Farming Today

MPs have told the Government 'ambitious action' is needed to improve bus services in rural England. The Transport Committee suggests rural weighting to give more money to councils in the countryside where it is more expensive to run services, along with a minimum service guarantee so communities can rely on regular buses. The Campaign To Protect Rural England tells us that poor public transport is one factor holding back growth in the rural economy. Our exploration of ways to find markets for less popular cuts of meat takes us to a wildlife park.And an independent analysis of controversial changes to Inheritance Tax on farms worth over a million pounds says that some smaller family farms will be affected, and that the measure could be targeted better.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Sarah Swadling

Could a tough autumn lie ahead for UK arable farmers after 3 difficult years in a row? Sliding prices, difficult weather conditions, and a range of pressures have led to low confidence. The National Farmers Union's Combinable Crops Board chair tells us he's heard from once forward-looking farmers now considering their exit strategy. One factor causing concern is the Government's decision last week not to put forward a rescue package for the UK bioethanol, green fuel, industry. Also in the programme, how freezing trees could make it possible to plant in Summer and we begin a week long look at the UK salad industry.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Sarah Swadling

Salted pig's trotter? Brains on toast? Why the carcass balance is important to farmers. We like steak but we're not so keen on tripe, and we eat a lot of chicken but not the feet. To both reduce waste and get the best price for the whole animal or bird we need to do something with the offal. This is carcass balance, balancing the sale of the popular bits with finding markets for the bits that are less desirable here. Those parts that can't be sold are sent for rendering, using heat to separate them into fats and proteins to be sold as animal feed, fertiliser or go into things like cosmetics.Shooting clubs on Salisbury Plain say they may have to close because they can't get a licence to release game birds. Clubs near protected areas, like Sites of Special Scientific Interest, now need a special licence from Natural England to release birds like pheasants and that's now harder to get because of the threat of bird flu. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation says the licensing system is legally flawed and it's issued legal proceedings against Natural England. However, the RSPB would like to see the licensing regime extended. New rules to make trade fairer for pig producers came in this week. A series of recent difficulties in the industry revealed that many farmers didn't have proper contracts for their stock. The new system aims to change that.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Shooting clubs on Salisbury Plain say they may have to close because they can't get a licence to release game birds. Clubs near protected areas, like Sites of Special Scientific Interest, now need a special licence from Natural England to release birds like pheasants and that's now harder to get because of the threat of bird flu. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation or BASC says the licensing system is legally flawed and it's issued legal proceedings against Natural England. However the RSPB would like to see the licensing regime extended. It's called for all game bird releases to be stopped this year because of the risks. In the meantime, clubs say no shoots means no money coming in which means some, like the Bulford and Tidworth Garrison Shoot, are at risk of folding.All week we're looking at what's known as the 5th quarter - this is the name given to the offcuts of meat which, though edible, the British palate isn't keen on. Carcass balance is about finding a use for offal and things like ears or trotters both to combat waste and to get the best price for the whole animal and that means exports. British consumers may not want to eat this sort of thing, but in other parts of the world there is a market so in recent years greater emphasis has been put on seeking out new buyers to get the best out of animal carcasses. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

New rules to make trade fairer for pig producers come in today. A series of recent difficulties in the industry revealed that many farmers didn't have proper contracts for their stock. The new system aims to change that. The dry weather continues, with heat alerts out for all of England. It can be a problem for farmers, not only immediately, but for crops just establishing now to be harvested in Autumn or Winter. We speak to a pumpkin farmer who needs his crops to be ready at Halloween. All this week we're looking at what happens to the parts of an animal carcass that we as consumers don't like to eat. Today we visit a rendering plant which deals with fallen stock on farms. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner

The government's announced a trade deal with Egypt which it says could be worth £250 million in dairy exports ports over the next five years. As part of the deal, new regulations around the Halal certification of dairy produce going into Egypt will not be applied, avoiding what would have been a costly trade barrier. Finding a market for every part of an animal, not just the popular cuts like bacon and steak, is known as carcass balance and it's something we're talking about all this week. We visit Redhill Farm in Lincolnshire to see how they find out how they manage it. The auroch is regarded as the wild ancestor of the modern day cattle we see on farms today. They were huge and used to roam Europe through to the Bronze age. Excavations in the Yorkshire Dales have unearthed what may be the last recorded aurochs in the UK. We speak to farmer Tom Lord who lives in the area and is a passionate archaeologist. He's often called on to advise potholers who find auroch bones when they're exploring underground caves. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmers say they may have to plough up land currently managed for nature as the scheme that pays them isn't working. Thousands of countryside stewardship agreements come to an end this year, and applications for the replacement haven't opened yet. The Nature Friendly Farming Network is asking the government to roll over the current schemes to give farmers some certainty.All this week we're looking at 'carcass balance' - using more of the animal's carcass to avoid waste. In the past the consumers in the UK would use the whole of an animal - including heart, lungs and liver - but tastes have changed and we need to find new markets for the unwanted offal. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

Harvest is the highlight of the farming calendar but this summer's harvest is one of contrasts. It's a good year for some crops like oil seed rape but for others yields are down. We take stock of the crops - from barley and peas to cherries and sweetcorn.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Scottish gamekeepers may refuse to help tackle wildfires in a dispute over licences for muirburn. Muirburn is the controlled burning of heather and other vegetation to encourage new growth, mostly to raise game birds for shooting. It takes place from autumn to spring, but from January next year it will be licensed and it will be an offence to carry out any burning without a licence. Gamekeepers say controlled burning reduces the amount of dead vegetation which fuels wildfires and if they can't do it, they say tackling future wildfires will become too dangerous.All week we've been following the harvest. It started early for many and one of the country's largest cherry growers in Herefordshire says warmer winters and summers are shortening the growing season. Britain's newest and largest Green Bridge is under construction in the Cotswolds as part of a half billion-pound road building scheme. When it's completed at the end of the year, the bridge won't be tarmacked - instead it'll be planted with grasses, wildflowers and shrubs designed to create a crossing for wildlife, and walkers over a new eight lane highway near Cheltenham.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmwatch will see farms take over BBC local radio in England today. It's a celebration of farming and a chance to hear from rural communities across the country. It's happening at one of the busiest times of the year for many farmers - harvest, and as part of our week-long focus on harvest we speak to a farmer in Lincolnshire who's growing corn on the cob.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The British Veterinary Association is urging farmers to avoid treating livestock for parasites unnecessarily. The say blanket treatments of worming medicines can lead to resistance and have an impact on the environment.Conservationists in the south east are reporting a drop in the number of barn owl chicks being raised, they say it's the worst breeding season they've seen for decades. All week we're following the harvest around the country, pea producers say this year's crop is down by a quarter because of dry windy weather.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The egg industry is calling for better labelling of products using imported eggs, and for all imports of eggs and egg products to be checked at the border. The British Egg Industry Council says there's been a rise in imports and they're concerned that eggs contaminated with salmonella are not being picked up. Plums used to be a big crop for British farms back in the 1960s, but over the decades the amount grown here has fallen dramatically. However, one farm in Kent believes the tide is turning. WB Chambers near Maidstone say new varieties, new orchards and new technology are extending the growing season and providing consumers with British plums for longer.As part of our week-long focus on harvest, we see how this year's oil seed rape crop has fared. We visit a farmer in East Yorkshire who used a drone to help seal the pods with a special sealant a couple of months ago, to stop them falling off too early. He says it's saved a lot of crop - and money.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

It's been a tricky year for many farmers this year with extremes of drought and rain at various times - usually the wrong times. All week we'll see how harvest 2025 is shaping up. We start with barley in East Anglia and a dairy farm in Wiltshire, and find out from a cereals analyst how crops are looking across the board.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmers are having to cope with too much water, or too little, more and more often due to the effects of climate change. This week Charlotte Smith explores how farmers can strike a balance on their land, with competing pressures for water including crops, homes, and wildlife. And, campaigners against Government plans to reintroduce Inheritance Tax on farms worth over £1 million found an unlikely ally in President Trump this week. But with the Government showing no sign of changing course, how feasible is a backbench rebellion on which farm lobby groups are now pinning their hopes?Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

