Farming Today

BBC Radio 4

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

  1. 1d ago

    Farming Today This Week: Bluetongue cases continue to rise; impact of climate change on this year's harvest

    Farmers are being 'strongly urged' to vaccinate sheep and cattle to protect them from the rapid spread of bluetongue. The UK's chief vet says vaccination is the only way to deal with the disease. There are now more than 200 farms with cases in the UK, more than double the number this time last week. The vast majority are in England, with most in the South West. In Wales there've been five. There are none in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The disease is spread by midges and this year's heatwave means the midges and the virus are replicating much more quickly. There is a vaccine but take up has been low. We speak to the National Sheep Association and the UK's chief vet. Harvest 2026 has been the earliest in England for at least 20 years. Yields have suffered from the heat and a lack of water, leaving farmers counting the cost. All week we've been hearing harvest stories from around the UK and asking what impact all this will have on food, prices and the future for British farming. We visit Northamptonshire where they've been harvesting at the crack of dawn to ensure the wheat's not too dry, and hearing from a miller who says the quality of British milling wheat this year is very good. In Perthshire, Scottish farmers have been dodging the rain to bring in the barley. Growers in Berkshire, who're cultivating their dry dusty fields ready to plant oilseed rape, are wondering whether they'll be growing next season's crops at a loss. We also speak to a plant scientist who says the DNA of ancient varieties of wheat could hold the key to breeding future crops which are more resilient to climate change. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Rebecca Rooney

  2. 2d ago

    07/08/2026 Resilient crops for a changing climate, planting in a drought, Sheeted Somerset cattle

    In the light of this summer’s dismal harvest, we hear of work to make the UK’s arable crops more resilient in a changing climate. With the hot dry weather continuing in much of the country, not to mention the situation in the Strait of Hormuz making diesel and fertiliser prices volatile, some farmers are already scratching their heads about what best to grow for next year’s harvest. And a beautiful native breed cow, so rare it was declared extinct in the 1930s, now making a surprising comeback thanks to a farmer in Somerset’s Chew Valley. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

  3. 3d ago

    06/08/26 Bluetongue cases on the rise, vaccination and testing for the disease. Harvest in Perthshire.

    Farmers are being 'strongly urged' to vaccinate sheep and cattle to protect them from the rapid spread of bluetongue. The UK's chief vet says vaccination is the only way to deal with the disease. There are now 130 cases, more than double the number this time last week. The vast majority are in England, with most in the South West. Wales has four cases, there are none in Scotland or Northern Ireland, and here cases means farms affected rather than individual animals with the disease. Bluetongue can make sheep and cattle lethargic and lame, it can cause birth defects or spontaneous abortions and it can be fatal. The disease is spread by midges, originally they were blown over from Europe but now they, and the virus, survive the winter here. This year's heatwave means the virus and midges are replicating much more quickly. It doesn't affect human or food safety. There is a vaccine but take up has been low. We ask the National Sheep Association why that is, and speak to the Chief Veterinary Officer who says scientists expect the virus to peak in September. Across much of England and Wales the heatwave and drought has meant an early harvest and poor yields, in much of Scotland things are different. There’s been hot and dry weather earlier in the summer but now it’s rain that's making things difficult. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

  4. 4d ago

    05/08/26 Scottish first minister on farming resilience; the cost of drought; harvest in Cumbria

    Scotland's first minister John Swinney has been speaking about the future for Scottish farmers and crofters while touring the country visiting summer agricultural shows. This hot dry summer hasn't hit farmers in Scotland quite as hard as southern England, but some areas are now considered to be in what Scotland terms 'water scarcity'. We speak to him about support for farmers and the government's future plans to tackle wildfires. A new report estimates farmers could lose as much as £390 million in revenue because of the heat waves and drought this summer. Analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates the grain harvest could be down by as much as 2.5 million tonnes. We're talking about the harvest all week. We visit the Eden Valley in Cumbria find out how one farmer near Penrith is managing his harvest balancing-act. Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

  5. 5d ago

    04/08/26 Wheat harvest, waste whey, sheep farmers at risk from disease

    Official figures show the harvest this summer is the earliest in England for 20 years. All week we're following farmers around the country as they bring in their crops. We visit a farmer in Northamptonshire who thinks this year's harvest will put him in the red. When cheese is made, it produces curds and whey. There are two types of whey, sweet and salty. The sweet is often used for protein ingredients but the salty whey is difficult to dispose of and can be hazardous to the environment. Now scientists at Herriot Watt University have found a way to make salty whey into bio-ethanol, which could be used in car fuel. Scientists are studying how interactions between people and working dogs could help spread a harmful tapeworm. Mid-Wales has been described as a hotspot for hydatid disease, which can cause slow-growing cysts on internal organs. It's found in sheep and farmers who work closely with sheepdogs are most at risk. Health experts say that although rare, the disease is a significant concern due to the potentially serious health consequences. Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

  6. 6d ago

    03/08/26 Wildlife in drought, harvest 2026

    The drought is hitting nature; the Wildlife Trusts warn that rivers, lakes and wetlands are under immense strain, leaving animals struggling to survive. Harvest 2026 has been the earliest in England for at least 20 years and yields have suffered from the heat and a lack of water, leaving farmers counting the cost. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

  7. Aug 1

    Farming Today This Week 01/08/26 Drought, water abstraction, food inflation, bluetongue, young Cornish dairy farmer.

    The whole of Wales and half of England are now officially in drought. For farmers the impacts are huge. There are concerns about a shortage of feed for livestock and cereal yields are down. The Environment Agency in England says it will step up controls on how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater. The National Farmers Union has called for a more modern abstraction system, saying we're still using regulations which are 50 years old. The environmental charity River Action says too many businesses are taking water from rivers, and the government should review the abstraction licence system. It says that trillions of litres of water are being taken from rivers, lakes and aquifers every year. There's been a rise in cases of bluetongue this summer. The disease is spread by midges and can have a devastating impact on cattle and sheep. We hear from a farmer who lost a third of his calves due to the virus, and a scientist who says the hot weather is accelerating the spread. All week BBC local radio stations in England have been focusing on agriculture, as part of this year's Farmwatch reporters have looked at food inflation and what rising costs mean for producers. We also hear from an inspiring young farmer in Cornwall, who has got his own dairy herd - comprising one Jersey cow. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

  8. Jul 31

    29/07/26: Cairngorms wildfire two weeks in, South Wales hare coursing, wildflower seed farm

    The fourth heatwave of the year in the UK is still making the daily farming jobs a struggle for many. But this year the dry weather and heat have also created the conditions for significant wildfires across the country. In Scotland a wildfire started 2 weeks ago in the Cairngorms National Park. It's thought to have damaged around 25 square kilometres of natural forest and hillsides, although the exact extent isn't yet known. The surface fire has diminished but it's still burning deep in the peat soil, and nearly a hundred firefighters are still deployed in the area. The Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Grant Moir tells us that the fire took hold in an area known for its important wildlife habitats, much loved by visitors and the local community. The end of harvest can also be the start of a very worrying time for farmers, when illegal hare coursers drive over stubble fields, set off dogs to chase hares, and often bet on the outcome. South Wales Police have warned of an increase in illegal hare coursing in the Vale of Glamorgan, with local farmers being threatened and intimidated when they try to intervene. This week is BBC Farmwatch week and today we're heading to a farm in Nottinghamshire which grows wildflowers to harvest their seeds. Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

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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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