Farming Today

It seems we might have started a particular conversation about the very dry harvest in parts of the country. We spoke to a farmer, whose feed barley was a third drier than it should be. As a result, his crop was going to weigh less which means he'd get less money for it. Now he is considering adding moisture to the grain, after it leaves storage. We ask an arable expert whether that's something we'll see in future, and whether it's a good idea.
We're discussing many of the challenges the fishing industry faces throughout the week. For those working in the sector, the pressures can be huge, from extreme weather to rising costs and unpredictable catches. Many fishermen run small family businesses in what can be a precarious enterprise. So how do you remain resilient when there are so many changing factors? We find out about a health initiative in Wales to support fishing communities.
Many farms have an education string to their bows nowadays - but perhaps not quite on the scale of a farm near Kendal that’s been hosting primary school visits for the Westmorland County Agricultural Society for the last 25 years. Hundreds of children from 42 different schools from a 30-mile radius flocked to Roger Mason’s farm to learn what farming’s all about. It’s a huge event spread over two days with 300 volunteers from the Agricultural Society alone, not counting the hundred or so teachers and parents who help out too.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmers who graze their livestock on what’s called Common Land in England were being excluded from the government’s new farming environmental support schemes - not because they didn't qualify, but because the Rural Payments Agency's computer system wasn’t up to the job of processing their applications. However, campaigners say that the system's being changed and commoners will now be able to apply.
Changing sea temperatures, rising fuel costs and offshore windfarms are all challenges for the fishing industry. All week we'll be exploring the state of the sector. We start off by asking the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations about fishing stocks, recruitment and an octopus bloom off UK waters. ,
The combination of higher fertiliser and fuel prices, and challenging weather mean farmers have their thinking caps firmly on their heads when considering long-term options for how they farm in the future. Should they use less fertiliser and fuel, to save costs and help the environment and can they do that, while still producing enough of the food we all need? We bring to together a buying cooperative, a university professor and a potato grower to discuss.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Ten years of the regenerative farming festival Groundswell - we talk to farmers who were at the first event about how it's changed the way the farm.
Chris van Tulleken says farmers and doctors want the same thing, for people to want to buy more real, unprocessed food.
What will the Government's new 25 year Farming Roadmap mean for farmers? We ask the Secretary of State.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Ten years of the regenerative farming festival Groundswell - we talk to farmers who were at the first event about how it's changed the way the farm.
Chris van Tulleken says farmers and doctors want the same thing, for people to want to buy more real, unprocessed food.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

We speak to the Environment Secretary about the government's new farming roadmap for England. It's 25 year plan and ministers say it'll give farmers the long-term clarity they need and access to the tools, technology,  skills and supply chains 'to innovate, invest and grow with confidence for generations to come.' We find out what farmers at the regenerative farming event Groundswell think of it, and discuss food security and global volatility. Experts argue that the UK can't have a 'business as usual' approach to growing food and food production should be a priority.
All week we're talking about soil. Maize has become a controversial crop in recent years, in part because of its potential to cause soil erosion. In Devon, an on-farm trial is underway to grow maize interspersed with strips of mixed plants known as a 'living mulch', to protect the soil.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney