Farming Today

The Department for Envrionment Food and Rural Affairs has announced how much money it's making available to farmers in England through the Sustainable Farming Incentive - or SFI - for 2026. It's something farmers and environmental organisations have been keenly anticipating. There's a total budget of £240 million pounds., with the first application opening later this month. The SFI is the DEFRA ‘public money for public goods' scheme that pays for farming in ways that protect and benefit the environment, support food production and improve productivity. Some farming and conservation groups say the budget isn't big enough.And all this week we're talking about growing cereals, things like grain and oats. The latest figures just out from the industry body the AHDB, that's the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, show that UK farmers are growing less barley than they have for the last 16 years, while oilseed rape and wheat have climbed back from last year's lows. The Eden Valley in Cumbria is possibly better known for its livestock than its crops. But over the past couple of years, father and son Thomas and Harry Ewbank have been bucking that trend. Guided by local agronomist, Steven Gate, they've abandoned ploughing in favour of what's called ‘one-pass drilling', and they've expanded their range of crops to maximise yields and increase sustainability.Presented by Caz Graham and produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Challoner.

A cattle vaccine to protect livestock from bovine TB could be in use on farms in England by 2030. That's one of the aims outlined in a new strategy for the eradication of bovine TB. The government commissioned it and has just released the details. We hear from the farmer who chairs the Steering Group behind the strategy which aims to get rid of the disease on farm by 2038.This week we are looking at cereals, with the current pressures on cereal farming such as high fertiliser and fuel costs, and an unusually hot and dry spring, finding more hardy and efficient varieties of cereals has become vital. The agricultural research organisation, NIAB, has been running a trial in Norfolk to do exactly this. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Somerset's to get an extra £50m investment to help the county deal with flooding. The government is giving the money to the county council who will work in partnership with local drainage boards, communities, the Environment Agency and the Somerset Rivers Authority. Farming Minister Angela Eagle says it will enable farmers to better withstand the growing threat of floods.Nearly 300 cattle in Scotland are due to be culled because their identification regulations haven't been followed. The Belted Galloways from Home Farm on the Falkland Estate in Fife cannot enter the food chain because they aren't properly registered. Government inspectors due to oversee the cull say they've faced threats online, and will now not attend. All week we're delving into the detail of growing cereal crops – wheat, barley and oats. Farmers are used to juggling with the challenges of the weather, but this year there have been several other parts to the tricky equation of making cereal crops profitable. With fertilizer prices rising because of the war in the Middle East, and lower or non-existent support payments following Brexit, where does that leave larger cereal growers, competing in global markets?Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

How do you like your eggs? Brown or white? Sainsbury's has announced it's switching to white eggs for environmental reasons.With high prices for energy and fertiliser but not for their crops, and after another dry spring, we ask how arable farmers in the UK are doing.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Dartmoor is famous for its semi-wild hill ponies that roam across the moorland. But concerns have been raised by the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association that new agri-environment schemes will require such a steep drop in the numbers of grazing livestock in the area that up to 93 percent of the ponies will be lost. We hear from the association's Secretary, Joss Hibbs.Next year will be the last that farmers in England receive direct subsidy payments, based on how much land they farm. Direct payments have been particularly important for upland farmers in areas like the Lake District, where they are now being replaced by environmental schemes. Caz Graham speaks to two generations of a Lake District farming family about the continued viability of upland farming.The Government has published fresh guidance this week for farmers and food businesses to help them prepare for the new sanitary and phytosanitary - or SPS - agreement between the UK and the European Union, which is expected to be brought in in around a year's time. The Government says the SPS agreement will make it easier for British farmers to sell into the EU, but it could also mean a change in the agro-chemicals farmers can legally use on their crops, and if the rules change suddenly, there are concerns farmers could be left with crops grown under the old rules, which they could no longer sell under the new rules. UK peatlands - an important habitat for wildlife and a major carbon sink - are facing pressure from development, intensive land use and a changing climate, with around 80% believed to be degraded. In Wales however, the National Peatland Action Programme has completed over three and half thousand hectares of restoration work since 2020. In the Cambrian Mountains the project has been so successful that water voles have arrived in the area. A study out this week from Lantra - a charity which provides training and qualifications in land-based industries - says that there are jobs in farming, fishing and forestry that are not being filled because of a so-called 'skills squeeze'. This comes a week after a much-discussed report, commissioned by the government, which found that job opportunities for young people are shrinking, with one million classed as NEETS - not in education, employment or training. We ask if land-based work is part of the solution.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jo Peacey. A BBC Audio Bristol production.

Concerns have been raised that new agri-environment schemes will require such a steep drop in the numbers of grazing livestock that 90% of Dartmoor ponies will be lost. We're talking about upland farming all this week, and this morning we hear how the phasing out of the old EU farm payments are affecting English hill farmers, with two generations of a Lake District farming family.It's twenty years ago this summer that a group of farmers put their heads together and decided to set aside a particular day when they'd all open up their farms to the general public. It was a fairly radical idea at the time, driven by a desire to address the disconnect between urban populations and farming, and inspired by a similar project in Denmark. That was the very first Open Farm Sunday which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A judgement from the High Court yesterday ruled that the Food Standards Agency has been 'unlawfully' charging abattoirs too much and that it wasn't transparent enough about what it was charging for. The ruling comes after a legal challenge by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers.Developers of small-scale hydro-energy projects say the industry's missing out on investment because of a heavy focus on wind and solar. Scotland in particular has long been a pioneer of cheap hydro-electricity, but companies say the current contracts to supply power are squeezing them out of the market. All week we're hearing about the current challenges facing upland farmers right across the UK and how they're dealing with them. Farming in the hills can be an isolated, even lonely, business. But a group of farmers scattered across the uplands of Shropshire have joined forces to pool ideas.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.With thanks to British Pathé Archive.

The government has published fresh guidance for farmers and food businesses to help them prepare for the new sanitary and phytosanitary - or SPS - agreement between the UK and the EU. It's expected to take effect in a year's time. It's supposed to make trade easier, with fewer checks and less paperwork, but there are still many points in the agreement to iron out. Peatlands are one of the most valuable sources of carbon storage and they provide important habitats for wildlife and plants too. Across Wales the National Peatland Action Programme is working to improve these precious sites. In the Cambrian Mountains the project has been so successful that water voles have now populated the area. All week we're assessing the state of upland farming across the UK. In Scotland, 70% of agricultural land is classed as uplands. Most of those farms have sheep, many also have beef cattle and forestry is also a big part of Scottish farming. Agriculture is devolved and the Scottish government has, until now, held onto the direct payments which existed under the pre-Brexit EU system. That's being phased out, and upland farmers are concerned that under the new rules they could lose out. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new report says there should be plenty of opportunities for young people to take up training and jobs in land-based work - but there's a 'skills squeeze'. The study by Lantra, a charity which provides training and qualifications in land-based industries, says jobs are available but not being filled.All week we're taking a closer look at upland farming across the UK. In Wales more than half the country is classed as uplands, from dramatic mountain ranges and blanket bogs to rolling heathland and moors. Unlike England, farmers still receive a basic payment from the Welsh government, though it's being phased out, to be replaced with the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which came in this year. We speak to a hill farmer in Ogmore Vale.It's the fourth year of the Future Countryside Conference, which brings together a wide selection of leaders in farming, conservation and rural issues. It's being held at the Raby Estate in County Durham. This year, it's asking the question “How can we win support for a growing and recovering countryside?” We catch up with one of the organisers.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The latest analysis of wildfires shows that last year the UK recorded its highest burned area on record, including the country's first documented ‘megafire' in Scotland, that's a fire which covers more than 10,000 hectares. Researchers from the University of East Anglia led a team of international scientists looking into last year's fires round the globe, they say wildfires are getting more extreme, costly and disastrous. Though less land was affected, globally the fires resulted in more than 300,000 evacuations and the deaths of more than 90 people. .A three million pound project backed by DEFRA which has been looking at how methane emissions can be reduced in sheep has announced its findings. Various breeds from Scotland to the South Coast were tested as part of the research which gathered data from thirteen and a half thousand lambs. The scientists involved in the “Breed for Change” programme hope sheep farmers will use their data to reduce their carbon footprint.All week we're focusing on farming in the uplands, places above a thousand feet, landscapes like the Brecon Beacons, the Peak District, and the Highlands: many of the most stunning places in the country, but because of their geography they're generally harder places to farm. MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee are preparing a report on the challenges facing upland farmers in England and how the Government can best support them. It follows the publication of the Land Use Framework, which identified upland areas as places which could be most suitable for delivering climate and nature targets.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Its been a record breakingly hot week across much, though not all, of the UK, and that's brought probems for farmers, with crops struggling and livestock at risk of overheating. We ask what more extreme weather means for the future of British farming.Independent UK pig farmers face an uncertain future according to the National Pig Association, which this week called for long-term committements from retailers, processors and the foodservice sector. It comes two weeks after the supermarket Morrisons said it will stop buying pigs from some of its farmers, because of an oversupply of pig meat - blaming the 'challenging economic climate.'And we speak to the Hawkstone Farmers Choir ahead of their participation in the final of Britain's Got Talent. The choir is made up of farmers and others working in agriculture and was originally set up as part of an advertising campaign, but has since been using its growing fame to talk about mental health in farming.Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

Water is a main topic of conversation amongst farmers at the moment - because it's in short supply. Memories of the wet winter have been dried out by the recent hot weather and those growing crops or indeed relying on grass to feed their animals are all talking about rain which hasn't materialised. Environment Agency figures show that rainfall across England last month was 38% of the long term average. However, some areas got far less. We speak to an expert about what this means for water abstraction and growers who irrigate their crops over the summer using water from rivers or aquifers.Food prices keep rising - industry bodies suggest an increase of 9 or 10% by the end of the year. The cost of energy, diesel, fertiliser and other farming inputs have been on the rise – with more inflation expected to come. All week we've been looking at local food systems. It isn't always easy to connect households on a limited budget with fresh, healthy produce, but a farming family from Staffordshire have made that their mission. They've set up Farm Fresh Revolution, a project which delivers discounted fruit, vegetables and meat to local schools to inspire families to eat more healthily.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new report shows that the cost of rural crime has fallen. Insurer NFU Mutual paid out £41.5 million in claims in 2025, compared to £44.1 million in 2024. However the theft of quad bikes has risen - and police warn that rural crime is organised and carried out by international criminal gangs.They are a relic of a world long before Sat nav or even A to Zs, the black and white fingerposts which guided the nation's first drivers to their destinations. Now largely redundant, many are in a poor state of repair and are disappearing from our rural landscape. That's why the Northumberland branch of the charity the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, or CPRE, is running a course to teach people how to restore them.All week we're looking at local food networks, where food is grown as near as possible to the people who are going to eat it. Despite being nicknamed ‘the garden of Wales' Carmarthenshire has a shortage of fruit and vegetable production. The county council is now using a former dairy and turkey farm which it owns, as a pilot to grow fresh produce for the local community, including care homes and schools. The 100-acre farm is part of a wider local food partnership called Bwyd Sir Gar Food.Presenter = Anna Jones Producer = Rebecca Rooney

It's been unseasonably hot over the last few days across much of the UK. Extreme heat means extra concerns for livestock farmers. The Irish government has issued guidance advising farmers not to transport animals in the hottest part of the day, and vets and farmers will be looking out for symptoms of heat stress in all livestock. We visit a dairy farmer in Cumbria to find out how his herd is faring.Farmers in the east of England say they'll have to start reviewing the way they plant crops after one of their driest Aprils on record. Crops already planted are struggling and this current hot spell is making matters worse. We visit an arable farmer in Lincolnshire whose crops are suffering because of the weather.All week we are looking at local food systems - alternatives to big supply chains and supermarkets. Lauriston agro-ecology farm, just north of Edinburgh, covers a hundred acres and is run by a workers' cooperative. It describes itself as an urban farm growing food for people and wildlife and claims to be Scotland's largest community supported agricultural enterprise. Producer: Rebecca Rooney Presenter: Caz Graham

Pig farmers in Scotland say 10% of their national herd has gone to waste because there's oversupply in the market. They're asking their government for help.Churches across England can now apply for cash to get their leaky roofs fixed, or their stained glass windows repaired, under a new government grant scheme launched this month. This week we are looking at local food systems. While many of us go to the supermarket, there are other suppliers trying to reach customers in a different way. We hear from some of them.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Crofting is embedded in life in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, but it's an unusual form of farming, with a family plot rarely able to provide a full living. Many crofters need additional employment to make ends meet. So, where did crofting come from, and how has it survived? This year marks 140 years since the Crofters Holdings (Scotland) Act 1886 was brought in to protect the rights of crofters and to mark the anniversary, Richard Baynes explores the dark past and brighter future of crofting life.Produced and presented by Richard Baynes.

The cost of growing our food is still higher than before the conflict in the Middle East. To counteract some of that, the government's laid out a "Great British Savings" bonanza aimed at making life a little less expensive for everyone. There'll be cuts to tariffs on more than 100 food imports sold in supermarkets and fuel duty on red diesel will be reduced by a third. We visit a strawberry grower in Kent to find out how they're coping with rising costs.A new trade deal has been announced with a group of six states in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It'll remove export tariffs and open the door to market expansion. We speak to the International Chamber of Commerce and the NFU for their reaction. The Climate Change Committee has published a new report about the consequences of a 2% rise in global temperatures and what the UK needs to do about it. We ask what it means for farmers.A fifth of the Duchy of Cornwall's property, owned by the Prince of Wales, could be sold in the next 10 years to help invest £500m into tackling housing and nature crises. The Duchy has a large number of tenant farmers and is introducing a new tenancy agreement, which concentrates on regenerative farming. All week we're celebrating British flowers. We visit a commercial grower in Norfolk which grows 35 million tulips every year and supplies most of the UK's leading supermarkets. It's invested five million pounds in new technology so it can stay competitive and compete with imported blooms. We also visit a flower grower who is trying to connect local producers and florists.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

We ask what the latest government cost of living measures mean for farmers.How a Fenland farmer must decide whether to keep on his struggling family farm.We've been talking flowers all week: the cut flower market in the UK is worth around £2.2 billion but the bulk of flowers sold in supermarkets and florists don't come from British farms.The BBC Food & Farming Awards are back and this year we're teaming up again with the Archers for the ‘Archers and Farming Today Farming for the Future Award'. We're looking for those people or organisations who are models for how farming can be more resilient and sustainable. You can nominate by going to bbc.co.uk/foodawards - entries close at midday on the 15th of June. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

