Farming Today

• 19/04/25 Farming Today This Week: wildfires, British farm standards, EU meat imports ban, vertical farms, sheep shearing

  <p>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 and mouth?</p><p>Some of the UK's rarest wildlife is being "torched alive" and pushed closer to extinction after weeks of intense grass fires, conservationists have warned.</p><p>There has been a bit of talk about trade deals this week, with the the US Vice President JD Vance talking about a prospective UK/US agreement, and that's making farmers nervous. They worry that agreements risk undermining them and this week raised concerns over a deal with India, saying it mustn't allow imports of cheaper food, produced to lower standards. </p><p>The company behind one of the UK's biggest vertical farms has closed. The Jones Food Company which ran indoor farms in Scunthrope and Gloucestershire, as well as a development centre in Bristol, called in the receivers after failing to find new investors. Vertical farms grow crops, mainly herbs and salad leaves, inside on shelving, using special lights to create a warm humid atmosphere which reduces growing time in comparison with conventionally grown crops. But with a number of companies going bust in recent years, is this a viable way to grow food?</p><p>And as spring is springing, we talk sheep shearing in West Dorset.</p><p>Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.</p>

• Foot and mouth personal meat import ban, gearing up for sheep shearing as overseas shearer visas granted

  <p>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 their flights to the UK, after the Government approved this year's special visa concession at the eleventh hour. And we catch up with a Dorset shearer gearing up for the season.</p><p>Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling</p>

• 12/04/2025 Farming Today This Week: Salmon Farming, Wildfire and Trade

  <p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>Producer: Rebecca Rooney</p>

• 10/04/2025 Wildfires and managing moorland, farmed salmon, early asparagus

  <p>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 dangers of wildfires and ways of preventing them. The Ulster Farmers Union is calling for more grazing and controlled burning in some protected areas to reduce the risks.</p><p>We're focusing on farmed fish this week and salmon really dominates this sector. It's not without its critics who say production is at the expense of the environment and fish welfare. However the industry in Scotland says its continuing to change and improve. We visit an island site owned by Norwegian fish farmer MOWI which believes that farming in deeper more remote waters will help solve some of the problems.</p><p>The first asparagus of the season is one vegetable that's widely anticipated and valued and one Scottish farm has found a way of edging ahead of most of the others by making use of redundant fruit polytunnels.</p><p>Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney</p>

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

  <p>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 mouth disease and African swine fever on the European mainland, there are concerns the UK isn’t doing enough to prevent these serious contagious livestock diseases from entering the country. </p><p>All week we're looking at farmed fish. Last year Scottish farmed salmon was the UK’s biggest food export, with £844 million worth of fish sold in 48 different countries. The industry is not without its critics though, they highlight marine pollution, fish welfare and disease and the impact on wild salmon as some of the problems. Salmon farming is big business on the West coast of Scotland. The Norwegian company MOWI employs more than one thousand 600 staff there and we’ve been looking into how the business is addressing criticism of the industry. We also speak to the industry body Salmon Scotland.</p><p>Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney</p>

• Scottish Farm Incomes, US Trade Red Lines, Farmed Trout

  <p>The Scottish Farm Business Survey has revealed a big drop in average farm income, falling by 51% in its latest figures for 2023/4. The President of NFU Scotland, Andrew Connon, tells Caz Graham that farm profits are being squeezed by increased costs including interest rates. As talks continue to hammer out a trade agreement between the UK and the US, the President of the NFU in England, Tom Bradshaw, remains bullish that the UK Government will stand firm on food import standards. And we visit a trout farm in Wiltshire as part of a week focussing on aquaculture.</p><p>Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Sarah Swadling</p>

• 05/04/25 Farming Today This Week: Trump's trade tariffs; Island life - from housing and ferries to dairy farming; Wildfires

  <p>President Trump's announcement of sweeping new tariffs on goods entering the United States from around the world has caused chaos in international markets, and producers have been trying to work out what it'll mean for them. The UK faces tariffs of 10% on all exports to the States. The US is the third largest export market for UK farmers after Ireland and France, according to the most recent DEFRA figures. On average, we sell £68 million worth of cheese, £23 million worth of pork and around £3 million worth of beef to the States every year. Salmon is another major food export. </p><p>All week we've been visiting islands and hearing about the advantages and challenges of living in some of the UK's most beautiful places. A survey by the Young Islanders Network found the biggest concern for young people in Scotland’s islands, is housing – or a lack of it. We speak to people about some of the problems they've faced - and some of the solutions.</p><p>For communities on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. ferries are essential - and for crofters who have livestock, the ferry service is a vital part of their farming business. However getting animals on and off the island by boat isn't always predictable. </p><p>In Guernsey, dairy farmers have welcomed a decision to increase the support they receive from the island's government.</p><p>Firefighters are warning of the 'extreme risk' of wildfires in Scotland. The fire service has issued its third warning this year after fires in hills near Glasgow and in Aberdeenshire. It says after a spell of warm weather there is plenty of dry vegetation which can act as fuel for fires, and is urging people not to light fires outside this week.</p><p>Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney</p>

• 04/04/2025 Tariffs and global food trade, Isles of Scilly flowers, university farm sell-off

  <p>Donald Trump’s new tariff regime, imposing at least a 10% tariff on all imports to the US, has caused chaos in international markets, and farmers across the world are wondering how they’ll be affected. Here the National Farmers Union says it’s working “at pace” with government on how to react if there is market disruption.</p><p>The University of Reading has a worldwide reputation for expertise in agriculture and food research. So there was some surprise when it was revealed the University was planning to sell off one of its farms for housing.</p><p>As part of our week looking at island farming, we're heading west off the coast of Cornwall, to the Isles of Scilly. Frost is rare in Scilly, which means cut flowers can be grown outdoors in both the winter and early spring. </p><p>Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.</p>

• 03/04/25 Extreme risk of wildfires, review of environmental regulations, Rathlin Island, hunting turtle doves

  <p>Firefighters are warning of the 'extreme risk' of wildfires in Scotland. The fire service has issued its third warning this year after fires in hills near Glasgow and in Aberdeenshire. It says after a spell of warm weather there is plenty of dry vegetation which can act as fuel for fires, and is urging people not to light fires outside this week. </p><p>Government plans to streamline environmental regulation to speed up house building and boost economic growth risk causing irreversible damage to nature, according to green groups. </p><p>On Monday we talked about 'operation turtle dove' and the UK farmers who've been growing habitats and food for the birds, which summer here after wintering in West Africa. It's a project that's helped increase their numbers by 40%. Much of the turtle doves' success has been down to a ban in Europe on shooting them as they migrate across the continent. But because of the population increase, this week the ban has been lifted. </p><p>Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.</p>

• 02/04/25 Housing shortages in Scottish islands, Farming Minister quizzed on farm support, tree planting.

  <p>This week we're taking a closer look at the rural lives of islanders around our shores. A survey by the Young Islanders Network found the biggest concern for young people in Scotland’s islands, is housing – or a lack of it. We speak to people about some of the problems they've faced - and some of the solutions.</p><p>The Environment Food and Rural Affairs select Committee of MPs has been grilling the farming minister Daniel Zeichner about the repercussions of suspending the Sustainable Farming Incentive, or SFI, which gives payments to farmers for environmental work. Thousands of farmers have already joined, but it was abruptly closed to new applicants on 11th March. </p><p>Trees are being planted on Dartmoor to help alleviate flooding. A team lead by the National Park Authority is using a method developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki which plants a wide variety of native species close together to encourage rapid tree growth.</p><p>Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney</p>