Podcast appearances and mentions of Charlotte Smith

There will be no U-turn on the Government's plans for inheritance tax for farmers, according to the Farming Minister. Dame Angela Eagle says planned changes will go ahead in next month's budget, in spite of press reports to the contrary."Too little too late", that's what we're hearing from some farmers who've already ploughed up and planted fields that were being farmed for nature. They say this is because the Government took too long to come up with an extension to their environmental funding.Red Tractor, the UK's largest farm assurance scheme, has had a TV advert banned by the Advertising Standards Authority. The watchdog says the advert exaggerated the environmental credentials of the scheme and misled customers.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

England's current approach to planning for floods is "underpowered and fragmented". That's according to a report from MPs which is published today. The Environmental Audit Committee says the Government should set up a single joint flood reporting and information service and spend more on flood resilience, with a fairer funding formula for rural areas. The MPs say farmers can play a key role, for instance in storing water, but should be paid for their work. We've been talking to all the major political parties over the past few weeks, during party conference season. The SNP conference continues in Aberdeen today and with elections to the Scottish Parliament in May there is a lot to discuss.Over the past few decades many councils have been reassessing their property portfolios and council farms have been sold off. This week we'll look at why, and why some feel that's a mistake. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

We report on the increasing amounts of waste dumped in the countryside and how to tackle it.As party conference season continues, we're hearing from most of the major parties on their farming and rural policies. Agricultural policy is devolved and with elections for the Welsh Parliament in May next year, Plaid Cymru's conference this weekend may well be seen as a launch for that election campaign.Farmers whose land was compulsorily purchased say they're frustrated that they still can't buy it back. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The price farmers are paid for milk is falling. This comes at a bad time for many farmers who are having to buy in forage for their cows after the long hot summer slowed, or stopped, the growth of grass. The new Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds says farming is "transforming and modernising". In one of her first speeches, at the Labour Party conference, she told delegates she's seen first hand how much we depend on hardworking farmers.And why bluetongue virus matters for food security.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

As the fallout continues from cyber attacks on Jaguar Land Rover and nursery chain Kido in recent days, so too does scrutiny of the food supply chain and how vulnerable it may be to hackers. We've talked a lot about the problems the baking weather this summer has caused farmers, but for apple, pear and plum growers it has been great. The Lyth Valley in south Cumbria is known for its damson orchards, a dazzle of snowy white blossom in spring and this year creaking under the weight of a bumper harvest. It's such a bumper crop that some growers have more damsons than they know what to do with.What will you eat today and where will it come from? For Max Cotton that's an easy question: he'll be having what's in season and grows in the UK. For the past year he has been following a UK only diet on a strict budget and he's made a series about how and why, Food Britannia on BBC Radio 4 next week.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

It's a good year for British apples, a lack of frost and an abundance of warm weather should mean a bumper crop. Harvest is underway and hopes are high, but there are continuing concerns about the loss of orchards and growers' reluctance to invest in new ones.It's party conference season and we're hearing from all the parties about their plans for the countryside. Today we speak to Tim Farron from the Liberal Democrats who would scrap inheritance tax on farms.An experimental scheme using drones to disperse native tree seeds across areas of rocky moorland in the Scottish Highlands has produced encouraging results. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Fresh from her celebrity judging of the Flower and Produce Show and now freed from the starstruck clutches of Azra, ‘Countryfile's' Charlotte Smith is our special guest on this bonus episode. As a lifelong fan of ‘The Archers' Charlotte will be reflecting on the thrill of being asked to appear in an episode and how it all came about. Now where's that missing cheesecake?…This is an audio only recording.You can BUY US A COFFEE here: buymeacoffee.com/allaboutthearchersYou can buy our MERCH here: https://www.redbubble.com/people/aboutthearchers/shopDo join our FACEBOOK Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1127587031446013/ We are on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aboutthearchersWe are on X: https://twitter.com/AboutTheArchersWe are on BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/allaboutthearchers.bsky.socialWe are on THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@aboutthearchersWe are on TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@allaboutthearchers?_t=8gmqKVCW3HM&_r=1Email us at quickbookreviews@outlook.com#FarmingToday #CharlotteSmith #CountryFile #bbcradio4 #BBCCountryfile Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new report into the health of waterways in National Parks in England and Wales claims that they aren't being properly protected from agricultural and sewage pollution. The research, from the Campaign for National Parks and Rivers Trust, has found that almost sixty percent of rivers and lakes in these areas are failing to meet the legal standard for 'good ecological status'.Whether it's doctors and dentists or banks and buses, services in the countryside are often harder for residents to access. According to the Rural Services Network, local authorities in rural areas get 40 percent less funding than their counterparts, and rural residents pay 20 percent more council tax. We hear from their Chief Executive Kerry Booth. This week, the Environment Agency announced that drought conditions are likely to continue into Autumn, with five areas of England remaining in drought status. With many of us seeing torrential rain over the past week, the news may come as a surprise. We speak to two farmers in different parts of the country - the traditionally wet West and the dry East, to hear about the impact of the weather this summer - and this week - on their businesses. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jo Peacey. Farming Today This Week is a BBC Audio Bristol Production.

The lack of affordable housing has long been a barrier to people living and working in rural areas. The Rural Services Network described it this year as a 'rural housing emergency'. All this week we've been looking at rural services, from buses to health, and today it's housing. We've reported before on some of the issues: planning, second homes and high prices for instance. Today we hear about some of the solutions.It's party conference season; agriculture is important to Northern Ireland's economy and so will be discussed at its parties conferences, Sinn Fein's in April and the DUP's tomorrow.A report out this week says our food system needs to change as it's responsible for too many emissions and too much ill health. The 5 year study which cost £47 million was funded by UK Research and Innovation and published this week in a Royal Society journal. What might a food system transformation mean for farming here in the UK? Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Environment Agency announced this week that drought is likely to extend into the autumn for some areas. But September is making up for August's lack of rain and, where there have been heavy downpours, farmers are starting to hope for a little respite. Charlotte Smith talks to two dairy farmers: one in the dry East of England the other in the (usually) damp West about the swing from heatwave to showers.An organised crime gang has been jailed for machinery and vehicle thefts from farms, worth millions of pounds. Seven men were jailed for a total of twenty five years after pleading guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Monday. We hear from the detective in charge of the investigation.And we continue our look at rural services, with buses.Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

This week on The Sales Transformation Podcast we're bringing you a webinar recording from last week, where Dan Hodgetts from the Institute of Sales Professionals hosted Consalia's Dr Louise Sutton and Natalie Murray, along with current Level 6 Sales Apprentice Charlotte Smith from Experian.  Louise and Natalie introduce the Level 6 degree apprenticeship in B2B sales that Consalia run in partnership with Middlesex University, before highlighting the recent launch of the L4 Advance pathway designed to allow Level 4 apprenticeship graduates to join the second year of the Level 6 programme.  Charlotte then shares her experience as an apprentice, including the programme's work-based learning format, the critical thinking it fosters, and how the second year built on the learnings from the first.   Highlights include:  [03:44] – The apprenticeship pathway for junior sales professionals [11:15] – The differences between university and apprenticeship learning [22:31] – How the Level 6 Apprenticeship develops skills year-on-year   Connect with Louise Sutton on LinkedIn  Connect with Natalie Murray on LinkedIn Connect with Dan Hodgetts on LinkedIn Connect with Charlotte Smith on LinkedIn   You can find out more about our L4 Advance apprenticeship pathway here.   Join the discussion in our Sales Transformation Forum group.  Make sure you're following us on LinkedIn and Twitter to get updates on the latest episodes! Also, take our Mindset Survey and find out if you are selling to customers the way they want to be sold to today.  

We've discussed the impact of President Trump's trade policy on producers here in the UK, we now turn our attention to American farmers, who are being hit by retaliatory tariffs imposed on American products by countries around the world. The American Soybean Association says that exports to China have practically halted after China imposed an extra 20% tariff in response to American tariffs on Chinese goods. China is instead importing soya from South America because it's cheaper, just as it did during President Trump's first trade war in 2018. Low prices for US corn and soybean, combined with rising costs are already placing pressure on farm incomes. And with record high yields predicted for the upcoming harvest, some forecasters are warning of an over-supply of crops without a customer, potentially adding further downward pressure on US grain prices.Woodland creation is one of the most important ways of helping us meet our climate change targets, and that starts with seeds. But they're not always easily available, sometimes British supply is short or not up to scratch, leading to a reliance on less genetically appropriate imports, which carry a risk of pests and diseases. To solve that problem, the domestic production of seeds is being expanded at Forestry England's new Tree Seed Processing Centre in Cheshire. And keeping an ear on on farmland birds is becoming easier with the use of AI.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

There should be more urgency and a bigger budget to tackle TB in cattle in England while farmers should be empowered to do more to eradicate the disease. Those are headlines from a new report published today. It also calls for a bovine TB tzar to co-ordinate government policy along with investment in IT systems, vaccination and testing. We hear from the report's author, Professor Sir Charles Godfray, the Badger Trust and the National Farmers' Union.The blue green algae on Lough Neagh has had a big impact on residents and businesses this summer.Researchers say racism in rural areas is often not reported but has a profound impact on people who visit and live in the countryside.A wet winter and dry spring meant cereal crops were hard to sow and grew slowly. The result, straw short in stature and in short supply, so greater costs for livestock farmers.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

There should be more urgency and a bigger budget to tackle TB in cattle in England while farmers should be empowered to do more to eradicate the disease. Those are headlines from a new report published today. It also calls for a bovine TB tzar to co-ordinate government policy along with investment in IT systems, vaccination and testing. We hear from the report's author, Professor Sir Charles Godfray, the Badger Trust and the National Farmers' Union.Major changes are needed to rebuild trust in the body responsible for promoting Welsh meat, that's according to an inquiry by Senedd members.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Concern is growing about a shortage of fodder this winter. Drought in some parts of the UK has meant that the grass just hasn't grown, so farmers have had to feed their animals with the food they planned to save.A new study suggests people working with pesticides can be at higher risk of problems with their lungs. The study from the Health and Safety Executive published in the Occupational Medicine Journal says chest tightness and nasal allergies were common in those they surveyed.A team of researchers from Seafish, the public body supporting the seafood industry, is currently carrying out its annual survey of the nation's fishing fleet, talking to around 10% of the 4,000 skippers. The work is essential to know just what's happening in the fleet and what challenges it faces.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The cider apple harvest has started already. Most apples are picked in the autumn and even varieties which ripen early aren't usually ready yet, and the apple harvest looks likely to buck this year's trend and be good.The Government's decision last week not to offer a rescue package to two plants producing bioethanol is a cause for worry for farmers. This week the Vivergo bioethanol plant on the Humber near Hull stopped production and started laying off staff. It had been buying around a million tonnes of wheat a year, distilling it into bioethanol which is added to petrol to reduce emissions. It also produced large quantities of cattle feed as a by-product. A separate business, Ensus on Teesside is continuing for now; it produces bioethanol and also carbon dioxide which is used in abattoirs and the food industry. The plants have been rendered economically unviable by the US trade deal, which removed tariffs from bioethanol imports from the States. We hear how the UK has been dependent on American bioethanol for some time now.Avian flu is on the rise again. In England new rules on game birds are being introduced after warnings of a 'heightened risk' of the virus. The Government says there have been more new cases, particularly in coastal areas and places with a significant number of shoots. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Farm Marketing Mastery is officially open for enrollment this week!

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.

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.

If you've ever struggled with burnout, self-doubt, or pricing your flowers with confidence, this episode is for you. In Episode 66 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Charlotte Smith — a farmer, coach, and host of The Profitable Mindset Podcast — to talk about the mindset shifts that can make or break your flower farming business.Charlotte shares how her own farming journey led her to coaching, why your thoughts shape your results, and how to overcome limiting beliefs like “people won't pay that price” or “my field's not good enough.” You'll learn why perfectionism holds so many farmers back, how to stop looping in overwhelm, and simple questions that can help you get unstuck and grow with purpose.You'll also hear about Charlotte's free upcoming Master Class — 5 Mistakes Farmers Make That Keep Them Broke — happening August 18–19. Don't miss your chance to learn from one of the most respected voices in the industry.

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

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 Author Events Series presents Rebecca Romney  | Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend  REGISTER In Conversation with Allie Alvis  Jane Austen's Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen's heroes--women writers who were erased from the Western canon--to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth--and recounts Romney's experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen's. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen's bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen's Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels. Rebecca Romney is a rare book dealer and the cofounder of Type Punch Matrix, a rare book company based in Washington, DC. Rebecca is the author Printer's Error: Irreverent Stories from Book History (HarperCollins; with JP Romney) and The Romance Novel in English: A Survey in Rare Books, 1769-1999; her current book is Jane Austen's Bookshelf (Simon & Schuster), chronicling her efforts to build a book collection of Austen's favorite women writers. Since 2011 she has appeared as the rare book specialist on the History Channel's show Pawn Stars; she was also featured in the 2019 documentary The Booksellers.  Allie Alvis is Curator of Special Collections of the Winterthur Library, where they are responsible for the stewardship and engagement of the collection. They have previously worked as an antiquarian bookseller at Type Punch Matrix (Washington, DC) and as the special collections reference librarian for the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. Allie's research is diverse and far-reaching, with interests in physical patterns of use in books, the history of ephemera, and Arts and Crafts bookbindings. They are particularly involved in the study and act of using social media for communicating book history, and maintain popular accounts across various platforms as Book Historia. The 2024/25 Author Events Series is presented by Comcast. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation when you register for this event to ensure that this series continues to inspire Philadelphians. Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night! All tickets are non-refundable. (recorded 4/24/2025)

We look at what the prospects are for modern agriculture students, and what they're studying - from land management and vet science to AI and robotics. The Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers says the Scottish government should be doing more to help the sector recover from falling cattle numbers. Meat imports are putting pressure on farmers. But the government says it is committed to keeping numbers up while working to keep emissions down. And we hear about a trial to find ways of making livestock production more environmentally friendly.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

Despite Climate Change Committee warnings, the Scottish Government says it will not reduce livestock numbers.Some good news on rural crime, but livestock theft remains high.Could a trade deal with the Gulf States open the door to low-welfare meat imports?Mud sunscreen for pigs: farmers tell us what they do for livestock and crops to combat a heatwave.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Livestock moving into Wales from England will have to be tested for the disease bluetongue from the first of July, after the Welsh Government decided not to join England in a nationwide restriction zone. Wales and Scotland have no cases of bluetongue so far this year and hope testing and vaccination will keep it out. But livestock organisations say it'll cause chaos at the borders with huge delays and financial losses for farmers. This week the Chancellor unveiled her spending review, which resulted in relief among some farmers, who'd feared big cuts in budgets for environmental projects. In the event, while there is a cut, it's not as big as many had feared - £2.7b will go to sustainable farming and nature recovery in England; there's also investment in flood defences. Defra though is facing cuts to its own budget of 2.7%, which some worry will land on arms length organisations like Natural England and the Environment Agency. All this week we've followed the journey of a loaf of bread from seed to milling into flour. We find out what challenges seed breeders and farmers face in producing the perfect grain of wheat. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

The BBC Food & Farming Awards are back for 2025! Jaega Wise visits River Cottage HQ to meet returning head judge Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. They talk about what Hugh is looking for in this year's awards, what makes the West Country a special place for food and farming and some of the history of River Cottage. She also visits previous winners Westcombe Dairy who not only have been thriving since winning in their award, they have been something of an incubation hub sharing a site with other artisanal food businesses like Brickell's Ice Cream, Woodshedding brewery and Landrace Bakery. She also talks to Farming Today's Charlotte Smith and Mali Harries who plays Natasha Archer on the Archers about the Farming for the Future Award.To nominate in this year's awards go to bbc.co.uk/foodawards where you can also find the terms and privacy notice. You have between 6am on 6th June and midday 30th June 2025 to nominate.Presented by Jaega Wise Produced in Bristol by Sam Grist

Farmers say they're relieved that feared cuts to nature-friendly farming budgets didn't materialise during the chancellor's spending review. More money has been allocated to farming schemes, though Defra's budget itself is facing cuts of 2.7% in real terms. We speak to the Wildlife Trusts and the National Farmers' Union.The biggest event in the arable farming calendar - Cereals - is being held in Lincolnshire. We speak to the host, and learn about new drone technology to help spray delicate crops.And Defra has announced badger culls will continue in 11 areas of England. The Labour government has pledged to end them by the end of the parliament, instead stepping up vaccination of badgers and other measures. But the chief vet has advised it's too soon to end culling.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

In a special bank holiday programme, Anita Rani escapes from the studio and spends the day at a dairy farm in Devon to explore the reality of female farmers' lives.Farmer Lorna Burdge shows Anita what a day in her life as a dairy farmer involves, from milking at 6am to feeding calves, measuring grass, looking after her three children and tackling invoices in the office.We hear about a groundbreaking three-year study into the health and wellbeing of female farmers announced by the University of Exeter and Farming Community Network. Dr Rebecca Wheeler, the project lead from the University of Exeter's Centre for Rural Policy Research, and Linda Jones, from the charity Farming Community Network, explain why the study is needed, who they want to hear from and what they hope it will achieve.Farming Today and Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith gives Anita some of the context and policy changes of the last few years in the industry which some say have impacted farmers' wellbeing.Anita has a cup of tea in the farmhouse kitchen and hears from three women farmers about the challenges, stresses, achievements and joys of their jobs. Joining Anita and Lorna are Sinead Fenton, an edible flower and herb farmer in East Sussex, and Caroline Millar, who has an arable, lamb and beef farm near Dundee in Scotland.What action is being taken to address some of the challenges for women in this industry? Anita hears from Rachel Hallos, the Vice-President of the National Farmers' Union for England and Wales, an organisation which represents thousands of farmers and is looking at the experience of female farmers.And finally, Katie Davies, who was awarded Farming Woman of the Year at the National Women in Agriculture Awards 2025, tells Anita why she's trying to inspire more women to get into farming.For more information on the three-year study on the wellbeing of female farmers, and how to take part in the research, head to: https://exe.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5pqBN1BBqIxEns2Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Olivia Bolton Assistant Producer: Claire Fox Editor: Karen Dalziel

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

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.

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

Firefighters are warning of the 'extreme risk' of wildfires in Scotland. The fire service has issued its third warning this year after fires in hills near Glasgow and in Aberdeenshire. It says after a spell of warm weather there is plenty of dry vegetation which can act as fuel for fires, and is urging people not to light fires outside this week. Government plans to streamline environmental regulation to speed up house building and boost economic growth risk causing irreversible damage to nature, according to green groups. On Monday we talked about 'operation turtle dove' and the UK farmers who've been growing habitats and food for the birds, which summer here after wintering in West Africa. It's a project that's helped increase their numbers by 40%. Much of the turtle doves' success has been down to a ban in Europe on shooting them as they migrate across the continent. But because of the population increase, this week the ban has been lifted. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Guernsey dairy farmers have welcomed a decision to increase the support they receive from government.An ambitious plan is underway to digitise wartime farm records and make them available online. A ban in Europe on shooting turtle doves, and work by farmers in England to provide both habitats and food has resulted in a 40% increase in populations. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Farming Minister has told Farming Today that it's the success of England's biggest environmental scheme which has led to its closure. As we've reported this week, there has been a furious reaction to the Government's decision to close the SFI to new applicants. The government says it plans to 'reset' the scheme before re-opening it. The Sustainable Farming Incentive paid farmers for environmental work - farming and environmental organisations have criticised its closure, saying it will put financial strain on farming businesses and have a detrimental impact on the environment. Minister Daniel Ziechner says more farmers than in previous years have applied for SFI and so the budget has been spent.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Today we look at the Government's decision to close the Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applicants with immediate effect. The SFI is a major part of the post-Brexit system of farm payments in England. The devolved governments in the other nations of the UK are developing their own schemes and in the meantime retain direct payments to farmers. In England those basic payments are being phased out and replaced by environmental payments. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is one of the new schemes. It offered a range of options like improving soils, planting hedges or providing habitat for wildlife, for which farmers are paid. Defra says the budget has been 'successfully allocated' and so no new applications will now be accepted. Details on a new SFI will be announced in the summer but applications may not re-open until next year. Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers Union, says the news is a "shattering blow".Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The American President Donald Trump wants farmers in the US to produce more for the domestic market as the rows over import tariffs continue. So what might this all this mean for them, for us and for global trade? For This Natural Life, this week on on BBC Radio 4, Martha Kearney visited Sir James Dyson on his farm in Somerset to hear what the natural world means to him, and how that is being reflected in his approach to farming.Bird flu continues to hit poultry farms across the country. Last week we heard from Jerry Saunders, from Orchard Organic Farm in South Devon, about the emotional toll of having all 5000 of his birds culled after getting bird flu. We hear how the financial impact can be severe, too. Broadband speeds in rural areas are 26% slower than they are in urban areas - that's according to the Government, and there are still parts of the country that have no mobile phone access at all. We speak to Chris Bryant, the minister with responsibility for digital inclusion, about the Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan.New rules for the pig supply chain are due to be introduced this spring to help even up what Defra describes as a 'power imbalance' between farmers and processors.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

American farmers are being urged to produce more by their president. Mr Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on goods, including agricultural produce, from Canada and Mexico, and both countries are imposing retaliatory tariffs on American goods. As is China, which is the biggest market for US agriculture products. So what might this all this mean for them, for us and for global trade? For This Natural Life on BBC Radio 4, Martha Kearney visits Sir James Dyson on his farm in Somerset to hear what the natural world means to him, and how that is being reflected in his approach to farming.Continuing our topic this week: supply chains, the many hands food goes through on its way from farm to fork. Controlling what happens at every stage can be a challenge, but that's what one Welsh producer is trying to do so they can make the supply chain more sustainable. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

After a week that saw hundreds of tractors block Whitehall and a prime ministerial visit disrupted by protesting farmers, we take an in-depth look at the proposed changes around inheritance tax on farms.From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than a million pounds will be liable to inheritance tax at 20% - half the usual rate. The Government says the tax is fair and will raise much-needed public funds. Farmers argue the move could see family farms put out of business. Charlotte Smith is joined by a panel of guests: Aled Jones - President of NFU Cymru Emily Norton - farmer and founder of the rural business advisory service, Farm Foresight Dan Neidle - tax expert who runs Tax Policy AssociatesProduced by Heather Simons

Pesticides are killing plants, insects and animals that they're not aiming to control, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the University of Sussex have joined international researchers to analyse 1,700 lab and field studies of 471 insecticides, herbicides and fungicides used in agriculture or commercially around the world. Their report identifies 'wide ranging negative effects' on a range of species and while the authors acknowledge that without pesticides global food production would likely collapse, they conclude that these chemicals are a major contributor to the biodiversity crisis. A tractor protest disrupted the Prime Minister's visit to a building site in Buckinghamshire. Farmers campaigning against the reintroduction of inheritance tax on farms took their tractors to the site near Milton Keynes yesterday, sounding their horns, Sir Keir Starmer then abandoned plans to make a speech. Speaking afterwards, he said the protest highlighted the difficult choices the Government had to make.This week we have been featuring rural champions, unsung heroes making a difference to the lives of people in rural communities. Barkley Thompson, from a farming family in Co Antrim, is a music teacher at Ballymena Academy and it's there of an evening that as musical director, he gathers some 60 or so men and women from the surrounding community under the banner of The Farmers' Choir of Northern Ireland. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Free Range egg producers say the Government's latest measures to combat bird flu don't go far enough. The Chief Vet says that from Sunday, poultry in a further five English counties, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire, must be brought inside, joining restrictions already imposed in Hull, East and North Yorkshire, York, Norfolk, Suffolk and Shropshire. Gatherings of poultry have also been banned in England, and enhanced biosecurity measures are already in force across the country, but Gary Ford from the British Free Range Egg Producers Association tells us they want a stronger response.The British Trust for Ornithology says there's been an increase in the number of wild birds infected with avian flu, and as many species have had a massive shock to their population, it's all about whether they can recover and how long it will take.All this week we are celebrating rural community champions and today our reporter Sarah Swadling takes us to the winding lanes of the Exe valley in Devon. There a Church of England minister rides her Highland pony to services, and to visit parishioners in their homes.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

MPs are told that animal products from Germany continued to enter the UK after an import ban was put in place because of the foot and mouth outbreak there.Egg producers want their chickens ordered inside to protect them from bird flu.A new report finds farming leaders in Scotland must do more to call out racist, misogynistic and homophobic language from union members.We visit a prize winner of the Westmorland Agricultural Society's annual hotly contested silage competition. And we speak to The Crown Estate about its new rural strategy, offering tenants 'environmental farm business tenancies' or green leases.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Egg producers want the Government to order all free range chickens inside to protect them from bird flu. The British Free Range Egg Producers Association has told Farming Today that with rising numbers of cases of the virus, it's time to protect the national flock. In Scotland, tenant farmers are concerned about inheritance tax because of the way their farm lease system works.A new report gives a 'critical' warning about the UK's ability to feed us all, given pressures like climate change and global political instability. The report published today by the National Preparedness Commission, an independent body which describes its aim as being to make the country better prepared to withstand major shocks, warns that food supply chains are fragile and the UK 'complacent'. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Silage is the preserved chopped grass or other crops that farmers feed to livestock through the winter. The more good-quality silage you can harvest and store yourself, the less money you need to spend on bought in feed. There's also a real pride in producing a great crop of silage. The Westmorland Agricultural Society runs an annual hotly contested silage competition. The entries are lab analysed and the best four farms in each category get a personal visit from the judge. We visit a prize winner.All this week we'll be looking at the current state of tenant farming. 14% of farms are rented, and many of those who own their own land also rent some, so about 30% of farmed land in England is tenanted. The Rock Revie, commissioned by the last government, made a number of recommendations to improve things for farmers who rent, from more protection from landlords wanting to take land back, to the appointment of a commissioner, a recommendation accepted by this government. The fashion industry has come under scrutiny in recent years for the impact it has on the environment. Here in the UK, some textile producers are now turning to so-called 'slow fashion', which aims to ensure full traceability in textile supply chains.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

There has been a 'lack of progress' from the Scottish Government in implementing reforms recommended for the salmon farming industry, according to MSPs. Members of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in the Scottish Parliament warned that such delays could be 'detrimental to the long-term viability' of the sector. Farmer protests against the introduction of inheritance tax are continuing up and down the country, with more planned for the end of the month. But many agree that the row has at least made families talk about what should happen when one generation passes on the farm to the next. Professor Matt Lobley from Exeter University says while around 60% of farmers in their 60s have a successor lined up, the transfer of ownership can be a painful process.This week we'll be looking at some of the jobs that need to be done at this time of year to ensure the maintenance of the farm all year round. Today it's fencing, vital for keeping animals in, and your neighbours' animals out.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.