Half a million pounds is going from the UK Government to a project aiming to improve soils in Ukraine. The ongoing research, being run by the Royal Agricultural University, has identified significant damage to soils from the war there - things like heavy metal contamination from bombardments. The new money will help set up soil labs. We speak to the professor leading it and a farmer in Ukraine.Small changes in the way a river catchment is managed can have a big impact - reconnecting floodplains, re-wiggling rivers and slowing the flow upstream can reduce the flood and pollution risk and encourage more biodiversity. A ‘whole Cumbria strategy', which involves three River Trusts, the Environment Agency and Natural England – has just been named as one of only four finalists for a prestigious global award, the Thiess International River prize. It's up against river projects in the USA and Albania. We see the kind of work the Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme is doing in the Lake District.The Environment Agency's urging farmers to think ahead and get ready for storage of slurry this winter.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The bioethanol company Vivergo says it will take in its last consignment of grain tomorrow, before it stops production at its plant near Hull - unless the UK government steps into help. It says this is because of the US UK trade deal which came into force last month, allowing up to 1.4 billion litres of tax-free bioethanol from the States.How's water managed in the Norfolk Broads? We look at the system of pumping stations and drainage ditches which helps balance the competing demands of water of homes, farms and leisure.Nearly two million people have signed a petition in France demanding an end to the use of a chemical called acetamiprid which was previously banned. They say the French government should not have overturned the ban, and that it is bowing to pressure from farmers. Farmers say France is already allowing imports from countries which use the neonicotinoid and that it's not a level playing field. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The UK is heavily reliant on fruit and vegetables grown overseas. But a new report predicts that, by 2050, around half of fruit and veg imports to the UK will be affected by climate change risks including rising temperatures and diminishing water supplies. Water management is such a burning topic at the moment that the NFU has just held its first Water Summit on a Yorkshire farm. And, how do you incentivise reintroduced Beavers to shape rivers the way you intend?Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

As the NFU hosts an on-farm water summit, we find out more about an innovative project in Shropshire to manage water. It aims to prevent excess run-off from urban areas which floods farmland and destroys crops.Out and about with the Agricultural Chaplain for Suffolk who's helping farmers cope with the pressures of running a farm business. He says they're especially concerned about changes to inheritance tax reform.Scientists are working with farmers to find a high-tech way of tackling one of the most voracious pests farmers face - slugs. Traditionally, producers have used ferric phosphate pellets to kill them, or taken a more expensive but eco-friendly route, using nematodes to eat the pests. Now the British On-Farm Innovation Network or BOFIN for short, is using artificial intelligence as part of a "Slimers" project to work out where slugs are hiding. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The National Farmers Union says the fight over inheritance tax on farms is not over, despite the publication of draft legislation which shows that the government isn't backing down. Campaigners against the re-impostion of the tax, which will be levied at 20 per cent on assets over a million pounds from April next year had hoped that the government would, at least, change aspects of the policy. The Government argues that its a fair tax which the majority of farm businesses either won't be liable for, or can plan for. A record breaking wet winter has been followed by a record breaking dry spring and early summer in many parts of the UK - with three heatwaves thrown in for good measure. So managing water has become a huge challenge for farmers, which we're exploring all this week on the programme. And, traditional Eel fishermen on Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland have said they're cancelling their season, and one of the factors they blame is water pollution. It comes as the Northern Ireland Executive has proposed more stringent measures to reduce run off from farms, which are strongly opposed by the Ulster Farmers Union.Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

The UK's Chief Vet is urging travellers not to run the risk of bringing foot and mouth disease back from European holidays, in banned personal imports of meat and dairy. Caz Graham hears why a warm, dry summer in many fruit growing areas has led to a bumper crop of high quality blackcurrants. All farmers tend to the needs of their livestock, but few creatures are as needy as leeches. We visit the UK's only medical Leech farm and find out how sensitive the blood suckers really are, to everything from atmospheric pressure to metals in the water. And we drop in to the mobile consulting room bringing health checks to farmers who are too busy, or reluctant, to get to their GP's surgery.Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Sarah Swadling

