry.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Fishermen on England's North East Coast say they're no further forward after an independent panel of scientists concluded there is no one clear cause of the deaths of thousands of crabs in the area. Fishermen blamed dredging at Teesside for releasing chemicals which killed the crabs but the panel considered that 'exceptionally unlikely' and believe it may be a pathogen.Cornwall Council has approved plans for second home owners to be charged double the council tax. And if they leave those second homes empty and unfurnished for a year, they’ll be charged triple. A farmer says his attempts to keep joy riders and poachers off his land have been thwarted by planners. Colin Rayner who farms near Heathrow, put concrete blocks and old tyres across gates to stop vehicles. He says he's been threatened with legal action by Buckinghamshire County Council as they say the barriers breach planning laws.All week we've been talking about fertilisers. Russia is a top exporter of fertilisers and the chemicals used to make them and war in Ukraine has caused supply issues and driven up the price of natural gas, which is a key part of fertiliser production. As a result European fertiliser production fell by 70 per cent last year. We hear from the head of one of one of the world's biggest fertiliser firms, YARA, who's accused Vladimir Putin of 'weaponising food'. We also look at some of the alternatives to traditional granular fertilisers. Some growers believe cover crops, planting beans and clover which fix nitrogen in the soil, are the answer to improved soil health and fertility. Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The planning laws stopping a farmer from protecting his land from joyriders and criminals.‘Must do better’; that's what the Office for Environmental Protection says today in a new report about how the Government’s getting on with its 25-year plan to improve the environment. We’re talking fertiliser all this week and bought-in fertiliser has a massive price tag for farmers at the moment, so there’s growing interest in finding ways to reduce reliance on it. For livestock and mixed farmers that might mean using more animal manure, but if you’re an arable farmer without livestock, you can use companion cropping. That’s growing two or more crops together, one of which will help fertilise the land.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A farmer who's lost two bulls believes thieves targeted his farm, in an attempt to take the animals for meat, for the black market. NFU Mutual says livestock theft has cost around £2.5 million over the past 12 months. They say the cost of living crisis is pushing up crime, and theft of diesel has more than doubled in the past year.The importance of fertiliser around the world has been highlighted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia is a top exporter of fertilisers and the chemicals used to make them. But the war has caused supply issues and driven up the price of natural gas, which is a key part of fertiliser production. The head of one of the world's biggest fertiliser firms, YARA, has accused Vladimir Putin of 'weaponising food'. Synthetic fertilisers emit greenhouse gases, so the industry is searching for new technologies that will make low-carbon fertiliser which is affordable. One of the companies which has received government backing is N2 Applied. They take manure, and process it into a nitrogen rich fertiliser, whilst also reducing ammonia and methane emissions. The company says this can be done on-farm and claim their process will reduce a farm’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 per cent.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The UK government is taking over the building of control posts at Northern Irish ports. The Northern Ireland department of agriculture, or DAERA, was to be in charge of both building the posts and carrying out inspections of agri-food products going from Britain to Northern Ireland under the protocol set up as part of Brexit. However UK ministers say as there is no functioning NI government, DEFRA will now take over. Auto Spray Systems has been granted the UK's first license to spray agricultural chemicals using a drone. The company says getting the paperwork sorted has been much easier since the release the Government's Drone Ambition Statement last year which claimed the sector could be worth £45 billion to the UK economy by 2030. The firm's teamed up with Harper Adams University to set up a course to train operators to use it in agriculture.All week Farming Today is looking at fertiliser. Production in Europe dropped 70% last year, partly due the rise in the cost of gas, the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. The CF manufacturing plant in Cheshire, which produced fertiliser pellets, has closed and the CF plant in Billingham is not running at the moment. This has taken 600 000 tonnes of production out of a 2.2 million tonne a year market, so the UK is having to look to global supplies. About two thirds of farmers use fertiliser pellets, but the use of liquids is growing. Brineflow imports liquid fertiliser and is spending tens of millions of pounds setting up a new import facility in Sunderland. It already runs an operation in Great Yarmouth, importing liquid fertilizer.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
The row over what's caused the deaths of large numbers of crabs and lobsters on England's North East coast rumbles on. On one side are the region’s fishing fleets and families – on the other are supporters of multi-million pound work to redevelop the South Bank of the River Tees – the site of Teesside’s Freeport. The government’s chief scientific advisor has been drafted in to try to get to the bottom of it.Last year the Scottish Government accepted a string of recommendations focused on reducing the environmental damage caused by deer. But a major stumbling block is counting just how many deer there are in a given area. Now artificial intelligence is coming to the rescue.Fertiliser prices have been a hot topic for farmers this past 12 months. Prices went stratospheric - impacted by the rising price of gas and the war in Ukraine. For farmers it meant increases of 400 per cent at one point; the closure of fertiliser plants in the UK and across Europe; and a renewed interest in more natural fertilisers, like animal muck. All this week we're going to look at fertilisers, in all their forms starting with an interview with the head of fertilisers at the Agricultural Industries Confederation.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Farmland on the Somerset Levels is flooded, but farmers say they feel everyone's better prepared than in 2014 when floods wreaked devastation on homes and businesses. They say the Environment Agency has been more pro-active installing extra pumps, rivers are not so silted and sluice gates are in operation. However, they say it will be vital to pump water off the farmland where it's collected, in case the rain continues. Also they say farmers whose fields are used as temporary reservoirs, should be reimbursed for that. Trucks are perhaps the most useful bit of kit on a farm - from hauling a few bales to the school run, and now they're being put to use in Ukraine. Old four-by-fours, many from farms, are being driven out to the war zone and adapted for use in fighting the Russians. We spoke to Freddie from Ukraine Equipment, as he delivered a pick-up to the Donetz region and also to Yarislav, an officer in the Ukraine army. All week on Farming Today we've been talking about machinery. Paul Joseph is a farmer and contractor, who's invested in kit worth millions over the years, and in 10 fulltime staff to use it. They work on 70 farms around Wiltshire and do everything from cutting silage to harvesting. But this time of year - when the weather permits - it's muck spreading. It's pumped from lagoons and applied to crops - and as fertiliser prices soar, using hi-tech machines to apply it precisely is more important than ever. Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer - Rebecca Rooney
It's peak season for illegal hare coursing, with Lincolnshire Police investigating reports of more than 27 incidents in the county in just one weekend. The illegal practice, where dogs are set off in fields to chase hares, is often bet on, and Lincolnshire is one of the areas most frequently targeted by coursers due to its flat, rural nature. But Lincolnshire's specialist Rural Crime Unit says updated legislation is helping police reduce the amount of hare coursing in the county. As part of our week looking at the future of farm machinery, we visit the University of Falmouth where a daffodil picking robot is being developed.And we hear from Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at University of Sussex, and founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a leading voice in the debate around how agriculture affects insect numbers. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
It was ten years ago this week that the Food Standards Agency of Ireland announced they had found horsemeat in beef burgers. The trail of where and how the meat became contaminated revealed a web of meat supply across Europe, which was open to fraud. Professor Chris Elliott from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen's University Belfast, was tasked by the government to lead an inquiry, and as a result, a national Food Crime Unit was set up. Major retailers also signed up to a system for checking food safety, which still continues today. He believes that the science is there to stop food fraud, but says a lack of border checks since Brexit mean the UK's vulnerable to imports of food that aren't safe. Chief executive of the Food Standards Agency Emily Miles says trading standards and the FSA labs need more resources to carry out more checks.Nearly 600 exhibitors are showcasing everything from tractors to combines and farming robots at LAMMA in Birmingham. All week we're focusing on machinery and the problems it can solve for farmers, from seed drills which help restore pasture, by emulating the movement of sheep's feet, to machines you can mount on a quad bike to remove rocks before planting a field.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
America will not be able to sign a trade deal for agricultural goods with the UK, unless the agreement includes 'no tariffs, and no barriers' according to a senior US Dept Agriculture representative. Jason Hafemesiter Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs says the US wants to embrace new technologies such as gene editing to reduce its reliance on fertilizers and pesticides, creating a more sustainable farming system. So, if a trade deal is signed between the UK and the USA, it would have to include crops produced in this way. He was also keen to point out that America would not want to see barriers to exports of hormone-treated beef or chorine-washed chicken. Meat production and alternative protein sources were up for debate at the Oxford REAL Farming Conference, as part of a wider discussion throughout the conference on sustainable food production. Nourish Scotland - a charity which focuses on food policy and practice - brought together farmers, academics, producers and consumers from all over the country for a workshop to explore some of the problems and solutions. We dropped in on a session entitled "What's at Steak?".A farmer with a passion for engineering and the environment will be unveiling a seed drill he’s designed at Lamma - the agricultural machinery show at the NEC in Birmingham. Martin Lole, whose company Mzuri is based in Worcestershire, calls his new machine the Ipass. It’s been set up to be used in a strip tillage system to minimise disruption to the soil and promises to deliver higher crop yields. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Hop growers are warning that unless something changes many won’t be able to continue. They say the cost of producing hops is up by 25% on last year - but that's not being reflected in what they’re being paid. All week we're looking at machinery, great and small. Technology is often held up as the answer to many of the challenges agriculture faces, from improving efficiency, to reducing costs and fertiliser use, and solving labour shortages.And a low tech solution to a prickly problem: Highland Cattle are being asked to start work on the windswept Spurn peninsula in East Yorkshire.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
From politics to poetry...from farming to feminism. In this programme, Charlotte Smith brings you all the latest developments from two of the biggest events in the food and farming calendar. The Oxford Farming Conference started in 1936 and takes place in the Examination Schools where it has become part of the farming establishment. Down the road at the Town Hall is the Oxford Real Farming Conference, which started in 2010 and sees itself as a radical alternative to the OFC.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Food and agriculture policy is devolved - at the Oxford Real Farming Conference, Charlotte Smith hears how the approach to farming is evolving differently across the UK.Meanwhile down the road at the Oxford Farming Conference, Anna Hill grills the Farming Minister, Mark Spencer, and hears response from farmers.Presented by Anna Hill and Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Beatrice Fenton and Heather Simons
As hundreds of farmers gather together in Oxford, we report from the two farming conferences. From the progress of the agroecological movement to revolution in global food chains - the conferences will tackle some big topics. We hear from farmers and focus on the idea of green finance - is it a great business opportunity or a risky gold rush? Presented by Anna HillProduced for BBC Audio by Heather Simons
Hundreds of farmers are gathering in Oxford this week for two major conferences - the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The first was set up in 1936 to exchange ideas among farmers. The second, was founded some 15 years ago as an 'antidote' with more of a focus on organic and re-generative practices.The Oxford Farming Conference has published a report calling for the whole food supply chain to share the higher costs of food production, and for a stronger commitment by all those involved to work together to cut energy use and become more efficient. We speak to people from both conferences about some of the report's recommendations. It wants more secure contracts for farmers; co-ordinated action from wholesalers, distributors and supermarkets to cut carbon emissions; and more joined-up policy thinking across government, to enable better efficiency in food supplies from farm to fork, across the country.With the cost of living crisis upon us all, community spaces have opened up to let people spend a few hours away from home to stay warm without the heating bills. In one Devon village, they’ve gone a step further, and the village hall is serving a free lunch as well. It’s been running since the end of July, and the volunteer organisers say people have found many more benefits than simply saving money. Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A new Common Agricultural Policy for the EU and farmers talking farming.Minette Batters choses former president of the National Farmers' Union, Lord Henry Plumb, for Great Lives with Matthew Parris.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) are being introduced in England to replace the subsidies paid under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. In this programme, we visit one of 22 pilot projects for the "Landscape Recovery" scheme. A group of 50 farmers and landowners in the north east Cotswolds are being paid to make changes across over 3,000 hectares along a river catchment with the aim of improving water quality, increasing biodiversity and contributing to the prevention of urban flooding downstream. Although the pilot is worth £500,000, the group are confident they will attract much more funding from private finance.Presented and produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
‘Farming Today’ and ‘On Your Farm’ are a long-established, well-loved part of the Radio 4 schedule. But how did agriculture on the air begin? A century ago radio was the wonder of the age with the newly-formed BBC offering an astounded public a nightly menu of news bulletins, chamber music and children’s stories. Farming broadcasts soon followed and were keeping listeners in touch with rural life long before the first radio drama, sports commentary or record programme had crackled in to the ether. In the century since, the strictly-scripted agricultural studio talk of the 1920s and ‘30s has evolved beyond recognition, and along the way brought fame and fan mail to the most unlikely of ‘stars’; a university farm manager, a Times newspaper correspondent and a Surrey horticulturalist. We look back at a hundred years of rural broadcasting, and the programmes that have been made for – and about – farmers. As we delve in to the archives, we’ll find out what’s changed over the last ten decades; what in the past is surprisingly familiar to us now; and discover how we’ve arrived where we are today. Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Vernon HarwoodPicture: The BBC's head of agricultural programmes, John Green, at home on his Cotswold farm on 17th March 1945. Interviewed guest: Jeannie HamiltonInterviewed guest: Jim HefferInterviewed guest: Tom HercockInterviewed guest: Robin Hicks Interviewed guest: Anna HillInterviewed guest: Felicity PeakeInterviewed guest: Rebecca Pow MPInterviewed guest: Robert SeatterInterviewed guest: Richard WillmottInterviewed guest: Robert YoungReader: David WetheyArchive material used in this programme:The End of Savoy Hill; National Programme, 14/05/19326BM Calling; BBC Radio 3, 31/03/2004Today in the South & West; West of England Home Service, 18/11/1964Auntie, Uncle and Mr Mike; BBC Radio 4, 01/01/1974 The Farming Week – 60th Anniversary Special; BBC Radio 4, 25/03/1989Farming Today – Robin Hicks; BBC Radio 4, 25/05/1972 Dig for Victory – R.S. Hudson; BBC Home Service, 10/09/1940In Your Garden – C.H. Middleton; BBC Home Service, 03/12/1944Radio Allotment; BBC Home Service, 18/04/1942Post War Careers – Irene Hilton; BBC Home Service, 07/06/1945Farming Today – Hill flocks; BBC Home Service, 10/02/1944 Farming Today – Cattle at the Crossroads; BBC Home Service 11/11/1943Farming Today – Pig farming; BBC Home Service, 09/03/1944On Your Farm; BBC Radio 4, 29/01/1983The Oral History of the BBC; John Green video interview, 19/11/1992 The Oral History of the BBC; John Green audio interview, 01/09/1989The Farming Week – CLA Game Fair; BBC Radio 4, 01/08/1987Pick of the Year; BBC Radio 4, 29/12/1989Royal Welsh Show; BBC Wales, 21/07/1987Plague ’67; BBC Radio 4, 06/12/1967Six o’clock News; BBC Radio 4, 19/02/2001 Farming Today – EU referendum result; BBC Radio 4, 24/06/2016Asian Club – Richard Dimbleby; BBC General Overseas Service, 27/04/1964
Before the advent of synthetic dyes, the place to turn for a bit of colour in your life was the natural world. Rachel Lovell heads to Devon to visit a grower offering an alternative to industrially-made dyes. Sophie Holt of Pigment Organic Dyes grows highly specialist crops for the textile dye market, and she has plenty of surprises in store. Presented and produced by Rachel Lovell
Climate change could bring opportunities, as well as the well-documented downsides. One couple in Dorset have been looking at pushing the boundaries of what it's possible to grow organically in the UK, using the warmer weather to cultivate plants that would be familiar to people living in the Caribbean. Katkin Tremayne and Ipar Davis-Hughes run Vital Roots Garden in Netherbury. It's a smallholding where aside from the classic British kitchen garden staples, the couple grow and sell subtropical vegetables including callaloo, chow chow and yams. All this is done outdoors, as they have no polytunnels. They put their success down to a combination of climate change, and giving the plants time to adapt to their new surroundings.Presented and produced by Fiona Clampin
For most sheep farmers, wool doesn’t pay. Shepherds often shear their sheep for the animals’ welfare, but don’t make any money from the wool. More often than not, it actually costs them money. However, one couple in Somerset are reviving the textile tradition and making it pay. Andy Wear and Jennifer Hunter from Fernhill Farm have three thousand sheep. They graze the flock on a network of farms across the Mendips, following regenerative principles - boosting soil health by rotating the grazing, and cutting out herbicides and fertilisers. Jen is a Nuffield Scholar, she travelled the world researching sustainable wool production. The textiles business began as a means of earning money in winter, when the farm wasn’t making money from its holiday lets and events business. With selective breeding and marketing, wool now accounts for 40% of the income from their flock. Andy is a record-breaking shearer and he’s created a shearing barn where he runs courses. His purpose-built shearing stand, inspired by systems in New Zealand and Australia, doubles up as a stand for bands and festivals in the summer.
Amy Bateman is a professional photographer and past winner of British Life Photographer of the Year. She also runs a sheep and beef farm along with her husband, so she's ideally placed to document the huge changes taking place in UK farming post Brexit. Over the last two years she's taken stunning photos and conducted frank interviews on 40 very different farms around her home county of Cumbria culminating in an exhibition and book that paint a fascinating portrait of a modern diverse industry. Caz Graham meets Amy to talk about the project, see the pictures and meet some of the farmers who are featured.Presented and produced by Caz Graham
Step into the Brundish countryside to explore the UK's only licensed forge with young entrepreneur and blacksmith Paul Stoddart. Kingdom Forge is a blacksmithing and engineering workshop. Paul and his team design and create high quality metalwork using a combination of traditional and modern techniques. They're regularly commissioned for film and TV; they run workshops to teach people of all ages & keep the traditional craft alive. Tread through orchards (once owned by Aspells) to find out how cyder making has helped expand and take their business in a new direction. Walk through the brewery and bar to find out how they grow, brew and serve their own cyder from within the forge. Hear how Paul teaches hundreds of blacksmithing students each year whilst creating a totally unique experience, never achieved before in the UK. Presented and produced by Anna Louise Claydon
Fish quotas were released this week, following negotiations between the UK and EU on what and how much can be caught where. The Government says the deal for 2023 will mean a further £282 million worth of fishing opportunities - an increase on 2022. But some marine conservation groups say scientific advice is being ignored and some fish stocks are still being over-fished.We join a group of 100 volunteers as they prepare to start collecting soil samples from 700,000 fields across Northern Ireland. It's for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, which is being rolled out by the Department for Agriculture in Northern Ireland and the Agri Food and BioSciences Institute. It'll provide farmers with detailed information on the nutrient status of their soil.And investigations are continuing after the mysterious death of 100 dairy cows on a farm in Jersey. A quarter of the herd of Jersey cows at Woodlands Farm have been lost, and scientists are analysing samples from the feed and the animals themselves to try and get to the bottom of what's happened.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Potatoes are being sold for less than it costs to produce them in some supermarkets as part of a Christmas promotion. Good news for consumers facing a cost of living crisis, but farmers fear it devalues the product.And it really wouldn’t be a proper Christmas lunch without pigs in blankets, but the price of producing them is coming at a cost to the farmers themselves. All this week we've been celebrating the work rural communities do to help their neighbours - today we're in the picturesque village of Great Rissington in the Cotswolds for a Christmas tree festival. The government is to spend £5 billion on improving England's rivers over the next five years. The Environment Agency has announced eight River Basin Management Plans which will update existing plans and, it says, 'tackle the impacts of pollution and climate change'.Campaigners point out there have been two sets of plans before this but currently only 16 per cent of England's rivers and lakes are in good ecological health and none meet chemical standards, Charlotte talks to a campaigner from the Wildlife Trusts.Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Alun BeachEditor: Dimitri Houtart
Conservation groups have criticised next year's fishing quotas. The Government described this week's agreement with the EU on how much fish can be caught in UK waters as ‘a further £282 million in fishing opportunities’ and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations were pleased that quotas had been increased after fish stocks improved - for instance cod is up 160 per cent. However some marine conservation groups, like Blue Marine, say scientific advice is being ignored and 28 per cent of fish stocks are still being over-fished. During the pandemic, people in one village in Wiltshire set up a community group in a cafe, handing out food, offering help and friendship. When lockdown ended and the cafe needed its premises back, the volunteers moved to the village hall; when the village needed its hall back, they moved to the Scout hut; when the Scouts needed their hut back they decided they really needed a place of their own - and now they've got a new HQ, on a double decker bus. The charity - Positive Community Action will now take a mobile food bank and friendship cafe to rural areas. A new study says it's more cost effective for farmers to concentrate food production on some land and dedicate other areas to wildlife and biodiversity. There's long been a debate as to which is the most effective - land sharing or land sparing. Land sharing is where farmers make space for nature alongside farming. Land sparing is where they farm some areas and leave other land solely for nature. Research from Cambridge, Glasgow and Leeds universities says its more cost effective to pay farmers to create woodland and wetlands on some land and concentrate food production elsewhere.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Fishing quotas for 2023 have been published. The government says the deal will mean a further £282 million in fishing opportunities in UK waters - £34 million more than 2022. In the run-up to Brexit it was the fishing industry which was told a new era of prosperity would be theirs, so is that happening? We speak to Barrie Deas, the Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations.Rural communities in Ukraine are having to rely on all their resilience this year. The invasion by Russia has sent the farming year into unprecedented chaos, with some corn combining only just finishing and the total harvest just over half the usual amount. The current challenge for farmers, as well as many Ukrainian residents, is electricity supply. Farmers need it for milking, grain drying, storing vegetables and heating indoor livestock buildings.Christmas is usually a time to come together and celebrate. But, if you're a young person in an isolated rural area it can be really hard to get out and meet people, especially if you don't have transport. We speak to Dereham Young Farmers' Club recruiting new members at their local Christmas Market.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
Wildlife and conservation groups have criticised the government for the late publication of legally binding targets for environmental protection. The Wildlife Trusts and the Soil Association say failing to set key clean water targets is unacceptable and they also criticise a reduction in overall tree planting targets. However, DEFRA says the targets, which are requirements under the Environment Act "will drive forward action to tackle climate change, restore our natural capital and protect our much-loved landscapes and green spaces."A new deal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and protect 30% of land and oceans across the world by 2030, has been agreed by almost 200 countries at the UN biodiversity summit, COP15. The Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said the UK played a leading role in negotiations and the UK pledged up to 29 million pounds to help developing countries meet the ‘30by30’ land target and other projects.Preliminary results of a new paper which has yet to be peer-reviewed, is reporting that the number of earthworms in soil may have reduced by a third over the last 25 years. The study by British Trust for Ornithology researchers collated 100 years of data. The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is being rolled out by the Department for Agriculture in Northern Ireland and the Agri Food and BioSciences Institute, taking soil samples from 700,000 fields to provide farmers with detailed information on their soil. All week we’re focusing on rural communities at Christmas. It's a time of year when we often spend a little more on food and at the Penllyn Estate in Cowbridge in Wales is encouraging shoppers to buy local produce over the festive season.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A new report says releasing game birds during an avian flu outbreak increases the risks to wild birds - what will that mean for shoots?
45,000 visas will be made available for seasonal agricultural workers to come to the UK next year - that’s 5,000 more than this year, but short of the 55,000 the National Farmers Union says are needed. The visas allow people to come to the UK for six months and the government says the number will be kept under review with the possibility of a further 10,000 visas if necessary. The Government has announced what it describes as an ambitious suite of environmental targets. Under the Environment Act they should have been announced by the end of October. The coalition group Wildlife and Countryside link, which represents more than 60 organisations, has welcomed the announcement, but says that without targets for protected spaces and overall water quality ‘it's a job half done’.Guernsey could become the first part of the British Isles to ban farmers using the herbicide glyphosate. The plan to completely ban the product from the island is facing opposition from some politicians and farmers. However Bayer, the company which makes glyphosate, says it fully stands behind its glyphosate-based products which, it says, pose no hazard to health and are one of the most thoroughly studied products of their kind. Nearly a third of all the milk produced in the UK goes in to making cheese and according to the latest figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), so far this year, we have imported £1.3 billion worth of cheese but we've also exported more than half a billion pounds worth. We talk about cheese makers great and small, from big dairies which export around the world, to small artisan producers who've overcome adversity to win medals for their cheese.Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
“Please work with us!” That’s the message to the Government this morning from labour providers who say there are severe staff shortages in food and farming and 60 per cent of farmers and manufacturers expect they won’t have enough workers next year. Tis the season for an announcement on seasonal worker visas - last year it came on Christmas Eve, heralding 40,000 6-month visas for people coming from abroad to work on UK farms and in poultry processing this year. We understand the exact numbers for NEXT year are currently being discussed by the Home Office and DEFRA. The National Farmers Union have called for 55 thousand visas - but the Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, recently told the House of Commons that he felt 40,000 a year “is approximately the right number” and pointed out that this year there were 1,400 visas left unused.Our week long travel through the world of cheese culminates in a trip to the Yorkshire dales where it’s believed versions of Wensleydale were first made a thousand years ago. Farmhouse production came to an end after the second world war but it’s making a come-back and bringing benefits to smaller farm businesses.And the UK needs to reduce its reliance on ‘risky import markets’ for phosphorous and instead develop innovative ways of recovering it from animal manures and wastewater. That’s the advice in the UK Phosphorous Transformation Strategy, which has just been released. Phosphorus is needed for biological processes in plants and animals. At the moment the UK imports 174,000 tons a year - mainly from Russia, China and Morocco - and prices have been impacted by the war in Ukraine.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Supermarkets, banks, farmers and environmental groups are calling for more ambition and "bold, decisive action" on Environmental Land Management Schemes - the new payments which will replace the EU subsidy system in England. In a joint statement, organisations ranging from Tesco to the World Wildlife Fund warned that farmers and land managers urgently need "vision, clarity and detail" on the roll out of the new schemes. The Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has promised details of DEFRA’s ‘rapid review’ in the New Year. The cold and frosty weather has been creating the perfect conditions for farmers to try a novel technique of killing off cover crops - crushing them with a large roller pulled on the back of a tractor. We join one farmer as he gives it a go for the first time.Guernsey could become the first part of the British Isles to ban farmers using the herbicide glyphosate. Across the UK, a number of councils have stopped using the chemical – but the plan to completely ban the product from the island is facing strong political opposition, while the island’s farming community is also lining up against the scheme. And we catch up with a farming family in Suffolk, 10 years after they set up a cheese making business.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced or BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A new report just published by the Migration Advisory Committee has highlighted agricultural workers as being severely vulnerable to exploitation. The M.A.C. also says immigrant workers with little or no English are more likely to be exploited and this is why it advised the government to include an English language requirement in its visas for butchery workers last year. 800 visas were granted to help ease a bottleneck of pigs being processed, because of a shortage of workers. The report also details how Brexit and Covid have both had an impact on the availability of labour, from home and abroad. We ask committee chair Professor Brian Bell whether safeguards, such as the Gangmasters Licensing Authority are working well enough to protect vulnerable workers. We also ask the NFU for their response and ask what they make of plans to pilot a rural visa, to help stop depopulation in more remote communities. A cheesemaker in one of the most remote parts of England has been celebrating the seal of approval after winning gold at the World Cheese Awards. Doddington Dairy, in the Glendale Valley in Northumberland has had a turbulent 12 months. This time last year, they lost power for 11 days following Storm Arwen, and when the back-up generator broke down, the owner had to drive miles overnight to get a replacement, so they could milk the cows. However, owner, Neil Maxwell, says getting the seal of approval from experts is priceless for a small cheesemaker.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
A new report by the The House of Lords Committee on Land Use is calling for a commission to be set up, to organise a framework around which all uses for land in the UK can be organised. The committee believes this would provide an overview to balance the varying pressures under which land is put: to produce food; space for homes; habitat for wildlife; and areas for green energy production. It would also provide information about how effectively land is being used, and whether some land can be used for multiple purposes.The UK is suffering its worst ever outbreak of avian flu. Millions of commercial poultry including geese, ducks, chickens and turkeys have died or been put down and wild bird populations have been badly affected too. MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee have backed calls by farmers to change the rules on compensation, to include birds which have died before vets are able to visit the infected farms. Turkey producers are struggling and fear there may be a shortage this Christmas. The run-up to Christmas is a key time of year for cheese makers as sales of British cheese rise significantly - at home and abroad. It’s been a mixed year for dairy exports, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, but cheese exports have remained strong. Although the figures are below where they were before the pandemic, demand for cheddar cheese in particular is growing again. We visit Wyke Farms in Somerset, large-scale producers of Cheddar, which export to 160 countries around the world.Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
More of the government’s £5.2 billion flood management budget is to be spent on nature-based methods of flood prevention. The Environment Agency has been trialing 60 Natural Flood Management projects over the last five years, they use techniques like targeted tree-planting and restoring wetlands to prevent flooding further downstream, and on the back of those pilot schemes Natural Flood Management is now to be more widely incorporated into flood defence strategy in years to come.A mounted police ‘volunteer scheme’ is being trialed in Cumbria - with members of the public on horseback supporting the work of the county’s police officers. Cumbria Constabulary’s 'citizens in policing team' is working with riders in some rural parts of the county to help with crime prevention and building relationships within their communities. And nearly a third of all the milk produced in the UK goes in to making cheese, 70 per cent cheddar. 130,000 tonnes of it is exported, worth more than half a billion pounds. But since Brexit, trade has been more complicated.Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
All week on Farming Today we've been looking at the state of the UK's abattoirs - from animal welfare to the challenges of finding staff. There are about 245 abattoirs in the UK, slaughtering millions of animals. Government figures for October this year show 173,000 cattle, 1.1 million sheep and 926, 000 pigs. There used to be many more abattoirs, but tighter regulations and economies of scale have seen consolidation. The future of small abattoirs has been a concern for many farmers for a number of years now. Farming Minister Mark Spencer has said he is actively looking at supporting smaller abattoirs, to keep them running. But it might not be in time to save some. We speak to a campaigner who's fighting to save the Tottingworth abattoir in Heathfield in East Sussex which is earmarked for closure in January.The Food Standards Agency says it's doing all it can to support small abattoirs by cutting red tape and reducing costs, but the CEO Emily Miles said they can't have a separate regulatory system for small abattoirs, even though they are only selling meat locally, because some by-products do end up in produce destined for export, and would need to comply with those standards.We visit a plant where Scottish salmon is slaughtered and processed, and speak to the Humane Slaughter Association about whether the stunning methods used in the slaughter of wild salmon, could be applied to fish caught at sea.
The pandemic has led to increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal feelings among the UK’s farming population - and the Government must take urgent action to improve rural mental heath services. That’s the finding of a report out today from Cranfield, Exeter, Reading and Sheffield Universities…which says some primary mental-healthcare services can be inaccessible and inadequately suited to rural areas.We visit a stunning and slaughter facility for farmed salmon and hear calls for the technology to be used for wild caught fish too.Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Finding an affordable home is a near impossible challenge for young people and lower paid workers in many rural areas, and the conversion of homes into short term holiday lets is often blamed. The Government is going to establish a registration scheme for holiday lets and is to consult on whether setting up new short term lets should require “change of use” planning permission. So will it help?ABP is one of the countries biggest meat companies, slaughtering 600,000 cattle a year in the UK: it has 13 abattoirs here processing beef and lamb. We visit one of them near Ellesmere in Shropshire, which takes in cattle from 2000 farmers.Seafood and fishing businesses in Grimsby have faced disruption from the pandemic and from the impact of Brexit. Last month, one firm in the town announced it was pulling out of the UK altogether. Now, a seafood storage and transport company, has been awarded 5 million pounds from the Government’s UK Seafood Fund to expand and modernise its current cold storage facility.And as temperatures drop, we hear from one teenage farmer about her cold-weather jobs!Presented by Caz GrahamProduced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
DEFRA Secretary Therese Coffey has appeared before the EFRA select committee of MPs for the first time since her appointment. For two hours she faced queries on a wide range of issues from food security to using farmland for solar panels. She gave a clear indication that the Local Nature Recovery scheme could be subsumed into an enhanced version of the current Countryside Stewardship Scheme and said the £2.4 billion promised in the 2019 manifesto would still be available to farmers. COP15 - the International convention on biodiversity begins in Montreal in Canada. It set targets to turn around biodiversity loss by 2030, but says that is unlikely to be met. One of the conundrums facing biodiversity improvement is the pressure to grow more food and there is concern that UK food production is dipping. With the emphasis on food security, are environmental considerations being pushed to the back burner at the moment by farmers? The Green Alliance says the answer to food security has to got to have bio-diversity at its heart.All week we're talking about abattoirs. Its a crucial part of the meat food chain and yet abattoirs and meat processing plants are facing chronic staff shortages. Last year a lack of butchery workers caused by Covid and Brexit, led to a huge build up of pigs on farms, because they couldn't be processed. That situation has eased, but some companies have spent millions of pounds recruiting staff from countries as far afield as the Phillipines. Abattoirs and processors say they try very hard to recruit locally, but cannot get the staff. Why do British workers shy away from taking up jobs in abattoirs? Martin Anderson a researcher in recruitment at the meat sector at Harper Adams University, has some of the answers.
The Labour Party has launched a commitment to major political reforms which it says would see a transfer of power 'from Westminster to the people of Britain'. Included in the plan titled 'A New Britain', would be the devolution of certain powers to regions and counties. The current government has already announced Cornwall, Suffolk, and part North East England would be granted more devolved powers including extra funding and elected mayors, if the local communities there support it. But what could Labour's devolution plan mean for rural communities? We speak to Mark Shucksmith, Professor of Planning at Newcastle University who's worked widely on rural communities and the economy.All week we're looking at abattoirs, large and small. While large abattoirs are finding it difficult to staff their operations, smaller abattoirs say the burden of regulation, which is more expensive on very low throughput, is causing them to close. The future of small abattoirs has been a concern for many farmers for years and Farming Minister Mark Spencer has said he is actively looking at supporting smaller abattoirs, to keep them running. It might not be in time to save some though. The Tottingworth abattoir in Heathfield in East Sussex is earmarked for closure in January. We speak to farmer Guy McNaughton who's been campaigning to save it.In Scotland, farmers and crofters in the Western Isles, where producers tend to have small numbers of livestock, rely on small abattoirs. The abattoir in Stornoway is run and subsidised by the Islands' Council. It's a modern operation and takes stock from the length of the Outer Hebrides. We speak to the people who run it and the crofters who rely on it.
How much carbon can farms store in the soil, and how should it be measured? Farmers are being encouraged to look at new ways of making money and improving the environment by sequestering carbon, but there hasn't been much agreement on the details. Now Academics from the University of Leeds, businesses and farmers have published a new Farm Soil Carbon Code. The report, funded by the Environment Agency, aims to set some industry standards and help farmers avoid "green washing" or schemes that are meaningless.All week we're looking at the state of the UK's abattoirs - from animal welfare to the challenges of finding staff. There are about 245 abattoirs in the UK, slaughtering millions of animals. Government figures for October this year show 173,000 cattle, 1.1 million sheep and 926, 000 pigs were killed. There used to be many more abattoirs, but tighter regulations and economies of scale have seen consolidation. Finding skilled butchers to work in the industry is a challenge and the British Meat Producers Association says big meat processing plants are spending a lot of money recruiting skilled staff from countries as far afield as the Philippines.The A1 is one a major route between England and Scotland, but one which is in parts still single carriageway and when it passes through rural Northumberland that can mean slow tractors or lorries - and tailbacks After decades of talk, it seemed relief was in sight with a scheme to dual stretches of the road in the county just awaiting the final go ahead from the Transport Secretary - that's been postponed, twice, recently but a final decision is expected. In the meantime many whose homes, farms and businesses lie on the proposed new route are in limbo.
Where's the money? We discuss how much farmers make from the food we buy. We hear warnings of turkey shortages this Christmas and pleas from small turkey farmers still in business not to forget them.Staff at the Rural Payments Agency look set to strike for a month over Christmas, just as they’re meant to be sending out crucial basic payment cheques to farmers.And we're looking at all things equine, hearing how the cost of living crisis and the spiralling cost of keeping a horse is making life difficult for owners of riding schools and stables.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers earn less than a penny a pack for much of the food they produce for supermarkets, according to a new report 'Unpicking Food'. The charity Sustain says it’s often less than one per cent. They say supply chains are too long and complex, resulting in producers losing out. For instance, the report says a 480 gram pack of supermarket cheddar costs a dairy farmer £1.48 to produce, yet he receives less than a penny of the £2.50 selling price.One of the consequences of the bird flu outbreak has been a flurry of news stories about a shortage of turkeys for Christmas. 'Christmas Dinner at Risk!' warned headlines after the British Poultry Council predicted 'big big shortages', because around half of the free-range poultry grown for this year’s dinner plates has either died or been culled due to the disease. But the widespread publicity about shortages has had unintended and undesirable consequences for some small-scale turkey farmers. Paul White produces around 500 free-range turkeys near Burnley in Lancashire, but he says he's only sold 10 per cent of his birds, when normally he'd have sold half by now. He says customers are panicking about shortages and buying frozen turkeys in supermarkets. Equine vet Emma Tomlinson runs a stud and an IVF clinic for horses in Gloucestershire, alongside a mobile equine vet service. On 150 acres of organic pasture - which was once her dad’s dairy farm - she's created an international business, collecting and storing semen from stallions, harvesting eggs and transplanting embryos in mares. It's a top-end service for top-end clients - show jumpers, polo ponies, eventers and dressage horses. She says when she started the business 20 years ago, she was the first commercial embryo transfer service in England.
Staff at the Rural Payments Agency look set to strike for a month over Christmas, just as they’re meant to be sending out crucial Basic Payment cheques to farmers.
All this week we’re talking about horses. Today we hear from a farrier and discuss why some are promoting leaving horses 'barefoot'.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Nearly half the free-range turkeys being produced for Christmas in the UK have been culled or died because of avian flu. that was the message from the poultry industry to the Environment Food and Rural Affairs select committee which has been taking evidence about the spread of bird flu. But one turkey farmer who wants to cull his turkeys early, to avoid the risk, says he is struggling to get hold of the Animal and Plant Health Agency to ensure he can slaughter his birds in time for Christmas.
It was a year ago that Storm Arwen struck the North East of England and Eastern Scotland causing three deaths, and damaging swathes of woodland and countryside, with power cuts for hundreds of thousands of homes. The first official report showing how much damage was caused to woodland by Storm Arwen is being published by the government . The chairman of the Forestry Commission is calling for landowners to plant more diverse woodlands, that can better withstand climate change.
Conservationists are using horses to graze land and encourage biodiversity. They say ponies graze in a way which creates a perfect habitat for insects, reptiles and small mammals. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust says that by using Welsh Mountain ponies on a reserve near Cirencester, they've managed to reintroduce a rare species of butterfly.
Pig producers are still facing difficult times. Although the price they receive has gone up, pig farmers are reported to be losing on average £33 per animal. The AHDB estimates the sector's lost £750 million over the past two years. It's now reported that major processors, Cranswick, are spending £4 million recruiting and training 400 butchers from the Philippines for their factories in Hull and Norfolk. There are also reports that the Danish pig herd has dropped to its lowest level in 22 years. and a significant amount of pork is imported into the UK from Denmark.
As Avian flu continues to hit farmed and wild birds, Wales and Northern Ireland join the rest of the UK this week, in having to house all domestic and commercial poultry.
Since the 1960's 'green revolution', farmers have been planting wheat which is shorter - or dwarfed varieties - which means they don't fall down in the field. However, climate change and lower water tables mean farmers need to plant wheat deeper in the ground and sometimes these dwarf varieties fail to emerge at all. Now scientists at John Innes in Norwich have isolated a gene which can be bred into new varieties without gene editing, which means the plants are still short but have better early growth to improve emergence.
Clydesdale horses are a native breed of Scotland, originally bred for heavy farm and industrial work. Now they're now on the Rare Breeds Survival Trusts' "at risk" register. The World Clydesdale Show in Aberdeen brought together more than 300 animals from all over the country, Europe - and even North America. An underground car park was turned into a giant livery yard and vintage machinery store for the week. Nancy Nicolson spoke to the breeders who champion Clydesdales around the world.
There should be a national body to deliver science more quickly to farmers - that’s the conclusion of a report looking at ways to boost productivity and innovation on UK farms. The Application of Science Report says the current system is too fragmented and the UK is falling behind other countries. Lord Curry of Kirkharle who chaired the working group behind the report tells Charlotte Smith that there is an urgent need for farms to boost productivity.
Farmers, food producers and campaigners have been discussing a better food system for Wales. Farming Today has a report.
And we begin a week looking at all things equine, hearing how the cost of living crisis and the spiralling cost of keeping a horse, is making life difficult for owners of riding schools and stables.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
The difficulties in the egg supply chain continue, with some supermarkets rationing eggs while others import them from Europe. The British Retail Consortium has been saying avian flu is disrupting supply - but farmers say it's because egg producers are losing money on every egg they sell. They say the cost of the ingredients for feed alone has risen by 90% since 2019 - while they're being paid only 35% more. As a result, many are reducing the number of hens they have or even pausing production entirely. The NFU is calling for Government intervention.
It's not just the cost of producing eggs that's rising - a report from consultants, Promar International, says the cost of producing fruit and veg in the UK is up by 27% year on year. We hear from one farmer who is concerned about his labour costs for next year. The National Living Wage will be increased from April, and it's not yet clear what that will mean for seasonal workers here on temporary visas, who this year had to be paid above the minimum wage.
And the Scottish Government is consulting on plans to introduce licences for grouse moors. Under the proposals - which follow a string of illegal killings of birds of prey - there would be new rules on muirburn, or heather burning. We hear from campaigners who want reform, and visit one grouse moor to discuss the future of the industry.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Farming Minister, Mark Spencer, tells us the Government won't be intervening in the current dispute between egg producers and their customers - although he will be having 'robust conversations' with retailers. The comments were made as part of a wide ranging interview with Charlotte Smith, which also touches on avian flu, seasonal labour, the future of ELMs and funding for slurry storage.
And we visit a gunsmiths, where apprentices are being trained to make collectors' items.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Producer for BBC Audio by Heather Simons
The National Farmers Union is asking the government for an urgent investigation into the egg market, saying there should be support for egg farmers who are facing a huge rise in the cost of production which is not being met by the prices they're paid. Some supermarkets are now limiting how many eggs customers can buy, while others import eggs from the rest of Europe.
According to the RSPB's annual bird crime report, there were 108 confirmed incidents of persecution of birds of prey recorded in 2021, and more than two thirds were connected to land managed for gamebirds. So what needs to change?
And we join a small flock of sheep on a journey out into the Bristol Channel to Flat Holm island, where they will start a new life as conservation grazers.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Flower growers in Cornwall are warning that they'll have to leave crop to rot in January, because there won't be enough people to pick it. This year, for the first time, they were able to get seasonal staff via the Temporary Workers visa - there were 38,000 of these 6 month visas which allow workers from abroad to come onto farms, and a further 2,000 visas for poultry staff. But next year flower growers say the visa scheme will open too late for the early Cornish season, where harvest starts straight after New Year.
An updated risk assessment of the impact game bird releases have on avian flu in wild and kept birds, is being launched by the Government's Animal and Plant Health Agency. The review has been jointly commissioned by DEFRA, and the Welsh and Scottish Governments. At the moment in England, all captive birds must be kept housed, but under the rules, once game birds have been released, they are classed as wild birds so don't have to be shut inside. Tens of millions of young pheasants are raised every year and released into the wild for driven shoots, across the UK.
And plans have been unveiled for an 11 mile-long tidal barrier across the Lincolnshire/Norfolk Wash. The two billion pound proposal includes a container port and renewable energy schemes and claims it could create thousands of jobs. But conservationists have raised concerns about its potential impact on habitat for birds and marine life, in a designated Special Area of Conservation.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A 27% rise in the cost of growing fruit and veg is leaving some farmers questioning their future. The cost of things like fuel and fertiliser have been high for some time. The National Living Wage is now set to rise the April - and it's not yet sure whether seasonal workers coming in on temporary visas will have to be paid above the minimum wage, as they were this year.
The shooting industry is under pressure - according to BASC, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. Following a campaign by the Wild Justice group, DEFRA says it will review the shooting season dates for some wild birds, and the Scottish Government is currently consulting on plans to introduce licensing for Grouse shooting.
And social media is a useful side-hustle for some farmers. We meet one beef farmer who says his videos make more money than his cattle!
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
We hear from the former Defra boss who now says the best bit of the deal with Australia is the termination clause, and the angry reaction. As one supermarket rations its sales and another’s started importing from Italy, we ask what’s going on with home-laid British eggs. Defra officials shared the revised plans on the post-Brexit farm payments for England with invited stakeholders at a meeting earlier this week. The Soil Association says it’s “alarmed” that Defra might be watering down ELMS and the Country Land and Business Association says it’s concerned that ‘unhelpful rumours’ are damaging confidence in the schemes. All week we're talking about trees. We visit a farmer in Wiltshire who's using a grant scheme provided by the Woodland Trust to replant hedgerows removed over the past 50 years.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
150 countries have now signed up to a global pledge launched at last year’s COP26 to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. But there is criticism that even though the largest contributor of anthropogenic methane emissions worldwide is livestock, meat hasn’t been much mentioned at COP27. Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide - but it is also shorter lived in the atmosphere - so reducing methane emissions would have a more rapid impact on the climate than reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement ‘leaves the countryside, and those who live in it, behind.' So says the countryside charity the CPRE, which highlights a lack of support on energy prices for people in rural areas. We hear from rural stakeholders.
And we visit a project in Wales where trees are being used to improve people's mental health.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio by Heather Simons
As one supermarket rations its sales and another’s started importing from Italy, we ask what’s going on with home-laid British eggs. Defra officials shared the revised plans on the post-Brexit farm payments for England with invited stakeholders at a meeting earlier this week. The Soil Association says it’s “alarmed” that Defra might be watering down ELMS and the Country Land and Business Association says it’s concerned that ‘unhelpful rumours’ are damaging confidence in the schemes. All week we're talking about trees. Today we visit a farmer in Wiltshire who's using a grant scheme provided by the Woodland Trust to replant hedgerows removed over the past 50 years.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
"I fought the corner for farmers harder than any of them will ever realise" - in this programme former DEFRA Secretary, George Eustice, speaks to Anna Hill about the negotiation of the Australia Trade Deal. This week he told Parliament the deal is "not actually a very good deal for the UK", despite defending the deal as a "good agreement" while still at DEFRA. He explains why he thinks he was right NOT to speak out at the time.
A new panel of experts will be formed to investigate the mass deaths of shellfish on the North East cost of England. It's after fishermen and academics disagreed with the findings of the Government-led investigation.
And "Love Island" for elm trees - we meet the scientists trying to breed trees that are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Changes to the cost of an abstraction licence to run a hydropower scheme to generate renewable electricity on your land, amount to a 'tax on renewable energy' - according to the British Hydropower Association. Anyone taking more than 20,000 litres of water per day from a stream, river or canal in England needs an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency - but in April, application charges were increased.
The COP27 Egyptian presidency has launched a new initiative called 'Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation' or FAST - run by the United Nations - to provide funding to transform agriculture and food systems to be more sustainable by 2030. But has food and farming been high enough on the agenda at the climate conference?
It's often said that environmentally sound local food production is the way to combat for climate change - but we hear from the New Zealand Agricultural Minister, Damien O’Connor, who believes global food trade done in the right way could contribute to reducing emissions.
And the Government has ambitious plans to treble tree planting rates in England during this Parliament, but it’s identified a shortage of skilled foresters. We meet students studying for the newly created forestry apprenticeship scheme.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
We hear how wheat grown indoors could help with food security. Plans to turn a large swathe of heathland in West Cornwall into a nationally protected site have left some farmers fearing for their livelihoods. We're going to be talking about trees all week. Planting millions more is a major target for the UK, a target that with the exception of Scotland we are good at missing. There are arguments about which trees to plant and where to plant them, particularly if farmland is targeted for woodland creation.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
It's Adaptation and Agriculture day at COP27, and world leaders will be discussing how farmers can survive as the climate changes around them, and how they can contribute to reducing emissions. We hear from delegates.
National parks warn they’re being forced to consider job cuts, selling off land and closing visitor centres to try to save money. The budget for England's 10 National Parks has been frozen - which in real terms, taking into account inflation - represents what National Parks England describes as 'a significant cut' of £15.7 million over the next three years.
And the President of the National Farmers Union, Minette Batters, says British farmers will produce less food next year because of the rising cost of inputs from fuel to fertiliser.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
National Parks warn they’re being forced to consider job cuts, selling off land and closing visitor centres to try to save money. The Parks say they’re facing a combined funding deficit of £1 million over the next three years. The government says it gives £49 million a year to England's 10 National Park Authorities, but is working with them to find extra sources of funding, particularly through private investment. Jake Freestone is the winner of the BBC Food and Farming Awards' 'Future of Farming' category. Jake manages Overbury farms on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border and was an early adopter of regenerative farming. That means he's integrated animals into the arable farm, he no longer ploughs and instead plants into the remnants of the old crop, in order to build up the soil and not release carbon. All this week we've been looking at on farm energy, from solar panels to anaerobic digesters. Anaerobic digesters can be used to turn waste products into heat, electricity and digestate that can be used as a fertiliser, or even as livestock bedding.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A major fruit farmer tells us he fears supermarkets will turn to cheaper imports because British costs of production are just too high. We ask the retailers' representative how supermarkets can keep backing British without increasing shoppers' bills.
All this week we're looking at farming and renewable energy. We visit a farmer growing miscanthus grass as biomass, and hear how a heavy-liquid gravitational battery could help store renewable energy on farms.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Could the market for carbon credits encourage farmers to change the way they manage their land to sequester more carbon? We hear from one Leicestershire farmer who has just started selling credits after taking measurements of soil organic matter.
COP 27 is underway in Egypt, and ahead of the conference, agricultural policy makers from all around the world met to agree actions that could be taken to make farming and food systems more sustainable. This ministerial gathering discussed the impact of global food security in the light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and the severe droughts experienced across Europe, China and North America.
And we visit a robotic milking parlour which is mostly powered by an on-farm wind turbine.
Presented by Anna Hill Producer for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
All poultry and captive birds in England must be kept indoors to help protect them from avian flu - but for some poultry keepers, that’s easier said than done. We hear from a listener who is stuck between conflicting planning rules and biosecurity recommendations.
COP 27 has kicked off in Egypt with a focus on farming. We hear how on-farm energy production could be part of the solution for UK farms looking to reduce their carbon footprint as well as their electricity bills.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
As avian flu forces poultry in England into lockdown, Scottish farmers say their flocks too should be coming inside. We hear calls for a better compensation scheme for farms hit with bird flu. All week we've been focusing on rural housing: where we build, what we build and the challenges for people who want to work and live in the countryside.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Government says it's £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme is delivering more affordable, quality homes for communities - but is the money reaching rural areas? 189,000 affordable homes have been delivered by the programme since 2015, but a report from the National Audit Office from the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities 'is at high risk of not meeting a sub-target for rural homes'. We hear from a planning expert who says change is needed.
In many places, the rise in the number of houses used as holiday lets or holiday homes can be a real problem for local people looking for somewhere to live. In West Wales, the difficulties young people are having getting on the property ladder or finding a place to rent are also having a knock on effect on farmers, who are struggling with recruiting staff.
And could regenerative agriculture reduce the carbon footprint of farming, as well as making it more profitable? We visit a regenerative farm on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border where Jake Freestone says his approach has also lead to increased biodiversity.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
As avian flu forces birds in England into lockdown, Scottish farmers say their flocks too should be coming inside. We hear why Scotland's Chief Vet disagrees. Some of the world's biggest food companies have signed up to an action plan to move their businesses and suppliers to regenerative farming. All week we're talking about rural housing, or lack of it. In one rural county, Wiltshire, the council is currently dealing with around 360 assessments a month from people who're worried about losing their homes. The Doorway project in the market town of Chippenham helps homeless people, often sleeping rough in the countryside.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Could gene editing of farmed birds be the solution to bird flu?
A scientist explains how it works and an environmentalist explains why he thinks it isn’t the answer.
And how short term holiday lets are making life difficult for rural people to afford to live in the countryside.
Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
The Government is to order all farmed birds in England - including those kept in back yards – to be confined indoors to prevent the spread of bird flu.
Green campaigners demand to know why the Government has missed the deadline of the 31st of October to publish its ‘nature recovery’ targets.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme, and WWF, are calling for more action to prevent food waste on farms.
And how difficult is it to find housing in the remotest parts of Scotland?
Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
If the Government doesn't improve the compensation scheme available to farms hit by avian flu, more will go out of business. The stark warning comes from one of England's leading turkey producers as the UK is in the midst of the worst ever outbreak, with 200 confirmed incidents and hundreds of thousands of farmed birds culled. It's also having what the RSPB has called a 'catastrophic' effect on wild birds. Paul Kelly of Kelly Bronze Turkeys says the way the compensation system works isn't fair and is putting smaller producers out of business.
Where we build, what we build and the challenges for people who want to work and live in the countryside: we are going to be looking at this all week, from homelessness to affordable homes.
One of Britain’s oldest and rarest cattle breeds, the Gloucester, is at the forefront of a push for more kitchens to serve traditional breed beef. But when budgets are being squeezed, is now the right time to promote such a premium product?
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
What is at the top of the agenda for the new environment secretary Therese Coffey? She says ELMS – the Environment, Land Management schemes - are safe.
Fishing crews give their thoughts on the mass die-off of shellfish on the North East coast, and should the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme do more to prevent pollution from farms.
Faster government compensation is promised for farmers hit by bird flu, growing nuts and seeds for profit, and cultivating pumpkins for Hallowee'n, is a bit of a treat for farmers.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
The Red Tractor farm assurance scheme is "a farce" according to clean water campaigners. We reported yesterday on Environment Agency inspections of dairy and beef farms in Devon between 2016 and 2020. In a report revealed by the Guardian, the EA found that the majority of the 187 farms were polluting on the day of inspection, and were not complying with rules on storing and spreading slurry. Most of those farms were in the Red Tractor scheme, a label that tells consumers means "the food you buy has been responsibly sourced, safely produced and comes from crops and animals that have been well cared for".
All this week we've been talking about nuts and seeds and hemp is growing in popularity. Farmers have to get a licence to grow it, so while it's a good cover crop and its seeds can be used for oil or protein powder, you won't find many fields of it.
We visit one of three finalists in the Farming for the Future category of this year's BBC Food and Farming Awards. Wakelyns is a 56 acre agroforestry farm in Suffolk, growing fruit or nut trees in rows in fields of crops, providing shelter, biodiversity and an added food crop alongside cereals.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Dairy farmers are taking a calculated business risk not to invest to stop pollution because the chances of being fined are so tiny. That's the findings of an Environment Agency report looking into river pollution, revealed by a freedom of information request by the Guardian. Two thirds of farms in Devon were found to be causing pollution when inspected by the Environment Agency; the inspections were carried out on 187 farms between 2016 and 2020. We ask the National Farmers' Union what's going on.
A full in tray greets the new Secretary of State for the Environment as she settles into the job; Therese Coffey is back at Defra where she served as a junior minister for three years.
We're looking at the growing demand for nuts and seeds this week and chia is one of the newest crops being grown here in the UK. It can be eaten as a seed or the oil can be extracted and used in vegan supplements and make up.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A committee of MPs hears concerns that a toxic chemical trapped in estuary sediments could have killed shellfish off the North East Coast of England. The issue was raised in evidence given to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. The group was told by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science - which investigated the deaths for DEFRA - that a combination of two algal blooms was to blame.
Time was when a traditional British Halloween involved little more than apple-bobbing and maybe a carved pumpkin for one night only. Nowadays it's a huge industry worth more than £600 million pounds. We visit Richard Bower, who grows 20 acres of pumpkins on his farm in Staffordshire, and now makes over £200,000 from his pick-you-own experience.
And agroforestry - where trees are integrated to arable fields or pasture - could mean for some, producing nuts alongside more traditional field crops. So is there a market for UK grown nuts?
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
As avian flu cases continue to rise across the country, poultry producers across Great Britain are following strict guidelines on biosecurity measures to prevent its spread. Farmers have been asking to be allowed to vaccinate their birds - we look into the details of why that's not currently permitted.
We visit Hodmedods, which was set up 10 years ago in Norwich. It aims to bring alternative crops to market and recruits farmers locally to grow for them while also finding markets for those products.
And there is anger and frustration from farmers in Northern Ireland at what they see as a failure by the Department of Agriculture to act on Bovine Viral Diarrhoea. There's been a programme running since 2016 to try and get rid of it and the number of cases had been going down. But over the past year, there's been a turnaround and the number of infected cattle is rising again.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio by Heather Simons
Pollution levels in our rivers are now so bad that tens of thousands of planned new homes in England and Wales are on hold - a BBC Wales investigation has found. One of the causes is phosphate - an essential and major nutrient for crops and animals, but damaging to our eco-systems if too much gets into rivers and streams courses. That's what's happened along the River Wye, where as we've reported, the high number of chicken farms is being blamed - but farmers say they're being unfairly targeted.
Sugar beet yields are likely to be down on the annual average this year as the campaign gathers pace after a delayed start in some areas, by campaign I mean the harvest. Some farmers are finding the beets smaller this year because of the summer drought, and some of the processing factories opened later to allow the crop more time in the ground.
And could a growing demand for seeds and nuts for human consumption provide new opportunities for British farmers?
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farmers say they need some certainty to be able to plan their businesses. With a new Prime Minister incoming will the current agricultural policy still be the policy next month? At the moment that policy includes a 'rapid review' of ELMs (Environmental Land Management Schemes) which have been developed to pay farmers in England for public goods - things like using fewer pesticides or planting hedgerows. The direct subsidy paid to them is being phased out leaving a hole in many farm accounts - though there have been rumours that might change. Conservationists are worried - the Wildlife Trusts say they're 'increasingly concerned' that ELMs will be watered down, while farmers ask if this - or the next - government will fully fund the schemes.
MPs say flytipping has in effect been made legal by the government's inability to deal with it. That's the damning verdict of the cross party Public Accounts Committee. The RSPB says gamebirds shouldn't have been released into the wild this year because of bird flu, and that both the Government and the shooting industry should have acted earlier to prevent more spread of the disease. The shooting industry says about 40% fewer pheasants have been released this year as the area of France where many shoots source eggs has been badly hit by avian flu and so they couldn't be imported. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation says birds raised are checked before they're released. All this week we're looking at education around farming and for city kids in particular school trips offer a chance to see both farming and the countryside. Farms in Suffolk, Norfolk and Yorkshire are going further by hosting residential trips for children inner city areas.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, also known as The Black Farmer, hopes he can increase the diversity of the students at the Royal Agricultural University, where he has been appointed as governor. To change the industry for the future he says more land must be made available to new entrants and farming as a career needs to be "sexed up"!
The author of the UK Food Strategy, Henry Dimbleby has called for a ‘Land Use Framework’ during an evidence session with the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee of MPs. Mr Dimbleby said there should be a plan for land use…which defines how much land is set aside for nature, how much is farmed with nature in mind, and how much is put over to intensive food production
And the oldest trout farm in England says drought is threatening its future after losing thousands of fish in the extreme heats of the summer. Bibury Trout Farm in the Cotswolds says it has lost more than 25,000 fish after a lack of rainfall affected water levels on the River Coln.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The whole of Great Britain has been put under an Avian Flu Prevention Zone, which means heightened biosecurity. Millions of birds, wild and farmed, are dead because of bird flu. For the first time, the disease has remained at high levels in the wild bird population throughout the summer. It has now re-entered domestic and farmed birds. DEFRA believes the disease is NOT being spread from farm to farm, or even from garden flocks to farms, but from wild birds to farmed poultry.
Anna Hill speaks to the Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, and hears from a poultry producer who says he's been left mentally and physically stressed by the disease.
Also, as Farming Today's week long look at education continues, we visit Romilly Primary School in Barry where they've launched a new project, teaching the children about their agricultural neighbours.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Government should be doing more to co-ordinate the response to bird flu in wild birds - that's according to wildlife experts dealing with the outbreak in East Anglia. Marine and Wildlife rescue have been out on the Norfolk broads finding severely ill swans, but say the response has been left to local people to organise.
What impact might lab grown meat have on the farming industry? We hear how a new programme lead by The Royal Agricultural University hopes to answer that question.
All this week we'll be focusing on education, and today we discuss the future for the UK's land based colleges. These are the places offering courses in agriculture, horticulture, equine studies and forestry.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
This week saw new restrictions introduced across East Anglia as the number of avian flu outbreaks continues to rise. It's the worst year ever with more than 170 incidents reported, now flocks in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex will have to be kept inside to try to protect them. We hear what impact this is having on egg producers.
England should have a tenant farmers commissioner, the law should be changed to improve tenancies and Defra should change its schemes to make them more accessible to farmers renting land. Just some of the 74 recommendations from the Tenant Working Group whose report has just been published. Its chair Baroness Kate Rock is urging Defra to adopt the recommendations 'with a sense of urgency'.
Across the world grain prices are high, so despite the massive increases in the cost of fertiliser and fuel this year, arable farmers are making money. We've been looking at international trade all this week, and today we visit a farm in Wiltshire growing grain for export.
And how one farm has diversified into film.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Growing Britain's growing: the Environment Secretary has been to Holland to learn about high-tech horticulture. We ask what British growers make of Ranil Jayawardena's £12.5 million of grants for automation in the sector.
In the week when we're looking at international trade, we hear from one of the countries we rely on for fruit and veg: Spain. A drought this year and higher energy prices are having an impact on producers.
We visit Cornwall where a multi-million pound project is retro-fitting 250 homes with ground source heat pumps.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
As the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill goes through parliament, scientists are engaging in a public dialogue. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics say people want more clarity on the government’s overarching plan for the future of food and farming, in order to understand how genome editing would fit into it.
MPs are launching an inquiry into the cost-of-living crisis in rural areas. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Business will be collecting evidence. Just last month a report by the Rural Services Network showed rural households on a low income now spend about 5% more than low-income households in urban areas. It also found because of a greater reliance on cars, rural households spend on average about £114 a week on transport, compared to £80 for urban households. We speak to the Country Land and Business Association which is supporting the cross-party inquiry.
All week we’ve been talking about International Trade - mostly looking at food - but the inputs needed to grow that food account for a huge part of international trade, and the war in Ukraine has disrupted the usual flow of that business. We speak to a commodities analyst who specialises in fertilisers. She paints a picture of fertiliser production across the globe and how that has changed in the past year.
Rural organisations with millions of members are worried about what the government has planned for the countryside. Sarah McMonogal from the campaigning organisation CPRE tells Anna that they want to be consulted about future policies such as planning.
Ranil Jayawardena the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has heralded a resumption of exports of lamb to the United States as a victory for UK farmers, but is it really such a big deal?
And a weaker pound could be good news for exporters of cheese.
Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
New rules aimed at reducing agricultural pollution in rivers in Wales are being delayed by the Welsh Government for three months. The introduction of an all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone is opposed by farming unions and opposition parties. Campaign group the Welsh Rivers Union, tell us the delay is disappointing, and hope this is not a sign the policy is being pushed into the long grass.
And as we begin a week looking at international trade we speak to the head of Copa-Cogeca, the strongest interest group representing European farmers, about how trade has been affected since the UK left the European Union.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Looking back at the Conservative party conference: the new secretary of state says Defra is now an economic growth department, and the home secretary tells farmers they should work harder to find pickers. We find out what all that means for farmers and food supplies.
We hear how a 'log bank' in Northumberland is helping to keep people in rural areas warm this winter.
And how the dry weather means chips will be shorter.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Government should consider introducing a direct payment to small farms in England according to Conservative MP and chair of the EFRA (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill. He tells us around £10,000 pounds a year could ensure their survival. Direct payments to farmers in England are currently being phased out, while a new policy to pay farmers public money only for providing public goods is brought in.
And as we come to the end of our week looking at the potato industry, we catch up with those who grow seed potatoes here but still can't export them to the EU after Brexit. And we hear about a £2m project to reduce the potato's carbon footprint.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
The Home Secretary says farmers should work harder to find local pickers. The vast majority of pickers on UK farms come from abroad via the seasonal workers scheme. It was expanded earlier this year to allow 30,000 people to come for 6 months to work on farms and in poultry processing, with an extra 10,000 visas available if needed. Farmers say they really need 70,000 people, allowed to come for 9 months, and that they need to know how many visas will be available as soon as possible.
We've been talking about the cost of heating oil over the past few weeks. For many in rural areas who can't connect to gas, solid fuel heating systems are what they rely on. The Government has said it will provide extra support to those consumers but the cost of heating oil has more than doubled in the last couple of years. Not surprising then that demand for the Northumberland Log Bank is also rising.
A new body is being launched this week to represent potato growers and the whole supply chain.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Field trials are being carried out to see if potatoes can be grown with less disturbance to the soil. Tractors can make between five and seven passes of a field even before the seed potato is planted. Now Dyson Farms is testing to see if potatoes can be grown in a way which has a lighter touch on the soil and uses fewer inputs. Some are being grown with straw covering them with no fertilisers or irrigation, and others are being grown using digestate as a topping.
One of the UK's first sustainable assurance labels for food, is bringing in new higher standards for carbon footprint assessments. LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) was set up nearly 20 years ago and operates in 19 other countries. The revisions include raising the bar on things like greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration and carbon footprinting.
And every autumn the season starts for the illegal blood sport of hare coursing which brings with it a wave of crime, threats, and sometimes violence to rural parts of the UK. Reporter Dan O'Brien has been out with Wiltshire Police who are patrolling Salisbury Plain using thermal imaging drones and night-vision cameras. Hare courses often stream footage to viewers who bet on things like which dogs will kill the most hares.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
The new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ranil Jayawardena took to the stage at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham yesterday. He told delegates a strong healthy environment and a strong healthy economy can go hand in hand, and from now on instead of Defra being a regulatory department, it is now an economic growth department.
Meanwhile, farming and environmental groups have written to the Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch demanding guarantees that the Government will maintain a "level playing field" for food and animal welfare standards in future trade deals. It follows warnings from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) that the Government is entering Free Trade Agreements which will result in lowering food standards and putting consumers at risk.
And all week we're talking about potatoes. Today we are discussing water and how the lack of rain this year has been impacting on yields - we find out how irrigation is used to both grow the crop, and to soften the soil.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
This week farmers in England have been dominated by speculation that the Government may be about to ditch payments for environmental work and revert to money per hectare.
As Defra tries to clarifies its "rapid review" of farming policy, we discuss what farmers and environmentalists want to see, to make it all work better.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
This week farmers in England have been dominated by speculation that the Government may be about to ditch payments for environmental work and revert to money per hectare.
As Defra tries to clarifies its "rapid review" of farming policy, we discuss what farmers and environmentalists want to see, to make it all work better.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
This week farmers in England have been dominated by speculation that the Government may be about to ditch payments for environmental work and revert to money per hectare.
As Defra tries to clarifies its "rapid review" of farming policy, we discuss what farmers and environmentalists want to see, to make it all work better.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Scottish Government wants to create a 'bespoke rural visa' to allow remote communities - and farms - to attract people from abroad to work, but it needs the Westminster Government’s approval, Charlotte hears from a Scottish minister. One of the newest English vineyards has just opened in Suffolk, Catherine Scarff left a job in the music industry, studied viticulture, and joined the family farm to start a new venture. Some agronomists reckon farmers will lose 20% of their crop to the flea beetle this year, one farmer near Cambridge explains how he has been affected. Meanwhile, as the Government plans to revoke pesticide legislation - when it removes EU laws from the statute books - ministers say that this will not come at the expense of high environmental standards, Matt Shardlow Chief Executive of Buglife is not convinced. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
The Scottish Government wants to create a 'bespoke rural visa' to allow remote communities - and farms - to attract people from abroad to work, but it needs the Westminster Government’s approval, Charlotte hears from a Scottish minister. One of the newest English vineyards has just opened in Suffolk, Catherine Scarff left a job in the music industry, studied viticulture, and joined the family farm to start a new venture. Some agronomists reckon farmers will lose 20% of their crop to the flea beetle this year, one farmer near Cambridge explains how he has been affected. Meanwhile, as the Government plans to revoke pesticide legislation - when it removes EU laws from the statute books - ministers say that this will not come at the expense of high environmental standards, Matt Shardlow Chief Executive of Buglife is not convinced. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
The Scottish Government wants to create a 'bespoke rural visa' to allow remote communities - and farms - to attract people from abroad to work, but it needs the Westminster Government’s approval, Charlotte hears from a Scottish minister. One of the newest English vineyards has just opened in Suffolk, Catherine Scarff left a job in the music industry, studied viticulture, and joined the family farm to start a new venture. Some agronomists reckon farmers will lose 20% of their crop to the flea beetle this year, one farmer near Cambridge explains how he has been affected. Meanwhile, as the Government plans to revoke pesticide legislation - when it removes EU laws from the statute books - ministers say that this will not come at the expense of high environmental standards, Matt Shardlow Chief Executive of Buglife is not convinced. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
More bird flu outbreaks and more restrictions. 64,000 turkeys are being culled in the latest outbreak, this time in Norfolk.
The Government says it's going to relax planning laws about where on-shore wind farms can be built, but some rural councils are not sure they want them.
All week we're looking at UK wine. Most is English, but there are about five vineyards in Scotland and thirty in Wales - that's according to the tourism organisation Visit Wales. Visitors are a growing part of the business model for producers in the Welsh wine regions.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
More bird flu outbreaks and more restrictions. 64,000 turkeys are being culled in the latest outbreak, this time in Norfolk.
The Government says it's going to relax planning laws about where on-shore wind farms can be built, but some rural councils are not sure they want them.
All week we're looking at UK wine. Most is English, but there are about five vineyards in Scotland and thirty in Wales - that's according to the tourism organisation Visit Wales. Visitors are a growing part of the business model for producers in the Welsh wine regions.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
More bird flu outbreaks and more restrictions. 64,000 turkeys are being culled in the latest outbreak, this time in Norfolk.
The Government says it's going to relax planning laws about where on-shore wind farms can be built, but some rural councils are not sure they want them.
All week we're looking at UK wine. Most is English, but there are about five vineyards in Scotland and thirty in Wales - that's according to the tourism organisation Visit Wales. Visitors are a growing part of the business model for producers in the Welsh wine regions.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Is the government going to ditch paying farmers to meet environmental goals and give them money per hectare instead? We hear from the academic who thought up the 'public money for public goods' policy. And the Welsh government launches its new Agriculture Bill.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Is the government going to ditch paying farmers to meet environmental goals and give them money per hectare instead? We hear from the academic who thought up the 'public money for public goods' policy. And the Welsh government launches its new Agriculture Bill.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Is the government going to ditch paying farmers to meet environmental goals and give them money per hectare instead? We hear from the academic who thought up the 'public money for public goods' policy. And the Welsh government launches its new Agriculture Bill.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A plan to flood more than a thousand acres of Lincolnshire farmland to create a new reservoir is being met with strong opposition. More than 2000 people have signed a petition opposing Anglian Water’s plans for the site near Sleaford. The company says the facility is vital to secure future water supplies as our climate changes and as demand for water grows.
Farming Today regularly reports on concerns for farmer's mental health - and now a study suggests farmers are also regularly being subjected to abusive behaviour from members of the public. Researchers from the University of Exeter say it is leading to a "strong sense of disconnection" with the wider public. We speak to the Farming Community Network, which says it wants to do more to connect farmers with the communities that live near by.
And as we start a whole week looking at UK wine production, we find out how climate change has been affecting the types of wine being produced.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A plan to flood more than a thousand acres of Lincolnshire farmland to create a new reservoir is being met with strong opposition. More than 2000 people have signed a petition opposing Anglian Water’s plans for the site near Sleaford. The company says the facility is vital to secure future water supplies as our climate changes and as demand for water grows.
Farming Today regularly reports on concerns for farmer's mental health - and now a study suggests farmers are also regularly being subjected to abusive behaviour from members of the public. Researchers from the University of Exeter say it is leading to a "strong sense of disconnection" with the wider public. We speak to the Farming Community Network, which says it wants to do more to connect farmers with the communities that live near by.
And as we start a whole week looking at UK wine production, we find out how climate change has been affecting the types of wine being produced.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A plan to flood more than a thousand acres of Lincolnshire farmland to create a new reservoir is being met with strong opposition. More than 2000 people have signed a petition opposing Anglian Water’s plans for the site near Sleaford. The company says the facility is vital to secure future water supplies as our climate changes and as demand for water grows.
Farming Today regularly reports on concerns for farmer's mental health - and now a study suggests farmers are also regularly being subjected to abusive behaviour from members of the public. Researchers from the University of Exeter say it is leading to a "strong sense of disconnection" with the wider public. We speak to the Farming Community Network, which says it wants to do more to connect farmers with the communities that live near by.
And as we start a whole week looking at UK wine production, we find out how climate change has been affecting the types of wine being produced.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A pub owner and other rural businesses give their reaction to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Meanwhile people living in homes in the countryside relying on heating oil fear for the future. And King Charles, will his views on farming and the countryside be so publicly aired now he has ascended to the throne? Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A pub owner and other rural businesses give their reaction to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Meanwhile people living in homes in the countryside relying on heating oil fear for the future. And King Charles, will his views on farming and the countryside be so publicly aired now he has ascended to the throne? Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
A pub owner and other rural businesses give their reaction to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Meanwhile people living in homes in the countryside relying on heating oil fear for the future. And King Charles, will his views on farming and the countryside be so publicly aired now he has ascended to the throne? Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Alun Beach Editor: Dimitri Houtart
Major players in international food chains are meeting this week at the World Agri-Tech summit in London to discuss how new innovations such as satellite imaging, precision farming, and biotechnology can help feed a growing world population with less environmental damage. So what does that mean for companies which produce fertilisers and pesticides? Anna Hill speaks to Jeremy Williams from Bayer Crop Science.
All this week we're talking about the cost of living, and how it impacts on people living in rural communities. For some who are not connected to the mains electricity grid, it can mean even higher costs. We hear from a couple who live off grid, and the campaign to get people like them more help to get connected.
And scientists from the John Innes Centre in Norwich have discovered why some oil seed rape crops do poorly in warmer winters. It has to do with the tiny flower buds which form under the ground. Now the researchers are breeding to select varieties which can still do well, even in warmer winters.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Major players in international food chains are meeting this week at the World Agri-Tech summit in London to discuss how new innovations such as satellite imaging, precision farming, and biotechnology can help feed a growing world population with less environmental damage. So what does that mean for companies which produce fertilisers and pesticides? Anna Hill speaks to Jeremy Williams from Bayer Crop Science.
All this week we're talking about the cost of living, and how it impacts on people living in rural communities. For some who are not connected to the mains electricity grid, it can mean even higher costs. We hear from a couple who live off grid, and the campaign to get people like them more help to get connected.
And scientists from the John Innes Centre in Norwich have discovered why some oil seed rape crops do poorly in warmer winters. It has to do with the tiny flower buds which form under the ground. Now the researchers are breeding to select varieties which can still do well, even in warmer winters.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Major players in international food chains are meeting this week at the World Agri-Tech summit in London to discuss how new innovations such as satellite imaging, precision farming, and biotechnology can help feed a growing world population with less environmental damage. So what does that mean for companies which produce fertilisers and pesticides? Anna Hill speaks to Jeremy Williams from Bayer Crop Science.
All this week we're talking about the cost of living, and how it impacts on people living in rural communities. For some who are not connected to the mains electricity grid, it can mean even higher costs. We hear from a couple who live off grid, and the campaign to get people like them more help to get connected.
And scientists from the John Innes Centre in Norwich have discovered why some oil seed rape crops do poorly in warmer winters. It has to do with the tiny flower buds which form under the ground. Now the researchers are breeding to select varieties which can still do well, even in warmer winters.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
We hear why, nearly two years after we left the EU, farmers still can't export breeding animals to Europe.
And the cost of living is rising, wherever you live, but this week we're going to look at the impact of price rises in rural areas.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
We hear why, nearly two years after we left the EU, farmers still can't export breeding animals to Europe.
And the cost of living is rising, wherever you live, but this week we're going to look at the impact of price rises in rural areas.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
We hear why, nearly two years after we left the EU, farmers still can't export breeding animals to Europe.
And the cost of living is rising, wherever you live, but this week we're going to look at the impact of price rises in rural areas.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Today we mark the Queen’s funeral with a special programme from Windsor.
We remember her deep connection to the countryside and farming, and her lifelong passions of cattle breeding, horse racing and dogs.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Today we mark the Queen’s funeral with a special programme from Windsor.
We remember her deep connection to the countryside and farming, and her lifelong passions of cattle breeding, horse racing and dogs.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Today we mark the Queen’s funeral with a special programme from Windsor.
We remember her deep connection to the countryside and farming, and her lifelong passions of cattle breeding, horse racing and dogs.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
This week Charlotte Smith looks into the pressures food producers are facing - despite the rapid rise in food prices. From pork and vegetables to organic dairy, farmers say the costs they are facing are outweighing the amount they are being paid.
How much consumers should expect to pay for food was the topic for panellists of a digital conference organised this week by the The Rural Policy Group. It is a think tank set up to campaign for better representation of agriculture in politics. Speakers at the conference discussed what things reinforce consumers expectation of low-priced food, and how that could be changed in order to make pricing fairer for all.
And we delve into the world of a still relatively niche farm animal - the goat. From a herd of 250 goats in the hills of Cumbria, and semi-wild goats being tracked in north Devon, to the pomp and pageantry of the King's Proclamation.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
This week Charlotte Smith looks into the pressures food producers are facing - despite the rapid rise in food prices. From pork and vegetables to organic dairy, farmers say the costs they are facing are outweighing the amount they are being paid.
How much consumers should expect to pay for food was the topic for panellists of a digital conference organised this week by the The Rural Policy Group. It is a think tank set up to campaign for better representation of agriculture in politics. Speakers at the conference discussed what things reinforce consumers expectation of low-priced food, and how that could be changed in order to make pricing fairer for all.
And we delve into the world of a still relatively niche farm animal - the goat. From a herd of 250 goats in the hills of Cumbria, and semi-wild goats being tracked in north Devon, to the pomp and pageantry of the King's Proclamation.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
This week Charlotte Smith looks into the pressures food producers are facing - despite the rapid rise in food prices. From pork and vegetables to organic dairy, farmers say the costs they are facing are outweighing the amount they are being paid.
How much consumers should expect to pay for food was the topic for panellists of a digital conference organised this week by the The Rural Policy Group. It is a think tank set up to campaign for better representation of agriculture in politics. Speakers at the conference discussed what things reinforce consumers expectation of low-priced food, and how that could be changed in order to make pricing fairer for all.
And we delve into the world of a still relatively niche farm animal - the goat. From a herd of 250 goats in the hills of Cumbria, and semi-wild goats being tracked in north Devon, to the pomp and pageantry of the King's Proclamation.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
There are fears Organic dairy farmers will leave the sector as they say the rising cost of production isn't being reflected in the price they're paid for their milk. Since the cost of production has risen, farmers have been getting much higher prices for dairy, but some who run Organic productions say their margins have risen even more - and that is not being taken into account.
A new study suggests converting livestock farms into arable could see regular crops fail to grow. The study from Rothamsted Research and SRUC looked at land in the South West of England to see what might happen as society shifts towards more plant-based diets.
And as we continue our week talking about goats, our reporter visits farmer Nicola Knott, who has developed a business selling rare types of goats for breeding.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
There are fears Organic dairy farmers will leave the sector as they say the rising cost of production isn't being reflected in the price they're paid for their milk. Since the cost of production has risen, farmers have been getting much higher prices for dairy, but some who run Organic productions say their margins have risen even more - and that is not being taken into account.
A new study suggests converting livestock farms into arable could see regular crops fail to grow. The study from Rothamsted Research and SRUC looked at land in the South West of England to see what might happen as society shifts towards more plant-based diets.
And as we continue our week talking about goats, our reporter visits farmer Nicola Knott, who has developed a business selling rare types of goats for breeding.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
There are fears Organic dairy farmers will leave the sector as they say the rising cost of production isn't being reflected in the price they're paid for their milk. Since the cost of production has risen, farmers have been getting much higher prices for dairy, but some who run Organic productions say their margins have risen even more - and that is not being taken into account.
A new study suggests converting livestock farms into arable could see regular crops fail to grow. The study from Rothamsted Research and SRUC looked at land in the South West of England to see what might happen as society shifts towards more plant-based diets.
And as we continue our week talking about goats, our reporter visits farmer Nicola Knott, who has developed a business selling rare types of goats for breeding.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
All this week we’re talking about goats, in farming and in landscape management. But as the official ceremonies continue to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II, and welcome King Charles as the new Monarch - the role of the goat as Regimental Mascot has been in the spotlight. Anna Hill speaks to Goat Major Sergeant Mark Jackson from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh to find out why.
Pilgrim's, one of the UK's biggest pork producers, says it is planning to close two of its processing plants. The company recorded an operating loss of £16 million in 2021. Pig farmer Kate Morgan explains how it has come at a time when the whole pork industry is under growing pressure, which has forced several farmers to stop production.
And at the end of the hot summer we find out how the drought has affected one of the UK's more unusual crops - quinoa.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
All this week we’re talking about goats, in farming and in landscape management. But as the official ceremonies continue to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II, and welcome King Charles as the new Monarch - the role of the goat as Regimental Mascot has been in the spotlight. Anna Hill speaks to Goat Major Sergeant Mark Jackson from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh to find out why.
Pilgrim's, one of the UK's biggest pork producers, says it is planning to close two of its processing plants. The company recorded an operating loss of £16 million in 2021. Pig farmer Kate Morgan explains how it has come at a time when the whole pork industry is under growing pressure, which has forced several farmers to stop production.
And at the end of the hot summer we find out how the drought has affected one of the UK's more unusual crops - quinoa.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
All this week we’re talking about goats, in farming and in landscape management. But as the official ceremonies continue to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II, and welcome King Charles as the new Monarch - the role of the goat as Regimental Mascot has been in the spotlight. Anna Hill speaks to Goat Major Sergeant Mark Jackson from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh to find out why.
Pilgrim's, one of the UK's biggest pork producers, says it is planning to close two of its processing plants. The company recorded an operating loss of £16 million in 2021. Pig farmer Kate Morgan explains how it has come at a time when the whole pork industry is under growing pressure, which has forced several farmers to stop production.
And at the end of the hot summer we find out how the drought has affected one of the UK's more unusual crops - quinoa.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A US investment company which focusses on buying up farmland is about to float on the London Stock Exchange. The Sustainable Farmland Trust focusses on arable land mainly in the US, but is hoping to attract UK investors.
In a few weeks it should be time to harvest apples. We hear how this seasons fruit have been affected by the hot and dry summer - and how we could expect to see a smaller and sweeter crop.
And as we continue our week looking at goats, we find out how semi-wild goats are managed on the north coast of Devon.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A US investment company which focusses on buying up farmland is about to float on the London Stock Exchange. The Sustainable Farmland Trust focusses on arable land mainly in the US, but is hoping to attract UK investors.
In a few weeks it should be time to harvest apples. We hear how this seasons fruit have been affected by the hot and dry summer - and how we could expect to see a smaller and sweeter crop.
And as we continue our week looking at goats, we find out how semi-wild goats are managed on the north coast of Devon.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A US investment company which focusses on buying up farmland is about to float on the London Stock Exchange. The Sustainable Farmland Trust focusses on arable land mainly in the US, but is hoping to attract UK investors.
In a few weeks it should be time to harvest apples. We hear how this seasons fruit have been affected by the hot and dry summer - and how we could expect to see a smaller and sweeter crop.
And as we continue our week looking at goats, we find out how semi-wild goats are managed on the north coast of Devon.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Rising costs are forcing farmers to reduce the amount of food they can produce.
Charlotte Smith hears how feed prices are up by a half, while fertilizers cost up to three times as much as they did this time last year.
The Government plans to cap energy prices but will it be enough to keep putting food on the supermarket shelves?
Also, a farmer explains how diversifying into keeping goats for milk, meat and other products has saved his farm.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Natalie Donovan Editor: Dimitri Houtart
Rising costs are forcing farmers to reduce the amount of food they can produce.
Charlotte Smith hears how feed prices are up by a half, while fertilizers cost up to three times as much as they did this time last year.
The Government plans to cap energy prices but will it be enough to keep putting food on the supermarket shelves?
Also, a farmer explains how diversifying into keeping goats for milk, meat and other products has saved his farm.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Natalie Donovan Editor: Dimitri Houtart
Rising costs are forcing farmers to reduce the amount of food they can produce.
Charlotte Smith hears how feed prices are up by a half, while fertilizers cost up to three times as much as they did this time last year.
The Government plans to cap energy prices but will it be enough to keep putting food on the supermarket shelves?
Also, a farmer explains how diversifying into keeping goats for milk, meat and other products has saved his farm.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Natalie Donovan Editor: Dimitri Houtart
Farming Today looks back at the Queen’s life, and in particular her passion for all things rural; as a landowner, farmer, accomplished racehorse owner and as a countrywoman. Throughout her life she took an active interest in agriculture, particularly her herds of native breed cattle. The Queen also lent her support to more than 600 charities and organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland, many of them involved with farming, livestock and conservation. We hear from some of them on her legacy.
All week we’ve been taking a closer look at insects in farming: as pollinators, pests and potential protein.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farming Today looks back at the Queen’s life, and in particular her passion for all things rural; as a landowner, farmer, accomplished racehorse owner and as a countrywoman. Throughout her life she took an active interest in agriculture, particularly her herds of native breed cattle. The Queen also lent her support to more than 600 charities and organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland, many of them involved with farming, livestock and conservation. We hear from some of them on her legacy.
All week we’ve been taking a closer look at insects in farming: as pollinators, pests and potential protein.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farming Today looks back at the Queen’s life, and in particular her passion for all things rural; as a landowner, farmer, accomplished racehorse owner and as a countrywoman. Throughout her life she took an active interest in agriculture, particularly her herds of native breed cattle. The Queen also lent her support to more than 600 charities and organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland, many of them involved with farming, livestock and conservation. We hear from some of them on her legacy.
All week we’ve been taking a closer look at insects in farming: as pollinators, pests and potential protein.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farming Today looks back at the Queen’s life, and in particular her passion for all things rural – as a landowner, farmer, accomplished racehorse owner and as a countrywoman. Throughout her life she took an active interest in agriculture, particularly her herds of native breed cattle. The Queen also lent her support to more than 600 charities and organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland, many of them involved with farming, livestock and conservation including The Shire Horse Society. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producers: Vernon Harwood & Natalie Donovan Editor: Dimitri Houtart
Farming Today looks back at the Queen’s life, and in particular her passion for all things rural – as a landowner, farmer, accomplished racehorse owner and as a countrywoman. Throughout her life she took an active interest in agriculture, particularly her herds of native breed cattle. The Queen also lent her support to more than 600 charities and organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland, many of them involved with farming, livestock and conservation including The Shire Horse Society. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producers: Vernon Harwood & Natalie Donovan Editor: Dimitri Houtart
Farming Today looks back at the Queen’s life, and in particular her passion for all things rural – as a landowner, farmer, accomplished racehorse owner and as a countrywoman. Throughout her life she took an active interest in agriculture, particularly her herds of native breed cattle. The Queen also lent her support to more than 600 charities and organisations in the UK and Northern Ireland, many of them involved with farming, livestock and conservation including The Shire Horse Society. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producers: Vernon Harwood & Natalie Donovan Editor: Dimitri Houtart
There’s a new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Who is Ranil Jayawardena and what hopes do farmers have for his time at Defra? We visit the Westmorland County Show in Cumbria to sample a few opinions, and get analysis from the Farmers' Guardian's Head of News, Abi Kay. Continuing our week looking at insects, we hear how a group of farmers has been looking into how they can attract 'beneficial' insects to control pests by using the flower margins alongside their arable crops.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
There’s a new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Who is Ranil Jayawardena and what hopes do farmers have for his time at Defra? We visit the Westmorland County Show in Cumbria to sample a few opinions, and get analysis from the Farmers' Guardian's Head of News, Abi Kay. Continuing our week looking at insects, we hear how a group of farmers has been looking into how they can attract 'beneficial' insects to control pests by using the flower margins alongside their arable crops.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
There’s a new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Who is Ranil Jayawardena and what hopes do farmers have for his time at Defra? We visit the Westmorland County Show in Cumbria to sample a few opinions, and get analysis from the Farmers' Guardian's Head of News, Abi Kay. Continuing our week looking at insects, we hear how a group of farmers has been looking into how they can attract 'beneficial' insects to control pests by using the flower margins alongside their arable crops.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
As production costs rise, a farmer tells us why he is taking half his land out of food production. Rutland farmer Andrew Brown says he can make more money from his land through a Government Countryside Stewardship Scheme, but says the current policy for paying farmers to stop growing food is misguided at a time when wheat stocks are so low.
Meanwhile, MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee met yesterday for a progress update on the new system for paying farmers in England which is known as ELMs - the Environmental Land Management Scheme. We hear from George Dunn, the CEO of the Tenants Farmers Association about how well the transition is going for farmers.
And our week on insects continues with a visit to one of the UK's first edible insect cafes in Pembrokeshire.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As production costs rise, a farmer tells us why he is taking half his land out of food production. Rutland farmer Andrew Brown says he can make more money from his land through a Government Countryside Stewardship Scheme, but says the current policy for paying farmers to stop growing food is misguided at a time when wheat stocks are so low.
Meanwhile, MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee met yesterday for a progress update on the new system for paying farmers in England which is known as ELMs - the Environmental Land Management Scheme. We hear from George Dunn, the CEO of the Tenants Farmers Association about how well the transition is going for farmers.
And our week on insects continues with a visit to one of the UK's first edible insect cafes in Pembrokeshire.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As production costs rise, a farmer tells us why he is taking half his land out of food production. Rutland farmer Andrew Brown says he can make more money from his land through a Government Countryside Stewardship Scheme, but says the current policy for paying farmers to stop growing food is misguided at a time when wheat stocks are so low.
Meanwhile, MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee met yesterday for a progress update on the new system for paying farmers in England which is known as ELMs - the Environmental Land Management Scheme. We hear from George Dunn, the CEO of the Tenants Farmers Association about how well the transition is going for farmers.
And our week on insects continues with a visit to one of the UK's first edible insect cafes in Pembrokeshire.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As Liz Truss is announced as the new UK Prime Minister, she will take on one of the most severe economic challenges in decades. As the cost of farming rises rapidly, and farmers face up to how much they can afford to spend on growing crops and feeding animals we hear from one East Anglia firm which works to try to secure customers the best prices for energy, telecoms, fuel and fertiliser.
The Government has announced a new £110m fund dedicated to 'levelling up' rural England. The money is aimed at a variety of projects, such as helping farm diversification projects, improving digital infrastructure and creating new footpaths and cycle routes. We find out how it will work and if it's enough.
And all this week we are talking bugs - as pollinators, pests and potential protein sources. Today we hear how scientists are using light technology as a way to fight crop infestations.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As Liz Truss is announced as the new UK Prime Minister, she will take on one of the most severe economic challenges in decades. As the cost of farming rises rapidly, and farmers face up to how much they can afford to spend on growing crops and feeding animals we hear from one East Anglia firm which works to try to secure customers the best prices for energy, telecoms, fuel and fertiliser.
The Government has announced a new £110m fund dedicated to 'levelling up' rural England. The money is aimed at a variety of projects, such as helping farm diversification projects, improving digital infrastructure and creating new footpaths and cycle routes. We find out how it will work and if it's enough.
And all this week we are talking bugs - as pollinators, pests and potential protein sources. Today we hear how scientists are using light technology as a way to fight crop infestations.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As Liz Truss is announced as the new UK Prime Minister, she will take on one of the most severe economic challenges in decades. As the cost of farming rises rapidly, and farmers face up to how much they can afford to spend on growing crops and feeding animals we hear from one East Anglia firm which works to try to secure customers the best prices for energy, telecoms, fuel and fertiliser.
The Government has announced a new £110m fund dedicated to 'levelling up' rural England. The money is aimed at a variety of projects, such as helping farm diversification projects, improving digital infrastructure and creating new footpaths and cycle routes. We find out how it will work and if it's enough.
And all this week we are talking bugs - as pollinators, pests and potential protein sources. Today we hear how scientists are using light technology as a way to fight crop infestations.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
We discuss TB in cattle and the efforts to control it. A new bill is proposed on the right to roam. How milk prices are on the rise: what does this mean for farmers? And another small abattoir closes. The owner blames bureaucracy and what he calls overzealous government vets.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and producer by Beatrice Fenton.
As another dairy processor announces a further rise in the price it pays farmers for their milk, we find out if dairy farmers are now able to make money for their produce, and how long these high prices might last.
All this week we've been looking at TB in cattle and the efforts to control it. Today we hear about the development of a vaccine for cattle against bovine tuberculosis are going, and hear why even once the vaccine is available to farmers, it may not be the silver bullet the industry has been hoping for.
Plus the Welsh sheep farmer and fashion designer trying to revitalise Wales' milling industry.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
The Government is promising to move forward with plans to introduce mandatory welfare standards labelling. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs says the plan which could affect meat and dairy products sold in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would make it easier for shoppers to buy products that are "in line with their values, support UK farmers, and improve animal welfare".
As we continue our week looking at the measures being taken to tackle the spread of TB in cattle, our reporter Mariclare Carey-Jones finds out about a new kind of lateral flow test which is claimed to be cheaper, quicker to process and more reliable than the current 'skin-test' which is mostly used by farmers.
And we hear from a Devon farmer whose given up growing wheat for wildflowers.
Presented by Paul Murphy Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
All this week we are taking a look at how Bovine Tuberculosis is affecting farm businesses. It is believed TB can spread from badger to cattle, and one way to prevent that from happening is to vaccinate badgers against TB (we will talk about vaccinating cattle later this week). Earlier this year the Government introduced a new way to get more people helping with vaccinating the badgers - and our reporter Bob Walker has been to meet one group doing it in Cheshire.
A small abattoir in the Peak District is closing today after 100 years of business. Its owner says bureaucracy is preventing smaller operators from operating, as well as staff shortages. Figures from the Food Standards Agency suggest small abattoirs are closing at a rate of 10% a year.
And later this year, Caroline Lucas the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion will be putting forward a Right to Roam Bill, she tells us how she thinks it could work.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A new framework is to be introduced to protect wild salmon and sea trout in Scotland from sea lice. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) says the wild salmon population is in crisis - but the new rules should limit their exposure to sea lice by defining protection zones. As the government announces it's going to ban peat in amateur gardening, we look at what crops can be grown in peatland. If you've been around Harper Adams University in Shropshire you might have done a double take as you came across a tractor and a combine this harvest - because neither had a driver. This is the extension of the 'hands free hectare' project we followed a few years back and is shaping not just the future of farm robots but also the regulations, and even the insurance farmers will need. All this week we're looking at bovine tuberculosis - how it affects farms, and efforts to control it., including developing better testing, vaccination badgers, and the annual cull of badgers in England. Presented by Charlotte Smith.
Today we take a closer look at the causes and consequences of increasing food prices - from farm to fork. Latest calculations point to an inflation rate for grocery of just under 12 per cent. We speak to farmers, growers and supermarkets who say a 'perfect storm' of Brexit, war in Ukraine and the effects of Covid have led to a drastic shortage of labour and increasing production costs. We also hear calls for more transparency in the grain trade, as the world's largest grain trading companies report huge profits.
How sustainable is the meat you eat? Some people pay more for organic and grass-fed beef and lamb with the belief that it will have less of an impact on the environment, however conservation writer George Monbiot says they are wrong, as it is some of the most damaging. Anna Hill speaks to George Monbiot and Cambridge University professor Donald Broom who says there needs to be a wider assessment of what is meant by sustainable.
Plus find out who are our three finalists for the 2022 BBC Food and Farming Awards. Charlotte is judging this year's Farming for the Future Award which will be presented at a ceremony in Cardiff later this year.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
There's a warning of welfare problems for livestock sent to slaughter, as the supply of carbon dioxide - which is used for stunning the animals - is once again drying up. It could lead to issues on farms as a rising number of pigs and poultry can't be sent to the abattoir. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of the manufacture of ammonia - and the UK's last remaining ammonia plant is no longer going to produce it. CF Industries says the cost of operating is too high, so for now it's going to import ammonia instead, and - as the gas is a by-product of ammonia production - it won't be making CO2. This will also have an impact on the supply and price of fertiliser.
All this week Farming Today has looking at the causes and consequences of rising food prices. A survey from the Nat West bank reveals that 99 per cent of the 252 farmers they asked say they're facing above inflation price rises on at least one main input - things like energy, fuel, feed or fertiliser. Some are planning to grow less or change what they produce in the coming year to limit their losses. Many had agreed prices with their customers before the rise in energy prices, for instance, and so will be looking for much higher prices next season. We speak to a livestock farmer in Somerset.
In 2018 the island of Ulva, which sits off the coast of the Isle of Mull and had a population of just five, was bought by a community group for around £4.5 million. Plans to restore the housing on the island are well under way and the population has doubled to ten. But now the island’s farmland has to be brought back to life, too. We hear from the man tasked with doing just that. You can hear the full story on On Your Farm on BBC Sounds.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Sally Challoner
As we continue our week looking at the causes and consequences of increasing food prices, we hear how the world's largest grain trading companies are making huge profits at the same time as food prices increase rapidly. Some charities are now calling for them to face a windfall tax. We speak to IPES-Food which has been monitoring how recent global events are affecting global food prices.
How sustainable is the meat you eat? Some people pay more for organic and grass-fed beef and lamb with the belief that it will have less of an impact on the environment, however conservation writer George Monbiot says they are wrong, as it is some of the most damaging. Anna Hill speaks to George Monbiot and Cambridge University professor Donald Broom who says there needs to be a wider assessment of what is meant by sustainable.
And we’ve reported regularly about the use of robots on farms, from weeding crops to picking fruit. But they are still too expensive for many farmers to think of using. Now the idea of hiring in robots, rather like seasonal workers, is on the cards.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
The Government is asking the agricultural industry, scientists and the wider public for information on how new types of animal feed can reduce methane emissions from cattle and sheep. For several years farmers have been working with scientists to find out if feeding dairy cattle differently might reduce how much methane they produce - which is a contributor to the warming climate. Now the Government wants to find out what role feed additives are having, and what barriers there are that might prevent the introduction of methane suppressing feed products.
Research published today forecasts that climate change will reduce spring hay yields by 20-50% between 2020 and 2080. Hay, which is made from dried meadow grass, is used to feed a wide range of livestock, and is a major part of horses’ diets too. In very dry years such as the one we have had this year, hay production is reduced, which has been adding pressure to farmers who are also facing higher fertiliser costs.
And this week we're looking at some of the reasons behind the rising food prices. Today, Radio 4's "The Food Programme" presenter Dan Saladino finds out how the pressure on supermarkets has been driving up prices.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A meat processing plant is claiming to be carbon neutral, using animal fats from the abattoir process to power the plant. ABP has invested millions of pounds in the vast new site at Ellesmere in the Midlands, using state of the art equipment to make the process as easy as possible for the animals themselves, and providing data and insight for the farmers that supply them. A new report by a group of charities says chemicals are the hidden killer in our rivers. WildFish (formerly Salmon and Trout Conservation) worked with the RSPB, BugLife and the Pesticide Collaboration, testing invertebrates from 12 rivers to assess river health. They found the number of species had declined, and are calling on the government to better regulate and police water quality rules. Defra says it is committed to river health, including through the new Environment Act. As part of our week looking at the rising cost of food, today we meet a farmer who says a 'perfect storm' of Brexit, war in Ukraine and the effects of Covid, have led to a drastic shortage of labour to work on farms and in food processing, pushing prices up for farmers and consumers. Presented by Charlotte Smith.
Now the UK has left the EU, changes afoot in how farmers are supported by government. Uplands sheep farmers are at the sharp end of these changes, as their incomes often rely heavily on the old Basic Payment Scheme. Many are frustrated with how long it’s taking to get the new schemes up and running - as Caz Graham finds out, speaking to a sheep farmer in the Lake District fells. Meanwhile others say nature and biodiversity would be better off without sheep-farming altogether...
This week saw revelations about the exploitation of seasonal workers coming to the UK from Indonesia. Caz Graham speaks to Emily Dugan, who wrote about this for the Guardian newspaper; And following a full virtual mailbag of feedback from listeners, we address questions about why international workers are needed in the first place with Tom Bradshaw from the National Farmers' Union.
And the government's announced plans to create Highly Protected Marine Areas in five locations around the UK coast, where there'll be a total ban on all commercial and recreational fishing. But at one of those sites, around Holy Island off the Northumberland coast, islanders say the move will rip the heart out of their community.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Lucy Taylor
Researchers at Oxford University have come up with a new way of assessing the eco-credentials of supermarket food, which could lead to a new eco-label. They’ve estimated the environmental footprint of 57000 food products in the UK, ranging from beef to biscuits to ready meals and fizzy drinks. There’s an algorithm and scoring system to rank food, and ready meals and sausage rolls are logged as 90% less harmful than beef and lamb. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has welcomed the initiative. But it has its critics who argue it’s too simplistic and that algorithms and broad estimates are too blunt a tool in the complex world of global food. All week we’ve been looking at sheep farming. Sheep are typically farmed on land which is no good for growing crops, like the high Lake District fells where we were yesterday, but some farmers are adding sheep into the arable rotation on their farms in order to improve soil health with a bit of natural fertiliser, manage weeds and provide another income stream. But having enough grass for sheep to graze in dry areas like East Anglia can be a challenge - so a sheep farmer in Norfolk has swapped grass for lucerne which is a legume plant valued for its drought tolerance, and used to feed sheep in New Zealand. With inflation exceeding 10% for the first time since 1982, more and more small businesses are counting the cost. One family-run farm-shop near York has told us they’re ‘devastated’ at having to close after nearly a quarter of a century serving the community. They simply can’t afford their soaring energy bills.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
There’s been some very welcome rain in parts of the country. But the on-going drought has made life very difficult for farmers. Some don’t have enough grass in their fields to feed their livestock and are using up winter stores already. Now George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, has announced that Defra is relaxing some of the rules for agri-environment schemes, meaning farmers who are paid for managing some of their land for nature, like wildflower margins around fields, will be allowed to cut or graze it earlier than usual. But what will this mean for the wildlife it's supposed to support? Continuing our week looking at sheep, Caz Graham visits a Cumbrian hill farmer in the northern fells of the Lake District, to hear his frustration at the length of time it’s taking to get the post-Brexit farm support schemes up and running. Farm incomes in the uplands rely heavily on the old EU Basic Payment Scheme, and many are worried how they will survive after they are phased out completely in 2027. Sheep farming is controversial, with some conservationists thinking the uplands would be much better off without them. We speak to Professor of Upland Landscapes at the University of Cumbria in Ambleside, Lois Mansfield.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, an independent charity, has spent the last three years working with local and national stakeholders, seeking a practical way to develop a Land Use Framework for England. They’ve just published their latest report, and Caz Graham speaks to Tom Burston, the Commission's director of policy and research, to find out more.
A viral video on social media has sparked discussions around on-farm safety during harvest season. Off the back of the incident where a man apparently stood in front of a combine harvester, Caz speaks to Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Safety Foundation.
And Castlemilk Moorits are one of our native sheep breeds, they have a fascinating history and their fleece is highly prized by hand spinners. But with only just over a thousand in the whole of the UK, they’re officially at risk. Mariclare Carey-Jones meets the Welsh Representative of the Castlemilk Moorit’s Society, Vicky Phillips, and her flock.
Presented by Caz Graham; produced in Bristol by Lucy Taylor.
Claims that seasonal workers from Indonesia have taken on debts of up to £5000 to pick British fruit are to be investigated by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). An investigation by The Guardian found some were charged by unlicensed recruitment brokers for unnecessary tests and training, and are now struggling to recoup the costs.
Farmers are to be told this week if they will be allowed to cut and graze areas of land which have been protected under Countryside or Environmental Stewardship schemes. The Rural Payments Agency is planning to relax some of the rules farmers follow for payments since the dry weather has reduced the amount of feed available for livestock.
Plus sheep milk cheese. It's still relatively rare to milk sheep in the UK. We visit one farm that's aiming to make its operation more sustainable.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Natalie Donovan
Farmers in Fife, a prime location for growing vegetables and soft fruit, have had to stop using water from the catchment of the River Eden to irrigate their crops. The National Farmers' Union of Scotland calls it “a devastating blow for vegetable growers.” We hear from a grower who says it'll put his broccoli crop at risk. Some cattle farmers are finding the grass is so dry and thin, there’s just not enough nutrition in it to feed their livestock which means many have been already forced to break into their winter feed stocks, even in the famously lush fields of the West country. And we kick-off our week focusing on sheep with a specialist from SAC Consulting, Kirsten Williams. The sheep industry was worth around £1.3 billion in 2020, according to the National Sheep Association, it’s a mainstay of British farming and it’s facing challenges aplenty.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
As drought is declared across several parts of England, fires have been breaking out on arable farms where the harvest is well underway. Farm insurer NFU Mutual says so far this month it's already received more than 150 reports. We speak to some affected farmers - including one who says she could not call 999 when she first spotted a fire because there was no signal on her mobile phone.
The hot weather is also a challenge for livestock farmers - who need to keep animals cool and fed when grass is parched. The British Poultry Council says the extreme temperatures have "led to very high mortality events in some poultry flocks". The campaign group Compassion in World Farming is warning farmers to take extra measures to protect livestock, and is calling on the Government to suspend journeys for farmed animals unless absolutely necessary.
And away from worries about the hot dry weather, it's full steam ahead for farm and country shows at the moment. Caz Graham visits the 118th Vale of Rydal Sheepdog Trials & Hound in the heart of the Lake District to see what was happening there.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Compassion in World Farming is warning farmers to take extra measures to protect their livestock in these current heat wave temperatures, and is calling on the government to suspend journeys for farmed animals unless absolutely necessary. It’s 12 August, famous in shooting circles as the Glorious 12th because it’s the first day of the red grouse shooting season. Grouse shooting, although not welcomed by all, does provide a welcome injection of cash into some remote rural areas. At this time of year there are farm and country shows right across the UK that can offer a real insight into rural life and traditions, both past and present. Yesterday was a glorious summer’s day for the 118th Vale Of Rydal Sheepdog Trials and Hound Show in the central Lake District. Caz Graham took a look.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The hot weather has led to more crop fires during this years' harvest - today we hear from a farmer who had to phone 999 but couldn't get through because she had no mobile phone signal. The CLA, which supports rural businesses and landowners, says universal coverage is urgently needed and the network is not fit for purpose.
As farmers continue to speculate over how the UK's free trade agreement with New Zealand will affect business, the AHDB has published analysis it has been carrying out with Harper Adams University into the risks and opportunities. It says although the deal is better for farmers in New Zealand, the effect is not likely to be as extreme as some have predicted.
Plus we continue our look at the harvest in different parts of the UK - today it's blackcurrants. We hear how the hot weather has damaged some of the fruit, and led to a much earlier harvest.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
With tinder-dry conditions in many parts of country, fires in farm machinery are at record levels. The insurer NFU Mutual is recording two a day on average - which means that numbers are up by 35%. We hear from a farmer in Buckinghamshire who experienced a combine harvester fire first-hand this week. Caz Graham asks the Farm Safety Foundation what farmers can do to reduce the risk of a blaze.
As temperatures rise and our climate changes, experts are warning that the way we grow our food will have to change too. We visit the Allerton Project - a demonstration farm in Leicestershire, where they're researching what that might look like.
Continuing a week-long look at this year's harvest, we're out in Lincolnshire with the pea viners.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Emma Campbell
The government is launching a consultation on how best to manage deer in England. The deer population of the UK is estimated to have increased from 450,000 in the 1970s to two million today - which is thought to be the highest for a thousand years. Deer have a big impact on woodland, as they can seriously damage trees. They are already culled to keep numbers down. Caz Graham asks the British Deer Society what they make of the government's proposals.
Continuing a week-long look at how this year's harvest is going, we get a round-up from four different farmers in the four regions of the UK. While much of England and Wales is struggling with a lack of rain, the situation isn't the same in Scotland. Caz talks to a meteorologist from the BBC Weather Centre to find out about the differing conditions in different parts of the country.
We hear about a Leicestershire farm which is helping the NHS to try out a new way of making it easier for hospital patients to get the nutrition they need.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced in Bristol by Emma Campbell.
With areas of the UK struggling with drought, we speak to a farm business which has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds building reservoirs to store winter rain ready for summer.
One sure way to avoid much of the weather's impact is to grow inside - not just in greenhouses but in vertical farms which look more like warehouses. The Jones Food Company, which specialises in growing this way, has just opened a new research centre in Bristol to trial growing more veg and fruit inside.
Harvest 2022 is already around two weeks ahead of previous summers, as the dry weather allows farmers to get out in the fields earlier. We speak to an analyst from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board about the opportunities and challenges of the heat.
Presented by Charlotte Smith.
The British Growers’ Association, which represents the horticulture and fresh produce industries, is warning of a potential crisis in the sector because of rising costs, water shortages and difficulties finding workers. They’ve just carried out research into carrot and broccoli production and say unless farmers get paid more for their veg, they’ll be forced to stop growing it.
As the Environment Agency declares July to have been the driest in England on record since 1935, two farmers in Suffolk tell us how their farms are affected. Is planting into dry ground worthwhile, and should they invest in new irrigation systems?
Tenant farmers manage 35% of the UK's farmed land area, and are a vital part of the food growing network, but are facing increasing challenges as land values rise. We speak to a farmer who has is losing a large proportion of the land his family have farmed for 40 years in Northumberland.
And we hear the folk song which, it's hoped, will draw attention to the work of migrant seasonal workers. It was commissioned by researchers from the University of Leeds and Oxford, who are running a project called 'Feeding the Nation' to track the experiences of workers throughout the 2020 and 2021 harvests.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Farmers in Australia are used to hot weather and droughts, but they've had a whole series of extreme weather events to contend with lately - including widespread flooding. Anna Hill talks to a spokesman from the National Farmers' Federation in Australia, who explains how the situation there is contributing to the global food supply crisis.
Meanwhile the UK's National Drought Group met yesterday. With predictions that by 2050 some rivers could contain between 50 and 80 per cent less water during the summer months, how should farmers be managing their water supplies in the longer term?
And we meet the "Pint-Sized Farmer" - who's been using social media to open up a new window on the farming world.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced in Bristol by Emma Campbell.
The British Growers’ Association, which represents the horticulture and fresh produce industries, is warning of a potential crisis in the sector, as input costs spiral and the price they are paid is kept stubbornly low. They’ve just carried out research into carrot and broccoli production and say unless farmers get paid more for their veg, they’ll be forced to stop growing it. As the drought continues in parts of the UK, some farmers are keeping a close eye on their valuable irrigation systems. They’re fast becoming a target for thieves - joining other farm essentials like quad bikes, diesel, GPS systems and machinery parts. This year’s report by the rural insurer NFU Mutual, published this week, says the cost of rural crime is now back up to pre-pandemic levels. We join one farmer in Cambridgeshire who regularly patrols his fields. All week we've been looking at the issues facing tenant farmers. Today we meet a couple who - despite multiple applications - have had no luck finding a new tenancy. They currently rent a farm but the landlord has decided to sell. Gooseberries are often seen as a rather old-fashioned fruit, but they do make good pies! And if you want to find the best gooseberries, Egton Bridge near Whitby is the place to be this week. It's the home to the UK’s oldest gooseberry show which has taken place in the first week in August for 222 years. It attracts gooseberry fans from across the UK. The presenter is Caz Graham.
Farmers who currently get the highest level of government support for looking after the environment have been told they will be able to carry those schemes over for a further five years. We ask if that's good news, or if it could mean more delays for farmers transferring to the new Environmental Land Management schemes.
We continue our look into Tenant Farming - today we hear concerns that farmers signed up for short tenancies could find applying for those new environmental protection schemes more difficult. Fiona Clampin meets Lewis Steer in Dartmoor.
And we hear a new folk song that's been written to pay tribute to migrant seasonal workers. It was commissioned by researchers from the University of Leeds and Oxford who are running a project called 'Feeding the Nation' to track the experiences of workers throughout the 2020 and 2021 harvests.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As the world’s leading soil scientists gather in Glasgow, we hear calls for a total re-think of how we measure soil health. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, a third of agricultural soil is “moderately” to “highly” degraded, threatening global food supplies, increasing carbon emissions and reducing its capacity to hold water. But how do scientists evaluate the health of soil - and is the way they’ve been using the best one?
As the Environment Agency declares July to have been the driest in England on record since 1935, two farmers in Suffolk tell us how their farms are affected. Is planting into dry ground worthwhile, and should they invest in new irrigation systems?
And all this week we are talking about the issues faced by tenant farmers. Today we're in Gloucestershire with pig farmer Helen Wade, who would like to share her tenanted land with a new farmer.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
A review looking into robots on farms has been published, it calls for more cooperation between academia, business and farmers. It also recommends a longer-term seasonal workers scheme so that agriculture has enough staff while the automation industry becomes more mainstream. We hear from a farm in Cornwall where robots are already being used to plant crops.
All this week Farming Today will be looking at tenant farmers. They manage 35% of the UK's farmed land area, and are a vital part of the food growing network. But they face some challenges - from increasingly shorter tenancies to a lack of available land. Council owned farms have also been sold off as the money is needed elsewhere. Charlotte Smith finds out about the difficulties facing tenants.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced in Bristol by Sally Challoner.
Scottish MP Angus MacNeil is calling for a cull of sea eagles as farmers and crofters say they are taking more lambs as numbers grow. The bird - with a wing-span of around two metres - was driven to extinction in Scotland, until reintroduction programmes in the 1970s brought them back. Now there are more than a hundred breeding pairs. NatureScot is offering management schemes, including funding extra shepherds to help farmers. But so far there is no compensation for lost revenue, and no plans for a managed cull.
Dutch farmers have been making headlines around the world, not for their agricultural produce but intensive protests. Tractors have rolled up outside parliament, blocked supermarket distribution centres and turned up outside politicians' homes. Even Donald Trump has weighed in, in support of the farmers. The demonstrations are against the Dutch government's plans to cut harmful nitrogen emissions to meet climate targets. The farmers argue the government's proposals are unrealistic and unfairly target their industry.
The presenter is Charlotte Smith.
As part of our week looking at the global food crisis, we turn our attention to Northern Italy, where in some areas a state of emergency has been declared. Water levels in the River Po have hit record lows, and the largest farmers' union has warned that the drought could threaten more than 30% of agricultural produce. Italy is the EU’s biggest rice producer, and we hear from an agronomist working to make growing rice more sustainable.
We report on how a huge engineering project has begun to remove an 18th century weir from the River Nidd in North Yorkshire, to restore the natural life of the river system in the area.
And as scientists in Belgium look into the effect music might have on pigs, we hear from a farmer in Suffolk who says classical tunes help to calm his stock.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Anna Hill finds asks why some countries impose export restrictions on agricultural products, and finds out how political decisions affect the global food crisis.
A drought could be declared for parts of Eastern and Central England, where farmers are struggling with a lack of rain. We hear from an estate manager who explains how this is affecting the harvest of some root vegetables.
Staff shortages are a big problem in many farming sectors. We visit a vineyard in East Sussex, where they've managed to recruit pickers who live within a 15 miles radius of the farm.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Emma Campbell.
The Government has given legal protection to beavers in England, which means it will be illegal to harm or move them without a licence. They have had protection in Scotland since 2019. We hear from a farmer in Scotland who says they do cause problems there, and from the Wildlife Trust which welcomes the protection, but urges the government to provide more details of management practices.
A campaign against a controversial rabbit meat and fur farm in Nottinghamshire is being stepped up. Opponents are staging weekly protests outside the site at East Bridgford. But the owners say it complies with all regulations and standards. Last month 12 rabbits were taken from the farm in a late night raid that's now being investigated by police.
All week we’re going to be exploring the pressure on food systems around the world and hear why they are under stress. The reasons are multiple and complex – rather like the global food system itself. A deal has been signed to release millions of tonnes of grain from Ukraine – but it will take time for global wheat supplies to get back to normal. There are also high input prices, and the cost of fuel. Longer term, the pressure of climate change on food production and who needs food, keeps building.
The presenter is Anna Hill.
A farmer talks about a tragic tractor accident which cost his 4 year old nephew his life. No parliamentary scrutiny for the Australia trade deal - what does that mean for future deals and UK farmers? All week we've been looking at livestock feed. 40% of UK arable land is used to grow feed: the WWF says the system must change to address climate change, biodiversity loss and food security challenges.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
A farmer talks about a tragic accident which cost his nephew his life, in the hope it'll be a reminder to other farmers not to allow children on farm equipment. Brian Nutter was convicted by the Health and Safety Executive, after allowing his four year old nephew to ride on his digger. In 2017 the UK produced just under 14 million tonnes of feed - but 6 million tonnes of the ingredients were imported, and the cost has risen dramatically. So could the answer be getting animals to eat home-grown insects? In the European Union insects can now be fed to pigs. But the law here in the UK is lagging behind. A company which provides the technology to farm insects is lobbying for this to change. A group of conservationists, farming groups and policy advisers have launched what they call a UK Climate and Trade Commission. It’s been set up by Queen Mary University of London and the Trade Justice Movement, and its 15 members include experts from the United Nations, former senior government officials, environmental and farming groups, businesses and trade unions. Members hope it'll help bridge the gap between trade and climate organisations.
The Government has failed to give MPs the chance to debate the trade deal with Australia in the House of Commons. Australia is the first post-Brexit trade deal to be negotiated from scratch. Farmers have objected to its terms; they say it will let in too much beef and lamb produced at standards below those in the UK. Parliamentary scrutiny was promised many times over the last few years. We ask what happened. As part of our week looking at livestock feed, today we hear from a dairy farmer. The recent uncertainty has pushed up animal feed prices which in turn has trickled down to shoppers.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The EU is proposing to block the importation of food, grown using the banned pesticides neonicotinoids, in an effort to reduce their environmental impact in other countries. This would be the first time that a World Trade Organisation member used environmental impacts, rather than consumer health, to restrict pesticide use in trade. Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European agricultural policy at Trinity College Dublin, has described the move as 'throwing a hand grenade into global agri-food trade’. Faith in British food has fallen, according to a survey just released by the Red Tractor food standards label. Their annual ‘Trust in Food’ index showed although UK food is trusted more than imported goods, it declined by 8% overall, from last years’ figures. All week we’re talking about animal feed. Most commercial egg producers rely on soya to provide protein for their chickens which they need for laying. Organic farmer Mike Mallett at Maple Farm in Suffolk has 2000 free range birds and he’s rejected soya as a feed. For the last nine years he's been working to give his chickens only home-grown organic feed and he’s nearly succeeded.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
40% of UK arable land is used to grow animal feed, the WWF says the system must change to address climate change, biodiversity loss and food security challenges.
After three years of no show it’s full steam ahead this week, as the Royal Welsh agricultural show gets back to business. But after a three-year break due to Covid, and amid warnings of dangerously high temperatures, organisers have admitted this year's event has been one of the most challenging to get up and running.
All week we're looking at animal feed. It's perhaps the biggest cost a meat producer faces and those costs have been soaring, and that's certainly true in the poultry industry. We visit a feed processor near Winchester.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
With the UK under the first ever red extreme heat warning to be issued by the Met Office, farmers are being warned to take extra steps to keep themselves and their animals safe in temperatures that could reach a life-threatening 40 degrees in some parts. Fields are tinder dry, and machinery - with its hot moving parts, dust and diesel - is already under higher risk of catching fire. We get advice from the Farm Safety Foundation. As the price of fertilizer rockets - largely due to the war in Ukraine - we meet a farmer who's found an unexpected result of growing more environmentally friendly sward is that he doesn't need as much fertilizer, as the plants fix nitrogen in the soil. And this week we look at the UK's animal feed industry. We manufacture sixteen million tonnes of it every year for the nation's cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and fish farms too. The presenter is Steffan Messenger.
Will British farmers lose out, because the European Union has struck a better trade deal for their farmers with New Zealand? Anna Hill asks an international trade expert. All week we've been looking at the UK dairy industry. The price farmers get paid for their milk is at its highest ever level at around 50 pence per litre. But their input costs are also rising fast, and one dairy analyst says if the price they get doesn't keep up, more farmers will leave the industry. The heatwave has brought a series of field fires as farmers start to gather in the harvest. The combination of working machinery, high temperatures and very dry crops is something farmers have to be vigilant about.
Presented by Steffan Messenger and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Low rainfall in parts of England and Wales followed by hot weather is causing water levels in rivers to drop, endangering fish. Along the Wye and Usk rivers in mid and south Wales, hugely popular with anglers, the local rivers' trust has suspended all salmon and trout fishing, saying low river flows and high water temperatures are causing stress to the fish, and even killing them in some places.
Over the past six months, Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has been taking evidence about the difficulties faced by people living in rural areas when it comes to accessing mental health services. This week the MPs held their final session, grilling health and environment ministers and officials.
All this week we're taking a closer look at all aspects of the dairy industry. Making a small dairy herd profitable is tough, but adding value to the product can be one way of making it work. At Berkeley Farm near Swindon farmer Ed Gosling has acquired a fleet of six electric milk floats to deliver his milk to around three thousand homes nearby.
Presented by Steffan Messenger and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Will British farmers lose out, because the European Union has struck a better trade deal for their farmers with New Zealand? Anna Hill asks an international trade expert.
A doom-laden report has been published by the Environment Agency outlining the effect of human life on the global natural environment and the current threat of climate change. We ask what part farmers can play in nature recovery.
All week we're taking a closer look at the dairy industry. Today it’s raw milk, which hasn’t been heat-treated to pasteurise it.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Defra has launched a UK-wide consultation into the pig industry supply chain - from farm, to processor to retailer. It comes after a difficult few years, with labour and processor shortages, leading to pigs backed up on farm. The cost of production is also currently higher than the price farmers are being paid. We meet a Shropshire farmer where robots are now being used to weed between flowers. It comes as Defra urges farmers to use automation as part of a solution to labour shortages. And a look at one of the organisations that tests the UK's milk for quality and safety. The National Milk Laboratories also offers milk tests to find out if a cow is pregnant - vital knowledge in the production of milk. The presenter is Steffan Messenger.
The heatwave has brought a series of field fires as farmers start to gather in the harvest. The combination of working machinery, high temperatures and very dry crops is something farmers have to be vigilant about.
Scotland’s Rural College has just bought a new piece of kit for their dairy herd, which they claim will practically eliminate methane and ammonia emissions from their slurry production.
All this week we're talking dairy, and one of the big conversations for this sector is prices. Gundenham Dairy in Somerset manages its own processing on-site, allowing them a unique degree of control over the process. But that, we hear, comes with its own challenges.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Nearly 670 million people worldwide will be undernourished in 2030 according to The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, which published its annual assessment of global food security this week. The Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine are making things worse.
We catch up with a Dutch man who farms in Ukraine. He's just begun this year’s harvest but says they're running out of storage space for the grain and thinks yields will be affected by lack of fertiliser and seed. He warns that in some parts of the region, there may not be a harvest at all next year if the conflict continues.
Leaving the European Union means the subsidy system for farmers is now a devolved decision. The Welsh Government has just announced more details of their new scheme. Farmers in Wales will have to cover at least 10% of their land with trees in order to qualify for public funding in future. Ministers insist they don't want to see widespread land use change, away from farming.
All week on Farming Today we’ve been talking about rural tourism which brings in £4.5 billion to the UK economy every year, according to Visit England. We look at a herd of heritage animals in Northumberland. The Chillingham Wild Cattle Association is opening a new visitor centre to tell the story of the beasts which have never been farmed and used to be hunted. We look at the problems and solutions of too many tourists on Skye and visit a Devon farmer who opened a campsite under lockdown and says it's made a big difference to the farm business.
Some farmers in Scotland are asking for the Government to implement a cull of wild boar, which are digging up fields, spreading disease, and according to some, attacking sheep. It comes as a deadly disease - African Swine Fever - is spreading West across Europe. It's already led to the loss of more than one million domestic pigs. Wild boar are thought to spread the disease. All this week we are looking at the UK dairy industry. The price farmers get paid for their milk is at its highest ever level - around 50 pence per litre. But their input costs are also rising fast, and one dairy analyst says if the price they get doesn't keep up, more farmers will leave the industry. And we hear from farmers and conservationists in Gloucestershire aiming to help the dwindling population of Curlews The presenter is Caz Graham
A Ukrainian farmer warns that the continuing war could lead to no crops being planted for next year's harvest. The Black Sea blockade not only means this year's grain can't be exported and sold, but they also can't get diesel to run tractors. Kees Huizinger has been unable to get his wheat past Russian forces. A huge increase in tourists to the 'holy' island of Lindisfarne has led to some safety problems for local people. These include damage to farmland, as well as an increase in the number of people needing to be rescued from the causeway that connects the islands to the mainland. And we meet primary school children who are working with farmers in Cornwall to set up a regenerative farming system for growing crops The presenter is Caz Graham
A new United Nations report explores the impact of Covid and the war in Ukraine on food security worldwide, and how that situation could evolve over the next decade.
We hear how a new piece of research reveals that young people still don’t regard agriculture as an appealing career option.
And with the cost of farming rising, rural tourism has become an important source of extra income for many farm businesses. Today we report from a farm where fields are being used as a campsite.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
The government committee set up to scrutinise post-Brexit free trade deals has concluded British farmers shouldn't be negatively impacted by the deal with New Zealand - we hear from the president of the National Farmers' Union. Wild deer are causing problems in a small village in the Highlands of Scotland., leading to calls for a cull - some local people aren't happy. And we take a look at how rural tourism is faring post-Covid.
Charlotte Smith visits a fruit farm in Kent to investigate the challenges and the joys of growing fruit. Clock House Farm produced strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples and plums. They've face recruitment issues this year because of the war in Ukraine, since many of their seasonal workers normally come from there. Meanwhile the cost of labour as well as the price of other inputs like diesel and fertiliser have risen...meaning they are currently operating below the cost of production. But investment is still being made in innovation like the use of robotics.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
To round off a week of programmes from Clock House Farm in Kent, this programme focuses on the environmental footprint of fruit.
Charlotte Smith looks round the packhouse which handles the farm's produce, and packs 13,000 tonnes of soft fruit every year. She also finds out how the farm is trying to reduce it's use of water and agrochemicals.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The government's Seasonal Workers Scheme has been extended to provide 40,000 six-month visas for people coming to work in the UK on fruit, veg and flower farms as well as in food processing - but will it be enough? Charlotte Smith is on a fruit farm in Kent, asking how they've been effected by a shortage of labour.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol is Heather Simons
Anna Hill is on Clock House Farm in Kent asking what the future holds for fruit production. She visits the research polytunnels where new fruit varieties are being trialled and goes out with a team of robots to treat strawberry plants with UVC light.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farming Today comes from a fruit farm in Kent, where Anna Hill find out why the cost of producing strawberries, raspberries and blackberries has gone up by 15%.
Presenter by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
All this week we're talking about the fruit industry - from innovations to problems in accessing seasonal labour at harvest time. We'll be at Clock House Farm in Kent. We also hear from the chair of British Berry Growers. Nick Marston. And we have an update on the price of fertiliser - up by well over 100% since last year. We hear how this is driving farmers' decisions on whether to plant crops this year or not.
The Ggovernment doesn’t understand labour shortages in food and farming and is putting the future of the sector in danger - according to the EFRA Committee of MPs.
What is regenerative agriculture and could it be the answer for the environment and farmers' bottom lines? Charlotte Smith visit Groundswell.
Investigations continue into a suspected case of Foot and Mouth on a pig farm in Norfolk...although initial tests do not indicate the presence of disease.
And why has this year seen the largest and longest ever outbreak of Bird Flu in the UK?
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The government doesn’t understand labour shortages in food and farming, and is putting the future of the sector in danger, according to MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee who wrote a report on the issues earlier this year. The government has just published its response – rejecting their calls for the Seasonal Workers Scheme to be made permanent, and for the English language requirement for skilled workers in the sector to be lowered. Ministers say they’ve worked closely with industry to respond to labour shortages, pointing to the extra 10,000 visas added to the seasonal worker scheme this year and the plan for an independent review of labour in food and farming. Conservationists in Scotland are warning that the current bird flu outbreak could drive a seabird species into extinction in the country. The government has already launched a consortium of experts to tackle this, the largest and longest-running bird flu outbreak. But it could come too late for Great Skua’s on St Kilda, a series of remote islands off the Scottish mainland. A hundred have been found dead this season, with numbers thought to be down around two thirds over the past three years. Dairy Crest has been fined one and a half million pounds after admitting a host of pollution and odour charges. The company, which produces cathedral city cheese and country life butter, admitted 21 pollution incidents at its Davidstow creamery in Cornwall between 2016 and 2021, two of which killed fish in a local river.
The principles of regenerative agriculture include increasing crop diversity, protecting the soil with ground cover, involving livestock, reducing tillage and keeping living roots in the soil. But why do it? In this programme, Charlotte Smith visits the regenerative agriculture show, Groundswell, to find out.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The average annual grocery bill in the UK is set to rise by £380 this year, according to research firm Kantar, which monitors food prices. We ask whether farmers with surplus produce could be the answer in providing food to those who need it and reducing food waste.
Many farmers take part in on-farm trials to try to find solutions to issues they are facing. We hear about a network whose latest experiment is a slug-resistant wheat.
All this week on Farming Today we're looking at legumes. As organic farms can't use artificial fertilisers, legumes play a vital part in fixing nitrogen in the soil and we hear how one farm is looking at growing pulses as a cash crop for human food.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Since last Autumn, there’s been confusion about the rules governing muck spreading - outlining when and how much farmers can spread on their land. In March, DEFRA released new guidance, allowing autumn spreading, and also allowing farmers to spread more muck than their soil or crop required. The Salmon and Trout Conservation group believed the guidance given to the Environment Agency was essentially encouraging farmers to break the law. It threatened to take DEFRA to judicial review. Now, the government has altered its guidance. The National Farmers Union says it’s “disappointed", saying the changes "seemingly prevent some farmers applying organic manures to certain fields.”
Red clover is a legume, which fixes nitrogen in the soil. Its flowers attract bees and its leafy growth provides calcium and protein-rich grazing, but fifty years ago research suggested the legume could reduce fertility in sheep. Now, a group of farmers in the Midlands and Wales have been testing these findings. The field trials are being run by the “Innovative Farmers” - a group that links up farmers with scientists - and the agricultural consultancy, ADAS. The conclusion is that the original findings were wrong and red clover can actually improve fertility rates.
And a significant part of livestock feed is made of plant-based protein and while feed costs are rising sharply for farmers, a Welsh government funded scheme has been getting more farmers to grow their own cattle-feed ingredients - and that means growing pulses in their fields. We visit one of the farmers who has taken up the challenge.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Government has launched a consortium of scientists and researchers to tackle the biggest ever outbreak of bird flu. There have already been more than 100 cases - leading to strict restrictions on poultry earlier this year. It's also now killing some sea birds. The task force aims to find out why this outbreak is so bad, and what can be done to contain it in future. However a recent government report found out that the main lab used by teams to tackle these outbreaks is itself run down, with some facilities described as 'not fit for purpose'. How do you keep cattle in a field? It may seem an obvious question but the obvious answer – a fence or hedge - is no longer the only one. GPS electric collars keep cattle in the defined area by delivering a small electric shock – less than an electric fence - if the animals stray too close to the digital boundary. The collar also emits a high-pitched tone until they back away. These ‘invisible borders’ are set by farmers using a phone app. We meet a farmer trialling this teach, and hoping it will lead to a much larger regional grazing project. This week we're also talking about legumes - plants which produce a pod with seeds inside, so anything from peanuts to beans and peas. Today we hear from a farmer growing fava beans in Yorkshire.
Another day, another food strategy, this time for Scotland where Members of the Scottish parliament have just passed the ‘Good Food Nation’ bill. But what do these new food strategies mean for farmers?
All this week we're talking about salmon on the programme. The Scottish government commissioned a major review into the industry and say that in the coming months they’ll be setting out a ‘vision’ for salmon farming.
And we hear how farmers in Northern Ireland are responding to rising costs impacting fuel, feed and fertiliser prices, which have all risen sharply over the past few months.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
One of the biggest challenges for the UK's fruit and vegetable farms is finding a workforce. In recent years UK farmers have relied heavily on labour from eastern Europe, but leaving the EU means those numbers are now restricted and the war in Ukraine is having a further impact. So the search for seasonal workers is being widened, with people coming from Nepal and Indonesia.
And all this week on Farming Today we're talking about salmon. We hear about a Scottish-based company hoping to open Scotland’s first ‘semi-closed’ fish farm, which they say could reduce pollution and sea lice in their salmon.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The Sustainable Food Trust publishes a report today exploring regenerative farming and what impact this might have on self-sufficient food production in the UK.
This year was one of the worst avian flu outbreaks for poultry and the disease is also hitting sea birds. Hundreds of bird carcasses have been found across Scotland, with more being discovered in North East England, which the RSPB believes could be linked.
And all this week on Farming Today, we're looking at the salmon industry - from wild populations to salmon farming - and today we hear about the dangers faced by migrating wild salmon which travel from river to sea and back again.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The government’s White paper in response to The National Food Strategy, which it commissioned three years ago, has been criticised as lacking long-term planning. One of the main focuses is increasing domestic food production but with issues such as labour shortages and increased costs of production, this could be a challenge.
This week we’re focusing on salmon - both farmed and wild. Catches of Scottish wild salmon are at a record low, due to rising ocean temperatures, pollution and fish farming. We also hear about a project hoping to revitalise one of the most important salmon rivers in the West Highlands.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
All week on Farming Today we're looking at the salmon industry - from wild populations to salmon farming. Scottish salmon is the UK’s biggest fresh food export with overseas sales hitting £614 million in 2021, up 36 per cent from 2020. But it can be a controversial topic and we hear from both sides of the fence - the economics of the industry and the environmental impact and welfare concerns.
With rising costs of feed, egg farmers are making a loss. There are fears many farmers will just get out of the industry - leaving consumers to pay more.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The government has confirmed that it plans to extend the ‘right to buy’ policy to people living in properties owned by housing associations. In rural areas, housing associations often play an important role in providing affordable rental accommodation. We look at the impact this change in policy could have on rural communities.
Hay meadows were once a common sight in the countryside, but there are very few of them left now. Not only are they beautiful and a valuable habitat, but farmers can also get grants to manage, restore or even create them from scratch.
All this week on Farming Today we're discussing land use and today we hear how the Welsh government has bought up a farm near Brecon for it to be run by the organisers of the Green Man Festival. Local people are concerned about what that means for the future of the farm.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Fertiliser prices have tripled in the last year and many arable farmers rely on them to produce cereal crops. We hear from farmers at 'Cereals 2022', the arable event of the year, where some significant news about the future of fertiliser manufacturing was breaking: CF Fertilisers UK, which makes much of the fertiliser used by British farmers, has announced it’s to close one of its two manufacturing plants.
An ‘off-setting roadmap’ has been drawn up by more than 300 industry leaders from business, finance, and environmental and land management organisations. It sets out how to make the UK an appealing prospect for ‘nature-based’ investment.
All this week we're looking at land use on Farming Today. With the government’s new environmental land management scheme set to replace the Basic Payment financial support farmers get now, many farmers are taking a closer look at the economics of looking after the environment. We hear from one farmer making extensive use of agri-environment schemes.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The trade-off between the push for more green energy and the need to grow food can drive division, but future disputes may be diffused if a new way of using photovoltaics on farms is taken up. A team of researchers from University of Greenwich are trialling the use of transparent solar panels on the walls of glasshouses, and also flexible panels on poly tunnels, to see if it's feasible for growers to generate their own electricity AND their usual fruit crop.
And farming leaders in Wales have said disruption to food supplies caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine should trigger a rethink of how agricultural subsidies are being reformed there. Agriculture is devolved, and now we’ve left the EU, the Welsh Government plans to offer funding in future for delivering environmental outcomes. It’s set to unveil its new scheme this summer, followed by a Welsh Agriculture Bill in September. But NFU Cymru said there was a risk of widespread land use change - and more of a focus on food production was needed - as it set out its calls to politicians at an event in the Senedd this week.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
For many years, news headlines have been punctuated with stories of coastal properties falling into the sea; and it's well known that Britain’s low-lying parts of the East Coast are at risk. Now, the Environment Agency is giving its clearest warning yet: that some coastal communities will have to be moved, and land given up to the sea. Its Chief Executive, Sir James Bevan, has called it "the hardest of all inconvenient truths" and says "climate impacts will mean some coastal communities cannot stay where they are".
The Scottish Government has said it wants at least half of all agricultural support payments for farming and crofting to be conditional by 2025 - meaning to get the money, you’ll have to deliver things like biodiversity gain or reduced emissions. NFU Scotland has been holding a roadshow across the country over the last month gathering farmers’ views; we find out how it's gone down.
And a pilot grant scheme aimed at encouraging small scale food growers in Wales, has led the Welsh Government to take action. The pilot awarded grants of up to £5000 to fund equipment to grow food, on less than five hectares. We visit one of the participating farms.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farm land across the UK is under pressure - to mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, produce green energy, provide new house and of course...grow food. So should there be a strategy to manage it all?
And the BBC Food and Farming Awards are back - celebrating the people or companies who’ve made a real difference, over the past year. To nominate someone - you're welcome to nominate yourself - go to bbc.co.uk/foodawards where you’ll find all the details, the categories, our terms and privacy notice. Nominations are open until just before midnight on June 27th.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
It’s been a week of innovation on Farming Today, as we look ahead to see what the future holds for agriculture.
The problem farmers face growing food - including a shortage of labour and climate change - can stimulate innovation - from vertical farming to growing grass for human consumption.
And there is a helping hand for the harvest – not from people but from robots - out in the field picking asparagus.
Robots also get digging to remove weeds, and farmer and TV presenter Adam Henson relates a meeting with HRH The Queen, and talks about her knowledge of farming.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Alun Beach
The Queen is the longest-lived and the longest-reigning monarch in British history as well as the first to celebrate a platinum jubilee.
The milestone is being marked with Trooping the Colour on Horse Guard’s Parade, royal gun salutes, a service of Thanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral and a Jubilee Pageant with the Gold State Carriage led by the Sovereign’s Escort.
For more than 70 years Her Majesty has been at the centre of ceremonial life, and images of her wearing the royal robes and the Imperial State Crown are seared into our collective memory. But there’s another side to the life of Elizabeth II, far away from Buckingham Palace, bugles and military bands.
The Queen is a farmer, landowner and countrywoman, said to never be happier than when she’s out in the countryside in the company of her dogs, horses and livestock. Privately her passions are her corgis and dorgis (corgi-dachshund crosses), Shire horses, rare breed fell ponies, her string of racehorses, the running of the royal farms and her livestock which includes three historic native cattle breeds; the Jersey, Highland and Sussex.
In this edition of Farming Today, Vernon Harwood is in Windsor, in the shadow of the world famous castle, to consider the monarch’s place in the rural life of the nation, and learn about the support she gives to individuals and organisations in the countryside.
Produced and presented by Vernon Harwood for BBC Audio Wales and West of England.
Archive Material: The Golden Jubilee Tour, BBC Radio Four Six O’Clock News – 2nd May 2002 Interview with the Queen’s Pigeon Racing Manager Len Rush, BBC Radio Four – 4th January 1984 Her Majesty’s Address to the National Federation of Women’s Institutes – 7th June 1990 The Royal Ascot Gold Cup, BBC Radio Five Live – 20th June 2013 Interview with racehorse trainer Ian Balding – 1st January 1977
Anna Louise Claydon visits Jack’s Veg, a 30 acre farm in Canterbury, Kent to find out about a pop up foraging farm experience - using meat that would usually be disposed of, to create mouthwatering menus for festival feasts. Anna meets husband & wife team Imogen and Duncan Tinkler, founders of 'Bangers and Balls' to find out all about their inspiration for the events, their passion for farm foraging and try out some of the recipes for this season. Anna gets a taste for pig's head scotch eggs...and farmer Jack guides us around what was once an overgrown orchard, to share why he's diversifying and collaborating with the duo. Presented and produced by Anna Louise Claydon.
We look at a future of food production where livestock takes a back seat. We visit a two-million-pound project called 'Pasture to Plate' which is setting out to prove that the nutritional goodness in grass can be extracted and fed directly to humans. And hear about a company hoping to be the first in the UK to produce 100 percent lab-grown meat.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Government has begun negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Mexico, hoping to build on the deal inherited from the EU. We hear from a cheese producer looking to expand into this new market. Meanwhile, the UK Government has also signed a document called a Memorandum of Understanding with the US State of Indiana. But what will it mean for British farmers?
And is vertical farming the future of food production? We visit a new facility being built just outside Norwich where they plan to grow 300 thousand bags of salad each week on a site of just four acres.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The RSPB and Greenpeace say they have evidence of illegal burning of peatlands. Burning peat was banned in protected areas and where the peat is deep last year, as part of government efforts to protect and restore peatlands which sequester carbon. Traditionally some have been routinely burnt to create the right habitat for grouse and also to prevent wildfires. But conservationists say they’ve reported 79 cases of possible illegal peat burning.
Applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive open later this week. It's the first phase of England’s replacement for the EU's Common Agricultural Policy: farmers will be paid for the public goods they provide. This is a massive change and there is help and advice for farmers as they make the transition. In Devon, a business advice service - the Business Information Point - has been running a series of free workshops to get farmers up to speed. One of them is about soil, and how to improve it.
What impact will climate change have on farming in the future? Met Office scientists have been studying the impacts on everything from producing livestock, to growing crops, disease and drought.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
All this week we've been looking at the business of growing flowers and plants, and we're at the Chelsea Flower Show to hear about what sort of state our horticulture industry is in. The industry of cut flowers and pot plants is big business - according to Government statistics, the UK grew £1.4 billion worth in 2020.
We speak to the businesses carving out a niche market for their plants, a fantastic display of clematis and with the news that this week the government will allow commercial growing of gene-edited crops in England, we ask what the possibilities are for plant growers.
And we hear from the team who won best in show at this year's Chelsea Flower Show for their rewilded garden.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Sir Robert Goodwill is the new chairman of the EFRA select committee which keeps an eye on DEFRA. He's a Yorkshire farmer and former farming minister.
The UK market for cut flowers and ornamental plants was £1.4 billion in 2020, according to government statistics and around 90% of these flowers are imported. Producer Jane Scotter grows fruit and veg in Herefordshire but she's found that cut flowers make more money. She grows them bio-dynamically - without using pesticides or herbicides. Her 12 acre plot supplies a London restaurant with veg, fruit and flowers and she sells blooms to florists.
Sugar beet growers are being offered a cash advance. To help farmers cope with rising costs, British Sugar is offering them 25% of their money by the end of June, rather than waiting until they deliver the beet in the autumn. The amount will be based on a five year average of their payments. The National Farmers Union’s sugar board says it hopes it will persuade growers to stick with the crop:
Conservationists are counting puffins on the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast. They’re one of the most important sites for puffins in the UK and one of the most popular places for people to see them. It’s the first proper count since Covid and rangers say it’ll be critical in assessing just how the birds are faring.
