Farming Today

As the UK experiences its worst ever outbreak of the livestock disease bluetongue, we find out how government vets and scientists are coping as they deal with thousands of cases. The trade union which represents them says morale is low and the workload is mountainous. They say more long term strategic planning is needed and better pay to address staff shortages. How well prepared are we for a major threat to our food security? Not quite well enough, according to the National Audit Office report on resilience in England’s food supply chain. Plans for data centres on farmland in Scotland. Finding out exactly what species are in a river can be challenging, but environmental DNA sampling is a relatively new tool which can help. It can detect the presence of rare or invasive species by analysing genetic material in water. The farm vet with a passion for dung beetles. She's teaching livestock farmers how to use fewer medicines to help protect the ecosystems and insects on their land. There are only around eleven hundred calling male corncrakes in the UK, but that number may be about to grow. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

How well prepared are we for a major threat to our food security? Not quite well enough, according to the National Audit Office, which is publishing a report later today on resilience in England’s food supply chain. Why strawberry growers have found their plants are still producing healthy, even bumper crops much later than usual. There are only around eleven hundred calling male corncrakes in the UK, but that number may be about to grow. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

As the UK experiences its worst ever outbreak of the livestock disease bluetongue, we find out how government vets and scientists are coping as they deal with thousands of cases. The trade union which represents them says morale is low and the workload is mountainous. They say more long term strategic planning is needed and better pay to address staff shortages. Scientists in Northern Ireland are using DNA methods to help identify the exact source of pollution in Lough Neagh. It's the fourth summer in a row that the lough has been blighted by blue green algae. As the Bayeux Tapestry goes on display at the British Museum in London, BBC Radio 4 has a range of programmes inspired by the Normans. We hear from food producers in Normandy whose apple harvest and cheese making have been affected by drought and climate change. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The many pressures on land use are coming into sharper focus in Scotland where opposition is growing to a series of large AI data centres planned across the central belt, between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The ruling Scottish National Party’s national council is calling for a moratorium on building them. Most of the centres are to be built on open countryside, and farmers are among the people who have raised concerns. However the boss of one data centre company claims the centres could bring a boost to horticulture by using the heat they generate to warm glass houses. While farmers across much of the UK are counting the cost of a poor harvest, it's a different story in The Outer Hebrides. We speak to a crofter from Uist who's just had one of his best years yet. The state of the UK's rivers has been making the news - if not pollution, then drought, and, earlier this year, flooding. The Tweed is one of the world's most famous salmon rivers, flowing eastwards across the Scottish borders and Northern England. We've been finding out how conservationists and farmers are working together to ease the pressure climate change is putting on the river. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farming groups from around the country are pressing for what they are calling 'a government-backed, interest-free Keep Britain Growing Loan' which they say will help farmers maintain cashflow and fund next season’s crop production. How using pasture sown with a diverse mix of grasses, legumes, and deep-rooted herbs and rotational grazing can help in times of drought. Finding out exactly what species are in a river can be challenging, but environmental DNA sampling is a relatively new tool which can help. It can detect the presence of rare or invasive species by analysing genetic material in water. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Anna Hill travels on a safari with a difference, across North Norfolk, to discover how dozens of farmers have joined together to create connected corridors for wildlife and farming. She explores four projects funded by FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes), follows a 26-mile mega-hedgerow across 14 farms; a 10 mile corridor of wildflower margins along a river bed; follows a new shepherdess moving a flock of sheep across contiguous arable farms to fertilise the soil; and sees the extraordinary natural hives for wild bees, which farmers have created to protect the species for years to come.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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

The UK Health Security Agency is investigating the outbreak of salmonella that’s led to confirmed cases in more than 200 people, and the death of one person. Initial findings suggest it could be linked to imported eggs. Salmonella is extremely rare in UK produced eggs - all laying hens have to be vaccinated against it, and there’s a ‘passport’ system ensuring that all hens, eggs and feed are fully traceable. Although the vast majority of eggs we buy to cook with at home are British, eggs and egg products used in restaurants and other food services can often be imported to reduce costs. Not all of the countries they come from enforce the same production standards as the UK, The British Egg Industry Council says there needs to be a stricter testing regime for imported eggs. We eat around 40 million eggs a day in the UK, and import five million of those. We speak to an expert about how you begin to track down where a salmonella outbreak might have come from. Beekeepers are warning that the lack of rain this summer could have long term consequences for their bees, which are vital pollinators for many crops. Roof-top solar on agricultural buildings - we visit a dairy farm and ice cream producer in Derbyshire where it's making a big difference to electricity bills. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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.

Caz Graham is at the Hawkshead Show in the Lake District, to see why local shows like this are so important to rural areas. All over the UK, through the summer months, communities come together for village shows. There are hundreds of them, each reflecting the distinct flavour of the farming, food, local customs and the people of the villages and towns they’re held in. Produced by Sally Challoner.

Supplies of the vaccine for the livestock disease Bluetongue are in short supply after a large outbreak in the south west of the UK. A mild winter, hot dry summer, and the midges - which cause the disease - moving into densley populated livestock areas, have all contributed to the worst ever outbreak, which has now affected Wales and Scotland too. We speak to the president of the Sheep Veterinary Society about when we can expect more vaccines. All this week we're looking at solar farms. Today we're in Staffordshire where the country council has launched a campaign called “Stop the Solar Land Grab”. The council is particularly concerned about the effect three solar farms will have on the community of Drointon. And the hot weather has been good news for the UK's increasing number of vineyards. But winemakers in Devon and Cornwall say it’s left them in "uncharted territory.” One new challenge is how to replicate their normal crisp flavours because the heat changes the taste of the grapes. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a package of measures to help drought-hit farmers in England, saying food production is national security. It will give more flexibility for farmers in environmental schemes, and easier access to water. More details will also be announced today about plans to help farmers build reservoirs on farm. The NFU says it's a start, but action needs to be taken now to make the UK more resilient to future floods and drought. All this week we're looking at the solar industry - from solar farms on agricultural land, to panels on farm roofs to generate power. Today we hear from the industry body, and a farm where hens are grazing amongst the panels. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Prime Minister's due to announce a package of support to help farmers in England cope with the drought. The measures will include putting an extra £50 million of Defra's budget towards this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive and offering up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs, to enable farmers to store water in the winter which they can use in the summer. As well as drought and heat, livestock farmers are staving off an outbreak of bluetongue - it’s a disease which affects cattle and sheep, but not humans. The South West is dealing with hundreds of cases, mostly in sheep in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. However there’ve been cases in Northern England and Wales as well, and for the first time ever, a couple of cases in Scotland. Brassica growers say the sector's in crisis. Farmers say crops like brocolli and cauliflower are dying in the fields because of the drought and extreme heat. The hot weather means demand for salad is up but when it's too hot, the crops don't like it - and nor do the pickers. We visit a grower in Lancashire where workers are picking by torch-light to avoid the heat. Vitamin B12 is essential for our diets, it's found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, but not in plants, or not until now, that is: scientists have developed a way of fortifying peashoots with B12 and hope to get them in supermarket salad bags in the next year or two. This summer marks the end of an era for the Thompson family and their berry farm at Blairgowrie, in Perthshire, one of Scotland's most important soft fruit growing areas. The Thompsons have decided to end commercial production because they say the business is no longer economically viable. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Brassica growers are warning their crops are in crisis after the relentless heat has left them stunted or dying in the ground. The British Growers Assocation says crops including cauliflower and broccoli are half the size they should be, putting prices up. We meet growers at Tebay services on the M6 in Cumbria. The company has been working with the horticulture and mental health charity Growing Well, and have established a kitchen garden to keep their cafe and farm-shop stocked with the freshest possible salad and veg. And it's the end of an era for the Thompson family on their berry farm in Perthshire. They've decided to end commercial production as they say it's no longer viable. For their very last cherry harvest, they invited the public to come along and ‘pick their own’ with the proceeds going to charities. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.