Farming Today joins the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells - the week after the Welsh Government announced its new system of payments: the sustainable farming scheme. This annual celebration of farming, food and rural Wales attracts around 200,000 visitors but this year the number of cattle on show is down by a third because of bluetongue disease. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The move to build battery storage sites on farmland is increasing: it can be a money-spinner for the landowner and can play an important role in the transition to a low carbon energy system, storing green energy collected through wind or solar power generation. But there are concerns at the lack of specific health and safety standards for the sector. We're looking at farmers' welbeing this week. Today, a virtual reality headset is being shown at the Royal Welsh Show. It's the latest offering from a farmers' mental health charity, and allows farmers to try out various therapies in a calm and safe space.And Natural Resources Wales is offering cash incentives to encourage more farmers to recycle their farm waste, to reduce pollution. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

The head of a team carrying out water quality monitoring on livestock farms across the UK says their evidence shows the majority of farms tested so far are breaking rules which are supposed to protect rivers from pollution. The evidence backs up the findings in Sir Jon Cunliffe's report from the Independent Water Commission, which was published yesterday. It found that the 'Farming Rules For Water' weren't being complied with, and enforcement should be improved. And all this week we're looking at how to boost wellbeing in farming. Today, Sarah Swadling meets a Devon group set up to rebuild social connections - the Crediton Area Vintage Farmers.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

The final report into the devastating mass deaths of shellfish along the north east coast says the incident was 'catastrophic' to the industry. We speak to one of the fishers affected.Throughout this week we're going to be looking at into health, mental health and wellbeing in rural Britain. Today we go to the Peak District to meet a group of women farmers who've set up their own support group. And new rules come in tomorrow allowing poultry farmers to legally pick up birds under a certain weight by their two legs when catching them. Not everyone's happy.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

Has the National Food Strategy for England been watered down? We hear reports that a Food White Paper expected in the spring has been dropped. The Welsh Government announces its new Sustainable Farming Scheme. Some environmental groups are calling it a missed opportunity. We hear from the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs on what's being described as a 'once in a generation' event.And plant breeders in Scotland have unveiled a UK-bred blueberry. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Has the Government's Food Strategy been watered down? It wasn't launched with a huge fanfare, but Defra has published its Food Strategy for England. It aims to create what it calls a Good Food Cycle, a framework to make food production more sustainable, radically overhaul our relationship with food and prepare farmers and food producers for future challenges. The National Farmers' Union has welcomed the document though says it needs to be backed up by “joined-up and pragmatic policy measures”. But there are concerns the strategy's been watered down and that a food white paper expected next year has been dropped. Most rural councils have no targets for building the social housing that many people on the lowest incomes rely on, and the government now says they don't need to set any; that's according to a new study from the University of the West of England. The soft fruit harvest is in full swing and the recent sweltering weather has proved something of a challenge for the thousands of seasonal workers labouring under polytunnels to bring in a crop which has ripened early this year. We're exploring different aspects of the UK's soft fruit sector all through this week. Today we visit a Nottinghamshire farm producing around 2500 tonnes of strawberries and raspberries each year. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Welsh government has unveiled a new system of payments for farmers. The sustainable farming scheme or SFS replaces the current basic payment scheme or BPS, which farmers received under the EU. BPS is being wound down and farmers in Wales are being encouraged to take part in the new scheme, which will pay them to produce food sustainably and protect the environment. Farming unions welcome some aspects of the SFS but say farmers now face a cliff edge as old payments are phased out next year. Environmentalists say that although it's a step in the right direction, it is also a missed opportunity and Wales needs to do more to protect biodiversity and tackle climate change. We speak to the Tenant Farmers Association, the RSPB, NFU Cymru, and Wales deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs Huw Irranca-Davies. Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

