Farming Today

BBC Radio 4

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

  1. 16h ago

    22/07/26 Sugar beet factory closing, new Defra secretaryfarm fires, , oil seed rape harvest, hill farming in Wales

    British Sugar's factory at Cantley in the Norfolk Broads is to close, in February next year. Hundreds of farmers will now have to transport their crop much further afield for processing. The Cantley factory has been operating for more than a century, and currently processes about 120,000 tonnes of sugar every year, from beet grown by local farmers. It employs just over 100 staff. As prime minister Andy Burnham's new cabinet members settle into their new jobs, the Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Angela Eagle, will feel quite at home. She was Farming Minister at Defra up until six weeks ago when she was transferred briefly to security - but now she's back, and promoted to Secretary of State. This year's harvest is really 'everything, everywhere, all at once' and it's causing a logistical nightmare. Barley, oil seed rape and wheat are being harvested at the same time - and that's putting pressure on the lorries needed to get it to storage. We also hear from farmers who've been affected by big fires on their land, and how farming neighbours have played an essential role in bringing the fires under control. All this week we're taking a closer look at Welsh Agricultural Policy. Agriculture is devolved, so it's up to each of the four nations to decide on their own post-Brexit subsidy policy. In Wales, farmers are paid under the Sustainable Farming Scheme, to bring in conservation practices alongside food production. We speak to a hill farmer to find out what's in it for her. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

  2. 1d ago

    21/07/26 Farm fatalities, dry potatoes, Welsh farm subsidies, Lake District guide

    Farming has one of the worst fatality rates of any industry sector in the UK and new research suggests the true number of health and safety incidents on farm is even higher than reported. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) says 30% of farmers wouldn't log an incident because they fear inspections or legal consequences, and 34% think near misses aren't serious enough to report. The National Drought Group, which includes government agencies, water companies, conservation groups and farming representatives publishes a new report for England today. Last week the Environment Agency said England was NOT in drought, although the South West, parts of Southern England, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire were experiencing 'prolonged dry weather' and river flows aross the country were below normal or exceptionally low. The hot dry weather is affecting the potato crop and growers in Cornwall fear their harvest could fail if the heatwave continues. The Welsh government is announcing a new food strategy at the Royal Welsh Show, and all week we're looking at agricultural policy in Wales. One of the biggest changes has been the re-launch of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, or SFS, the income support programme which replaces the Common Agricultural Policy, including the Basic Payment Scheme. We visit a farm in Brecon to find out what farmers think of the latest version of the Welsh scheme. We hear from a volunteer who's been leading walks in the Lake District National park for six decades - Ron Wood's 78 and has no plans to stop. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

  3. 2d ago

    20/06/26: Milk price glimmers, Andy Burnham's rural in-tray, Welsh farming policy.

    Heatwave conditions are particularly testing for dairy cows, and dairy farmers. Figures from the industry body, the AHDB, showed a 34 million litre reduction in milk arriving at British processors in June this year, compared to the same time last year, with the record temperatures the main cause. The UK is not alone, drops in milk production in Germany and France are bringing one small glimmer of hope. There are signs that the long slump in prices brought about by a global oversupply is starting to reverse. Andy Burnham moves into 10 Downing Street today, as he becomes the UK's 59th Prime Minister, the seventh in ten years. The relationship between Sir Keir Starmer's government and the farming community soured over Inheritance Tax, and England's stop-start sustainable farming incentive. Wildlife and landscape conservation groups were less than enamoured with a shift in emphasis away from protection and towards 'build baby build'. So what's the one thing they want the new Prime Minister to make his priority? The Royal Welsh Show begins today, and all week we're exploring how Welsh farming policy is evolving. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

  4. 4d ago

    18/07/26 Farming Today This Week: Wildfires, hot harvest, the Great Yorkshire Show

    Tinderbox conditions see wildfires across the country and farmers harvesting at night to avoid the heat. We visit the Great Yorkshire Show, the latest stop on the Farming Today summer roadtrip. We've been at the Balmoral in Northern Ireland and the Highland in Scotland, next week we'll be in Builth Wells for the Royal Welsh. We've using the shows as an opportunity to look at agricultural policy; its devolved so each of the four nations have developed their own post-Brexit approach to farming, but the overall direction of travel is towards rewarding farmers for environmental actions. We ask the Environment Secretary if England's budget for the Sustainable Farming Incentive is big enough to meet farmers' ambition. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

  5. 5d ago

    17/07/26 The Great Yorkshire Show

    Farmers from across the UK have come to Harrogate to show off their livestock at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate. We hear from champion sheep breeders, competitive sheep shearers and pedigree cattle owners striving for a rosette. We also speak to farmers, the Defra secretary of state and the National Farmers Union president about the latest government policies designed to support agriculture. Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Rebecca Rooney

  6. 6d ago

    16/07/26 'Critical situation' for chicken site as water restricted, farm payments for wildlife, the price of chocolate

    The poultry industry is calling for animal welfare and food production to be prioritised, as pressure increases on water supplies. This follows the closure of a chicken processing site in Devon due to a lack of water. All week we're looking at England's post-Brexit farm payment schemes, which reward farmers to farm more environmentally. We hear concerns that money will be tight and many farmers may miss out. And retail prices of chocolate should stay high to give farmers in west Africa a future, says the CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

  7. Jul 15

    15/07/26 New UK Swiss trade deal, Farming in Protected Landscapes grants, deer control in Loch Lomond

    A new trade deal is signed with Switzerland: it's welcomed by farmers, but will it go any way to combat a significant downturn in food and drink exports, while imports are on the rise? The Farming In Protected Landscapes scheme is part of the new system of farm payments being developed in England to replace the old EU subsidies. We hear how hill farmers are using it to help keep their business afloat. How a crackdown on deer can help keep the banks of Loch Lomond bonnie. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

  8. Jul 14

    14/07/26 Wildfires on farms, England's environmental farm payments

    Tinderbox conditions on fellsides and moorland have led to wildfires across the country. We hear from farmers in the centre of the blaze. This week we're looking at England's post-Brexit farm policy. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the main subsidy scheme, which rewards farmers for environmental actions. It's up and running again after it was abruptly suspended in March last year, and Defra has just announced that 75% of the funding available in the first window, for smaller farms, has now been allocated. Will the budget stretch to meet farmers' ambition? Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

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The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Farming Today

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