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Farming Today

BBC Radio 4

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

science

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11:27

23/03/26 Potato oversupply, history of change in...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/23

A farmer with six hundred tonnes of potatoes he can't sell is blaming changing consumer tastes. GB Potatoes says this year is a “tough market” for growers, as a bumper crop this year has caused an oversupply.This week we're looking at the history of farming and what that tells us about what drives change in farming and food. One of the biggest seed and chemical crop protection companies in the world is expanding their operation in the UK.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice

24:58

21/03/26 Farming Today This Week: Land Use Framework;...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/21

The government's launched its long-awaited land use framework for England. It describes it as a "blueprint to protect food security". The farming minister says it won't tell farmers, developers or local authorities what they must do, but it will give them better, more comprehensive data - including the creation of a national soil map. What difference will it make? We hear from farmers, environmentalists and the Countryside Alliance who are worried about what it means for field sports.Rural

13:49

20/03/26 Commoners excluded from environmental...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/20

Computer says no - why nearly 4,000 farmers are excluded from the government’s new environmental support schemes. Scottish seed potato growers have been gathering in Dundee this week to hear how a 5-year long project might save their industry from the impact of a tiny but devastating worm, called the potato cyst nematode.We’re looking into how the food our farmers grow is processed all this week. Most of the beans and peas we grow for human consumption in the UK pass through just one large

13:58

19/03/26 Land Use Framework, oat drink production

Farming Today ·

2026/03/19

We get reaction to the Government's 'vision for how we use our land'. What difference will England's Land Use Framework make?And oats - they're increasingly attractive as a crop because they need relatively low inputs, are compatible with environmentally friendly rotations, and are rising in value in food markets. Like the oat drink market, for people looking for an alternative to dairy. All this week we are looking at food processing, and today we see how you get from an oat to a drink.Presented

13:57

18/03/27 England's new land use framework

Farming Today ·

2026/03/18

The government's launched its long-awaited land use framework for England. It describes it as a "blueprint to protect food security". The farming minister says it won't tell farmers, developers or local authorities what they must do, but it will give them better, more comprehensive data - including the creation of a national soil map. There'll be support to grow more drought and flood resilient strains of crop - to help farmers adapt to a changing climate. We speak to farming minister Angela Eagle

13:58

17/03/26 Energy bills in rural homes, new livestock...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/17

Rural households struggling to pay for heating oil are to receive government help with their bills. The war in the Middle East has had a massive impact on global supplies of oil, gas and fertiliser - pushing up prices. The Prime Minister has pledged to help people who have seen their bills soar: energy prices will be capped until the end of June; the cut in fuel duty has been extended until September; and the government's allocated £53 million to help vulnerable rural households with their heating

11:58

16/03/26: Impact of war on Ukraine's soil, village...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/16

New research reveals the impact of war on the soils of Ukraine, and in a country once called the breadbasket of Europe that could have long term repercussions. Farmers in South Wales are warning that “sheep will starve” if urgent steps aren’t taken to create access for suppliers cut off following a significant landslip. It has closed the main road to the village of Llanthony since the end of January.All this week we are looking at food processing. Food and drink is Britain's biggest manufacturing

13:32

13/03/26 The foods of the future, farm incomes,...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/13

Lab-grown meat, edible insects and 3D printed mash could be on plates in the next couple of decades. A new report from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland looks at the innovative food technologies most likely to reach us consumers by 2035 - and how they can be regulated to make sure they're safe. The government forecast for farm business income in England for this financial year has been released. The figures underline the difficult financial decisions many are facing. With the

13:36

12/03/2026 Energy price impact on tomatoes, muck...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/12

British tomato growers say they may be forced to end their growing season early and import more tomatoes because of the increasing costs of heating. They say the conflict in the Middle East has raised the price of gas, with some growers' bills doubling in the last 2 weeks. Growing tomatoes (and other crops) in glasshouses is an energy hungry industry, and with similar problems across Europe growers say consumers can expect price rises. Simon Conway is Chair of the British Tomato Growers

13:50

11/03/2026 Inheritance tax for tenant farmers, young...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/11

It's less than a month before the new inheritance tax comes in for farmers, and the Government's Finance Bill reaching the report stage is a last chance for any amendments to be considered. After a Government u-turn at the end of the year, the tax threshold was increased, but there are concerns the policy still doesn't give Tenant Farmers, who don't own their land, the same advantage. The Tenant Farmers Association share their concerns. A farm vets practise in Gloucestershire is offering free

14:03

10/03/2026 Abattoir charges, EU trade, slurry.

Farming Today ·

2026/03/10

The meat industry say increased charges for Food Standards Agency staff such as abattoir vets and inspectors could threaten some operations. New charges come into force at the end of this month, and the hourly rate for some services will be more than 20% higher. The Food Standards Agency says a global vet shortage means it is having to pay more to recruit and retain them, and there are other inflationary pressures across the sector. We speak to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers. Food

11:43

09/03/26 Lead shot ban could hamper deer control,...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/09

The Government's decision to ban lead shot from 2028 will impact the ability to control deer numbers - that's according to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation which says that the new legislation, which will cover England, Scotland and Wales, will ban the ammunition used by many deer stalkers. Last month the Government released its 10 year English deer strategy, which estimated that one-third of England's woodlands are damaged by deer, with urgent action needed to protect trees and

24:58

07/03/26 Farming Today This Week: avian influenza...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/07

The first UK trial of a vaccine for avian flu has started. Bird flu costs the government an average of £174 million every year and there have been 95 outbreaks in the UK since last autumn. Other countries have used vaccination to try to control the disease: five vaccines are licensed for use in the European Union, but not in the UK. The new trial will see 1000 turkeys vaccinated and, if successful, the vaccine may be rolled out to turkeys and ducks. The cost of the vaccine and the surveillance

14:02

06/03/26 Bird flu vaccine cost prohibitive for...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/06

British chickens are unlikely to be vaccinated against bird flu because of the cost and concerns about trade. The first UK trial of an avian flu vaccine is underway on 1,000 turkeys and if it's successful the vaccine may be rolled out to them and to ducks. But the British Poultry Council says that given the cost of the vaccine and the surveillance testing afterwards chickens won't be included. Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise farming - but how? trials are underway all over

13:39

05/03/26 Bird flu vaccine, impact of Middle East...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/05

The government's launching its first field trial of a bird flu vaccine, in turkeys in England. The poultry industry has been calling for an avian flu vaccine, which could protect millions of birds against the disease. Five veterinary vaccines are approved for use across the European Union, but they haven't been approved in the UK. We speak to the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer about how the trial will workAs the impact of the war in the Middle East starts to be felt on world markets, groups in the

13:40

04/03/26 Border checks, solar farms, crops under...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/04

MPs question top civil servants about surveillance at Dover Port and illegal meat. The EFRA Committee said nearly a fifth of consignments directed from Dover to a border control point 20 miles away at Sevington, were failing to do so. All week we’re exploring how farmland is being used. Solar farms can be controversial, but how do farmers and landowners with tenants view the issue? Norfolk County council has more than 16,000 acres in tenant farms. It's decided that none of its tenants will be

13:53

03/03/26 British beef in US supermarkets, managing...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/03

The first shipment of tariff-free UK beef has arrived on shop shelves in the United States. It's part of the UK-US trade deal which allows a reciprocal movement of 13,000 tonnes of US and UK beef across the Atlantic. For British farmers, the government claims the deal is worth £70 million a year, if the quota is fully used. We ask a trade expert how significant it will be.All week we’re talking about the varied pressures on farm land, from energy production to growing food. Deepdale Farm on the

11:54

02/03/26: Officially enough rain, Mrs Wilmot's...

Farming Today ·

2026/03/02

After a marathon run of torrential rain, floods, and grey skies to start 2026 , the drought warnings from last Autumn seem a world away. Back in October, the Environment Agency said that at least 100% of the average rainfall would be needed every month until the end of March for England to recover fully from the 2025 drought. Steve Turner from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology tells Charlotte that rivers and groundwater have returned to normal, or above normal, levels in most of the country.We

14:02

27/02/26: Mackerel's off, Cromer Crab, Avian Flu...

Farming Today ·

2026/02/27

Mackerel will soon be disappearing from the shelves of Waitrose as the supermarket says it's 'taking a stand against overfishing'. In September last year the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), recommended that North-east Atlantic Mackerel catches should be cut by 70% to help rebuild stocks to a sustainable level. But four countries which fish for Mackerel in the North East Atlantic cut their quota for 2026 by just 48% compared to the previous year. As a result, Waitrose

13:54

26/02/26 The Farming Minister and reaction to the...

Farming Today ·

2026/02/26

The farming minister says changes announced this week will help make farms more resilient. Angela Eagle speaks to us about the government's biggest environmental scheme, England's Sustainable Farming Incentive, which is getting an overhaul. The other UK nations have different schemes. Reaction has been generally welcoming, with some buts...Farmers and landowners are calling for a new arrangement which would allow them to take rubbish illegally fly tipped on their land to landfill sites free of

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