'The taps could run dry' - that's the warning from a new report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Environment and Climate Change. The report, in response to last year's drought, says water supplies need to be better managed to overcome the contrary challenges of drought and flooding, which it says are both a consequence of climate change.Farmers have just had some respite from hikes in fuel prices with a government announcement that a cut on the duty on red diesel will last until the end of 2026. Despite that, the cost of growing our food is still higher than before the conflict in the Middle East. British Apples and Pears which represents top fruit growers, says producing Gala apples has risen by 4.5% since the start of March. We visit a big strawberry grower in Kent to discuss the challenges.All week we're celebrating British flower growing - from intensive tulip production to farm-grown bouquets. One way you can be extremely nosy about how other people are growing their flowers is to join in with the National Garden Scheme and visit gardens locally in July. We visit a farmer who opens her garden on the edge of Exmoor - it's full of old farming equipment and brings back memories for farmers who visit.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Climate Change Committee has published a new report about the consequences of a 2% rise in global temperatures and what the UK needs to do about it. The CCC, which reports to UK government on adapting to climate change, says that by 2050, 92% of homes are likely to overheat, peak river flows will be up to 45% higher, and water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion litres per day. It points out that the cost of doing nothing is far greater than acting now, and it proposes investment of around £11 billion a year, split evenly between public and private funding. We ask what it means for farmers.The prospect of closer ties with the European Union continues to make political headlines, and farmers are watching closely as the government works towards EU re-alignment and a new sanitary and phytosanitary or SPS agreement which should ease trade in food and agricultural goods between the UK and the EU. The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has been hearing what an SPS agreement could mean for farmers, the meat industry and ports.All week we're celebrating British flowers - locally grown flowers account for a tiny fraction of the UK market even though we spend some 2.2 billion pounds on cut flowers. We visit a flower grower who is trying to change that, connecting local producers and florists and promoting home-grown flowers via the South Yorkshire Flower Hub.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Researchers at Leeds University say a new study shows deliberate burning of moorland for grouse shooting leads to an additional half a million people, on average, being exposed to unsafe levels of particulate pollution - that's on top of the pollution cause by wildfires. The study was co-authored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which is calling for a licensing scheme for controlled burning to be brought in for England. In Scotland a plan to bring in licensing was temporarily put on hold by the Scottish Government in the aftermath of extensive wildfires last summer. Moorland managers argue that wildfires cause more pollution than controlled burning - and that controlled burning reduces the risk of wildfires.A fifth of the Duchy of Cornwall's property, owned by the Prince of Wales, could be sold in the next 10 years to help invest £500m into tackling housing and nature crises. The Duchy has a large number of tenant farmers and is introducing a new tenancy agreement, which concentrates on regenerative farming. We find out what's different about this type of tenancy.All week we're celebrating British flowers and today we visit a commercial grower in Norfolk which grows 35 million tulips every year and supplies most of the UK's leading supermarkets. It's invested five million pounds in new technology so it can stay competitive and compete with imported blooms.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Today is final judging day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, ahead of the show's opening to the public tomorrow. This year, the Great Pavilion will include a mini flower farm, to promote British production. The display's been created by 8 growers from the organisation Flowers From The Farm. It says, after years of the market being dominated by cheaper imports, interest in British flowers is burgeoning. Now, more producers are needed to keep pace with the new demand. The UK's largest food and farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, has had a difficult couple of years. Its new Chief Executive, Paul McLaughlin, tells Anna he's confident a standards overhaul will make the scheme work better for farmers and consumers. Hare coursing has been a long-standing problem for farmers, damaging crops, fencing and land. New sentencing guidelines for hare coursing will come into effect next month taking into account the impact of the crime on farms and rural communities. We hear from a farmer in Essex says he's been targeted almost 200 times in eight months.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

Too many pigs, not enough space: farmers struggling to sell their livestock.New strategies for tackling the spread of animal disease. We ask, how much is being done to stop it getting here in the first place.Vets' organisations are calling for a ban on imports of eggs produced by caged hens, and a phasing out of the legal 'enriched colony' cages in the UK.And prize winning sheep at the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Balmoral Show near Belfast is Northern Ireland's biggest agricultural show. It's held over four days and attracts more than 100,000 visitors. This year there are record numbers of livestock entries. We speak to some of them, including breeders who've brought backed the traditional Irish Moiled Cattle back from the brink. Presented by Louise Cullen and produced by Rebecca Rooney.

New strategies for tackling African Swine Fever. We ask how much is being done to stop it getting here in the first place.Yesterday the King delivered his speech outlining what the Government hopes to achieve in its next parliamentary session, no matter who is at the helm. How much was in there for farmers?A campaign has been launched to raise awareness of sepsis among farmers. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The supermarket Morrisons has given notice to some of its pig farmers, because of an oversupply in the market. In a statement, Morrisons said it has to reduce the number of pig producers in its supply chain because of the challenging economic climate. An industry expert explains why the market's taken a downturn and how there are too many pigs and not enough space on farm as farmers struggle to sell their livestock.Last year, a survey by the consumer group Which? voted Northumberland National Park the best in the country, with its history peace and facilities all scoring highly. However, it's also among the least visited and that's something the park's former CEO Tony Gates has spent 20 years trying to change, while arguing with the government over the park's funding. All week we're looking at the particular challenges of farming in Northern Ireland as farmers head to the Balmoral Show. Farming in Northern Ireland is heavily livestock-based: 80% of farms have beef or sheep and 10% are dairy. The average farm size is very small, less than 40 hectares, which is about half the size of an average farm in England. Agriculture is devolved, and Stormont decides its own policies, including the post-Brexit system for farm subsidies. We speak to an agricultural economist from Queen's University Belfast,Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

