Episodes
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A former Government trade advisor says the new trade deal with India could be good news for UK farmers. The deal comes after three years of negotiations and includes reduced tariffs on exports of products including whisky, lamb and salmon.
Many potatoes end up getting wasted because of bruising and discoloration. We hear from a potato producing company in Lincolnshire where they're hoping gene editing can produce a bruise-resistant spud.
And a select committee of MPs is urging the Government to do more to encourage private investment in schemes which restore nature. A report from the Environmental Audit Select Committee says new regulations should be introduced to enable landowners to realise their natural capital while protecting the farmers' ability to grow food.
Presented by Anna HillProduced by Heather Simons
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Scottish farmers are being warned to prepare for a possible summer drought. SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued a water scarcity alert as 17 river catchments are so low. In England the Environment Agency says two thirds of rivers are below normal or lower for the time of year.
This week we're digging into the world of potato production - none of which would be possible, of course, without healthy, disease-free seed to get the crop started. Growing seed potatoes is a high-value, tightly regulated, specialist sector, and in the UK it's largely concentrated in Scotland where the disease risks are lower thanks to a cooler climate. Europe was a key market for Scottish seed, but Brexit changed all that. The EU's plant protection rules mean the trade is no longer allowed. However growers haven't given up on resuming exports and efforts continue.
The asparagus season is underway, traditionally, the spears of this tender crop are only picked from 23rd April, St George’s Day, to 21st June, the longest day of the year. It’s crucial for growers to have their best produce ready at the right time. Not only that, getting it to market and making sure it’s quality is perfect can pay real dividends when supplying top end restaurants and catering. We join one grower who welcomed the whole supply chain to his farm to see how the asparagus they buy from him, is grown.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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Episodes manquant?
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A challenge to Britain's ban on commercial fishing for sandeels in the North Sea has been partially upheld. The ban was introduced by both the English and Scottish governments in March last year because of concerns that so many sandeels were being fished that seabirds along the UK's East coastline were losing out. But Danish commercial sandeel boats said it threatened their future, and that claimed the move was discriminatory and disproportionate. They then took the case to the EU's Permanent Court of Arbitration, which upheld the ban in Scottish waters, but not the English one.
The British Veterinary Association and the Pig Veterinary Society have issued a new joint statement calling for farrowing crates to be banned. Farrowing crates are the small pens that 60% of sows in the UK are kept in around the time they give birth to ensure they don't roll on and crush their piglets.
New research published this week suggests that a spray, which boosts the equivalent of a plant's blood sugar, could improve wheat yields by 12%.
Conservation groups in Scotland are urging ministers to reject plans for an offshore windfarm which the developer predicts will kill tens of thousands of seabirds.
We grow some pulses in the UK and most go into animal feed for the high protein, things like beans and peas and even lupins. There is a drive to grow more pulses for feed here in the UK to replace imported soya, and research into the best options for British farmers is underway.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
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Gene-editing technology which makes pigs immune to a highly infectious virus, developed at Edinburgh University’s Roslin Institute, has been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The virus causes a disease called PRRS or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, which causes premature births in pigs as well as other painful symptoms and costs the pig industry billions. Current legislation doesn't permit its use in the UK. We speak to one of the scientists who's been working on the project for more than seven years.
All week we’ve been taking a closer look at pulses, the dried seeds of crops like beans, lentils and peas, for both human and animal food. In the UK the peas we eat are generally frozen or fresh but dried peas are a major source of protein to millions of people around the world. Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have been working with researchers in China, the USA and France to uncover the genome of 700 different varieties of pea, from many different countries, to help develop better commercial varieties.
The sudden suspension of England's biggest environmental scheme, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, earlier this year was met with horror and disbelief by farmers and environmentalists alike - we preview a special documentary which charts the transition of agricultural policy from the old EU farm subsidy system and the Common Agricultural Policy to the new 'public money for public goods' approach that we have in England today.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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The British Veterinary Association and the Pig Veterinary Society have issued a new joint statement calling for farrowing crates to be banned. They say they should be phased out over the next 15 years to give the industry a chance to adapt. Farrowing crates are the small pens that 60% of sows in the UK are kept in around the time they give birth, to ensure the safety of their piglets. Animal welfare campaigners have been saying they should be banned for years, but farmers have concerns that replacing them with alternative systems will not only endanger the lives of piglets but also be costly and will put them at a disadvantage to farmers in other countries where the crates aren’t banned.
Conservation groups are urging ministers in Scotland to reject plans for an offshore windfarm which the developer predicts will kill tens of thousands of seabirds. Five charities, led by RSPB Scotland, have written to the first minister to argue that approving Berwick Bank in the Firth of Forth would undermine efforts to protect nature. SSE says it has already amended its designs to minimise any potential risks to Scottish seabirds.
All week we've been discussing pulses, the dried seeds from plants like beans, lentils and peas all this week. Most of the pulses we buy in the shops are grown overseas. They’re a valuable source of protein and there’s a growing market for protein rich products in groups including runners, gym-goers as well as vegans So could UK farmers cash in? We visit a company which processes home-grown and imported pulses.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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The Welsh government's launched a new community food strategy which it says will 'strengthen local food systems, improve healthy eating, and create more sustainable communities'. The idea is to enable more local food networks, connecting Welsh farmers and producers with consumers and supporting community-led food projects. It's committed to spending £2 million on the project this financial year, with funding secured until 2028.
This week we're exploring the role pulses are playing in food and farming. Peas, beans and lentils are becoming increasingly popular with consumers as an alternative protein but most of those we eat are imported. We hear from farmers and producers who are growing carlin peas and other pulses in the UK.
Scientists say they've developed a spray, which boosts the equivalent of a plant's blood sugar and could improve wheat yields by 12%. Researchers from Rothamsted, The University of Oxford and the Rosalind Franklin Institute say they can achieve bigger improvements than via breeding and their biostimulant spray will be used around the world.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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One of the government's major objectives is to deliver greener energy across the UK; but to do that, thousands of acres of farmland and wider countryside are being affected, as electricity generated from offshore windfarms and solar developments is routed to the national grid. In a new report, the Institution of Engineering and Technology has outlined the specific costs of pylons and cables buried underground and on the seabed. The report estimates in the next decade there will need to be five times more onshore transmission infrastructure than has been built in the last 30 years, and four times the amount that currently exists offshore.
All week we're looking into pulses. Many of us eat peas, beans or lentils as part of our diet. Pulses also make up a major part of animal feed in the form of soya. That comes mostly from South America where rainforest is often cleared to grow it. The Nitrogen Climate Smart Programme is a project looking to replace imported soya with home grown pulses. We visit a farm taking part in trials to grow pulses.
The UK economy could get a boost if everyone ate more UK-grown fruit and veg according to a new report by the Green Alliance, a think tank which works with environmental groups. It says we currently import five sixths of our fruit and half of our veg but expanding horticultural production could add £2.3 billion to the national economy and create more than 20 thousand jobs.
Presenter = Anna HillProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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Dairy farmers are being advised to cull or sell cows or reduce their feed as processors across the country struggle with high volumes of milk. The spring flush has been particularly good this year, with cows put out to grass earlier, and that's meant they're producing more milk. But dairies can't cope and some are warning that while they'll pay the agreed price for the contracted amount of milk any extra will be bought at a much lower price.
We grow quite a lot of pulses in the UK and most go into animal feed, but with changing consumer tastes and a changing climate farmers are also trying to grow things like chickpeas and lentils, with varied results as we'll hear this week.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
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Restrictions have been introduced on what visitors and returning holidaymakers can bring into the UK, in response to concerns about foot and mouth outbreaks in Europe. Meat and dairy products cannot be brought back from Europe into the country, and the new rules cover everything from cured meats and cheeses to sandwiches. The aim is to prevent a foot and mouth outbreak here in the UK. But are the new restrictions being made clear enough to the public?
The government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to streamline the planning system, making it easier for developers to speed up big building projects. This week, the government tabled an amendment to the bill which removes statutory consultees from the pre-application process, with the aim of speeding things up. However, the Wildlife Trusts have warned that the plans would be disastrous for both the natural world and big building projects.
This week, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust published its latest watchlist - an annual situation report for rare breeds. Whilst there is good news for some native livestock breeds, the watchlist has highlighted that others are in decline.
Agroforestry means putting farming and forestry into the same field, with the aim of improving soil and biodiversity as well as growing food. The term encompasses a wide range of approaches, from growing arable crops to grazing livestock, all alongside trees. We hear from farmers who are implementing different agroforestry systems on their very different farms.
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Concerns about foot and mouth outbreaks in Europe have led to restrictions on what visitors and returning holidaymakers can bring into the UK. Meat and dairy products cannot now be brought back from Europe into the country, the aim being to prevent an outbreak here. That rule was introduced on the 12th of April this year and covers everything from cured meats and cheeses to sandwiches regardless of whether it's packaged or not. But over the past couple of weeks listeners have been getting in touch to say that there hasn't been much publicity about it, and that at ports and airports they're not seeing signs or inspections.
Talk of tariffs is giving way to talks about a trade deal between the UK and the USA, so we try to work out what that might mean for food and farming. The Government says it's not going to negotiate on food standards. But given that the US exported goods worth $92 billion to the UK last year and food exports made up just $3 billion of that, how strong a voice can UK food and agri-business have in any negotiation?
When James Colston took on the management of Arisaig farm in the West Highlands of Scotland, more than 30 years ago, he never imagined he'd become obsessed by the wonderful world of a small endangered butterfly species, the chequered skipper. But that's what happened, and by introducing both trees and what he calls 'cow power' to the woodlands he has changed the 10,000 acre hill farm.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
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A government amendment to its planning bill would be disastrous for both wildlife and big building projects; that's the warning from the Wildlife Trusts which wants ministers to reconsider.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust releases its latest watchlist today, and says that while there is good news for some native breeds, others like the Manx Locton sheep are falling in number. It wants the Government to re-establish a Ministerial Native Breeds Roundtable.
Today we are looking at a silvopasture project in Wales, as part of our week on agroforestry. Silvopasture combines trees, livestock grazing and pasture management. Tom Clare and Jacqui Banks who farm in North Pembrokeshire use badger faced sheep in their system which they've been running for a decade.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
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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
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If you're travelling in mainland Europe this Easter and thinking about possibly bringing back some local delicacies, think again. Following outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Germany, Hungary and on its border with Slovakia, restrictions on the food you're allowed to bring in, have changed significantly. You are now not allowed to bring in meat or dairy products from any EU country, except for poultry. So how great is the potential for cured meats or cheeses in your suitcase to transmit foot and mouth?
Some of the UK's rarest wildlife is being "torched alive" and pushed closer to extinction after weeks of intense grass fires, conservationists have warned.
There has been a bit of talk about trade deals this week, with the the US Vice President JD Vance talking about a prospective UK/US agreement, and that's making farmers nervous. They worry that agreements risk undermining them and this week raised concerns over a deal with India, saying it mustn't allow imports of cheaper food, produced to lower standards.
The company behind one of the UK's biggest vertical farms has closed. The Jones Food Company which ran indoor farms in Scunthrope and Gloucestershire, as well as a development centre in Bristol, called in the receivers after failing to find new investors. Vertical farms grow crops, mainly herbs and salad leaves, inside on shelving, using special lights to create a warm humid atmosphere which reduces growing time in comparison with conventionally grown crops. But with a number of companies going bust in recent years, is this a viable way to grow food?
And as spring is springing, we talk sheep shearing in West Dorset.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
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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
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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
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Firefighters across the country have been tackling more wildfires this week - from the Mourne mountains in Northern Ireland to the Scottish Highlands and North Yorkshire moors. These fires in rural areas are difficult to fight. In the Mournes more than 140 fires have been reported in the past few days and firefighters say most were started deliberately. Various countryside organisations, including the Countryside Alliance and the CLA alongside farming unions have been raising awareness of the dangers of wildfires and ways of preventing them. The Ulster Farmers Union is calling for more grazing and controlled burning in some protected areas to reduce the risks.
We're focusing on farmed fish this week and salmon really dominates this sector. It's not without its critics who say production is at the expense of the environment and fish welfare. However the industry in Scotland says its continuing to change and improve. We visit an island site owned by Norwegian fish farmer MOWI which believes that farming in deeper more remote waters will help solve some of the problems.
The first asparagus of the season is one vegetable that's widely anticipated and valued and one Scottish farm has found a way of edging ahead of most of the others by making use of redundant fruit polytunnels.
Presenter = Charlotte SmithProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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Farmers are calling for the government to look again at the amount of funding it provides to stop illegal meat imports coming into the country. The Dover Port Health Authority which carries out the checks has been offered £3.1 million pounds by DEFRA for this financial year - the same amount as last year. However it says the funding’s too low and will make delivering its remit ‘immensely challenging’ and will ‘leave the border largely open’. With an increasing number of confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease and African swine fever on the European mainland, there are concerns the UK isn’t doing enough to prevent these serious contagious livestock diseases from entering the country.
All week we're looking at farmed fish. Last year Scottish farmed salmon was the UK’s biggest food export, with £844 million worth of fish sold in 48 different countries. The industry is not without its critics though, they highlight marine pollution, fish welfare and disease and the impact on wild salmon as some of the problems. Salmon farming is big business on the West coast of Scotland. The Norwegian company MOWI employs more than one thousand 600 staff there and we’ve been looking into how the business is addressing criticism of the industry. We also speak to the industry body Salmon Scotland.
Presenter = Caz GrahamProducer = Rebecca Rooney
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The Scottish Farm Business Survey has revealed a big drop in average farm income, falling by 51% in its latest figures for 2023/4. The President of NFU Scotland, Andrew Connon, tells Caz Graham that farm profits are being squeezed by increased costs including interest rates. As talks continue to hammer out a trade agreement between the UK and the US, the President of the NFU in England, Tom Bradshaw, remains bullish that the UK Government will stand firm on food import standards. And we visit a trout farm in Wiltshire as part of a week focussing on aquaculture.
Presenter: Caz GrahamProducer: Sarah Swadling
