The DEFRA Secretary has defended the Government's decision to introduce inheritance tax on agricultural assets. Steve Reed tells Anna Hill the wealthiest landowners and farmers "can afford to contribute more". It comes after inheritance tax of 20% is being brought in for farms with £2 million or more of assets. Some farmers are angry - concerned it will mean that when a farmer dies, their family will have to sell some of all of their land to pay the tax.

And we visit an autumn sheep sale in Cumbria to hear why upland and hill farmers are worried about the future, despite a buoyant sheep market.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

There's a row about a new Land Management Group for Dartmoor. There's been a lot of controversy about the state of the environment and grazing sheep there. The new group's been set up to bring together farmers, commoners and environmental groups to sort out the problems. The government's appointed Phil Stocker as the independent chair, but conservationists say he shouldn't have been given the job as he's also CEO of the National Sheep Association. We speak to Dartmoor Nature Alliance about their concerns. We ask Phil Stocker about his new role, and also about the state of sheep farming in the UK.

Farmers in North Somerset say plans to create saltmarshes to offset the environmental impact of a new power station would be disastrous for their homes and livelihoods. Energy giant EDF is building a nuclear power plant - Hinkley Point C - on the Bristol Channel. To offset the number of fish that’ll be killed when it’s up and running, EDF is looking to create saltmarshes along the River Severn. It needs more than 800 acres and is considering the compulsory purchase of agricultural land.

Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Following the Budget, Caz Graham is in Cumbria to hear farmers' reactions to the news that inheritance tax will apply to farms from April 2026.

The National Farmers' Union tells us farming is being "bled dry" and has "nothing left to give".

The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, confirmed that next year's farming budget for England remains unchanged at £2.4 billion.

There was no mention of nature in the Chancellor's speech, something the Wildlife Trusts highlighted, saying "the UK Government must commit to long-term strategic funding for nature’s recovery and provide greater funding for environmental regulators".

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

As part of the budget, farmers in England have been told direct payments will be phased out more quickly than originally planned. Under the EU system farmers were paid subsidy based on the amount of land they farmed - that system is being replaced with new schemes, which are different in the four nations of the UK. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland farmers continue to get direct payments at the moment. In England the phase out started in 2021. So many farmers are already getting around half what they used to, with payments ending in 2027. In England, the biggest reductions will be for the farmers who historically got the biggest payments. We speak to an upland farmer whose old payments are ending but he says there aren't any new schemes he can apply for yet, so he's losing tens of thousands of pounds. Changes to inheritance tax and agricultural property relief were also announced in the budget. We speak to a rural property expert about what impact those changes will have. Farming unions say farmers and their families may have to sell up to pay the tax.

NFU Scotland gives their reaction to the budget.

All week we've been focusing on soils. A project to analyse soil health with a view to improving the environment and profitability has been taken up by hundreds of farmers. Technicians go on to farms to look at what might be done to improve the land and make it more sustainable. Lloyds Bank is paying for some of its customers to take part in the audit which is carried out by the Soil Association Exchange.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

We look at how the Budget affects agriculture and farming businesses. Inheritance tax will apply to farms from April 2026. The National Farmers' Union tells us farming is being "bled dry" and has "nothing left to give". The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, has confirmed that next year's farming budget for England remains unchanged at £2.4 billion. There was no mention of nature in the Chancellor's budget speech, something the Wildlife Trusts highlighted, saying "The UK Government must commit to long-term strategic funding for nature’s recovery and provide greater funding for environmental regulators".

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Labour's first Budget for 14 years will be delivered by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves today. The treasury's confirmed a 6.7% increase in the national living wage for UK workers over the age of 21 and the national minimum wage for those aged between 18 and 20 will also rise by £1.40 per hour. It's one decision that could impact farming businesses. We look at what other potential announcements could mean for agriculture and the environment.

The government's set out new criteria for meeting nature conservation targets. Environment secretary Steve Reed made the announcement at the COP16 biodviersity summit in Columbia. He renewed the pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030. However the government's said it's had to revise its estimate of how much land in England currently qualifies for those targets - it's not as much as it thought. Sites of Special Scientific Interest will only count when they're in a favourable or recovering condition.

All week we've been unearthing stories of farms that are paying close attention to the health of their soils. Today we hear from a dairy farmer in west Wales who's turned his back on what he describes as a 'traditional farming system' to take a more ecological approach, working from the ground up.

It's almost Halloween and for some farmers, pumpkin picking has become an important diversification but bad weather has ruined the harvest in parts of the country this year. One grower in Cheshire had to cancel his pumpkin festival, which accounts for half the farm's annual income. However the family's turned to its orchards and is holding an apple festival instead.

Presenter = Steffan Messenger Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Hedgehogs have been moved up the red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation. The IUCN says the European Hedgehog is in worrying and widespread decline, and it has moved it from "least concern" to "near threatened". We ask the Mammal Society why hedgehogs are a cause for concern.

All week we're digging down into the subject of soil. Northern Ireland is running one of the most comprehensive soil nutrient sampling schemes that any country has ever undertaken. The £37 million 'Soil Nutrient Health Scheme', funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs aims to sample nearly every one of Northern Ireland's 700,000 or so fields. It's believed the results could help farmers improve their soils, better manage nutrient application and reduce nutrient loss to water bodies, not least Lough Neagh.  

Many crops have suffered with the wet weather this year. For vineyard owners, the wet has encouraged detrimental diseases and low yields. For organic wine producers, the options to combat the effects of a wet summer are minimal. We visit a vineyard where this autumn's harvest is half what it should be, because of the weather.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A rise in sea temperatures is being blamed for the death of more than a million fish on salmon farming sites. MOWI - the company that runs the sites - says increased sea temperatures in the last 2 years led to an influx of jellyfish and algae, which harmed the fish. But campaigners say having large numbers of salmon concentrated in once place is the real problem - claiming it compromises their health, making them more vulnerable when water temperatures fluctuate.

Invasive mink could be eradicated from the South East of England. Mink eat water voles - as well as other animals and birds - and projects are underway across the country to try and eradicate them. After successful efforts in Norfolk and Suffolk, The Waterlife Recovery Trust, with the help of volunteers and landowners, has laid two thousand floating "smart traps” along waterways.

And soil has been rising up the agenda in the last decade - among farmers, conservationists and politicians. Farmers in England can be paid to improve soil health and, in Northern Ireland, the government is funding country-wide soil sampling. So how much difference is it making?

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

This week we are focusing on livestock and their impact on climate change. We hear about the concerns over the number of livestock here in the UK, and find out how farmers are reducing emissions by growing cattle faster or breeding sheep to burp less.

A BBC freedom of information request has revealed that the amount of illegal meat seized by border force officials has doubled in a year.

Charlotte Smith revisits a farmer growing white maize, a staple crop in his native Zimbabwe. Eleven years since her last visit, David Mwanaka now rents a council farm near Cambridgeshire and his farm selling exotic crops is going strong.

Alpaca breeders use something called a 'spit off' or a 'spit test' to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Following an application from farmers for the emergency use of a neonicotinoid pesticide on next year's sugar beet crop the Government has told Farming Today that it will ban neonics, but that a decision on this application will be taken 'in line with legal requirements'. We understand that that means farmers may get permission this time - but not again.

We visit a Wiltshire farm, where the family who run it have spent the last 4 years changing the way they do things to reduce their carbon footprint. It's a mixed farm with dairy, beef and arable, and alongside trying to reduce the emissions from their livestock, they're also hoping to increase how much carbon they sequester by planting trees in an agroforestry project.

And the Bower family farm in Staffordshire grows crops, and vegetables and has a herd of sheep and another herd of beef cattle. But locals are far more likely to know it for the pumpkin patch and the play barn - which pull in more than 100,000 visitors every year. We head to the pumpkin patch!

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

This week we are focusing on livestock and their impact on climate change. We've heard about the concerns over the number of livestock here in the UK, and today we find out how beef farmers are reducing emissions by growing cattle faster.

An online course has been launched to raise awareness of the importance, and lack of, diversity in UK agriculture. Nuffield Farming Scholarships say farming is one of the least diverse industries in the country in terms of ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation, and one of the barriers to changing that is the lack of understanding in the sector.

The latest government figures show that 60% of farmers are over 55, with 38% over 65 and just 15% are under 45. The reality of that is highlighted by farm sales: Michael Read is 79 and has an award winning heard of Lincolnshire Red cattle, or at least he did until earlier this month when the herd was sold as none of the family wanted to take on the farm.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The RSPB says more than 1,300 protected birds of prey have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years. The Birdcrime report blames rogue gamekeepers who, it claims, are more concerned about protecting the gamebirds on their shooting estates. But the British Association for Shooting and Conservation says its members have "absolutely zero tolerance" of the illegal shooting of birds of prey.

The Green Alliance says the number of ruminant livestock in the UK needs to be reduced to reach Net Zero targets, and that farmers should be supported to change their businesses.

And the British Alpaca Society estimates there are around 45 thousand alpacas in the UK, kept for breeding and for their high quality fleece. Alpaca breeders use something called a spit-off or a spit-test to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action!

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Less than 5% of a £50 million fund promised to farmers who were hit by last winter's floods, has been paid out. The Farming Recovery Fund was set-up by the previous government to support farmers whose land had been damaged by floodwater during Storm Babet and Storm Henk. But figures revealed by a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Farmers Weekly show that, so far, just £2.1 million of it has been spent.

A selective breeding trial on a sheep farm in Shropshire is hoping to reduce methane emissions from the animals by around 35 per cent within 5 years. Lambs taking part in the experiment are put into a metal box with a window - called a Portable Accumulation Chamber - so their emissions can be measured. Animals found to produce lower levels of methane are then selected for breeding programmes - in time reducing the emissions from the flock.

The number of Seasonal Workers allowed visas to work in poultry and horticulture next year in England has been confirmed by DEFRA - 43,000 in horticulture and 2,000 for poultry. Although the announcement has been welcomed by the National Farmers Union, it's pressing for a permanent scheme which would run every year.

And the Bison introduced into a woodland in Kent as a re-wilding project have had calves. But why are rangers are collecting their dung?

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

We hear warnings from the Country Land and Business Association that changing tax rules for farms could close many down.

The RSPB says any cuts to the farming budget would put nature and climate targets at risk.

To start our week looking at greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, we speak to Professor Sir Charles Godfrey of the Oxford Martin School who says we should be producing less and better meat.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The UK is in danger of violating international agreements on restoring nature, according to The Wildlife Trusts. It says the upcoming COP 16 on biodiversity is a crucial chance for the Government to demonstrate how it will meet targets to halt and reverse the decline of nature by 2030.

As the grape harvest gets underway, we take a deep dive into a growing UK farm sector - viticulture. There are more than 10,000 acres of vines grown across the UK, and that area is expanding. Recent data shows more than 80 new vineyards opened in 2023 - bringing the total number to more than a thousand for the first time.

And where has all the organic skimmed milk gone? Our listeners wanted to know...so we found out.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

The UK is in danger of violating international agreements on restoring nature, that's according to the Wildlife Trusts. The Trusts' chief executive, Craig Bennet, tells us next week's COP 16 on biodiversity is a crucial chance for the Government to demonstrate how it will meet targets.

Tom Heap explores the microscopic world of microbes, including an experiment to improve the resilience of wheat.

Viticulture is one of the fastest growing parts of agriculture here in the UK. Recent data shows that more than 80 new vineyards opened in 2023, bringing the total number to over a thousand for the first time. But many rely on tourism to make them financially stable, and the industry body Wine GB estimates there were over 1.5 million visits to vineyards and wineries last year.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton

The government has announced that Defra should be a 'key economic growth department' and has ordered a review into its regulations and regulators. That's been welcomed by some, like the Country Land and Business Association, which says ministers need 'a laser like focus on identifying and removing the barriers to economic growth in the countryside'. The National Farmers' Union told us it wants a 'proportionate and predictable' regulatory environment for farmers. But others are more wary: campaigners have described the move as 'dispiriting', fearing that it could mean less regulation to stimulate economic growth at the cost of environmental protections. The internal review will be led by an economist, Dan Corry, who was head of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Gordon Brown.

The size of England's beef herd has continued its fall. It's come down by 5% in the last year and now stands at 595000. In the ten years before that, the number of cattle bred for meat fell by 13%. The National Beef Association is calling on the Government to introduce new payments to farmers to halt what it calls an alarming trend.

UK winemakers' harvest is underway. It too has fallen victim to the weather which has made the cereal harvest in England one of the worst since the 1980s. For grapes, the wet cold weather prevented or delayed pollination, with some yields are down 90%.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Bluetongue disease continues to affect livestock across England, and into Wales. The virus, which can be fatal to sheep, is transmitted by biting midges, which breed in warm temperatures. Over the last few weeks, DEFRA has increased the areas where animal movements are restricted. We speak to a breeder in Suffolk whose pedigree flock is under lockdown because of the restrictions. He's been unable to sell his rams at market and has criticised the government for not tackling the disease sooner. He feels he should be compensated. Defra says it's taking prompt action to mitigate the spread of the disease.

All week we're discussing wine, and in England, sparkling white wine has been going from strength to strength. That's attracted interest and investment from one of the world’s best known Champagne houses. Taittinger has opened a vineyard near Canterbury in Kent and will soon be bottling its first wine from there.

Listeners have told us they can't get hold of semi skimmed organic milk in the supermarket. We speak to a dairy consultant to find out why.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

New energy infrastructure projects like solar and wind farms don't always go down well with local communities. But what if people living nearby got cheaper energy bills or even owned shares in the development? When asked about new energy infrastructure last month, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said he wants to "do deals with local people so they can see a benefit for their community". We find out how that could work for rural people.

We visit Chapel Down on the North Downs in Kent. It's England’s largest wine maker and still has ambitious plans for expansion, including planting more than 100 acres of new vines.

More than 30 organisations have written to the Government to say the current system of farm payments is encouraging some farmers to tear up fields of permanent pasture, which could be managed to become species-rich meadows.

And how do you harvest walnuts? We go along and take a look.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

The 2024 wheat harvest is the second worst since records began in 1983, according to DEFRA. That won't be much of a surprise to famers across the country who have battled wet weather which has destroyed some crops and disrupted planting plans and harvest. What will it mean for farm businesses and consumers?

We visit a trial in Cornwall which is testing if twine made from sisal could be an an eco-friendly alternative to wrapping bales of hay and straw in plastic netting. Sisal twine is made from plants and was traditionally used by farmers until it was replaced by plastic. 

And vineyards are preparing to start harvesting their grapes at this time of year. We get a snapshot of this growing sector.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

Proposals for abattoirs to take on more of the cost of vets and meat inspectors are 'excessive and dangerous' according to the meat industry. The Association of Independent Meat suppliers or AIMS which represents both big and small slaughterhouses, says the Food Standards Agency's plan to remove or reduce the discount offered to smaller abattoirs risks 'single-handedly destroying the foundations of the British meat industry. The FSA have urged people to take part in their consultation.

Farmers are getting the highest price for their beef animals in England and Wales, for ten years. Part of the reason, according to Meat Promotion Wales, is growing domestic demand. We speak to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Some Welsh farmers claim they're having to choose between the risk of polluting rivers or breaking the law, ahead of a controversial muck-spreading ban. New rules forbid slurry spreading across Wales from mid October to January, in an effort to protect water quality.

After a record breaking year of rainfall across many parts of the UK water management has become an ever pressing issue for farmers. In Wales, it's a year since the launch of the Welsh Government's Natural Flood Management Accelerator programme. We visit a natural flood management project that's part of the two-year £4.6 million pound programme.

Conservationists in Devon are working with Natural England to see whether there could be some kind of financial support for farmers who make space for beavers on their land as part of natural flood management.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The government has published its Employment Rights Bill - so what will it mean for farmers and the staff who work for them? Its key proposals include protection against unfair dismissal from day one, flexible working, improved rights for sick pay, bereavement and parental leave, and a move to regulate zero hours contracts. Most of the planned changes won’t take effect until 2026 and there’ll be a period of consultation between now and then.

Conservationists have long argued that the reintroduction of beavers can help reduce the risk of flooding - the dams they build slow the flow of water in rivers, holding it back from built-up areas further downstream. Well, beavers have been living wild on the River Otter in East Devon for at least 16 years, but last year, there was significant flooding in the area.

And some Welsh farmers have claimed they are having to choose between the risk of polluting rivers or breaking the law, ahead of a controversial muck-spreading ban. New rules forbid slurry spreading across Wales from mid October to January, in an effort to protect water quality. NFU Cymru says there is "enormous concern" after wet conditions have hampered efforts to empty slurry stores ahead of the deadline. But the organisation representing Welsh rivers' trusts say farmers have had years to prepare for the changes.

Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

How best to stop the spread of a tiny beetle that could have a huge impact on the future health and profits of UK forestry? From the end of this month all new planting of spruce, with a handful of exceptions, will be banned across much of the south east of England. The restrictions form part of the Government's plans to control the bark beetle, a pest which has caused significant damage to forests across Europe. It was first found in the UK in 2018, this latest measure is a new addition to current rules restricting the felling and movement of spruce trees, their bark and their wood.

Environmental groups say the Scottish Government is failing the nation’s marine environment by leaving large areas of the seabed unprotected. It’s ten years since the introduction of Marine Protected Areas, but restrictions have still not been fully implemented.

We're talking about how we manage water in the landscape all this week, so we’ve been to see how re-wiggling a river works on a restored floodplain in Wiltshire.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

We cannot achieve food security or climate stability without restoring nature according to a new report from Natural England, which outlines the value of the natural world to our society and our economy. The State of Natural Capital Report says the wildlife and countryside in England should be seen as a 'National Wealth Service' - an economic asset which is vital to national prosperity. It puts a figure on the value of some natural services - for instance it claims pollination is worth around 500 million pounds to agriculture.

Thames Water wants to build a new reservoir near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, which could hold 150 billion litres of water! It would cover 4 and half square miles and the company says it would secure future water supply for 15 million people across the South East. But local campaigners say Thames Water should focus on reducing water leakage, before building it. We hear from one farmer facing a compulsory purchase order of some of their land if the plans are approved.

And farmers are getting the highest price for their beef animals in England and Wales, for ten years. Part of the reason, according to Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru), is growing domestic demand.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

More than a million pounds is being given by the Government to the Food Standards Agency, to decide what needs to be put in place to ensure new, "cell-cultivated" foodstuffs will be safe to eat. We hear from the FSA's Chief Scientific Advisor.

The long-running case about whether the public can 'wild camp' on Dartmoor, will be heard in the Supreme Court, where a final determination will be made. The dispute is between Dartmoor National Park and landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall, who own Stall Moor common on south-west Dartmoor.

It's one year since the launch of the Welsh Government's Natural Flood Management Accelerator programme - a 2-year, £4.6 million investment in nature-based solutions to reduce flooding. We visit one of the 23 projects.

And people living in a small coastal community near Robin's Hood Bay in North Yorkshire say they fear being cut off this winter, after a landslip caused the closure of the only road in and out of their village. It's not yet known when the road will be fixed. In the meantime the council has set up an alternative route - a 12 mile diversion via a former railway line - but, locals say it's unsuitable and potentially unsafe during the winter months.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Plans to get abattoirs to take on more of the cost of vets and meat inspectors are "excessive and dangerous" according to the meat industry. The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, (AIMS) which represents both big and small slaughterhouses, says the Food Standards Agency's proposal to remove or reduce the discount offered to smaller abattoirs risks "single handedly destroying the foundations of the British meat industry".' The FSA, which covers England, Northern Ireland and Wales, has issued a "call for evidence" on the proposed changes, saying that the costs of providing inspectors and official vets have increased and that needs to be passed onto businesses.

All week we're going to look at water management. After a year that has seen storms and vast amounts of flooding, how we respond to weather events in future as the climate changes is a hot topic. We speak to one of the scientists leading a new, government funded research project. Using cutting edge technology the new Flood and Drought Research Infrastructure will measure flooding and droughts to create models that will allow us to predict them, and to find out how we might be able to reduce their impact in the future.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Poultry keepers say they can't access government websites to register their birds. From 1st October anyone who keeps birds has to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, to help with monitoring bird flu outbreaks, even those with just one or two chickens. Failure to comply could mean a fine of £2,500. However bird owners who've tried to register say the system is not working. Defra says it's had a high number of applications and is working at pace to process them.

Dairy farmers are finding it a 'real struggle' to recruit new staff, according to industry experts, The farmer-owned dairy coop Arla spoke to nearly 500 UK dairy farmers and just under 90% of them said they had advertised jobs and had few or no applicants at all. So what’s holding young people back from a life working with dairy cows in a career that can also involve robotics, veterinary science and data analysis to mention just a few of the skills involved in modern milk production?

The UK is 97% self-sufficient in carrots, according to the British Carrot Association, but poor weather over the last year has meant supermarket shelves stocked with bags of carrots imported from China, Israel and other countries. Is that a trend that’s likely to continue?

We’ve been talking about deer all this week, their impact on the environment and how to manage their growing population.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Poultry keepers say they can't access government websites to register their birds. From 1st October anyone who keeps birds has to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, to help with monitoring bird flu outbreaks, even those with just one or two chickens. Failure to comply could mean a fine of £2,500. However bird owners who've tried to register say the system is not working. Defra says it's had a high number of applications and is working at pace to process them. It says it will be improving its technology to make it more effective for people to register.

Fishermen in the South West of England say they are "beyond frustrated" by proposals to expand offshore wind farm sites off the coast of Devon and Cornwall. The Crown Estate's latest plan includes thousands of square miles off Land's End and the Isles of Scilly, currently prime fishing grounds, and an expanded zone off north Devon. Fishermen claim they - and other EU boats - will be squeezed into ever more pressurised fishing grounds. Meanwhile, those in favour of an expansion of offshore wind are wondering why it's taking so long to get anything off the ground.

All week we've been talking about deer, just like cattle, wild deer are susceptible to tuberculosis, and there’s concern that they could transmit the disease to other wild deer, and cattle. In the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, a group of farmers, land owners, vets and deer-stalkers are one year into a project, looking into this. They’re monitoring the prevalence of TB in wild deer through drone surveys and blood tests, and giving hands-on training on how to spot TB in deer carcasses.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Dairy farmers are finding it a real struggle to recruit new staff, according to the farmer-owned dairy coop Arla. They spoke to nearly 500 UK dairy farmers and just under 90% of them said they had advertised jobs and had few or no applicants at all. So what’s holding young people back from a life working with dairy cows in a career that can also involve robotics, veterinary science and data analysis to mention just a few of the skills involved in modern milk production?

The UK is 97% self-sufficient in carrots, according to the British Carrot Association, but poor weather over the last year has meant supermarket shelves stocked with bags of carrots imported from China, Israel and other countries. Is that a trend that’s likely to continue?

We’re talking about deer all this week, their impact on the environment and how to manage their growing population. Trees and woodlands are a key tool for combating climate change, improving biodiversity, building flood resilience and increasing the UK’s supply of homegrown timber. But rising numbers of deer make planting more trees, and maintaining existing woodlands, a challenge because deer both graze on them and cause damage with their antlers.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

There's been more flooding across the country. Last winter saw the wettest period since records began in the 1830s and government figures show that more than a third of river catchments in England have reported either the wettest, or second wettest September to August period since 1871. We catch up with two farmers whose farms are flooded and the NFU about the government's new flood resilience taskforce and what it needs to do to make a difference.

It's party conference season and we've been catching up with the main political parties and their plans for rural England - agriculture is of course a devolved issue. We've heard from the Lib Dems' Tim Farron and the Secretary of State for the Environment in the new Labour Government Steve Reed. Now we hear from the other Steve, the Conservative's Steve Barclay who until the election had the job he now shadows.

All week we're talking about deer. We've already heard there are too many wild deer in the UK, and that they need culling. However deer are also farmed and producers say they are seeing good demand as the market increases. We visit a venison farm in Oxfordshire.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

From 1 October, all owners of poultry in England and Wales, must be registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, even if it's just one hen in the back garden. This can be done online, through the DEFRA website. The aim is to be able to track all kept birds, in the event of more bird flu outbreaks. The new rule also applies to pet birds such as budgies, cockatiels, parrots and finches, if they are given access to the open air. All birds either kept outdoors, or taken outdoors, must be registered. Failure to do so could result in a fine of £2,500. However some owners say it’s unfair that they have to comply in the same way as poultry farms which house almost a million birds.

Waitrose says the orchard and vineyard on its Leckford farming estate in Hampshire is now certified as regenerative, as defined by an American certification scheme called 'Regenified'. Currently around 1.8 million acres are signed up to the scheme, most of it in the USA but 32 UK farms are signed up with the company. We speak to the American founders of the company and find out why Waitrose has signed up to it.

All week we're taking stock of deer. They may look wonderful in the wild, but in large numbers they can damage woodland and crops. In England and Wales there is no national strategy for managing herds, but the Scottish Government is encouraging land managers to shoot deer in a controlled way, to keep numbers down. So far it’s just a pilot scheme, run in three areas. If it’s a success it could be rolled out across Scotland, but there are already questions over whether the extra venison can be handled.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

This programme has been edited since broadcast.