Farmers in Wales and Scotland are asking what last week's elections in Scotland and Wales will mean for agriculture. Neither Plaid Cymru in Wales nor the SNP in Scotland have ended up with an outright majority. In Scotland, Mairi Gougeon, the Rural Affairs Secretary, didn't stand for re-election, so a new appointment will have to be made. In Wales, Plaid Cymru have won 43 out of the 96 seats in an expanded Welsh parliament so are short of an outright majority. It means the Welsh pro-independence party will need the support of others to pass laws and a budget in future. So what does it all mean for agriculture and the environment - both policy areas that are largely devolved? The agriculture show season begins with Balmoral Show just outside Belfast this week. Farming Today will be reporting from the show, and all week, we'll be looking at different aspects of farming across Northern Ireland. Unique to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland's Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is the largest baseline soil sampling programme ever undertaken. The £37 million government-funded scheme is managed by the Agri-Food and Bio-Science Institute (AFBI) and has taken four years to complete.A new centre to identify and address plant diseases is being set up with government funding of £3 million. The National Centre for Environmental Horticulture Plant Health will be virtual, operated by staff at the government's Animal and Plant Health Agency and the charity, the Royal Horticultural Society. It's hoped that commercial plant growers and gardeners too will send in evidence of pests and diseases to help stop their spread.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

The UK's environment watchdog has warned that regulations designed to reduce water pollution from agricultural sources in Northern Ireland, urgently need to be strengthened. The Office for Environmental Protection, or OEP, has examined Northern Ireland's Nutrients Action Programme and says its measures haven't done enough to improve water quality.Many students of farming get the opportunity to experience hands-on learning, with dairy, beef and arable. At Harper Adams University in Shropshire students not only get to learn how to tend a vineyard, but now they're able to drink their own wine, made with grapes from the University's vines. The first wines have just been released.Vets' organisations are calling for a ban on imports of eggs produced by caged hens, alongside a phasing out of the 'enriched colony' cages currently legal in the UK. The British Veterinary Association and British Veterinary Poultry Association are supporting the Government's plan to end the use of cage systems here - out for consultation earlier this year. The National Farmers Union warned the move would drive more imports, some produced using methods already illegal in the UK.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

The price of British wool has gone up. But does it even cover the cost of shearing? Below ground, we listen to new research on the sounds from worms and other creatures living in the soil. Above ground, we're out in the woodland listening to the dawn chorus. And we enjoy a medley of countryside sounds sent in by listeners.

The price of wool from British sheep is at a ten year high - on average farmers will see a 70 per cent increase on last year. However that will still only just cover the cost of shearing the sheep. The price is set by British Wool, which is owned by around 30,000 UK sheep farmers, and collects, grades, sells and promotes wool. It says the price rise is down to increased demand, and a worldwide fall in the number of sheep. Well if you've been out and about in the countryside in the last few weeks you may have seen the glorious displays of bluebells. Not all of them are native - and there's concern that the invasive Spanish variety is spreading, and could threaten our more delicate blooms. Bluebells are protected - it is illegal to pick them - and in some parts of the UK, land owners are doing more to preserve the native species. And all this week we're listening to the countryside - the sounds we hear beyond, say, a tractor, or cows mooing. So far we've heard bats, worms in the soil and babbling brooks. Today we're joining an organised dawn chorus walk - It's one of the most popular events at Bere Farm in Dorset, run by the Countryside Regeneration Trust. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

The use of the herbicide glyphosate has been long debated, and it's going to come under intense scrutiny in the coming months.  This summer, the Health and Safety Executive will launch a two-month public consultation on whether approval for the use of glyphosates should be renewed. In the EU, a decision was made in 2023 to renew glyphosate approval for 10 years, though with restrictions on how it can be used to dry off crops before harvesting. Here, the NFU and other farming organisations support the continued use of glyphosate-based weedkillers – including as a pre-harvest desiccant in cereals and oilseed rape. They say it reduces the need for other herbicides, helps protect soil, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for ploughing. However the Soil Association, along with a number of other environmental groups, are launching a petition calling for glyphosate to be banned as a pre-harvest desiccant.The sounds of the countryside can be every bit as evocative as its sights - the dawn chorus, or the burbling of a stream can conjure up a mood, or a special place. So this week on Farming Today we're exploring the landscape of the UK through sound. One soil scientist is using microphones to eavesdrop on life below the surface, especially earthworms. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new propagation technique could help restore the ash tree to our landscapes. Scientists across the UK have been working to propagate saplings from resistant trees, but currently that takes between 2 and 5 years. Now researchers at the John Innes Centre have developed a speedier system, which they hope everyone could use, even at home, with the help of household bleach.Campaigners are calling for a full-scale clean-up of beaches on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent following the discovery of a large quantity of illegally dumped clinical waste.The University of Suffolk and a local group have been monitoring bats using bioacoustics to track their ultrasonic calls as they visit people's gardens.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Neolithic peoples made the transition from being nomadic hunter-gatherers to crop-growing farmers, and their diets are the subject of numerous studies.Archaeological evidence informs us about the farming and foraging activities of these ancient peoples, but it's unusual to get a first hand taste of how it might have been to forage on the shore and land! On the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, the arts organisation, Haar, facilitated an opportunity to sit down to an interpretation of a Stone Age feast - albeit with considerable artistic and culinary licence! The event was centered around the 5000-year-old Calanais standing stone circle. Nancy Nicolson joined the foragers to find out about the farming and feasting habits of our ancestors, and met one of the crofters whose sheep today graze the machair, the strip of flower and herb-rich land that borders the sea and which it is believed contributed to the flavours and nutrition of the food Neolithic people ate.Produced and presented by Nancy Nicolson.

Farmers are hoping for more rain in May after an unusually dry and windy April in many part of the UK. The East of England had between 2 and 4 per cent of the expected rainfall last month. We hear from a farmer struggling to plant his crops. This week we look at agroforestry - that's farming with trees in the mix. We visit farms using trees for different reasons - including providing shade for livestock, adding nutrients to soil, and providing habitats for useful insect predators. And the UK's second largest greenhouse - which could replace 7 per cent of the tomatoes the UK imports - has been given the go ahead. Rivenhall Greenhouse near Braintree in Essex will cover 40 hectares and use power from a domestic waste incinerator - burning all the black bag waste from the county. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

Farmers are hoping that a dry April will be followed by a wet few weeks. Some parts of the country, notably in the East of England, have had between 2% and 4% of the expected rainfall last month. This feels a lot like last year when the dry spring led to a loss of yields and even failed crops and that hit the bottom lines of farming businesses. Some farmers are warning that without rain soon we could see the same again this year.Less than a week to go now before elections across the UK. We've talked about the issues rural voters in Wales and Scotland are considering as they vote for their national governments who control agricultural policy, today we're turning our attention to the council elections in England. We've been talking all week about agro-forestry: planting trees alongside crops or livestock grazing. Today we hear how hedgerows can benefit farms.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Mixing trees and farming in agro-forestry: why the key to resilient farming could be trees. We're looking at this all this week and today we hear from a British pioneer. A week today millions of people will head to the polls to vote in a number of local council and mayoral elections in England, while voters in Scotland and Wales will elect representatives to their national parliaments.  Farming policy is largely devolved to the governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff, and having heard the latest from the campaign trail in Scotland yesterday, today we turn to Wales.This Sunday is International Dawn Chorus day. The RSPB is using the occasion to celebrate a rise in the number of young people bird watching, though the British Trust for Ornithology warns that there are fewer birds for them to see and hear. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A 40 hectare greenhouse has been given the go-ahead in Essex. It'll be the UK's second largest, and will be powered and heated by a domestic waste incinerator on the same site. The company says it will grow 28,000 tonnes of tomatoes a year, which will offset 7 percent of UK tomato imports from Southern Spain, Morocco and Holland. We visit a farm in Gloucestershire where they incorporate trees into everything they grow. Silvohorticulture uses the trees to provide shade, wind cover, and compost. And this week we're looking ahead to the upcoming elections in the UK. Today, what politicians are promising farmers in Scotland. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

A new collaboration has been set up between scientists and the fishing industry in Cornwall, to integrate scientific research with the real experience of fishers. Assessing current fish stocks and how not to damage them, has often been a point of contention between the two, but now it's hoped that the Cornwall Fisheries Science Board will lead the way for a similar approach nationwide.All week we're taking a closer look at agro-forestry, today we visit a farm in Shropshire which has created silvo-pasture - growing trees on the pasture used by livestock. Tim Downes says the health of his 300 organic dairy cows has improved, since he planted willow trees and walnuts.Some potato farmers are struggling to find a market for their crop, one grower in Cambridgeshire is donating tonnes of spuds he can't sell to a food bank. It seems there is an over-supply of potatoes after a very successful growing season last year. It's not just in the UK but across Europe too. As war in the Middle East pushes up the cost of fuel, fertiliser and energy, will farmers bother planting potatoes this spring?Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A landmark legal case over water pollution gets underway later today. Thousands of people are part of the case which claims that chicken farming and sewage spills are causing pollution in three rivers, the Wye, Usk and Lugg. The case against chicken producers Avara and Freemans of Newent, and Welsh Water, will be heard at the High Court in London. All three firms vigorously deny the claims.A new report from MPs highlights low morale and a lack of trust in officials amongst fishing communities. All week we'll be looking at agroforestry, or farming with trees in the mix: putting pigs into an orchard or planting fruit trees in an arable field to provide wind breaks and food. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A new trial is starting this summer, as part of a programme to develop a vaccine for people against bird flu. 3000 volunteers are needed from the UK to take part, and 1000 in the USA. Researchers at the National Institute for Health and Care Research are hoping that poultry workers might take part.A new report warns that UK farming's reliance on imported fertiliser and minerals, puts it at risk in times of geopolitical stress. Analysis, published by the National Preparedness Commission, highlights the fragility of global supply chains on which UK agriculture depends.Fuel and fertiliser costs are soaring because of disruption caused by the war in the Middle East. That's having a big impact on farmers and it's also putting pressure on food prices as MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs select committee have been hearing. They were told that food prices were 40% higher than before Covid and that the food supply chain needed urgent government support with fuel costs.We visit a field trial of a gene-edited barley which contains higher levels of fat. Scientists believe this will make it a more efficient livestock feed, and could also reduce methane emissions by making it more digestible.Thatching is becoming more of a challenge due to issues with some of the materials. Supplies of the right sort of wheat straw can be unpredictable and the hazel spars used to attach the thatch to the roof now have to be imported from Eastern Europe. To kick start interest in growing more locally a ‘summit' of thatchers, farmers and plant scientists was held this week in Suffolk.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Whilst the cost of producing a crop is up, particularly the cost of fuel and fertiliser, the price paid for it hasn't risen by anything like as much. If the situation stays the same by the autumn some farmers may decide not to grow loss-making crops, leaving fields lying fallow. There are calls for the Government to fund a one-off a scheme to protect this land from soil erosion by planting cover crops, and these could also reduce the use of fertiliser. The idea comes from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the professional body for farm valuers and advisors.Thatching is becoming more of a challenge due to issues with some of the materials. Supplies of the right sort of wheat straw can be unpredictable. And, Hazel spars used to attach the thatch to the roof now have to be imported from Eastern Europe. To kick start interest in growing more locally a ‘summit' of thatchers, farmers and plant scientists was held this week in Suffolk. We visit a field trial of a gene edited Barley which contains higher levels of fat. Scientists believe this will make it a more efficient livestock feed, and could also reduce methane emissions by making it more digestible. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

A new report warns that UK farming's reliance on imported fertiliser and minerals, puts it at risk in times of geopolitical stress. Analysis, published by the National Preparedness Commission, highlights the fragility of global supply chains on which UK agriculture depends. All week we've been looking at ideas for cutting emissions on the farm. Today we join Stuart Oates, a 7th generation farmer on The Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. He set himself a long term aim: to remove single-use plastics on the farm and end his family's reliance on fossil fuels.  Towards that goal, he's taken up a Nuffield scholarship, travelling the world to see if the UK can learn from innovations elsewhere, to reduce emissions.  We also hear from an organisation which helps farmers recycle their plastic waste. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney