Farming Today

BBC Radio 4

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

  1. 13 hr ago

    Farming Today This Week 11/07/2026 Crops in a mine, hot livestock, agriculture & water report, scallops, school farm visits.

    How practical would it be to grow our food underground? It’s a question being investigated by researchers at the University of Shefffield who are growing crops more than a kilometre below ground-level in a working mine near Whitby. The Environment Agency has produced its first ever annual report into agriculture and water in England. Taking data from the last five years, it assesses the impact of agricultural pollution from farms, and how water availability is being managed. Non-compliance with water regulations has dropped, but 40% of farmers are still breaking the rules. We’ve been taking a close look at commercial fishing all this week. Ten years on from the Brexit vote leading to the UK leaving the EU, some in the industry say that decision has had a lasting impact on their businesses, and not a good one. We hear from a scallop business in Scotland which says the industry needs more support. Many of us have been sweltering in the third official heatwave of the summer. For farmers with livestock, there's the continual worry that their animals might be overheating, or not drinking enough water. We speak to a farm vet about the impact heat stress can have on the health of livestock and the fertility of cows. Many farms have an education string to their bows nowadays but perhaps not quite on the scale of a farm near Kendal that’s been hosting primary school visits for the Westmorland County Agricultural Society for the last 25 years. Hundreds of children from 42 different schools flock to Roger Mason’s farm to learn what producing food is all about. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    25 min

  2. 1 day ago

    10/07/26 Calls to ban bottom trawling to protect dolphins, Wimbledon strawberries

    Calls for wider bans on fishing with heavy gear that drags along the seabed to protect dolphins and porpoises. We visit Hugh Lowe Farms in Kent, who have been providing strawberries to Wimbledon for over 25 years. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

    12 min

  3. 2 days ago

    09/07/26 Growing crops in a mine, scallop fishing, RHS Badminton

    How practical would it be to grow our food underground? It’s a question being investigated by researchers at the University of Shefffield who are growing crops more than a kilometre below ground-level in a working mine near Whitby. They’re collaborating with Farm Urban, a company that specialises in vertical farming, but usually going up vertically rather than down; and they reckon this is the world’s deepest vertical farm. We’re taking a close look at commercial fishing all this week. Ten years on from the Brexit vote leading to the UK leaving the EU, some in the industry say that decision has had a lasting impact on their businesses, and not a good one. We hear from a scallop business in Scotland which says the industry needs more support. This year, the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual show which is usually at Hampton Court has upped sticks and moved to the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire. It’s not just a good excuse for some of us to get out the floaty dress and sunhat for a summer’s day out, events like this are an important showcase for the commercial nurseries who grow and sell the plants we buy for our gardens. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  4. 3 days ago

    08/07/2026 Environment Agency agriculture & water report, fishing visas, animal health

    The Environment Agency has produced its first ever annual report into agriculture and water in England. It takes data from the last five years, to assess the impact of agricultural pollution from farms, and how water availability is being managed. Over the last five years there've been 19,018 inspections and 49 serious category one pollution incidents caused by farming. Non-Compliance with water regulations has dropped, but 40% of farmers are still breaking the rules. We speak to the Deputy director of Agriculture and Land at the Environment Agency. Fishing communities around the UK say they are struggling to survive because of multiple pressures on the sector. All week we're talking about the fishing industry, from marine conservation to the cost of getting a catch. Along the coast of County Down, in Northern Ireland, boats are increasingly tied up in harbour because their owners say it's not worth putting out to sea. Many of us have been sweltering in the third official heatwave of the summer. For farmers with livestock there's the continual worry that their animals might be overheating, or not drinking enough water. However the heat and lack of grass, can have wider implications than you might imagine for animal health. We speak to a farm vet about the impact heat stress can have on the fertility of cows. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  5. 4 days ago

    07/07/2026 Rehydrating dry grain, fishing resilience, school farm visits.

    It seems we might have started a particular conversation about the very dry harvest in parts of the country. We spoke to a farmer, whose feed barley was a third drier than it should be. As a result, his crop was going to weigh less which means he'd get less money for it. Now he is considering adding moisture to the grain, after it leaves storage. We ask an arable expert whether that's something we'll see in future, and whether it's a good idea. We're discussing many of the challenges the fishing industry faces throughout the week. For those working in the sector, the pressures can be huge, from extreme weather to rising costs and unpredictable catches. Many fishermen run small family businesses in what can be a precarious enterprise. So how do you remain resilient when there are so many changing factors? We find out about a health initiative in Wales to support fishing communities. Many farms have an education string to their bows nowadays - but perhaps not quite on the scale of a farm near Kendal that’s been hosting primary school visits for the Westmorland County Agricultural Society for the last 25 years. Hundreds of children from 42 different schools from a 30-mile radius flocked to Roger Mason’s farm to learn what farming’s all about. It’s a huge event spread over two days with 300 volunteers from the Agricultural Society alone, not counting the hundred or so teachers and parents who help out too. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    14 min

  6. 5 days ago

    06/07/2026 Commoners can apply for government schemes, fishing, fertiliser

    Farmers who graze their livestock on what’s called Common Land in England were being excluded from the government’s new farming environmental support schemes - not because they didn't qualify, but because the Rural Payments Agency's computer system wasn’t up to the job of processing their applications. However, campaigners say that the system's being changed and commoners will now be able to apply. Changing sea temperatures, rising fuel costs and offshore windfarms are all challenges for the fishing industry. All week we'll be exploring the state of the sector. We start off by asking the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations about fishing stocks, recruitment and an octopus bloom off UK waters. , The combination of higher fertiliser and fuel prices, and challenging weather mean farmers have their thinking caps firmly on their heads when considering long-term options for how they farm in the future. Should they use less fertiliser and fuel, to save costs and help the environment and can they do that, while still producing enough of the food we all need? We bring to together a buying cooperative, a university professor and a potato grower to discuss. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

    12 min

  7. 4 Jul

    04/07/26 Farming Today This Week: Groundswell regenerative agriculture, the Environment Secretary on the 25 year Farming Roadmap

    Ten years of the regenerative farming festival Groundswell - we talk to farmers who were at the first event about how it's changed the way the farm. Chris van Tulleken says farmers and doctors want the same thing, for people to want to buy more real, unprocessed food. What will the Government's new 25 year Farming Roadmap mean for farmers? We ask the Secretary of State. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

    25 min

  8. 3 Jul

    02/07/26 Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture 2026

    Ten years of the regenerative farming festival Groundswell - we talk to farmers who were at the first event about how it's changed the way the farm. Chris van Tulleken says farmers and doctors want the same thing, for people to want to buy more real, unprocessed food. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

    14 min
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About

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Farming Today

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