We’ve been reporting over the last couple of weeks about a £358m underspend over the last three years from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' £2.4 billion agriculture annual budget for England. Now, former DEFRA director and author of the National Food Strategy, Henry Dimbleby says it’s critical that this money isn’t lost from the farming budget.

He also tells us what he wants to see in the government's new Environmental Land Management schemes, especially for upland farmers. Some upland farmers who’ve spent years in what are called Higher Level Stewardship agreements, which pay for farming in a way that benefits the environment and wildlife, say there is nothing they can apply for under ELMs at the moment. We hear from one farmer in the Lake District about his frustrations with the new schemes.

Increases in offshore wind means in turn that the electricity generated has to brought inland, often requiring new infrastructure. Miles of underground cabling is being channelled through the countryside, with some farmers having little choice about whether it goes across their land.

The weather over the last year has had a huge impact on food producers across the UK. With the apple harvest underway, we speak to a cider apple producer who says he's lost trees because of waterlogged orchards.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Jo Peacey.

We’ve been reporting over the last couple of weeks about a £358m underspend over the last three years from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' £2.4 billion agriculture annual budget for England. Farmers are furious at the scale of this underspend and there are concerns that the money will be lost for good in cuts in this autumn’s government spending review. Now a former Defra director says it’s critical that this money isn’t lost from the farming budget. Henry Dimbleby was Defra’s lead non-executive board member for five years up until spring last year when he resigned over what he said was the then Government’s failure to tackle obesity, something he’d highlighted as a priority in his independent National Food Strategy, commissioned by the Government.

An animal welfare charity says it's filmed tonnes of dead and dying salmon being removed from a fish farm just hours before Members of the Scottish Parliament visited the site for a fact finding mission. Holyrood's Rural Affairs committee visited Dunstaffnage fish farm near Oban on Monday as part of their inquiry into whether the industry's made progress in tackling significant environmental concerns. The campaign group Animal Equality has accused the industry of trying to cover up the fish deaths, but Scottish Sea Farms who own the farm, says the workers were carrying out routine clearance of the pens.

The need for clean energy has led to a large increase in offshore wind farms and electricity generated in them has to be brought inland. That means hundreds of miles of underground cabling is being channelled through the countryside with some farmers having little choice about whether they go across their land.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

As the first doses of bluetongue vaccine arrive in the UK, affected farms are to be surveyed about the impact of this latest outbreak.

Unexploded Second World War bombs are one of the hazards for those aiming to restore a Welsh bog, Crymlyn bog sits alongside some major parts of Swansea's industrial heritage - an area targeted by the Luftwaffe.

Farmers have been asked to comment on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework for England. The consultation closed this week - with the new Labour government promising a major overhaul in order to deliver more housing, infrastructure and green energy.

Presented by Steffan Messenger

Produced by Alun Beach

All week we’re looking at planning and the countryside. The government has announced plans for "brownfield passports", to fast track house building on brownfield sites. The countryside charity, CPRE, has welcomed the proposals to make brownfield sites the first choice for building new homes. It says we could build most of the homes we need on such sites and says this could be in rural areas, as well as urban ones.

Green belt land was originally designed to protect the countryside from urban sprawl but some parts of it have been developed, and they are now considered ‘grey belt’ land. There’s a general acceptance that some of this land will have to be built on - providing space for some of the new 1.5 million homes the government's pledged to build over the next parliament. We look at two council areas - one where thousands of new homes have been built in the countryside, another which is creating 1000s of hectares of new green belt.

2024 is the year when payments to farmers in England, from the old EU Basic Payment Scheme, or BPS, really start to go down. They will be phased out completely by 2027. For instance, a farmer who used to receive £50,000 under the pre-Brexit scheme, will this year receive £26,000. Instead farmers can now sign up to a new agri-environment scheme: the Sustainable Farming Incentive, or SFI. It has more than a hundred actions for which farmers are paid. They’re designed to improve nature habitats, lessen flooding, improve soil health and provide cleaner water courses, and more. We visit a field event which helps farmers navigate their way through the new schemes.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Labour Party conference is underway in Liverpool. Last week we heard from the Liberal Democrats and next week we'll report on the Conservative Party conference. Agriculture is a devolved issue, so the budget and how it's spent is up to governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed spoke at the Labour conference. He told us a land use framework will be published before Christmas, but details of funding for farmers will have to waiting until the chancellor's autumn budget.

All week we're hearing how plans for new infrastructure are affecting farmers and their land. A row over whether farm land in North Yorkshire should be turned into a solar farm is going before a public inquiry. The tenant farmers at Eden Farm, Old Malton say a solar farm would make their business unviable. The developer says it’s listened to feedback, and reduced the solar farm’s size by a third.

The number of cases of bluetongue disease in cattle and sheep has risen to 97. As a result the restriction zone has been redrawn and now covers all Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, all Greater London, Surrey and West Sussex. Previous restrictions in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and East Yorkshire remain in place.

Apple growers tell us how the weather this year's affected them. One cider producer in Somerset says he's lost trees because of waterlogged orchards and the yield is way down.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmers in the Lake District have lost an estimated 10 million pounds in funding, in a year - and some are now under severe financial pressure. So says the National Farmers Union, which claims there are limited opportunities for upland farmers to tap into the Government's new ELMS - Environmental Land Management schemes - which are replacing the old EU system of farmer support in England. We visit one farmer who says he's been left in limbo.

The new Government wants to build more one and a half million homes over the next 5 years as well as developing more solar farms, wind turbines and the pylons to transport the energy. For some, all that equals the industrialisation of the countryside and a threat to food security. But the Energy and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, pledged to take on what he called 'the blockers, the delayers, the obstructionists'. This week on Farming Today, we look at the changing rules around planning and what that means for people who live and work in the countryside.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

Radical changes to food safety are being proposed. The Food Standards Agency is discussing removing responsibility from cash strapped councils and relying instead on data collected by food companies and supermarkets. Chris Elliott, professor of food safety at Queen’s University Belfast and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says more work and more consultation is needed.

As the Met Office predicts another autumn and winter of destructive floods, a number of flood defences in England damaged during last winter's storms are still yet to be fixed. And the National Farmers' Union has warned that many farms still in dire need of flood support.

It's been 20 years since fox hunting was banned by Tony Blair’s government. Since then trail or drag hunting are two different ways of hunting without doing anything illegal. In drag hunting the hounds follow a non-animal scent laid by a drag pulled on a string, in trail hunting they follow an animal scent. Critics say trail hunting can be used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting and in its election manifesto Labour said it would ban trail hunting.

Picking blackberries from the hedgerows, along with the wild damson and sloes, is one of those end of summer outings, marking the seasonal shift. September is also the biggest month for selling commercially grown blackberries. Growers say new varieties mean they're bigger and better and while sales are up about 6% year on year, they're nowhere near as popular here in the UK as raspberries. Is it worth buying blackberries, at £2 or more a punnet, when you can pick them for free?

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A new report is calling for more investment in rural areas. The Rural Coalition says the English countryside has the potential to generate billions, but chronic underinvestment is costing jobs and money. Meanwhile, the Government is promising a "devolution revolution", with new mayors soon to be elected in Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. So will that help when it comes to rural investment?

Rural homelessness is often a hidden problem and it can be hard to find help and support. We visit a working farm in Somerset where the dairy house has been converted into a hostel for homeless people, who are also given the chance to learn rural skills.

And storks died out in the UK 600 years ago. But after a re-introduction project on the Knepp Estate in Sussex in 2016, migrating birds are now returning to the country to breed.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

Radical changes to food safety are being proposed. The Food Standards Agency is discussing removing responsibility from cash strapped councils and relying instead on data collected by food companies and supermarkets. Under plans discussed yesterday by its board the FSA would take direct control of things like hygiene and food standards for large companies, leaving local authority inspectors to concentrate on smaller businesses. It has piloted the idea, working with five retailers and says the system is 'suitably robust and proportionate' and gives more information on compliance than the current approach. Chris Elliott, professor of food safety at Queen’s University Belfast and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says more work and more consultation is needed.

Technology should be used to combat food crime; the call comes from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers and follows a report from the Food Standards Agency which highlighted 'new opportunities' for criminals.

The number of curlews has dropped by more than half since 1995 and the bird is high on the Red List of endangered species. We hear how the farming community in North Wales is getting involved in conservation.

How a charity which takes young carers farming and camping on Dartmoor is giving them a rare opportunity to get away from their responsibilities and out into the countryside.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

It is 20 years since fox hunting was banned by Tony Blair’s Government. Since then, those who enjoyed the sport have adapted to trail hunting instead. That is where a trail is laid across countryside for hounds and horse riders to follow. There is no kill at the end. However animal rights campaigners say trail hunting is a smokescreen for real hunting and Labour said it would ban trail hunting in its manifesto. The public were invited to attend trail hunts around the country to see how it works. We hear from people on both sides of the debate.

Autumn is the natural peak-time for blackberries and picking them from the hedgerows, is one of those end of summer family outings, marking a seasonal shift. Farmers are also growing blackberries now - they're very different from the wild variety - huge, tasty, but obviously, not free. So is it worth buying blackberries? We speak to one grower.

A conservation and farming charity, the Countryside Regeneration Trust is calling on the government to re-assess its advice about providing habitat for endangered lapwings. At the moment farmers get paid to help lapwings nest by making clear squares in the middle of cereal crops, but the CRT believe that’s not helping numbers increase, because the surrounding habitat doesn’t provide enough food for the birds.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

It's party conference season and Farming Today will be covering the three main conferences. This week, the Liberal Democrats meet in Brighton. Their relative success in the recent General Election has given them a boost, and many of their new constituencies gained this summer are in rural areas. The big question is budget. Before the election the Liberal Democrats promised £1 billion a year more, for the Environmental Land Management Scheme which replaces old EU payments in England. Different changes are being made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since the election, it's emerged the Conservative government underspent its DEFRA budget by £358m in the previous parliament. We speak to the environment food and rural affairs spokesperson for the Lib Dems, Tim Farron.

All week we're taking stock of birdlife on farms. The RSPB says farmland bird numbers are still declining for some species, and more needs to be done to improve numbers through habitat creation, and changing farming methods. On the Lowther Estate, near Penrith, in Cumbria, recent changes in grazing, tree planting, even the introduction of beavers to help with wetland creation, are already having positive repercussions on both the range and number of birds choosing to nest and breed there.

The UK has an estimated three million hectares of peatland, both upland and lowland, but it's believed about 80 percent of that is in poor condition. A new report from the International Union for the Convention of Nature shows progress has been made on restoring UK peatlands over the last thirty years but its Peatland Programme also reports that it's unlikely to meet the target to restore two million hectares by 2040.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Britain’s declining wild bird populations will only recover if more farmland is set aside for conservation, says the RSPB.

A legal challenge to a new forest on a vast moorland in the Scottish Borders has forced its owners to stop planting.

As the Met Office predicts another autumn and winter of destructive floods, a number of flood defences in England damaged during last winter's storms are yet to be fixed.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

DEFRA has confirmed there has been a £358 million underspend of the agricultural budget over the last three years. It follows unconfirmed reports in the press that the new Government plans to cut the future budget by £100m a year. So what would that mean for farming businesses and the environment?

We visit the 225th Westmorland County Show to see the livestock on show, talk politics with young farmers and enjoy tasters in the Food Hall.

The UK fishing industry is renewing its calls for the Government to develop a Fishing Strategy. The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations says with plans in place on off shore energy and marine conservation, fishing is falling through the cracks. Meanwhile conservationists say the quota system is allowing overfishing of some UK stocks, and fishing gear needs to change to prevent unwanted bycatch.

And we meet the new Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee - the group of MPs who scrutinise the Government's decisions around food, farming and environmental policy.

Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

More than 50 minke whales and basking sharks get tangled up in fishing gear around the Scottish coast each year. We hear about efforts to stop it from happening.

The fishing industry wants the Government to negotiate a better deal for fishing for cod in Norwegian waters.

With energy prices rising this Autumn, the ability to generate your own power is increasingly attractive to farmers. Growing crops like miscanthus or willow to harvest and burn to produce your own on-farm electricity is one way of doing it.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Small livestock farms are most at threat from cuts to the agriculture budget yet are in areas of the country that we most need to invest in, for nature, climate and public access; that’s according to environmental thinktank the Green Alliance.

Caz Graham visits the Westmorland County Show, just outside Kendal in Cumbria, to discuss sheep, cheese and politics.

Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The health of the fishing industry relies directly on the number of fish in the sea, and the balance between conserving fish stocks, while also catching enough to make a living, is in constant tension. The Blue Marine Foundation charity has launched legal proceedings over the previous Government's decision to set fishing levels on multiple UK stocks above the level suggested by scientific advice. DEFRA says catch limits have been set in line with obligations under the Fisheries Act 2020 and the Joint Fisheries Statement.

The practice of fishing by trawling the sea bed has come in for criticism from conservationists, because of the disturbance and destruction it can cause. The latest report by ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, points out that bottom trawling is one of the major causes of environmental damage to the seabed. We visit a Government-funded trial underway in Brixham, where a new type pf fishing gear is being tested, which it’s hoped will have less impact.

And poor health experienced by many fishermen could be contributing to a decline in numbers working in the industry. That's according to charities and organisations that work with them. Last year, there was an 8% drop in the number of active fishermen in Scotland - part of a steady decline over the last decade.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Waterlogged fields, wet crops, delays and lower yields - the reality of harvest 2024 for many UK farmers. It's been a really difficult year. This winter, rainfall was 60% above average in England, and that came after the wettest 18 months since records began in the 1830's. That hit the sowing of both winter and spring crops. The summer has been the coolest since 2015 - according to the Met Office - which has meant a delayed harvest and extra costs to dry the crop.

We visit a new fish freezing centre that's been opened in Redruth by the company Falfish. It hopes the site will enable it to grow its business and support local sardine fishermen.

And we hear from the new Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - the group of MPs which scrutinises environment and agriculture policy. Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, who has represented Orkney and Shetland for 23 years, says the committee's To Do list is "substantial".

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

The UK fishing industry is renewing calls for the Government to develop a Fishing Strategy - the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations says with strategies for energy and conservation impacting on fishing areas, a strategic approach is needed. There are just under 5,000 fishing vessels registered in the UK - ten years ago there were nearly 6 and a half thousand.

One of the largest surviving populations of elm trees in the UK is under threat - experts say its increasingly difficult to protect the trees on the East Sussex coast as the climate changes. Elm trees were once a familiar sight across the landscape in the UK, but in millions were lost to Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s.

And Dartmoor National Park has launched a charity to raise money. The Dartmoor Foundation will be run by an independent group of trustees and will be able to raise money from individuals and companies.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

The Government plans to cut the budget for nature friendly farming in England by £100m, according to a report in the Guardian. It claims that civil service sources say the cut is needed to help fill a £22 billion treasury shortfall. The reduced spending could affect the new Sustainable Farming Incentive which replaces the old EU system, paying farmers for environmental benefits produced on their land. Nature and farming groups have reacted with consternation. We ask how significant would a cut of £100m be.

All this week we are looking at how land use is changing, as public and private investment is brought in to fund environmental schemes. With increasing green finance opportunities, more and more companies are stepping in to broker deals between farmers and investors. Natergall's business model is to deliver ecological restoration on its own land and that of others, and to commercialise the results.

Rural areas across England are in danger of becoming 'pharmacy deserts', as medicine providers across the country continue to consolidate and close smaller branches. That's according to the National Pharmacy Association, which has published a study showing that over the last two years, nearly nine in ten council areas in England have lost pharmacies. It found that rural areas often rely on fewer providers, so are harder hit by closures.

A new report has revealed that part of the seabed off Devon which had been trashed by years of trawling and dredging is being revitalised. Research by the University of Plymouth shows that within just 10 years the former shellfish reef has been transformed.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The government has agreed to the use of 3 vaccines within the UK - subject to licence - to try and stop the spread of bluetongue. It follows of confirmation of the infection on a new premises in Yorkshire. Bluetongue is a virus carried by biting midges blown into the UK from northern Europe - it’s currently widespread in the Netherlands. It is unpleasant for animals that contract it and can result in death. We get the latest from the UK's Chief Vet.

We visit a temperate rainforest in West Wales, where the trees are thick with ferns, lichens and mosses. The expansion of the forest is being funded by an insurance company - so what part should corporate money play in the future of conservation?

And if you were looking for a perfect place to grow fruit and veg, the West Highlands of Scotland might not be the first place that springs to mind. But we meet a group of food producers in the Lochaber area, who work together to sell their produce online, and say they’re showing that it is possible to grow an impressive variety of fruit and vegetables in the area, despite poor soil, hilly terrain and a wet and windy climate. Their secret? Composting!

Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

The Government plans to cut the budget for nature friendly farming in England by £100m, according to a report in the Guardian. It claims that civil service sources say the cut is needed to help fill a £22 billion treasury shortfall. The reduced spending could affect the new Sustainable Farming Incentive which replaces the old EU system, paying farmers for environmental benefits produced on their land. Nature and farming groups have reacted with consternation. We ask how significant would a cut of £100m be.

All this week we are looking at how land use is changing, as public and private investment is brought in to fund environmental schemes.  With increasing green finance opportunities, more and more companies are stepping in to broker deals between farmers and investors. Natergall's business model is to deliver ecological restoration on its own land and that of others, and to commercialise the results.

It's that time of the year when tractors are out along countryside roads, cutting back the hedges. Hedge specialists are calling for farmers to cut their hedges less frequently to benefit wildlife.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Less than a third of Northern Ireland's surface waterways are in good ecological condition, and targets to improve them by 2027 are likely to be missed. That's the conclusion of a damning report by the Office for Environmental Protection, which criticises lack of leadership at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. The report says that despite a draft plan to manage waterways being drawn up back in 2021, it still hasn't been finalised, let alone implemented.

We visit one of the farms that's joined the Environmental Farmers Group, which was set up back in 2022 to bring large groups of farmers together in co-operatives, to bid for public and private finance to fund environmental projects across large areas. Nearly six hundred farmers across England have joined so far.

And the future of the potato industry in the UK faces many challenges. The crop is expensive to grow, especially as the weather becomes more volatile. It also needs clean land, so a gap of about six years is needed between crops, to avoid the spread of disease. We hear about the latest technological solutions to some of these issues as they go on show at an event in Lincolnshire. Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Rural areas across England are in danger of becoming 'pharmacy deserts', as medicine providers across the country continue to consolidate and close smaller branches. That's according to the National Pharmacy Association, which has published a study showing that over the last two years, nearly nine in ten council areas in England have lost pharmacies. It found that rural areas often rely on fewer providers, so are harder hit by closures.

We visit a farm in Essex which has signed up to a 32 year Biodiversity Net Gain agreement. Under BNG rules, the environmental impact caused by new developments has to be offset by creating equivalent nature enhancements, either around the site, or elsewhere. A one hectare plot at Spain’s Hall Estate will now be taken out of food production and managed for nature to compensate for the construction of a new battery storage facility elsewhere in the district, with the work funded by the electricity company.

And the waste campaign group WRAP estimates that 9% of the UK strawberry crop is thrown out every year. We visit a farm in Hampshire where they've invested £2million pounds in a freeze-drying facility to turn strawberries that don't meet supermarket grades into a snack product.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Scientists have made a major breakthrough which could save the Scottish potato industry from collapse.  They've identified varieties which are both palatable to consumers and resistant to a pest which is spreading across the country.

A new report has revealed that part of the seabed off Devon which had been trashed by years of trawling and dredging is being revitalised. Research by the University of Plymouth shows that within just 10 years the former shellfish reef has been transformed.

All this week on Farming Today we're looking at 'green finance', getting money to pay for things which improve nature or reduce harmful emissions. Today we hear from Dr Ben Caldecott, director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group, who says the challenge is to work out which schemes offer value for money.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The government unveils its new approach to controlling TB in cattle which includes ending badger culls in the future.

Thousands of farmers who were promised financial help after the devastating floods of last winter have still not been paid.

This year’s harvest has been anything but straightforward, not just wet weather but high fertiliser costs and infection from fungus have all caused difficulties. Which means many arable farmers are facing poorer yields than normal and so less financial reward.

The number of cattle being raised for beef across the UK is falling, so could it mean a good future for artificial protein sources?

And it looks like a blueberry but isn't, it's a saskatoon, a new fruit grown in Scotland.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

Four cases of bluetongue have now been confirmed in sheep on farms in Norfolk and Suffolk. The virus, which is spread by biting midges blown into the UK from northern Europe, is currently widespread in the Netherlands with further cases in Germany and Belgium. As well as sheep, it affects cattle, goats, deer and camelids but not humans, nor does it pose any risk to the food chain.

Harvest is in full swing for many farmers and we’ve been seeing how it’s going all week. In Cornwall on the Tregothnan Estate they're harvesting tea with a solar-powered robotic tea picker.

Oilseed rape can be high risk: pests like cabbage stem flea beetle can wipe out a crop, and some pesticides which growers once relied on are now banned. We hear from a farmer in the Cotswolds who, in spite of the challenges, has created a booming business selling cold pressed rapeseed oil as a British alternative to imported oils.

We announce our Farming Today finalists in the 2024 BBC Food & Farming Awards.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

An interview with the global rock star and animal welfare campaigner Sir Brian May who is presenting a programme on BBC 2 about Bovine TB and badgers: ‘Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me’.

Car y Mor is a community owned seaweed and shellfish business, which is providing year round work in an area where most jobs are seasonal.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

Ministers in the Holyrood Parliament are being urged to introduce legislation which sets legally binding targets to protect and restore Scotland's nature.

A new variety of fruit the saskatoon, a small purple-blue coloured berry that is native to Canada, has been hailed as a super-berry. It is high in antioxidants, fibre and Vitamin C as well as low in sugar, and now is grown in Scotland.

Growers have just two and a half hours to get their peas from the field to the freezer to stop them from losing quality, so the frozen peas in the shops have been bagged at peak freshness.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

Beef production across the UK is down, but the demand is steady or rising. Should farmers be worried about imports taking over their market?

And what about alternative forms of protein, such as artificial meat? Research into this and other possibilities has been given a boost by the establishment of a new research group, costing £38 million.

And riding along in a combine harvester as it takes in this year’s crop of oilseed rape.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

Farmers flooded earlier in the year are still waiting eight months on for government grants they have claimed to clear up.

It’s a challenging harvest for farmers across the country because of the wet weather, and yields are down.

The National Farmers Union says as many as half of farmers have been affected by fly-tipping, which is a blight on the countryside and can cost farmers a lot of money to clear up.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

Northern Ireland's 'Mama Hen'

Thirteen years ago, Barbara Mladek gave up her full time job as a bank executive to run a hen rescue centre in Northern Ireland. She says it is now her life's mission to rescue and re-home as many battery hens as she can. She is so obsessed with hens, that she has changed her own name by deed poll to 'Mama Hen'.

Barbara also rescues abandoned hens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Her centre is run as a charity and relies entirely on donations. Over the years, she and a small number of volunteers have rescued thouands of hens from slaughter. She opposes battery hen production but has developed a working relationship with several Northern Irish poultry producers to 'rescue' some of their hens when their egg laying value comes to an end.

She knows that the hens she saves are only a tiny proportion of the commercial flocks reared in Northern Ireland's flourishing poultry business. But she says saving even one hen is worth it. It's a seven day a week round the clock commitment, but Barbara says she has no regrets about swapping office life and a guaranteed salary for the fulfillment she has looking after the birds.

Produced and presented by Kathleen Karragher

Businesses that import meat could have to pay up to six times more than they were expecting to get each lorry through border checks; that’s according to the British Meat Processors Association. Since April businesses that import through Dover and the Eurotunnel through Folkestone have been paying what’s called a Common User Charge.

Bracken is a large and very prolific fern, and it can be a big problem for farmers, particularly in the uplands. It eats into grazing land, it harbours ticks and it’s difficult to control, especially since last autumn when Asulox, the only herbicide used to kill it, became permanently withdrawn from the UK and Europe. The Innovative Farmers Network has just started trialling non-chemical approaches to bracken control, one of which involves using cattle to trample it.

Curlew are an iconic and beautiful bird of moorland and wetland areas, but curlew numbers have diminished significantly over the last few decades, placing them firmly on the RSPB’s red list. A project in Wales, funded by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, is using drones to locate nests which can then be protected.

All week on Farming Today we've been visiting rural communities all around the UK's coastline and finding out how they're meeting the challenges they face. Sarah Swadling has been to the Devon village of Beer to find out how they're keeping the community and tourism vibrant.

60 years ago, the first ever BBC Radio 4's On Your Farm programme aired, as an early morning outside broadcast from a family farm in Rutland. To mark the programme’s diamond anniversary, Vernon Harwood has visited that same farm to discover what’s changed over the past six decades.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Businesses that import meat, both fresh and processed, could have to pay up to six times more than they were expecting to get each lorry through border checks, according to the British Meat Processors Association.

Bracken is a large and very prolific fern, and it can be a big problem for farmers, particularly in the uplands. It eats into grazing land, it harbours ticks and it is difficult to control.

Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland, around 40 miles north of Fort William, used to be a major fishing port but now times have changed and the industry is shrinking.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

Drones are being used to seek out and protect curlew nests from predators and farm work.

The Scottish Government is consulting on ways to simplify the rules on crofting, it hopes to strengthen the rules around croft tenancy, and to get more people onto crofts.

Fishing industry bodies in Cornwall have been working to ensure a younger generation of fishermen have the relevant skills to maintain fishing’s position in the county.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

A university study shows that feeding willow to cattle in the outdoors along with their usual diet of grass can reduce methane emissions significantly.

For many tourism is a vital industry but it is one which can come at a cost.

On one hand, bolstering economic growth, on the other draining life out of a community, with second homes and holiday lets pricing out locals.

And AI or Artificial Intelligence is used in so many aspects of our lives now, and it is also being used more and more to help produce our food on the farm.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

‘Green finance’ has become a bit of a buzz word for conservation groups and land managers who want to tap into private money to fund nature recovery. But there are barriers for smaller farmers who want to get involved. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has just been awarded nearly a hundred thousand pounds by Natural England to try and tackle that by working with farmers to help them become “investment ready”.

Is this the UK's most romantic field? A farm in Essex has diversified into growing flowers confetti!

And we hear how a lack of homes for local people, an ageing population, poor public services and poverty are difficulties shared by many of the UK's rural coastal communities.

Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

After all the wet weather this year there is talk of both drought and wildfires.

Two separate reports out this week have highlighted the threat that they pose to people and the environment, both in the UK and further afield.

The Shropshire and Herefordshire countryside is peppered with traditional farmhouses and cottages dating back hundreds of years, homeowners are being taught the skills to maintain them for the future.

Plant breeders are worried that UK border rules mean new seed varieties, which need to be trialled in fields in England, are being delayed.

Dry stone walls are an integral part of our landscape from Orkney to Cornwall.

It is estimated that there are about 180,000 miles of them - but that as many as 85% are in need of repair.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

How pylons ruined a harvest: a Suffolk farmer speaks of his frustration after National Grid dug up his field, two days before a barley crop was due to be harvested. Bluetongue virus is on the rise. With more cases affecting livestock in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, the Chief Vet is warning farmers here to be extra vigilant. 20 years ago, Salih Hodzhov left Bulgaria to work as a picker on a fruit farm in Kent. He is now the Chief Operating Officer for one of the UK's biggest fruit farming businesses. We hear about the challenges of recruiting pickers from further and further afield. We've been looking at rural skills this week and today it's coppicing and charcoal.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

After all the wet weather this year, there is talk of both drought and wildfires this week.

Two separate reports published this week have highlighted the threat they pose to people and the environment, both in the UK and further afield.

Dry stone walls are an integral part of our landscape from Orkney to Cornwall. It is estimated that there are about 180,000 miles of them - but that as many as 85% are in need of repair.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

Farmers this year are growing less oilseed rape than they have for the last 30 years. That is partly due to the expense of growing it, the dreadful wet weather preventing crops getting established, and the fact that it succumbs to the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle. A group in Scotland however are growing it organically - so how do they do it?

Thatched buildings are a common sight in many rural areas, but a shortage of seasonal labour, materials and outdated machinery are some of the modern-day challenges facing a thatcher today, according to a report by Historic England which warns that the traditional industry could be at risk.

And campaigners fighting for the clean-up of thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste in a Kent woodland are threatening legal action against the Environment Agency.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Alun Beach

Plant breeders are worried that UK border rules mean new seed varieties, which need to be trialled in fields in England, are being delayed.

The Shropshire and Herefordshire countryside is peppered with traditional farmhouses and cottages dating back hundreds of years, and homeowners are being taught the skills to maintain them for the future.

Farmers across the UK are still counting the cost of the long wet winter as they start to bring in a record low harvest of grain.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

The Moorland Association says the wet weather this year means it will be the worst grouse season for decades. Some shoots won't have a single day's shooting because there aren't enough birds. High rainfall during the nesting period means has had a big impact on red grouse. In turn, the association says there'll be far fewer seasonal jobs, and it'll have a big impact on local businesses which rely on the income shooting brings.

Fruit farmers in Kent are facing a glut of strawberries. The crop's all ripened at once instead of over several weeks through the summer and some growers are reporting a serious glut. Unable to sell all their fruit, tonnes of it are ending up in anaerobic digesters.

Which skills are essential to maintain the countryside? Hedging, walling, tractor driving, yes, they’re all important but there’s a far wider range of expertise required by farmers nowadays, taking in things like computer mapping, conservation and even drone flying. We’re going to be talking rural skills all this week and to start, we speak to the Royal Agricultural University at Cirencester where they’re currently updating their courses and thinking about what rural skills the next generation needs to be learning.

Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A BBC Local Radio 24 hour farming event to encourage young farmers to support each other with their mental health.

Farmer led badger vaccination could be a way forward in eradicating TB in cattle, a study of a four year pilot programme in Cornwall says that it has seen the percentage of badgers testing positive for TB drop from 16% to zero.

Timber is an issue here in the UK, we import more than 80% of the wood we use and there are calls for far more of that to be home grown.

In the south of Scotland the Government agency Forestry and Land Scotland is still clearing up the damage caused after Storm Arwen hit in 2021.

When it comes to the physical felling of trees or carrying out pruning at great heights, it’s a potentially dangerous profession, so comprehensive training is essential.

And an Olympic event that isn't, but really should be, shearing over 500 sheep in nine hours to reach a world record.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

The latest comprehensive survey of woodland across Scotland, Wales and England has just been published. The Bunce report first carried out woodland surveys across 103 woods, back in 1971. They were revisited in 2001, and the same sites were surveyed again in 2021. The latest report, commissioned, initiated and coordinated by the Woodland Trust has now been published. Some of the things that have changed: there are now fewer larger trees, but diseases like ash dieback and Dutch elm disease have created gaps in the canopy; shade-tolerant plants like bluebells are more frequent; and climate change and warmer winters have led to an increase in holly. We speak to Chris Nichols from the Woodland Trust who oversaw the latest survey.

Forestry England is creating 8000 hectares of wild areas in four of the nation's forests, places where the focus will be on rewilding. We visit Kielder Forest in Northumberland which has been selected as part of the project.

We visit a smallholding in North Wales where donkeys are helping people with disabilities or who're struggling with their mental health. A herd of twelve donkeys are working as part of a programme of equine assisted learning.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

BBC Local Radio holds a special 24 hour farming event to encourage young farmers to support each other with their mental health.

A man from Essex has a childhood dream come true - experiencing harvest from inside a combine’s cab.

And when it comes to the physical felling of trees or carrying out pruning at great heights, it’s a potentially dangerous job - so comprehensive training is essential.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

This year the UK is growing less oilseed rape than it has for 30 years, it has become too expensive and risky for many farmers to use it as a crop.

Clearing up a green, smelly carpet of seaweed known as sea lettuce from the beaches of Jersey.

And we import more than 80% of the wood we use in this country, and there are calls for far more of that to be home grown.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

The results of a farmer led badger vaccination trial against Bovine TB which are being released today show promising results.

A clear up campaign from the damage caused to forests in Scotland by a storm in 2021 continues to this day.

And a pilot project in Wales which aims to get more Welsh vegetables into schools, the plan is to grow the horticulture sector and provide children with locally grown healthy food.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

A third of farmed land in England and Wales is rented, and there are warnings that tenant farmers are facing more challenges than those who own the land they work. A government survey carried out in April this year and published last week found that when asked if they were very confident that changes to the post-Brexit payment schemes in England will lead to a successful future for farming, none of 130 tenant farmers questioned said that they were. Meanwhile the Tenant Farmers Association says it's seeing less land being made available for rent, putting additional pressure on the sector.

Blue-green algae in Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is now at the same level as last summer. Pollution from agriculture and sewage, along with the weather, has been blamed for much of the problem, which is making the water toxic. Last year some dogs died after swimming in Lough Neagh. Now scientists expect the blooms to start moving beyond the lough up to the North Coast.   

All week we're looking at forestry. The UK target is to plant 30,000 hectares a year - last year 20,000 hectares were planted. The new government says it will introduce a Tree Planting Taskforce, and create three national forests. It also wants to increase the amount of timber grown in the UK. We speak to the Confederation of Forest Industries.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Rebecca Rooney

Many rural people are feeling 'vulnerable and intimidated' because of crime according to the National Farmers Union. Figures out this week from the insurers NFU Mutual put the cost at just under £53 million last year - up from 50 million in 2022.

The new Labour government is putting renewable energy at the heart of its plans - it wants to double the power from onshore wind farms and triple solar power - both on buildings and in fields.

One farm is benefitting from the rain we've endured over recent months, because they want their farm to be more sustainable. So as well as reducing inputs of bought-in feed, fertiliser and fuel and creating new habitats, they are producing hydro-electric power. It keeps their bills down and they can sell electricity back into the grid.

A survey by the NFU has shown that while there has been some improvement in the provision of superfast broadband, only 34% of farmers who responded have a fibre connection.

And the combines are out at last, one farmer reflects on the joys of a little sunshine.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

County councils are concerned about how rural areas will cope with new housing targets set by the Labour government. It plans to build one and a half million homes by 2029 and is setting mandatory targets for councils. Many of those new homes are to be built on bits of the green belt which will be reclassified as grey belt - what does this mean for rural England? The County Councils Network says planning needs to be strategic, and that infrastructure like local roads and health services need to be in place before new houses are built.

All this week we've been looking at the impact of the expanding renewables industry on the countryside, today we turn to battery storage facilities on farms. They store the energy generated by solar and other renewables. That energy is then sold back to the grid at times of high demand. They also give farmers a guaranteed income, as energy companies pay them to have the batteries on their land. We visit one farmer who's got battery storage on his land in Hampshire.

The farmer who bought a herd of buffalo after inheriting the family farm. Dagan James' idea was to turn what had been an intensive arable farm into a grassland farm, with more space for nature alongside the livestock. That was 24 years ago, the herd's not as big as it once was, but he says the farm's more sustainable, both financially and environmentally.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The latest figures out today from the insurers NFU Mutual put the cost of rural crime at just under 53 million pounds last year - up from 50 million in 2022.

The renewable energy options open to farmers are various, and the one that would seem to be tailor made for agriculture is anaerobic digestion - or AD.

This is the process where silage and slurry are processed in a sealed tank to produce gas that is then used as a fuel to power the farm and possibly put energy back into the grid.

And according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board - AHDB - 440 farmers got out of dairy between April 2023 and this April.

However the total number of dairy cows is about the same - suggesting that the trend towards bigger farms continues - there are now 7,130 dairy farms in England, Scotland and Wales.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

The family of a famer who took his own life say they believe a farm inspection which found he had used the wrong sort of ear tag on just 18 sheep contributed to his death.

The National Sheep Association welcomed the new farming minister Daniel Zeichner to its biennial show.

And a farmer saves on his electricity bills using the power of water on his farm.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

A survey by the NFU has shown that while there has been some improvement in the provision of superfast broadband, only 34% of farmers who responded have a fibre connection.

A farmer in the depths of his harvest has his fingers crossed that this spell of hot sunny weather will continue.

Solar farms built on farmland are an increasingly controversial topic, one farmer is looking to expand his by over 80 acres.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

Campaigners are calling on the Welsh Government to do more to clean up the River Wye, after people were warned not to swim in a section of the river - which was only recently named the first official river bathing area in Wales.

An expert outlines the challenges of providing rural renewable energy infrastructure without upsetting the people who live there.

And a game processing facility in Berkshire, reported to be the first butchery to open in 40 years, is about to process its first venison.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

A special panel programme recorded in front of an audience at the Royal Welsh Show. Charlotte Smith discusses the future of agriculture in Wales with Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy president of NFU Cymru, Abi Reader and Rachel Sharp, director of Wildlife Trusts Wales.

Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Angling groups have warned that illegal fishing is an "out of control" problem on rivers in Wales with serious impacts for endangered species like salmon, and physical danger for anglers.

Mobile sheep shearers are hard at work on a farm near Edinburgh, before the head woman Una Cameron tries to break the world record for shearing in a few weeks' time.

A Cumbrian flower nursery specialises in wildflowers, and growing them can be a far more complex business than garden varieties.

And the farm dog with a difference - it’s a robot!

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

This programme comes from the 120th Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells. 250,000 people are expected to attend across 4 days, with 7000 livestock entries.

It comes during an eventful week in Welsh politics, with the Cabinet Secretary of Climate Change and Rural Affairs in the Welsh Government set to become the new Deputy First Minister. So what does it all mean for future farming policy?

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

A report by the National Audit Office into farming published today shows much room for improvement.

A tree nursery in Fife has been working hard to become better for the environment, and is now pushing to become carbon-negative.

The longest running scientific study into the impact of cereal farming on invertebrates, the Sussex Study which is run by the Game and Conservation Trust, has just published a new paper analysing 50 years’ worth of data.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

Three conservation groups say farming budgets need to rise substantially to meet legally binding targets on nature and climate.

Scotland is to have a new national park and Galloway, in the south west of the country, has been chosen as the preferred location. Not everyone is happy, a local farmer gives his views.

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed it will switch officers from their rural crime team to other roles for the next few months because staffing is so stretched.

UK households spent around £8 billion pounds on gardening products last year according to the Horticulture Trades Association, which is complaining border delays are hitting its industry hard.

Presented by Caz Graham

Produced by Alun Beach

New figures out today confirm that farming is the most dangerous job in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive says 35 people lost their lives on farms last year.

A Kent nursery which imports more than £3 million worth of plants a year has built a control point on its premises to help it save money on post Brexit checks on the UK border.

And there were a record number of flood warnings for England's best farmland last winter, according to analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. The ECIU warns that climate change 'presents a systemic risk to our best farmland, and therefore our food security.'

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

What will this week's announcement by the Government on changes to the rules on planning permission for large scale housing projects and for solar farms on agricultural land mean for the countryside?

The Welsh minister in charge of policy on climate change and rural affairs has drawn up new payment schemes for farmers to apply for as the EU's Common Agricultural Policy is replaced.

And one of the country’s large dairy processors is ending contracts with many smaller farms because it says they don’t supply enough milk and there are welfare and sustainability concerns.

A BBC Audio Bristol production presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Heather Simons

Examining the findings of seasonal workers visa review and the potential impact of any scaling back of the scheme on food security.

As more people across the world take up cricket Marie Lennon investigates the demand for bats is having on willow production.

And reporter Sarah Swadling meets an accountant turned organic farmer who says the weather this spring has made her consider throwing in the towel.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Tory Pope

One of the country’s large dairy processors is ending contracts with many smaller farms because it says they don’t supply enough milk and because of welfare and sustainability concerns.

What will the announcement by the government on changes to the rules on planning permission on large scale projects in housing and for solar panel farms mean for the countryside.

And range anxiety for electric vehicle drivers searching for charging points in rural areas.

Presented by Charlotte Smith

Produced by Alun Beach

The Welsh minister in charge of policy for climate change and rural affairs has drawn up the preparatory offer to farmers for the replacement to the EU payments scheme.

Getting an appointment with a doctor when you live in a rural area presents challenges, one GP surgery outlines how it deals with the issue.

And could drones help with some aspects of health delivery in remote areas? It's something being tried out in Wales.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

A climate change think-tank is urging the new government to enable farmers and landowners to pick up the pace to meet net zero emission targets.

People living in a Gloucestershire village who have been campaigning against house building, have formed a Community Land Trust to plan and propose new developments that they do want to see - smaller homes for housing association tenants.

And urban school children have been learning about life and work in remote stretches of moorland in County Durham.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

The Great Yorkshire Show was the first chance for the new Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, to chat with farmers since his appointment, less than a week before.

The new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has committed to relaxing planning rules for house building. It could mean quite a change for rural areas; especially as the boundaries of greenbelt land will be 'reviewed'.

The Welsh Government has just published its response to the consultation on its controversial farm payment scheme.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

There is a response from farmers to the Welsh government consultation with its farmers on the replacement for EU funding which previously caused mass protests.

A personal tribute to the late broadcaster and doctor Michael Mosley known on Radio 4 for his series Just One Thing, which was aimed to improve our health, and wellbeing.

A preview of Radio 4's Rare Earth programme which looks at the issues surrounding growing meat in a laboratory.

And how Artifical Intelligence can help farmers gauge the health of ecosystems.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach

The 165th Great Yorkshire Show takes place this week just outside Harrogate. There are 35,000 people due to attend on each day and 8,500 livestock entries taking to the show rings.

Anna Hill meets some of the people showing their pigs, learns about different breeds of pigeon and attends the Battle of the Butchers. She also meets the new DEFRA Secretary, Steve Reed - whose attending the show on his first outing since taking on the job.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

Farmers at the 165th Great Yorkshire Show say what they are hoping to come from the new Labour government.

The dream of farmers is to be able to accurately predict the weather, now a group of scientists are pitching in to help with AI – Artificial Intelligence.

AI is also assisting on a pig farm, helping the farmer to predict if any of his animals are developing a disease.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced by Alun Beach