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Farming Today

BBC Radio 4

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

science

All Episodes

12:07

12/05/25 - Ash dieback, viticulture and spring grass...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/12

The tree disease ash dieback has been less devastating than initially feared. 2500 trees that show signs of resistance to ash dieback have been planted at a tree archive site in Scotland. It's part of ongoing Government research that suggests there are more tolerant trees than at first expected, and those left in the wild are regenerating naturally.We visit a vineyard in Norfolk at a crucial time of year for viticulture. As the vines come into flower, growers are hoping for no late frosts, which

24:59

10/05/25 - Farming Today This Week: India and US...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/10

Farmers have welcomed a new UK trade deal with India, with tariff reductions for whisky, salmon and lamb. And the UK Prime Minister and the US President announced a trade arrangement between the two countries, with UK tariffs removed on imports of American ethanol, and a reciprocal agreement on beef. But the UK ban on American chlorine washed chicken and hormone treated beef continues.To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we hear from one of the 'land girls', who ploughed crops, milked cows and

14:04

9/5/2025 UK trade deal with USA and what it means for...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/09

The UK and the US have announced a trade deal between the two countries. President Trump hailed it as an agreement which will 'dramatically increase' access to UK markets for American farmers involving he said billions of dollars and singling out ethanol - where the UK tariff on American imports will be removed, and beef, where a reciprocal agreement has been made. The UK ban on American chlorine washed chicken and hormone treated beef continues. The UK government says it opens up a new market

13:55

07/05/25 - India Trade Deal, gene edited potatoes and...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/07

A former Government trade advisor says the new trade deal with India could be good news for UK farmers. The deal comes after three years of negotiations and includes reduced tariffs on exports of products including whisky, lamb and salmon.Many potatoes end up getting wasted because of bruising and discoloration. We hear from a potato producing company in Lincolnshire where they're hoping gene editing can produce a bruise-resistant spud.And a select committee of MPs is urging the Government to do

14:06

6/5/2025 Drought warnings in Scotland, seed potatoes,...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/06

Scottish farmers are being warned to prepare for a possible summer drought. SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued a water scarcity alert as 17 river catchments are so low. In England the Environment Agency says two thirds of rivers are below normal or lower for the time of year. This week we're digging into the world of potato production - none of which would be possible, of course, without healthy, disease-free seed to get the crop started. Growing seed potatoes is a

24:26

03/05/2025 Farming Today This Week: sandeel ruling,...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/02

A challenge to Britain's ban on commercial fishing for sandeels in the North Sea has been partially upheld. The ban was introduced by both the English and Scottish governments in March last year because of concerns that so many sandeels were being fished that seabirds along the UK's East coastline were losing out. But Danish commercial sandeel boats said it threatened their future, and that claimed the move was discriminatory and disproportionate. They then took the case to the EU's Permanent

14:02

02/05/25 Gene-edited pigs, pea genome, agricultural...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/02

Gene-editing technology which makes pigs immune to a highly infectious virus, developed at Edinburgh University’s Roslin Institute, has been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The virus causes a disease called PRRS or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, which causes premature births in pigs as well as other painful symptoms and costs the pig industry billions. Current legislation doesn't permit its use in the UK. We speak to one of the scientists who's been working

14:18

1/5/25 Vets call for ban on farrowing crates, wind...

Farming Today ·

2025/05/01

The British Veterinary Association and the Pig Veterinary Society have issued a new joint statement calling for farrowing crates to be banned. They say they should be phased out over the next 15 years to give the industry a chance to adapt. Farrowing crates are the small pens that 60% of sows in the UK are kept in around the time they give birth, to ensure the safety of their piglets. Animal welfare campaigners have been saying they should be banned for years, but farmers have concerns that

14:04

30/4/25 Welsh community food strategy, British-grown...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/30

The Welsh government's launched a new community food strategy which it says will 'strengthen local food systems, improve healthy eating, and create more sustainable communities'. The idea is to enable more local food networks, connecting Welsh farmers and producers with consumers and supporting community-led food projects. It's committed to spending £2 million on the project this financial year, with funding secured until 2028.This week we're exploring the role pulses are playing in food and

14:07

29/4/25 Energy infrastructure, growing pulses for...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/29

One of the government's major objectives is to deliver greener energy across the UK; but to do that, thousands of acres of farmland and wider countryside are being affected, as electricity generated from offshore windfarms and solar developments is routed to the national grid. In a new report, the Institution of Engineering and Technology has outlined the specific costs of pylons and cables buried underground and on the seabed. The report estimates in the next decade there will need to be five

11:46

28/04/25 - Spring flush is causing problems at...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/28

Dairy farmers are being advised to cull or sell cows or reduce their feed as processors across the country struggle with high volumes of milk. The spring flush has been particularly good this year, with cows put out to grass earlier, and that's meant they're producing more milk. But dairies can't cope and some are warning that while they'll pay the agreed price for the contracted amount of milk any extra will be bought at a much lower price. We grow quite a lot of pulses in the UK and most go into

24:59

26/04/2025 Farming Today This Week: Agroforestry,...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/26

Restrictions have been introduced on what visitors and returning holidaymakers can bring into the UK, in response to concerns about foot and mouth outbreaks in Europe. Meat and dairy products cannot be brought back from Europe into the country, and the new rules cover everything from cured meats and cheeses to sandwiches. The aim is to prevent a foot and mouth outbreak here in the UK. But are the new restrictions being made clear enough to the public?The government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill

13:52

25/04/25 Concerns around lack of awareness of EU food...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/25

Concerns about foot and mouth outbreaks in Europe have led to restrictions on what visitors and returning holidaymakers can bring into the UK. Meat and dairy products cannot now be brought back from Europe into the country, the aim being to prevent an outbreak here. That rule was introduced on the 12th of April this year and covers everything from cured meats and cheeses to sandwiches regardless of whether it's packaged or not. But over the past couple of weeks listeners have been getting in touch

13:44

24/04/2025 Warning that changes to planning bill...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/24

A government amendment to its planning bill would be disastrous for both wildlife and big building projects; that's the warning from the Wildlife Trusts which wants ministers to reconsider. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust releases its latest watchlist today, and says that while there is good news for some native breeds, others like the Manx Locton sheep are falling in number. It wants the Government to re-establish a Ministerial Native Breeds Roundtable. Today we are looking at a silvopasture project

13:30

The rise and rise of beef prices, carp growing,...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/22

Charlotte Smith examines what's behind 2025's unprecedented increase in prices paid to UK beef farmers. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board fewer cattle are being farmed in the UK, and beyond. This week Farming Today is taking a closer look at Agroforestry, the approach which combines farming crops or livestock with trees. And, big fish, big money: we visit a carp grower in Yorkshire.Presenter: Charlotte SmithProducer: Sarah Swadling

25:01

19/04/25 Farming Today This Week: wildfires, British...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/19

If you're travelling in mainland Europe this Easter and thinking about possibly bringing back some local delicacies, think again. Following outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Germany, Hungary and on its border with Slovakia, restrictions on the food you're allowed to bring in, have changed significantly. You are now not allowed to bring in meat or dairy products from any EU country, except for poultry. So how great is the potential for cured meats or cheeses in your suitcase to transmit foot

13:56

Foot and mouth personal meat import ban, gearing up...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/15

Travellers have been banned from bringing meat from all EU countries into the UK following Foot and Mouth disease in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. The ban applies to meat from cattle, pigs, and sheep as well as dairy products. We hear from the British Veterinary Association about why cured meats or cheese bought home from holiday could present a very real disease risk. After lambing, shearing is next on sheep farmers' springtime to do lists. Skilled shearers from overseas will now be able to book

24:56

12/04/2025 Farming Today This Week: Salmon Farming,...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/12

Salmon farming has long been plagued by questions over its environmental impact and welfare concerns for farmed fish and the wild fish that live nearby. Charlotte Smith asks if those concerns might be reduced if the industry moves into deeper, wilder waters.There's also a look at illegal meat imports and the resources that the Port of Dover has to police the arrival of suspect foods on British shores. Producer: Rebecca Rooney

13:57

10/04/2025 Wildfires and managing moorland, farmed...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/10

Firefighters across the country have been tackling more wildfires this week - from the Mourne mountains in Northern Ireland to the Scottish Highlands and North Yorkshire moors. These fires in rural areas are difficult to fight. In the Mournes more than 140 fires have been reported in the past few days and firefighters say most were started deliberately. Various countryside organisations, including the Countryside Alliance and the CLA alongside farming unions have been raising awareness of the

14:25

09/04/25 Funding for checks at the border, salmon...

Farming Today ·

2025/04/09

Farmers are calling for the government to look again at the amount of funding it provides to stop illegal meat imports coming into the country. The Dover Port Health Authority which carries out the checks has been offered £3.1 million pounds by DEFRA for this financial year - the same amount as last year. However it says the funding’s too low and will make delivering its remit ‘immensely challenging’ and will ‘leave the border largely open’. With an increasing number of confirmed cases of foot and

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