The price farmers are being paid for milk is rising faster than ever before and is likely to hit rates never seen before over the next couple of months. But dairy farmers won’t be rushing off to book their next holiday or buy a new tractor, in fact some of them will be barely breaking even in spite of these record high prices.
We hear who MPs have elected as the new Chair of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee; and this week we're hearing all about growing flowers and in Scotland, a new group say there’s a growing market for home-grown flowers.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
“A small country, without the ability to flood any market…” That’s how Andrew Morrison - Chairman of New Zealand Beef and Lamb - described his country, in an attempt to allay the fears of farmers here. The new Trade Deal with New Zealand will allow over 2 hundred thousand tonnes of sheepmeat and beef into the UK tariff-free….in 15 years’ time. British producers have been critical, saying they will be undercut by meat produced to lower animal welfare and environmental standards.
A new report from the County Councils Network suggests the impact of Government changes to adult social care, will hit local authorities in rural areas, harder than urban ones. The reforms include a cap on the cost of care and an entitlement to pay cheaper rates for care homes.
We visit a Welsh sunflower farm, taking advantage of one of the biggest floral trends in recent years. Combining "pick your own" with a "photo field” means growers can sell access to the fields for a selfie as well as the flowers themselves.
And we hear a tribute to Caroline Drummond, the Chief Executive of LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) who has died after a short illness.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Government is presenting its Genetic Technology Bill to Parliament this week, which will allow the commercial growing of gene-edited crops in England. Speeding up approval for research into gene-editing has already been happening. Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have developed a Gene Edited (or GE) tomato which can produce pro-vitamin D3 in the fruit and the leaves - and when grown outdoors this could be converted into actual Vitamin D in the plant.
The diet of many dairy cows is supplemented with palm acid oil (a by-product of palm oil production). Scientists at the University of Nottingham have been working to find home-grown oil alternatives, in an effort to cut the carbon footprint of dairy production.
And Norfolk Lavender near Hunstanton has been operating for nearly a century. The lavender is distilled and sold on site as an essential oil, but a growing part of the business is as a tourist destination!
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio Wales & West of England by Heather Simons
There is a shortage of vets in the UK - a situation exacerbated by COVID, Brexit, and the increased workload caused by new paperwork and a surge in pet ownership. The UK's veterinary workforce is currently heavily reliant on vets from the EU - but data from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons show the annual number of registrants from the EU coming to work in the UK fell by 68% from over a thousand in 2019... to just 364 in 2021.
Fishing boats have led a protest off England’s NE coast saying not enough is being done to help them – it’s the latest in the long running dispute over thousands of unexplained shellfish deaths in the area. As we reported - after crabs and lobsters began washing up along the Yorkshire coast last Autumn, Defra and the Environment Agency investigated and blamed an algal bloom. Fishermen disagree saying that the dumping of contaminated sediment is a more likely cause.
And it’s very rare that a foreign species is introduced into the UK to fight off another which has taken hold. But after a decade of research, the Government’s decided it’s safe to release South American Weevils to chomp through the serious invasion of the floating pennywort plant, which is clogging up some of Britain’s waterways.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Wales and West of England by Heather Simons
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this programme, there are details of organisations that offer advice and support at BBC Action Line:
Emotional Distress / Suicide https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4WLs5NlwrySXJR2n8Snszdg/emotional-distress-information-and-support
Mental Health in the Farming Community https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/489tVhcXfvd98RmcH5CBmdj/information-and-support-mental-health-in-the-farming-community
Mental Health https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health-self-harm
Farmers and food businesses in Northern Ireland say anything other than a negotiated deal on changing the Protocol would be ‘sub optimal’. With the UK Government planning to unilaterally change the agreement it made with the EU, this has raised fears of a trade war.
This week we're looking at worker shortages in the vet industry and we hear what's being done to increase diversity within the sector, after a study from 2015 found only 3% of the UK veterinary profession is non-white - compared to a UK population that is 14% non-white.
And we hear the answer to 'which bird is it?' from yesterday's programme.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The dairy industry has been committed to reducing the sector's greenhouse gas emissions by auditing the carbon footprint of each farm. But, due to the pressure of rising costs, it’s been agreed to delay those audits for another six months.
The biggest biodiversity audit in the country has just been carried out on the North Norfolk coast. It’s taken more than a year and produced more than a million biological records of over ten thousand species.
It's rare that a foreign species is introduced into the UK to fight off another which has taken hold, but after a decade of research, the government decided it would be safe to release South American Weevils to combat the serious invasion of the floating pennywort plant.
And this week we're looking at staff shortages in the vet industry and the first vet school in Wales.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The price of fuel, fertiliser and feed has risen significantly. We hear what impact that is having on free range egg producers and pig farmers - some of whom are being driven out of business.
30,000 people are allowed come to the UK each year to work on fruit, veg and flower farms via the seasonal worker visa scheme. But some who come here say they are badly treated, with unreasonable expectations about how much they have to pick, insanitary living conditions and opaque contracts, particularly around pay. We hear from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority - which has had 103 people contact it about problems on farms in the past year.
And there are signs the population of rare horseshoe bats is on the increase. We visit a farm in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire where special efforts are being made to encourage them.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Wales & West of England by Heather Simons
DEFRA has opened a tree health laboratory in Surrey. Plant diseases, pests and invasive species are thought to cost the UK £1.7 billion per year. Scientists at the Forest Research lab in Alice Holt near Farnham say the £5.8 million facility will enable them to study both known and emerging threats from tree pests and diseases.
An £11 million state-of-the-art research facility has opened in Kent. The Green Tech Hub for Advanced Horticulture has a giant glass house and 14 polytunnels. It aims to make food production more sustainable and resilient to climate change.
The hungry gap is that time of year when traditionally fresh food was scarce. The winter crops are over, the new spring veg isn't ready. However, imports and growing under cover have enabled producers to extend the season. Yet producing crops out of season can bring its own consequences.
Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Rebecca Rooney
This week we’re talking about spring veg, and ask about one of the big issues facing farmers and growers - who is going to pick it? We’ve reported on problems attracting both people already based in the UK and seasonal workers from abroad onto British farms, especially since Brexit - and the impact of the war in Ukraine. 30,000 people are allowed to work on farms via the seasonal worker visa - but some who come here say that they are badly treated.
England’s new Environmental Watchdog's first report into the government’s efforts to protect and improve the environment is out. The newly created Office for Environmental Protection - which also covers Northern Ireland - says ministers must take decisive action before some key tipping points are passed.
We hear from the skipper of a Cornish charter boat, which is donating its catch to local people at a foodbank each week, and show season is underway. The Balmoral show in Northern Ireland has kicked off, with showing cattle, showjumping, sheep shearing and food...
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Here on Farming Today we've been reporting on the rising costs farmers and food producers are facing. Now, British free range egg producers have said that without substantial price rises of 40 pence per dozen eggs, farmers will not be able to afford to keep their free range hens due to feed and fuel costs having risen so much, and have invited major retailers to a 'crisis summit'.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has chosen Labour MP Geraint Davies as its' interim chair, and says a new substantive Chair will be voted in, "in due course".
The horseshoe bat has seen a decline in its population in the twentieth century, which some attribute to intensive agricultural practices and others to roost disturbance. However, there are signs the population is now on the increase.
And this week we're looking at spring vegetables, and today we're talking Scottish asparagus.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The Liberal Democrats says the government is failing to meet the needs of rural areas and that more support is needed for farmers who are facing their Basic Payments being phased out.
And we're talking about the rising pressures on rural communities, including how the combination of changing farm subsidy payments, and higher input costs, means even the top performing farmers are now risking going out of business. New research published by the Countryside and Community Research Institute has identified a predicted loss of £883 million pounds from the rural economy, for the four counties of South West England and the Isles of Scilly, following changes to farm and rural funding, post-Brexit.
And all this week we're looking at spring vegetables and how at this time of year, there is a bit of a ‘hungry gap’ for commercial veg growers.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs.
After months of challenges in the wider pork supply chain, we hear from pig farmers selling up in the face of increased costs for feed and fuel.
British grown spring vegetables are hitting the shelves - we hear how the industry is changing.
And The Prince’s Foundation officially announces details on it’s plans for a new rural skills training centre at Dumfries House in Ayrshire.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
We're at the farm machinery show LAMMA, which showcases the latest agricultural machinery services and equipment, and this year it's celebrating its' 40th anniversary.
We hear from those attending about the rising costs despite farmers are facing and the impact this might have on affording farm machinery, the potential trade opportunities within the farm machinery sector and how agricultural machinery can offer a career to young entrants.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Under the Government's Lump Sum Exit Scheme farmers must relinquish their land to claim the payment. They can either sell it, gift it or rent it out for a minimum of 5 years. After 5 years they can then take the land back in hand - so will the scheme really help free up land for new entrants?
The Ulster Farmers Union has a new President. Livestock farmer David Brown from County Fermanagh was voted in by union members at their AGM.
And we hear about the challenges of making an electric agricultural vehicle.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
Anna Hill joins more than a hundred young international farmers who are visiting the UK as part of their Nuffield Farming Scholarship programme.
They take a year out of farming to travel and investigate a project which they want to put into action. Anna hears about cutting carbon in Australia’s beef herd; regenerative farming in Zimbabwe; getting Japanese dairy cows out into woodland pasture and dairy farming with no milking parlour in the UK.
The scholars also visit historic Holkham Hall in Norfolk, to see how an agricultural innovator two hundred years ago was finding a fresh way forward.
Presented and produced by Anna Hill for BBC Audio Bristol.
Checks on goods coming into the UK from the EU will no longer be introduced this year. Checks on our EXPORTS have been in place since January 2021, and IMPORT checks had been due to come in, in July - having been delayed three times already. This time though, the Brexit Opportunities Minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the Government will now review how to implement the checks "in an improved way" and that "the new controls regime will come into force at the end of 2023" suggesting that goods entering the UK will face a very different inspection regime from those leaving the UK for the EU.
The majority of the UK's sunflower oil comes from the fields of Ukraine and disruption to exports because of the war has led to shortages - with some supermarkets limiting how much sunflower oil customers are allowed to buy. Meanwhile, Indonesia has banned the export of it's palm oil to keep domestic prices there low...leading to a global vegetable oil shortage. That in turn has lead to an increased demand for alternatives - like rapeseed oil - and the price of oil seed rape, the crop it comes from, has shot up…good news for the farmers who grow it.
And we meet a group of farmers trying to fight pollution from their land, and protect a chalk stream habitat.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
The government has announced a delay to import checks on goods coming into the UK from the EU; these checks were due to come in from July, having been delayed three times already. Last year a committee of MPs concluded that the lack of checks has undermined the competitiveness of British seafood and meat businesses in their home market and that there are concerns that this could have ‘serious implications for the spread of disease.
The organic campaign group The Soil Association says trees are part of the answer to achieving the UK’s nature and net zero targets while also growing enough food. It suggests that growing trees as part of a farming system - alongside crops and livestock, brings many benefits - and held a conference on this topic, this week. DEFRA Secretary George Eustice spoke at the conference about agroforestry and whether he is concerned that companies might plant trees as a means of offsetting their carbon emissions. He had also just come back from America where he'd been discussing the differences between animal welfare standards in the UK and the US.
And this week on Farming Today we're looking at water. We hear how biosolids - otherwise known as human sewage turned into fertiliser - can be treated to create an alternative to increasingly expensive manufactured fertilisers.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The majority of the UK's sunflower oil comes from Ukraine and disruption to exports because of the war has led to shortages - with some supermarkets limiting how much sunflower oil customers are allowed to buy. Meanwhile, pressure on the global vegetable-oil market has been increased further by Indonesia banning exports of its palm oil. This has lead to an increased demand for alternatives - like rapeseed oil - and the price of oilseed rape has shot up.
Nature needs to be put into “special measures” according to the Wildlife Trusts. They've launched their 2030 Strategy calling for a decade of concerted nature restoration to not just slow the decline of nature, but to actively reverse it. They say the action’s vital to stop some native species like water voles from becoming extinct and to address the climate crisis.
And although you may associate Scotland with too MUCH rather than too little water, in recent years some parts of the country have experienced exceptionally dry conditions. The county of Angus is one of the dry spots - we visit one potato grower to find out what that means.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
A former government vet at the centre of a whistleblowing scandal in Northern Ireland, has been awarded £1.25 million and an unreserved apology from the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Dr Tamara Bronckaers resigned after concerns she had raised about animal welfare and traceability weren't acted on. An industrial tribunal found she had been constructively dismissed.
Scientists have traced a connection between agricultural use of an anti-fungal spray with drug-resistant lung infections in humans. They found that some moulds in the environment have evolved drug-resistance because of the anti-fungal treatments used in timber production and farming and have gone on to infect human patients with low immunity, whose treatment could be compromised by that resistance.
And water companies that provide domestic drinking supplies spend millions of pounds a year cleaning up the water they abstract - so it can pay off for them to help farmers ensure less pollution reaches the river in the first place. We visit one farmer who has been trialling a variety of methods of growing maize as part of an initiative funded by South East Water.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons.
Several voices in the farming industry have been calling for a delay to the transition away from the old EU subsidy system to the new Environmental Land Management Scheme, which will pay farmers in England "public money for public goods". Now, with the cost of producing food rising, those voices are growing louder…. But we hear from the environmental think tank Green Alliance, which says delaying the transition would be bad news for nature - and could even lead to a reluctance on the part of the Treasury to release funds for farming payments in future.
We're talking about water all this week: Rebecca Rooney visits a group of 25 farms in Wiltshire, where farmers have spent six years trying to improve and protect the quality of the River Ebble, which runs through their land.
And in Northern Ireland, there are hopes of analysing every field's soil quality over the next four years. The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is being rolled out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and will cost up to £45 million.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
We asked the Department for Education if the new Natural History GCSE will include farming - they told us the focus will be natural history rather than farming...but said "There is a range of content that could be covered - we will work closely with independent experts and a range of stakeholders and exam boards to decide the detailed content.” We speak to one of those bodies about how it could work.
Cumbria’s Newton Rigg college provided an education in agriculture for tens of thousands of farmers over more than 120 years. But as we reported last summer it closed, much to the disappointment and anger of the local farming community - after Askam Bryan College in York which was running it said it was no long financially viable. But there’s been widespread support for another further education establishment, Kendal College, which has taken on teaching the next generation of Cumbrian farmers.
And water is an increasingly tricky issue for British farmers, who are getting used to wetter winters and dryer summers. We hear how some are now getting nervous after receiving less rain than normal in April.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
We've been talking about the impact the rising cost of feed and gas is having across the food and farming sectors, and now the British Free Range Egg Producers Association say its’ recent survey of around 139 members found that 51% of those who answered are considering coming out of egg production. They say supermarkets need to charge 40p more per dozen eggs, to reflect higher costs.
Home grown trees could become even more important to the country’s tree planting target as the government is to introduce new rules on sourcing trees. From June anyone getting a grant under the England Woodland Creation Offer or the Future Farming Tree Health Pilot can only get trees from approved suppliers, which some say could reduce pests.
This week we're looking at growing undercover. We hear about the more unlikely crops being cultivated under glass - trees, olives and lemons.
And we pay tribute to Lord Henry Plumb who died last week a the age of 97. Described as "farming’s greatest ever advocate", Lord Plumb was a founding member of the Young Farmers' Clubs, president of the National Farmers' Union in the 1970’s then MEP for the Cotswolds and President of the European Parliament. He also set up a foundation in his name which gives grants to help young people get rural businesses started.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
A report from Anglia Farmers - one of the UK’s biggest farming cooperatives - suggests the cost of farming inputs has increased by 23.28% in just six months to the end of March 2022. And that’s on top of a 22% increase in the previous six months. No sector in farming has escaped the price rises.
One impact of the increased price of gas is that people growing salad crops in heated glasshouses have greatly reduced their production. We visit one grower who says the future of his business is in the balance.
Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Heather Simons
The government is introducing new rules on sourcing trees - which could place more importance on growing in the UK, in line with the country’s tree planting targets. From June anyone getting a grant can only get trees from approved suppliers, in an effort to improve tree health and prevent pests.
Plus, all this week we’re looking at glasshouse production, which typically might make you think of salad leaves, peppers, and tomatoes; but there are some unlikely crops being cultivated under glass too - such as trees!
The Wash in East Anglia, which runs just south of Skegness to Hunstanton, supports around 60 boats fishing cockles, mussels and brown shrimp for generations. It’s also an important overwintering site for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. There’s always been tension between fishing and wildlife, managed by an agreement, but it expires this year. Helen Mark visits for this week's Open Country.
And free-range egg producers say that because of the rising costs they face, retailers should add 40p to the price of a dozen eggs. We've had listeners get in touch to say they'd be happy to pay more, but how much can consumers really impact supermarket pricing?
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The impact of the war in Ukraine is being felt throughout the food industry. The British Free Range Egg Producers Association says its' recent survey of members found 51% of those who answered, are considering coming out of egg production. They say supermarkets need to charge 40p more per dozen eggs, to reflect higher costs.
Leaders in food policy are meeting to discuss the National Food Strategy; a White Paper which was due to be signed off but has been recently delayed because of the crisis in Ukraine.
All this week on Farming Today, we're exploring growing under glass - from ornamental flowers to salad crops and trees. We hear how glasshouses are also a major resource in plant research, and are responsible for providing more than half a million plants every year for research into insect food, nutrition, plant growth and genetic techniques.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Caitlin Hobbs
The pig industry has seen a backlog of animals stuck on farm because of a shortage of butchers in processing plants, but this is starting to ease, and pig prices are going up. After months of talking about the crisis in the pig industry, this should be good news - but farmers worry that with increased costs of feed, they’re still losing money on every pig.
DEFRA, along with Pasture for Life and Landworkers' Alliance, has funded a "Your Farming Future" programme, which is running a series of farm visits, offering farmers a chance to see how schemes can help them adapt and become more sustainable - both economically and environmentally.
The new Sustainable Farming Incentive - which is replacing subsidy payments in England - has been analysed by the levy body AHDB, which says for many farmers the scheme will only offer a small financial benefit.
And this week on Farming Today we're looking at growing crops undercover. We speak to Martin Emmett, the newly appointed Chair of the National Farmers' Union's horticulture and potatoes board, about the current state of the growing industry and what the impact of rising gas prices is.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Some of Scotland's finest food is produced in Fife - but locals rarely get a look-in, as it's usually transported away to be processed, packaged and eaten elsewhere.
However, Balcaskie Estate in the region's East Neuk is working hard to change that, by bringing together small-scale food businesses including a butcher, a miller and a brewer at a hub on-site, where they process some of the organic raw ingredients produced on the land.
Nancy Nicolson visits the estate on its monthly market day, when the doors of the Bowhouse centre are thrown open to consumers and other traders, and hears from the farm manager and some of the others involved in the business about the ethos and objectives of the centre and the wider estate.
Presented and Produced by Nancy Nicolson.
Fears about the impact of the UK’s Free Trade Deal with Australia are 'overblown', according to the chair of the Trade and Agriculture Commission. Farming Unions have warned that the agreement could see food produced to lower standards than allowed here, being imported - and undercutting British farmers. But the TAC concludes that in most cases those sorts of Australian products are unlikely to be imported - and that there are safeguards in the deal to maintain animal welfare and environmental standards.
The proportion of Scottish estates sold behind closed doors, doubled last year - according to a new report released by the Scottish Land Commission. It showed there was also a marked shift in who’s buying the land, with nearly half all estates purchased in Scotland in 2021, sold to corporate bodies, investment funds or charitable trusts – motivated by the potential for carbon offsetting and developing large-scale environmental improvement.
This week, applications opened for the Government's new Lump Sum Exit Scheme - supposed to help farmers in England who want to retire or leave the industry. Meanwhile a pilot New Entrant Support Scheme is also due to start this year. We look at how easy it is to get in and out of farming.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
Andy Moye and Abbie Bryant are new entrants to farming.
They have 14 cattle and 19 sheep, no tractor, no buildings, and they rent out grass for their animals, keeping them outside all year round.
They set up their grazing enterprise in the Suffolk village of Melford over the last three years, and only in the last couple of months decided to make the big leap of giving up their jobs. Andy previosuly worked on a livestock farm, Abbie as a childcare specialist.
Now, the pair plan to focus their energies on creating a self-sufficient farm that can feed a local community the size of a hamlet.
They’ve been laughed at and criticised for their ambition, but say their vision is to use regenerative farming to link people up with the reality of quality meat production - and they're harnessing the power of social media to do that.
But can they realise their ambition, or is it pie in the sky?
Presented and produced by Anna Hill.
There are concerns that the UK-Australia trade deal will be detrimental to farmers here in the UK, by allowing Australian imports produced to a lower standard into the country. Ministers asked the Trade and Agricultural Commission to scrutinise the agreement to establish the impact the deal will have on the UK, and the TAC has just released its report. It concludes that these worries are 'overblown'.
This week we're talking to new entrants about getting into the farming industry and hearing how one of the hardest parts can be finding land. The government hopes that offering English farmers £100,000 to retire will help, as part of it's Lump Sum Exit scheme. Some farmers contemplating the scheme say it's not quite that simple, but the Tenant Farmers' Association think for farmers renting their land, it could be a way in to the industry.
And on the theme of new entrants, we meet some young men learning to drive tractors in Lincolnshire and a young woman speaking to us from a lambing shed in Exmoor, about her own journey into farming. Emily Davis was first advised to study architecture, but instead chose farming despite no family links to agriculture. She says experience abroad can be a great way into agriculture.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The proportion of estate sales in Scotland held behind closed doors, doubled last year according to new figures released by the Scottish Land Commission. It showed there was also a marked shift in who’s buying the land, with nearly half all estates purchased in Scotland in 2021, sold to corporate bodies, investment funds or charitable trusts – motivated by the potential for carbon offsetting and developing large-scale environmental improvement.
Increased fuel price rises are having a direct impact on fishing businesses, with reports some boats are tied up in harbour, waiting for prices to drop before head out to sea.
And we meet a young woman with no background in farming who has taken up a graduate scheme role in horticulture.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
Operation Brock in Kent is still holding lorries on the M20, A20 and A2, while delays at the port of Dover affect commercial traffic. Pleas from the British Meat Processors Association, to allow vehicles with perishable food to jump the queue, have fallen on deaf ears, and the group is warning that the hold-ups could affect longer-term trade with the EU.
The latest figures from land agents Strutt and Parker say the average price of arable land is now £9,500 an acre, and for pasture it's £7,5000 an acre. The price and availability of land is often a barrier to new entrants wanting to join the industry. We hear from one couple who have been trying to buy a farm for 7 years, and from another, who have started farming with no land at all, by grazing livestock on other people's land.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report came out earlier this week, focusing on the action that needs to be taken globally to mitigate the impact of a warming climate. It says agriculture, land-use and forestry can all help provide large-scale emissions reductions, but cannot completely compensate for any delayed action on reducing emissions in other sectors, such as industry and travel. The report also points out that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak in just three years’ time, and then reduce by 43 percent by 2030. It highlights that methane - a major emission from livestock farming - would need to be reduced by a third during that same timeframe.
Recently there has been a lot of talk about planting trees to offset carbon emissions - which this week, the Welsh Affairs Committee has warned will impact family farms in Wales. The committee says it ‘recognised the importance of woodland to tackle the climate emergency,’ but ‘that companies could be attempting to “game the system” by investing in farming land to offset emissions which is then lost to Welsh agriculture’.
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee has been investigating the impact the lack of staff is having on farms, food processing and distribution, and is critical of what it says is the government’s failure to engage in the labour shortage problem. MPs from the EFRA committee have warned that a failure to tackle labour shortages ‘will permanently shrink the food sector.‘
And all this week on Farming Today we’ve been talking about farmers leaving the industry. We hear from arable farmer Henry DuVal in Hampshire about how he passed the farm onto his son Ed by setting up a bio-gas plant, where instead of growing crops for food, all their fields are producing fuel for anaerobic digestion. Most of the methane they produce goes into the gas grid, some makes electricity.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
The Liverpool Agricultural Discussion Society - also known as LADS - was formed in 1928 and women are not allowed to be members or to attend meetings as guests, though they can attend as invited speakers. Last week these rules were challenged by some members but the majority decided to retain the men only status.
Fly tipping costs councils £392 million a year in England. The Government is announcing a ‘crackdown’ including £450,000 for council grants for ‘trial projects’ like installing CCTV in hotspot areas and a change in the rules so households don’t pay to dispose of DIY waste. But the CLA says it's not enough.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
Kees Huizinga has been farming in Ukraine for 20 years with 15,000 hectares of crops and 2000 dairy cows on land between the capital Kyiv and the port of Odesa. Charlotte Smith asks him how the season is progressing as the war continues.
Meanwhile, the increased price of fuel and fertiliser is beginning to bite. Dairy farmers call for consumers to pay around fifty per cent more for their milk.
And a report published by the Scottish Environment and Forestry Directorate last month outlines barriers to people leaving farming as well as barriers to new entrants - so is that a problem and if so, how do we fix it?
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Heather Simons
Farms in Wales face a challenging future according to a new report from MPs. The all party Welsh Affairs Committee points to pressures on farms' economic viability and is calling for more information on companies buying farmland for carbon offsetting schemes. MPs say they ‘recognise the importance of woodland to tackle the climate emergency,’ but ‘that companies could be attempting to “game the system” by investing in farming land to offset emissions’. We speak to the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee and Conservative MP Stephen Crabb.
And we hear from the Minister for Rural Affairs in the Welsh Government, Lesley Griffiths, about Wales' new post-Brexit rural support package worth £227m, which includes funds for farmers to make environmental improvements.
This week we’re talking about leaving farming - and how easy or difficult this can be. One of the government's new ideas for easing the process of retirement in England is the Lump Sum Exit Scheme, due to come online any day now. Some farmers are wary of whether the scheme will work for them; we've been speaking to young farmer Abi Irwin and her dad Michael who are in the process of a family farm handover and who have decided not to go for the Lump Sum scheme.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
A cross party committee of MPs has warned that failure to tackle labour shortages in agriculture, ‘will permanently shrink the food sector.’ The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee took evidence over several sessions, to hear how lack of staff are affecting farms, food-processing, and distribution, and today it publishes its report. We hear from EFRA Committee Chairman Neil Parish about his concerns.
This week we're talking about leaving farming, and another industry facing staff shortages is farm vets. A survey by the British Veterinary Association taken last autumn asked whether vets would choose to pursue a career in the veterinary profession again, ‘knowing what they know now’ - 56% said that they would, but 19% said they wouldn’t choose the same career. We hear the reasons behind why the industry is struggling to retain workers.
And the Scottish Government Agency NatureScot has launched a four year plan to boost biodiversity and manage large scale landscapes for the environment. It aims to halt nature loss and protect 30 per cent of the country’s land and sea habitats by 2030 by restoring a quarter of a million hectares of damaged peatland, reducing deer numbers, and extending its current Nature Restoration Fund to include bigger projects for landscape-scale recovery.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Farmers with Ukranian workers have been helping staff whose families are caught up in the war there. Ukraine is famous for its rich agricultural farmland and many seasonal workers come to UK farms. Last year two-thirds of seasonal worker visa-holders were Ukrainian. A salad-growing company in Shropshire has 37 Ukrainian workers, working side by side with Russian colleagues in the fields. They have collected two trucks of aid and sent them to refugees who've fled the fighting.
The government's due to open its ‘lump sum exit scheme’ soon. Farmers who apply could receive up to a hundred thousand pounds if they stop farming. The idea is to create more opportunities for new farmers How easy is it to give up farming? We’ll be talking about that all week. Professor Matt Lobley, co-director of the ‘Centre for Rural Policy Research’ at the University of Exeter says farmers are reluctant to leave the land for emotional and financial reasons.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has published its report looking at mitigating the impact of a warming climate, and the role agriculture will have to play to secure all our futures. It points out that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak in just three years’ time, and then reduce by 43 percent by 2030. And it highlights that methane - a major emission from livestock farming - would need to be reduced by a third by the same time.
We speak to the lead author in charge of the report's agricultural chapter, Professor Jo House, about how crucial land use management is in a global climate challenge. And hear what the Nature Friendly Farming Network think about the report.
All this week we're talking about leaving farming and with the government offering a lump sum to farmers to leave the industry, to allow the next generation to take up the reins, we hear from arable farmer Henry DuVal about his own succession planning. After realising he couldn't continue to support three generations unless things changed, Henry enlisted his son Ed to take on the family farm. They decided to set up a bio-gas plant, where instead of growing crops for food, their fields are now producing fuel for anaerobic digestion and much of the methane they produce goes into the gas grid or makes electricity.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced for BBC Audio by Caitlin Hobbs
Land can be used for so many things - habitat restoration, carbon capture, solar panels, flood prevention, housing... and of course growing food. The Institute for Government says we need a land use strategy. It’s published a report looking at Environmental Land Management Schemes which are being introduced in England to pay farmers “public money for public goods” - things like improving soil quality or restoring habitats.
The Government has released its Nature Recovery Green Paper - but the Wildlife Trusts say protected land may be at risk.
And do you know where the feathers in your duvets and down jackets come from? Famers in the UK produce 10 million ducks every year - and feathers are a by-product, plucked after they’re slaughtered. We speak to one duck farmer about how it works.
Presented by Sybil Ruscoe Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Farmers are facing rising costs - the initial impact of gas price rises last autumn hit fertiliser costs and now the gas price hike has led some horticulture producers to close up their heated glasshouses. In Holland there are reports that Dutch glasshouse growers - have reduced their heating, and their yields will be down. At the same time, the war in Ukraine is disrupting global wheat exports and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is warning of “serious food-security repercussions for some 50 countries that rely on Russia & Ukraine for wheat." So what does all this mean for UK food security? DEFRA says “the UK imports a very low amount of foodstuffs from Eastern Europe, with the majority of grains, meat, dairy and eggs produced in the UK, so the Government does not expect any significant direct impact on UK food supply.”
EU legislation enshrined that in law, and it was the foundation of animal welfare rules. Since leaving the EU, this ‘sentience’ legislation is now being put into the new Animal Welfare Bill, and a new Committee will be created, to ensure UK Ministers take account of animal welfare. This week, the government accepted an amendment to the Bill which would ensure recommendations from the committee respect religious rights, cultural traditions and regional heritage…that would include religious slaughter of un-stunned animals, and game-bird shooting.
And there’s only one certified producer of organic duck eggs currently operating in the UK. Parc Carreg is a small 10 acre business in Carmarthenshire running some 500 ducks. We visit and meet farmer, Josh Heyneke.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
A group of conservation charities have criticised the Red Tractor standards scheme for failing to set targets to encourage farmers to reduce pesticide use, and take up more environmentally friendly farming techniques. The Nature Friendly Farming Network, along with the RSPB and the Pesticide Action Network UK say Red Tractor, which certifies standards on animal welfare and the environment is failing farmers, consumers, and the environment.
This year has been the worst so far for avian flu - there have been more than a hundred outbreaks, several of those among commercial duck flocks. Anna Hill visits a farm that supplied the largest branded duck producers in the country - Gressingham. They produce nearly 200 thousand birds a week across the country, raised indoors across 52 farms.
The CEO of 2 Sisters, a major processor of poultry and chilled food, is warning that the cost of their products could rise by up to 15% this year. Behind that increase is the cost to livestock farmers of animal feed and heating and for arable farmers there’s also been a hike in the price of fertiliser, and fuel for tractors.
And we hear from hill farmer and Welsh television presenter, Alun Elidyr who has made a documentary about his struggle with mental health. Back in 2015 he had a breakdown, following the sudden death of his mother. He sought help from several organisations, but found the most comfort from friends and neighbouring farmers who lent a listening ear.
Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
This time last year a tonne of UK wheat for milling would have been worth around £220 - now farmers tell us they’re getting £300. It’s a knock-on effect of the misery in Ukraine which - along with Russia - produces a third of the world’s wheat exports. In the UK we don't import significant amounts from the region but across the world, prices are rising in response to the war. In this programme we look at the consequences all along the food chain.
A group of small-scale fishermen have applied for permission for a judicial review against the Marine Management Organisation, in a row over a phone app. The Catch App has been designed by the MMO to allow fishermen to record which species and how much they catch, and where they land it. Use of the app became mandatory for all English vessels under 10 metres long at the end of February, and failure to do so accurately could lead to an unlimited fine. But fishermen say this could mean being criminalised by an app that simply doesn't work for them, and they want the enforcement of its use delayed.
Negotiators from the UK and the EU have been meeting this week to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol. When the UK left the EU it was decided that Northern Ireland would remain inside the single market and still follow EU food standards - so goods crossing the land border between the Northern Ireland and the Republic do not need to be checked. Instead those checks are done as goods cross the Irish Sea. But this arrangement has been causing problems for some food and farming businesses - with the new bureaucracy meaning added costs.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
Pig farmers have been meeting with the government, retailers and pig processors at an emergency summit in London to try and find a way forward through the current supply chain crisis. A shortage of labour in abattoirs has led to healthy animals being culled and not entering the food chain, and a huge backlog of pigs stuck on farms. Farmers are struggling with financial, logistical and animal welfare problems. Farmers in York protested outside the DEFRA headquarters there, they say they're at breaking point. The National Pig Association believes a lack of skilled labour is the main problem. Farming minister Victoria Prentis says she's working hard with producers, processors and retailers to fix the supply chain.
Vegan activists have been picketing one of East Anglia's only livestock markets. Farmers say the fortnightly protests are intimidating, but campaigners say they're not breaking the law and are there to promote animal welfare.
Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The Government claims the Australian trade deal will help more than hinder, but farming groups aren’t so sure. The Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee of cross-party MPs has been scrutinising the new UK-Australia trade deal. On the one hand, the Government says it’ll increase the size of the UK economy by £2.3 billion, but there are concerns this will be done by cutting import tax tariffs on Australian goods making them cheaper, and the Government’s own analysis also shows domestic agriculture, forestry and fisheries will lose £94 million as a result of the deal.
We hear about a combination of Countryfile and Top Gear: BBC 3’s new tractor racing show which starts this evening, The Fast and The Farmer-ish.
As part of our week looking at livestock markets, we hear how the Livestock Auctioneers Association is attracting young blood into the trade, running courses which attract 15 trainees a year.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Britain's pig industry gathers to lobby the government over the on-going crisis in the world of pork chops and streaky bacon. Anna Hill previews Thursday's summit with the National Pig Association.
And we meet the fishermen and Fishermen's Friends in the picture postcard village of Port Isaac in Cornwall. It's a stunning location for film and television, but how will the harbour be maintained without a profitable fishing industry?
Fishermen say dredging is to blame for the mass deaths of crabs and lobsters along the north east coast of England, they believe it's released the chemical pyridine, and have commissioned their own report. But a report from DEFRA says a naturally occurring harmful algal bloom is killing marine life.
People living near one of the biggest planned solar farms in the country have been having their say on the scheme. Developers say the farm in Lincolnshire would be a chance to help the country meet its green ambitions, but opponents say it's too big. At more than two thousand acres, Mallard Pass Solar Farm would be the size of Heathrow.
The livestock market has long been the place to trade both animals and information, but these days, there are a lot of other ways to do business, so what's the role of the modern mart? We speak to Chris Dodds, Executive Secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney
This week marked two years since we left the EU, a decision which has had a huge impact on food and farming, from markets to subsidy payments. So where are we now?
We hear a warning that people living in rural areas have less access to health and social care than their urban counterparts.
The latest of the new Environmental Land Management Schemes is open to applications. Defra says the Landscape Recovery Scheme could transform thousands of hectares by taking a landscape approach.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Processors have been defending their track record after the government said they need to do more to tackle a backlog of pigs building up on farms. Farmers can't get all their pigs slaughtered and an estimated 35,000 healthy pigs have been culled on farm, unable to enter the food chain. The DEFRA minister says processors haven't taken full advantage of support measures, including a temporary visa scheme which would allow more butchers to work here. But the British Meat Processors Association says it's unfair to blame them. They said last year they processed more pigs than they had done for 15 years.
Farmed salmon is one of Scotland's most lucrative food exports. The sectors had to adapt quickly since Britain left the European Union. Mowi is one of the biggest producers of salmon. We visit their factory to find out how they've adjusted to the new rules and regulations.
A dairy farmer is re-introducing elm trees onto his land. Dutch elm disease wiped out more than 20 million trees in the British landscape 50 years ago. Peter Shallcross from Wiltshire is working with Butterfly Conservation to import disease-resistant varieties from Spain and plant them on his farm.
Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney
An unexpected decline in Wales' otter population is being described as a "wake up call" about the state of the UK's rivers. The first national survey in more than a decade found fewer signs of the mammal on almost all waterways. A check on numbers in England has now been commissioned in response.
An independent review is to look into better support for tenant farmers in England - the Tenancy Working Group has been announced by DEFRA and follows criticism of the way the new Environmental Land Management Schemes work for farmers who don’t own the land they farm. A third of agricultural land in England is farmed by tenants and the Tenant Farmers Association welcomes the review
It's two years since Britain left the EU, we speak to the International Chamber of Commerce about what kind of impact Brexit's having on food and farming. It believes new technologies will help drive down costs for businesses and prices for consumers.
Presenter - Charlotte Smith Producer - Rebecca Rooney
The Government has published its long awaited levelling up strategy. But how much impact will it have in rural areas? The charity, Action with Communities in Rural England, says it’s far from clear whether the levelling up strategy will address what it calls 'the long standing disadvantage faced by rural communities'.
Two years on from Brexit we meet an agronomist and seed merchant in Northern Ireland who says his job has been made much more complicated since leaving the EU.
In Leicestershire the Exports Minister is at a meeting with farmers, urging them to make the most of new markets opening up since Brexit, especially in Asia.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Hundreds of square kilometres of England could be transformed under the Government's most ambitious landscape-scale conservation project. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has just opened applications for the Landscape Recovery Scheme. It’s part of the new ‘public money for public goods’ system, which replaces the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Up to 15 projects will be taken forward, each one up to 5 thousand hectares or 50 square kilometres. The projects will concentrate on restoring threatened species and ecosystems, recovering streams and rivers and adapting landscapes for climate mitigation.
A warning that people living in rural areas have less access to health and social care than their urban counterparts. A 3 year investigation by MPs and the National Centre for Rural Health and Care calls for a rural strategy to help tackle inequalities accessing NHS and care services in rural areas.
All week we're checking in with farmers, two years since the UK left the European Union. Back in 2019, we heard from Helen Roberts who works for the National Sheep Association in Wales and produces pedigree and commercial sheep on her farm near Oswestry. We caught up to see how she is doing now.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Poultry farmers say not enough is being done to set up a new veterinary agreement with the EU, which would help ease exports. Leaving the EU meant exports of meat were being slowed down by paperwork and too few vets available to make inspections. Added to this, bird flu could complicate transporting poultry meat for EU export around the UK. The EU’s animal health regulations for countries outside the European Union mean meat can not be exported from areas where there have been bird flu outbreaks - and lorries aren’t even allowed to pass through these areas.
Two years on from officially leaving the European Union, this week we’re taking stock of how farming has been managing the transition. Many nurseries have traditionally relied on importing plants from the EU. We ask how has the relationship between UK plant growers and the Continent been affected.
Conservationists are concerned that recent storms across the north of England and Scotland could have an impact on the future of red squirrels which rely on forests for their habitat.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Do you read the labels on meat, cheese and veg before putting them in the shopping basket and if so, what do you want to know? The calories? The nutritional content? Where it's come from? It's carbon footprint? We look at what information could be included on food labels and the challenges involved in doing that.
The Forestry Commission launched a new drive to get more farmers to plant trees, with grants of up to 10 thousand pounds per hectare and free specialist advice. We ask if the Government's tree planting targets are still achievable.
And it’s three months now since we first heard reports of dead crabs and lobsters washing up on beaches across the North East of England. At the time the Environment Agency said investigating the source of the deaths was ‘a top priority’, but since then, thousands of shellfish have died, and those deaths are still unexplained. Now fishermen say they’re losing their livelihoods, and they want the Government to help.
Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons
The Forestry Commission is launching a new drive to get more farmers to plant trees. It includes grants of up to £10,000 per hectare to plant new woodland and free specialist advice. One farmer tells us he's worried about the lack of detail for how new tree planting schemes will fit in to his current operation.
Some people prefer to buy beef labelled grass-fed because they think it shows the animals are fed on grass all of the time, but that’s not always the case. Campaigners say the current labeling system is confusing because cattle can have eaten anything from 100% down to 51% grass, and still be called grass fed.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Academics have launched a new research initiative. Sixteen universities from across the UK have formed the Agricultural Universities Council. It aims to look at the big picture to see what kind of research will most benefit farmers.
What do the labels on pork tell you about the way the pig was reared? It can be complicated - for example, ‘outdoor bred pigs’ may sound as if they live outdoors but they actually spend most of their lives inside. The sows give birth outside and their piglets stay with them until they're weaned, but after that they head indoors. We visit a farm in Wiltshire which produces outdoor-reared RSPCA-assured pork and find out what that means.
The Island of Ulva is looking for a farmer. It's just off Mull, on the West Coast of Scotland. The community group which owns it says it will involve looking after a herd of Highland cattle and tending more than 3000 acres.
Presenter - Caz Graham Producer - Rebecca Rooney
A report says the Government’s plans for using tree planting and soil to capture carbon are at severe risk of failure. The House of Lords' Science and Technology Committee says farmers need more support to provide solutions like peatland restoration and improving habitats which could help the Government reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
We’re discussing food labelling all this week on the programme and it’s definitely touched a nerve. But in spite of all of the correspondence from Farming Today listeners, it seems most people don’t actually pay much attention to what’s on the label.
Farming nowadays, as we often report, is a hi-tech business, relying on satellite precision, detailed data analysis and some big machinery that would set you back the price of a small house in some towns. But a hundred years ago, your most important piece of farm kit was a good strong horse or two. Horse handling skills in farming are understandably on the wain, but there’s a still a dedicated group of enthusiasts who enjoy nothing better than working with heavy horses.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
It’s three months since dead crabs and lobsters started washing up on beaches across the north east of England. At the time, the Environment Agency said investigating the source of the deaths was ‘a top priority’ but since then thousands of shellfish have died and those deaths are still unexplained. Now fishermen say they’re losing their livelihoods and the government must help.
Campaigners are calling for reforms to food labelling. A new organisation called OmniAction wants a new set of global standards. Tim Lang, Emeritus Professor of Food Policy at City University, London says better labelling, which offered consumers more details, would put pressure on companies to improve their standards.
Some farmers in the South West have described government plans for the future of farming as "confused and patronising". New Environmental Land Management schemes are replacing the previous system of support payments in England, rewarding farmers for ‘public goods’ like carbon capture and improving habitats. Communities in Exmoor National Park are sceptical about how the scheme will work for them.
Farming and pollution: can you have one without the other? A report by MPs says England’s rivers are in a mess, with 40% affected by agricultural pollution. We discuss the kinds of pollution agriculture causes and the efforts underway to solve it.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
UK pork production is up: new government figures for last year show a 4% increase on production in 2020, to just over a million tonnes. Regular listeners who have heard pig farmers on this programme talk about how shortages of staff in abattoirs have forced them to kill pigs on farm, pigs which then can’t go into the food chain, may wonder how an industry in crisis can have a record year - it's the highest production level since 1999. We ask how a how a year of backlogs on farms fits with record production levels.
All this week we're looking at pollution from farming, both causes and solutions. Today we hear from Professor Penny Johnes from Bristol University who studies the impact of food production on rivers and the sea.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Farmers are warning that fertiliser prices are now so high, some fields will simply not be planted this year. Prices are currently four times what they were last January. It's due to the high cost of gas which has seen fertiliser plants in the UK and across Europe suspend production.
We hear from Dame Ellen MacArthur on how farming could benefit from a circular economy.
And all this week we’re looking at shellfish. Today the focus is on cockles. We visit the Gower Estuary in Swansea where cockle pickers have worked for hundreds of years.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
Extensive consolidation of the seed industry in the past 70 years has resulted in the closure of most independent seed merchants. It has also led to the loss of regionally adapted plant varieties that suit local soils and conditions in favour of standardised hybridised varieties typically bred for high yields. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation estimates that the loss of genetic diversity in plants globally stands at 75% along with the disappearance of 93% of our unique seed varieties in the past 100 years.
A parallel issue is that as these patented, hybridised seeds dominate the market, it removes the option for growers to save seed from crops to sow the next year as has been the tradition for thousands of years, since humans started farming. This is because seeds produced by a hybrid plant won't 'grow true' - that is, they will not have the same genetic make up as the parent plant so will not produce the same quality of crop. Vital Seeds in Devon is part of a Seed Sovereignty movement to change this direction of travel, growing rare varieties of vegetables and flowers that are open-pollinated meaning they will grow true, and teaching people how to save seed. Rachel Lovell joined them on a windy winter's day to find out more about what they are doing, and why they are so devoted to saving traditional seeds.
Scottish curlers have made headlines around the world again last month, with both the men's and women's teams winning gold medals at the European Championships - both of them with members of farming families in the line-up. And that's no new phenomenon, because the link between Scottish farmers and the game of curling stretches back over the centuries and farmers have dominated the highest echelons of the sport for generations. But as Nancy Nicolson meets some recent stars of the game she discovers times are changing and the imperative of winning international medals has made it almost impossible to be both a professional curler and a professional farmer.
Sarah Swadling goes in search of one of the UK’s rarest farmland habitats, Culm Grassland. Around 90% of Culm has been lost to drainage, reseeding of pastures, and forestry. Its heartland is North Devon and North Cornwall, where farmers and conservationists are working together to preserve and restore the special blend of plants which makes Culm Grassland unique, and a haven for wildlife.
Sheep have been at the heart of Lake District farming for generations but their wool is worth next to nothing. Coniston farmer Maria Benjamin hopes to change that, for some farmers at least, with Lake District Tweed – Sustainably Hefted Cloth, a new initiative that connects the history and culture of wool production in the Lake District with contemporary Lakeland farming. Wool from farmers in 13 different Lakeland valleys is being used to weave individual valley tweeds with designs inspired by the unique characteristics of each valley, the lakes, the landscape, the geology and the former industry. The material will be sold as throws and by the metre representing valleys including Ennerdale, Windermere and Ullswater.
The project is supported by a grant from the Lake District National Park’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Fund and an already oversubscribed Kickstarter fund. Caz Graham travels to Coniston Water to meet Maria and her flock of Castlemilk Moorit sheep, farmer and knitter Sadie Edmondson, weaver Sheila Phillips and textile designer Louise Dixon.
Anna Louise Claydon explores Dahlia Beach - a new PYO Dahlia Flower experience taking social media by storm. Meet the Founder, Andie McDowell who launched the idea of a grow-your-own cut flower garden in a box just 12 months ago. The venture escalated on instagram, growing over 30,000 loyal followers, inspiring Andie to find rented land that could enable her dreams of launching a PYO dahlia venture. Hear Andie's emotional journey as she reflects on some of the challenges of the last 18 months. We find out why Millets Farm took on a first-time farmer, the inspiration behind the name “Dahlia Beach" and Andie's ambitions for the new year ahead - her second year in business...
Produced and presented by Anna Louise Claydon
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people around the world watch a Wiltshire farmer as he lets out his animals into the farmyard. Chris Franklin from Marsh Farm is known as the “chatty farmer” and his videos of the animals’ morning rush-hour have gone viral.
Chris and his wife Helie have turned the dairy farm in Devizes where he grew up into a centre for education, working with schools, care homes and community groups. Caenhill Countryside Centre has more than 300 animals, from poultry and pigs, to goats, sheep and cows, even emus!
The farm’s now a charity, and relies on volunteers to help run it. They have around three quarters of a million followers on social media. They’re putting on a Christmas panto, which they’ll share with viewers in more than 50 different countries.