01/06/26 Cost of wildfires, methane from sheep, upland farming

01/06/26 Cost of wildfires, methane from sheep, upland farming

The latest analysis of wildfires shows that last year the UK recorded its highest burned area on record, including the country's first documented ‘megafire’ in Scotland, that's a fire which covers more than 10,000 hectares. Researchers from the University of East Anglia led a team of international scientists looking into last year's fires round the globe, they say wildfires are getting more extreme, costly and disastrous. Though less land was affected, globally the fires resulted in more than 300,000 evacuations and the deaths of more than 90 people. . A three million pound project backed by DEFRA which has been looking at how methane emissions can be reduced in sheep has announced its findings. Various breeds from Scotland to the South Coast were tested as part of the research which gathered data from thirteen and a half thousand lambs. The scientists involved in the “Breed for Change” programme hope sheep farmers will use their data to reduce their carbon footprint. All week we're focusing on farming in the uplands, places above a thousand feet, landscapes like the Brecon Beacons, the Peak District, and the Highlands: many of the most stunning places in the country, but because of their geography they're generally harder places to farm. MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee are preparing a report on the challenges facing upland farmers in England and how the Government can best support them. It follows the publication of the Land Use Framework, which identified upland areas as places which could be most suitable for delivering climate and nature targets. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

30/05/26 - Farming Today This Week: pig supply chain problems, hot weather impacts and singing farmers

Its been a record breakingly hot week across much, though not all, of the UK, and that's brought probems for farmers, with crops struggling and livestock at risk of overheating. We ask what more extreme weather means for the future of British farming. Independent UK pig farmers face an uncertain future according to the National Pig Association, which this week called for long-term committements from retailers, processors and the foodservice sector. It comes two weeks after the supermarket Morrisons said it will stop buying pigs from some of its farmers, because of an oversupply of pig meat - blaming the 'challenging economic climate.' And we speak to the Hawkstone Farmers Choir ahead of their participation in the final of Britain's Got Talent. The choir is made up of farmers and others working in agriculture and was originally set up as part of an advertising campaign, but has since been using its growing fame to talk about mental health in farming. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

29/05/26 Water abstraction, food inflation, local food systems.

Water is a main topic of conversation amongst farmers at the moment - because it's in short supply. Memories of the wet winter have been dried out by the recent hot weather and those growing crops or indeed relying on grass to feed their animals are all talking about rain which hasn't materialised. Environment Agency figures show that rainfall across England last month was 38% of the long term average. However, some areas got far less. We speak to an expert about what this means for water abstraction and growers who irrigate their crops over the summer using water from rivers or aquifers. Food prices keep rising - industry bodies suggest an increase of 9 or 10% by the end of the year. The cost of energy, diesel, fertiliser and other farming inputs have been on the rise – with more inflation expected to come. All week we've been looking at local food systems. It isn’t always easy to connect households on a limited budget with fresh, healthy produce, but a farming family from Staffordshire have made that their mission. They’ve set up Farm Fresh Revolution, a project which delivers discounted fruit, vegetables and meat to local schools to inspire families to eat more healthily. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

28/05/26 Rural crime, restoring signposts, Welsh food project

A new report shows that the cost of rural crime has fallen. Insurer NFU Mutual paid out £41.5 million in claims in 2025, compared to £44.1 million in 2024. However the theft of quad bikes has risen - and police warn that rural crime is organised and carried out by international criminal gangs. They are a relic of a world long before Sat nav or even A to Zs, the black and white fingerposts which guided the nation’s first drivers to their destinations. Now largely redundant, many are in a poor state of repair and are disappearing from our rural landscape. That's why the Northumberland branch of the charity the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, or CPRE, is running a course to teach people how to restore them. All week we’re looking at local food networks, where food is grown as near as possible to the people who are going to eat it. Despite being nicknamed ‘the garden of Wales’ Carmarthenshire has a shortage of fruit and vegetable production. The county council is now using a former dairy and turkey farm which it owns, as a pilot to grow fresh produce for the local community, including care homes and schools. The 100-acre farm is part of a wider local food partnership called Bwyd Sir Gar Food. Presenter = Anna Jones Producer = Rebecca Rooney

27/05/26 Heatwave and water shortages - the impact on farming, Scottish farm co-operative.

It’s been unseasonably hot over the last few days across much of the UK. Extreme heat means extra concerns for livestock farmers. The Irish government has issued guidance advising farmers not to transport animals in the hottest part of the day, and vets and farmers will be looking out for symptoms of heat stress in all livestock. We visit a dairy farmer in Cumbria to find out how his herd is faring. Farmers in the east of England say they’ll have to start reviewing the way they plant crops after one of their driest Aprils on record. Crops already planted are struggling and this current hot spell is making matters worse. We visit an arable farmer in Lincolnshire whose crops are suffering because of the weather. All week we are looking at local food systems - alternatives to big supply chains and supermarkets. Lauriston agro-ecology farm, just north of Edinburgh, covers a hundred acres and is run by a workers' cooperative. It describes itself as an urban farm growing food for people and wildlife and claims to be Scotland's largest community supported agricultural enterprise. Producer: Rebecca Rooney Presenter: Caz Graham