Farming Today

BBC Radio 4

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

  1. hace 1 d

    29/08/2026: bluetongue, future crops, lavender farm

    With the livestock disease bluetongue still spreading across the UK, we speak to a Dutch vet about how they coped with a massive outbreak there in 2023, and what we can learn. This week we've been looking at what crops farmers might grow in the future to cope with a changing climate - whether precision-bred crops, or turning to traditional varieties. And we're at a lavender farm in the Lake District. The farm uses several varieties of the aromatic herb, including those from Provence in France. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

  2. hace 2 d

    28/08/26 Licensing firearms and shotguns, lavender in the Lakes, gene-edited salad crops

    The system for licensing firearms and shotguns in England and Wales is not fit for purpose and should be replaced to ensure public safety. That’s the conclusion of a report published today by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. When Sandi Thornton started growing lavender on her 30-acre farm in the south of the Lake District, some neighbours did raise a quizzical eyebrow. Two years on, the lavender beds are getting established and there’s a distinctly purple haze across part of Cumbria’s Lyth Valley. With drought, climate change and many demands on land use, scientists and food producers are looking at the best crops to grow for the future, and that’s something we’ve been focusing on all this week too. Researchers at the University of Essex are using gene-editing technology to create dwarf cucumber plants better suited to indoor vertical farms and glasshouses. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

  3. hace 3 d

    27/08/2026: Beef imports, Miscanthus

    Farmers in the UK are urging the government to ban imports of beef from Brazil amid fears that it's not produced to the same high standard. The EU and Norway have already imposed bans because of Brazil's use of antibiotics, which they fear could lead to resistance. In the US cattle farmers are angry about President Trump's plan to allow beef in tariff-free to bring consumer prices down. They say it'll undermine their industry. And we visit a long-running trial of miscanthus at Aberystwyth University. They're looking for more uses for the crop, which has proven it copes well in drought. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

  4. hace 4 d

    26/08/2026: gene editing, Bernard Matthews factory closure

    UK scientists working on gene-editing of crops will get access to European markets after the European Parliament voted to relax rules around the practice. We speak to a scientist from Rothamstead Research. We also meet scientists working on gene editing of wheat to make it more resilient to climate shocks. And what does the closure of Bernard Matthews' Derby factory mean for the wider turkey production sector? We hear from the editor of the publication Food Manufacture. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

  5. hace 5 d

    25/08/2026: Milk prices, bluetongue, future crops

    The drought, and the livestock disease bluetongue, are having an effect on milk production, with yield down by 1.5 milllion litres every day, according to the industry body the AHDB. The shortage is pushing up prices for farmers. We speak to a Dutch vet about how bluetongue developed there three years ago. They had a huge outbreak which led to the loss of tens of thousands of cattle and sheep. Since then a vaccine has been developed. And we're looking at future crops, bred to be resilent in a changing climate. Today we meet a breeder at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee to sample some new varieties of raspberry. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

  6. hace 6 d

    24/08/2026: bluetongue, future foods, farm app

    More cases of the livestock disease Bluetongue have prompted the Scottish Government to impose tighter movement restrictions. It's the first year the midge-borne disease has reached Scotland. There are fears it could disrupt the up-coming ram sales season which involves the movement of thousands of sheep. With the weather so unpredictable and extreme this year, we're taking a look this week at how we can grow food differently, or use different crops. We speak to a scientist at the National Institute for Agricultural Botony who says it's not just new varieties, but repurposing heritage crops. And we meet a sixteen year old in Northern Ireland who's come up with an app to help farmers manage their time better. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner .

  7. 22 ago

    22/08/26 Solar power - a panel discussion exploring the issues around solar development in the countryside.

    It’s been a summer of drought, extreme heat for much of the UK, lots and lots of sunshine, and all week on Farming Today we’ve been talking about solar energy, from large scale solar developments to roof top panels on farm buildings. It's a topic that raises blood pressures: some rural communities feel that too much good growing land is being turned into an industrial landscape as solar panels march across fields; others say it's a small price to pay for clean renewable energy ; and for farmers, after another tough year, a diversification like solar power could make all the difference to the bottom line. We explore some of the issues around solar power in more depth, with three expert guests: Dr Jonathan Scurlock a renewable energy consultant; Jackie Copley, head of policy at the Campaign to Protect Rural England or CPRE; and William Leschallas lecturer in rural land management at the Royal Agricultural University. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

  8. 21 ago

    21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work

    We revisit a vegetable farmer who told us during the second drought in June that he was having to use extra water to try and get his crops established. Will Shakeshaft from Greens of Soham says he's had hardly any rain since then, and his potatoes and beetroot are struggling, with yields and quality down. A new report using information gathered over 12 years shows that biodiversity can thrive alongside a solar farm - if it's planned and managed correctly. The report was produced by Suffolk Wildlife Trust on the Broxted Estate. And we visit a sheep farm in the Yorkshire Dales, which featured in research to produce a new three-part choral work based on a full year in the life of a Yorkshire Dales shepherd. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

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The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    BBC Radio 4
  • Años en activo
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodios
    26
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Derechos de autor
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Sitio web del podcast
    Farming Today
  • Proveedor

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