Farmers and environmentalists are bracing themselves as major changes to the financial support system for agriculture in Wales are announced today. Agriculture is devolved, and policy is decided separately in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Welsh government will publish details of its sustainable farming scheme or SFS later. Plant breeders in Scotland have unveiled a UK-bred blueberry. The James Hutton Institute has grown thousands of seedlings to develop a berry with good flavour, yield and able to tolerate the UK climate. They plan to call the new variety Highland Charm.The Countryside Charity CPRE says new analysis shows that two-thirds of mega solar farms are built on productive farmland. They'd like to see more solar power generated from rooftop systems instead.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

The State of the UK Climate Report for 2025 is published today, Caz Graham explores the findings with Professor Liz Bentley of the Royal Meteorological Society. Meanwhile, berry growers are reporting a bumper start to their season due to the sunny weather. The recent high temperatures in some parts of the UK have made life harder for dairy farmers. When temperatures rise, cows tend to produce less milk, and in dry areas of the country conserving winter forage for the cows is proving a headache.Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Sarah Swadling

The Government is carrying out a farming profitability review in England, to inform policy. There's been a call for evidence and practical solutions. We ask the National Farmers' Union what could be done to help.Out in the sunshine at the Great Yorkshire Show - pig showing and curly fleeced Wensleydale sheep.A new strategy for tackling rural crime across Wales will offer greater protection for people and wildlife in the countryside, according to the Welsh government. Priority areas include tackling damage to ancient monuments, or heritage crime, and attacks on livestock, with new awareness courses for animal owners.Chronic bee paralysis has been in bee populations for thousands of years, but cases are rising in the UK and it's estimated up to 2% are affected. The disease is not notifiable so doesn't have to be reported, and bees can have the virus and not show symptoms. We speak to Professor Giles Budge who's working on the disease at Newcastle University.The Environment Agency is increasing the number of inspections on farms to tackle pollution and poor practice. We join an inspector making a return visit to a farm in Shropshire.All week we're taking a deep dive into the UK's shellfish industry. Almost 90% of the mussels produced in Scotland are grown in Shetland. We visit a farm which produces 1000 tonnes a year on long ropes dotted on 24 sites around the islands. We also visit Oban where scientists are working on a trial to selectively breed our native oysters to make them more resilient to climate change and pollution. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Curly sheep, innovation and profitability on farm - we visit the Great Yorkshire Show.Caz Graham is out in the sunshine at England's largest agricultural show to see the livestock and ask what's the mood this year for farmers.The Government is carrying out a Farming Profitability Review in England, to inform policy. There's been a call for evidence and practical solutions which closes today. We ask the National Farmers' Union what could be done to help.Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A new strategy for tackling rural crime across Wales will offer greater protection for people and wildlife in the countryside, according to the Welsh government. Priority areas include tackling damage to ancient monuments, or heritage crime, and attacks on livestock, with new awareness courses for animal owners. A new ban on the use of lead in ammunition has been announced by the UK government, in a bid to stop the toxic metal contaminating fields and waterways. Shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with a lead content of more than 3% are to be prohibited. It's a long-awaited move that ministers say will protect iconic wildlife and improve water quality. There'll be a three year transition period, but conservation groups say they'd like to see it introduced straight away.All week we're taking a deep dive into the UK's shellfish industry. Almost 90% of the mussels produced in Scotland are grown in Shetland.  We visit a farm which produces 1000 tonnes a year on long ropes dotted on 24 sites around the islands.  Should British farms and supermarkets have to pay the travel and visa costs of seasonal staff? The idea's been suggested as a way of protecting workers travelling to the UK to pick fruit and vegetables, some of whom are taking out loans to get here, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The Employer Pays Principle feasibility study, jointly commissioned by the government and the Seasonal Worker Taskforce, looked into the idea which has support from some retailers and recruitment agencies. The National Farmers Union however, has concerns about the challenges growers would face if forced to cover these additional costs, from job cuts to reduced production. Presenter = Steffan Messenger Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Chronic bee paralysis has been in bee populations for thousands of years, but cases are rising in the UK and it's estimated up to two percent are affected. The disease is not notifiable, so doesn't have to be reported, and bees can have the virus and not show symptoms, so it's prevalence is difficult to ascertain. We speak to Professor Giles Budge who's working on the disease at Newcastle University. As part of our week-long look at shellfish we visit Bridlington in East Yorkshire the largest lobster port in Europe, There are no quotas for catching crab and lobster and most of it is exported. After concerns about the rising number of abstraction licences, we speak to a water management expert who advises farmers in on the driest parts of the country.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

New proposals to improve water quality in Northern Ireland could prove fatal for pig farming there according to the Ulster Farmers Union. The Nutrients Action Programme aims to reduce agricultural pollution in loughs and rivers and would involve limiting the amount of phosporus and nitrogen that can by spread on the land in slurry. The consultation on the programme has already been extended once and now the UFU says pigs numbers would need to be reduced by as much as 80% if the plans get the go-ahead. Craftsmen are building a new four and half mile dry stone wall in the Cotswolds. Part of one England's biggest road construction projects, the wall will run alongside the new road near Cheltenham. Work started last year and won't be completed until next summer.  All week we're looking at shellfish from lobsters and oysters to mussels. The Shellfish Association describes it as an industry with huge untapped potential but producers are still suffering from the loss of trade to Europe since Brexit as exports account for most of their business.Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The sustainable farming incentive or SFI will re-open in the New Year, it pays English farmers for things like planting hedges or wildflowers. It was suddenly closed to new applications earlier this year after it ran out of money. Speaking at the regenerative farming festival Groundswell, the Defra secretary Steve Reed said he wants the SFI to support a transition to regenerative farming. Details will be announced later this summer with applications opening next year though Mr Reed says it will still have a limited budget. He also announced the reintroduction of capital grants for English farmers which were unexpectedly closed last year. These grants are for projects such as cutting water pollution or prevent flooding and now educational visits. All this week we've been looking at regenerative agriculture, where farmers reduce or stop ploughing, grow cover crops and keep livestock - all with the aim of improving soil and storing carbon. We speak to Becky Wilson from the Farm Carbon Toolkit about how farmers can make money from improving the biodiversity on their land and storing more carbon.A PhD student from the University of Exeter is interviewing female farmers as she cycles thousands of miles across England. We speak to Veronica White at the end of her research tour in Cumbria.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new study published by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology shows that nature-friendly farming is not currently as profitable as intensive food production. Its authors say the report is the first of its kind and shows that agroecology improves biodiversity and can boost crop yields. However, the cost of creating habitats and the loss of some productive land, they say, means lower profits. Dr Ben Woodcock led the four year study which studied 17 farms.More big food companies are paying producers who farm regeneratively a premium, encouraging them to improve soil health, increase on-farm biodiversity and reduce their carbon footprint. Nestle is working with the farmers' cooperative First Milk to collect data from 80 UK farmers who supply them with milk and are being paid a premium to farm regeneratively. We visit one of their dairy farmers in Cumbria.One of the farmers seeking a judicial review of the treasury's decision to impose inheritance tax on farm businesses says the government failed to consult properly on changes to the tax. Tom Martin from Cambridgeshire tells us why he's taking part in the legal action.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Harvest has begun early in some parts of the country, combine harvesters were out in several different counties last week. The early start is really down to exceptionally low rainfall, throughout the spring and now the sunny, hot weather. Last year, the wet autumn meant planting crops then was delayed but crops planted this spring went in early. Breaking records for starting harvest isn't always a celebration and it seems this year, yields could be significantly down, although it's a little early to be definitive. We speak to Olly Harrison in Merseyside who's farming in an area where drought was declared in May.Regenerative farming used to be seen as niche, but as we'll hear all this week, that's gradually changing. With more farmers working their land regeneratively, how much of a market is there for what they're growing and the livestock they're rearing? Does the public understand what it is? That's what farmers, buyers and industry experts have been discussing at Carbon Calling, a regenerative farming conference held in Cumbria. Agricultural shows across the country this summer are a fun day out for some, and all about showing animals for others but many also provide an important public forum to discuss the latest issues concerning farmers. At the Royal Norfolk show, this year's big debate was about data. Farms harvest massive amounts of data, on crops, markets, carbon footprints and profitability but how that data is used, who can see it, and who owns it are serious issues all the way along the food supply chain. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

From July, livestock going from England to Wales or Scotland must be tested for bluetongue, and farmers are warning the new system could be "catastrophic" for their businesses. The virus is spread by biting midges. It doesn't affect humans but can cause fever and lameness in cattle and sheep. From July 1st, the whole of England will become a bluetongue restriction zone, meaning livestock can move freely around. Governments in Cardiff and Edinburgh, however, have decided that animals coming from England must test negative for the virus before they're allowed in. Farmers renting land for mobile phone masts may be about to lose money. The government is considering changing the rules, which would allow companies to re-write rental agreements and potentially impose rent cuts retrospectively. The guidelines are part of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, part two. There were changes to the rules in 2017 which, critics say, caused a lot of problems. The Country Land and Business Association or CLA thinks the new proposals will make things worse.All week, we're talking about regenerative agriculture. It's a way of farming which aims to restore and protect soils. Regen methods include farming without ploughing, using cover crops so fields are never left bare, growing a range of crops, and using animals to fertilise the ground. But there is no one definition of "regenerative". Professor Andy Neal, a soil microbiologist at Rothamsted Research, explains why he thinks that's a good thing.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Climate Change Committee report shows little progress on the reduction of emissions from agriculture and substantial action still needed.Many UK supermarkets have made public commitments to sourcing 100% of their beef from the UK. But in recent months some seem to be moving away from these pledges. We ask how much beef is being imported, from where, and why.A group of farmers are seeking a judicial review over the decision to re-impose inheritance tax on some farm businesses. Work has begun to clear more than 30,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste from a Kent woodland, in an operation led by the Environment Agency.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The UK has once more missed its tree planting targets - provisional figures for last year show that overall the number of trees planted fell in comparison with the year before, from 20 and a half thousand hectares to just over 15 and a half thousand hectares. The Government aims for 30,000 every year. New figures from the farming industry body the AHDB show that 190 dairy farmers left the industry last year. There are now 7,040 dairy producers in England, Wales and Scotland. That's a 2.6 per cent fall from the year before. But, despite that, there has been an increase in the amount of milk produced. We ask a dairy farmer why so many are leaving.English olive oil is now a reality, after a Cornish olive grower pressed his first oil last winter. Nik Butcher claims to be the first person to bottle English olive oil commercially since the Roman times. So could English olive oil one day prove as successful as English sparkling wine? All this week we've been hearing from those about to embark on farming related careers. For many students the exams are now over and they're just waiting for the results. For others, the wait is over, and we hear from three graduates from CAFRE, Northern Ireland's College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Climate Change Committee report shows little progress on the reduction of emissions from agriculture and substantial action still needed.Many UK supermarkets have made public commitments to sourcing 100% of their beef from the UK. But in recent months some seem to be moving away from these pledges. We ask how much beef is being imported, from where, and why.All week we're hearing from the next generation of young people coming into agriculture-related jobs. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Work has officially begun to create a new National Biosecurity Centre. It's being built on the existing Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) site, at Weybridge in Surrey. The whole project is costing between two and three billion pounds and is expected to take until 2033 to complete. The APHA was recently criticised by the National Audit Office, which said facilities there were not adequate to prevent or cope with contiguous national animal disease outbreaks such as foot and mouth and avian flu. However, the government says it is putting that right by the upgrade, which will ensure that the threat of animal diseases, which could be passed to humans, are prevented or dealt with efficiently. Unreliable mobile phone signal is a common complaint on many farms. Connectivity isn't just about messaging or making calls. Using apps and uploading data are an increasingly important part of everyday farming. Could part of the solution be private, portable digital  5G networks? We visit a farm thathas been trialling such a system.All week we're meeting the next generation of agricultural talent; whether it be farmers, foresters, land managers or agronomists. Thousands of young people will graduate from agricultural courses, across the UK this summer and all week, we'll be finding out what they hope to achieve, and what jobs they are looking forward to. We meet students from Moulton College in Northamptonshire who have just completed their agricultural studies.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney