Farming Today

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Farming Today

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

  1. 11 HR AGO

    27/11/2024 Countryside Stewardship agri-environment schemes, seed breeding, Tenderstem broccoli

    Many farmers have been worried about their Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements, which expire, or partly expire, this year. These cover larger scale agri-environment schemes and capital grants for "the most environmentally important sites", according to DEFRA. DEFRA's now announced that farmers can take up a "mirror agreement" to carry on from their old one. This will last the same time as their original arrangement - 5 or 10 years and will exactly duplicate their existing plan, including the money they get for it. We speak to Dr Julia Aglionby from The Foundation for Common Land who's concerned that it leaves some farmers, especially commoners and those in the uplands, in a difficult position. As part of our focus on winter veg, we visit a farm in Worcestershire which grows Tenderstem broccoli. The crop's a registered trade mark, high in value but costly to grow, the seeds are closely controlled and it's labour intensive to pick. We also speak to a big commercial seed company about what's involved in creating new varieties of veg and what qualities plant breeders are looking for when they develop them. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    26/11/24 Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales, sprouts

    The Welsh government has backed down on its policy to insist farmers put ten percent of their land into woodland. The decision came after farmers demonstrated against the government's plans for its Sustainable Farming Scheme, or SFS, which replaces the payments to farmers under the old EU Common Agriculture Policy. The SFS still includes previous ambitions of supporting sustainable food production, rewarding farmers for mitigating climate change and enhancing the environment. The Welsh government hopes the changes will encourage more farmers to join in. We speak to Deputy first Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who is also Secretary for Climate and Rural Affairs in Wales, and get reaction to the changes. All this week we're looking at winter vegetables. Some winter veg has to be harvested by hand which is labour intensive and costly. That used to be the case with Brussels sprouts - but over the last decade that's changed and now some farms have invested in self-propelled machinery to carry out the harvest. We visit a grower in Perthshire to see how it's done. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    23/11/24 - Farming Today This Week: Inheritance tax protests and intensive farming

    In the week when thousands of farmers took to the streets of London to protest over changes to inheritance tax, we dig into the details and ask if the Government will change it's mind. There’s a global trend for farms to scale up and intensify their production and the UK is no different. We ask why it’s happening and the impact it’s having...as well as exploring large scale beef and chicken production. Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

    25 min

  4. 6 DAYS AGO

    21/11/24 Hedges, intensive pig farming, sustainable food systems

    England's hedges are in need of urgent revival - that's the conclusion of a survey of hedges, the first in 17 years. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has been looking at hedges for Natural England and says that while they are in better condition than 2007, when the last survey was done, the overall length remains largely unchanged. That's bad news for the government which aims to restore or plant 45,000 miles of hedgerow by 2050 Over the past few years there has been a lot of pressure on pig producers and that's meant change. According to the levy board ADHB , just five abattoirs now control 88% of the throughput of pigs, with three big companies now owning around half of the sows in England. The UK has a reputation for higher welfare standards: 50% of piglets are born outside not in farrowing crates, and more than 70% of pigs are fattened indoors on straw. We visit a pig farm in Lincolnshire that produces 800 pigs a week for a large processor as well as local butchers and the farm's own shop. The campaign group Sustain wants food produced to high welfare standards and in a way that protects nature and tackles climate change as well as providing good jobs. They don't believe intensive farming is the best way of achieving that. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  5. 20 NOV

    20/11/24 Farmers rally in central London

    Thousands of people have protested in London over changes to inheritance tax for farmers announced in the budget. Farmers from around the country came to an NFU rally in Church Hall and a big march in Westminster. They're worried about changes which mean that from April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to tax. The government says it understands farmers' concerns but insists the vast majority of farmers won't be affected. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  6. 19 NOV

    19/11/24 Inheritance tax, farmer protests, COP 29 in Baku

    Thousands of farmers plan to gather in London today to voice their concerns about changes introduced in the budget. We examine the detail around agricultural property relief and inheritance tax to work out how many farmers will be affected. It's food and farming day at COP29 in Baku in Azerbaijan. Global warming and agriculture are the focus for discussion. Also, president-elect Donald Trump has chosen climate change sceptic Chris Wright to lead the US Energy Department, what will that mean for work to tackle emissions in the future? Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  7. 18 NOV

    18/11/24 - Intensive farming, indoor beef production and NI Food Strategy Framework

    There’s a global trend for farms to scale up and intensify their production and the UK is no different. We ask why it’s happening and what impact it’s having. We visit a beef finishing unit in Yorkshire, which fattens 4,000 cattle a year in pens. The farmer reckons this intensive system can produce beef more efficiently and in half the time of extensively grazed systems. And the Northern Ireland government has launched its first "Food Strategy Framework". Its aims include tackling diet-related health problems, increasing resilience in the agri-food supply chain, building the "food economy" and creating more of a food culture in Northern Ireland. An "action plan" will follow early next year, setting out what changes the Government will make to meet those aims. Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

    12 min

  8. 15 NOV

    15/11/24 - Scotland's Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Farmer Time

    The budget for agriculture in Scotland comes from the UK Government - but as of two weeks ago, it’s no longer ring fenced. The change has attracted criticism from farming groups. But the DEFRA Secretary, Steve Reed, has defended the decision, saying his Government believes in devolution, and that comes with the power to decide where money is spent. We hear from Scotland's Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon. A change to the Suckler Support Scheme in Scotland aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making calf production more intensive. It’s being introduced as part of the country’s new Agriculture Act, and it’s rooted in the idea that more efficient beef farming means less carbon and less methane. Some beef farmers, however, fear it could have an impact on animal welfare as well as some farm incomes. And "Farmer Time" is an initiative set up by Cambridgeshire farmer, Tom Martin, which connects teachers with farmers, so children can have regular catch ups with a farmer. So far ten thousand pupils have enjoyed lessons enhanced by their own ‘class farmer’ through a live video-link and the initiative is one of our three finalists in the "Farming for the Future" category of this year's BBC Food and Farming Awards. Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

    14 min
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The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

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  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2024
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    Farming Today

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