Farming Today

With a military pipe band and trumpet fanfares, Caz Graham joins pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for their Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses, a festive tradition where dairy processors and farmers present cheese for the Hospital’s Christmas celebrations. It dates back to the late 1600s when Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned by King Charles II to build a sanctuary for soldiers "broken by age and war". He asked the dairies of London to give cheese every Christmas to the veterans who became known as the Chelsea Pensioners.Caz meets the Hospital’s Governor to hear about the origins of this ancient ceremony, farmers whose milk goes into some of the cheeses, and some of the pensioners taking part, including Andy Kay, the Chelsea pensioner who cuts the first slice of a huge 25kg Montgomery cheddar with a ceremonial sword.There's also the latest news on the government's proposals for inheritance tax on farm businesses.Produced and presented by Caz Graham.

We hear from both sides of the hunting divide about the Government's plan to ban trail hunting in England and Wales. Trail hunting was introduced after hunting foxes, and other animals, with hounds was banned under the 2004 Hunting Act. It involves hounds following an animal scent based trail. The Government and anti-hunting campaigners argue that the practice is being used by some as a smokescreen for intentional, illegal, hunting of foxes. They say the current law needs to be changed urgently. The Countryside Alliance says there's no evidence that the Hunting Act is unenforceable and that those who hunt illegally are prosecuted.We drop in at a lunch organised to combat social isolation at Christmas for older people in the Highlands. And, how much trickier has Christmas tree production been due to this year's summer drought?Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

Colony cages for hens and pig's farrowing crates are to be phased out as part of the Government's animal welfare strategy which is launched today. Trail hunting and snares will be banned while new laws on livestock worrying will be introduced. Ministers say it's the most ambitious such strategy in a generation.We hear reaction to the Batters' Review of profitability in farming. It was published last week and makes 57 recommendations to government and, as she put it, calls for 'a total recalculation' of farming's economic importance to England.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Batters Review into Farm Profitability in England was finally published this week. It was put together by Baroness Batters, former president of the National Farmers Union. More than 150 pages long, it has 57 recommendations for the government: it calls for a National Plan for farming, and a New Deal for profitable farming that recognises the true cost of producing food and delivering for the environment. We look at the issue of supermarkets using veg like carrots and potatoes as loss leaders in their stores. Some are selling packs for as little as 5p for 2kg. We hear from the Fresh Food Editor of The Grocer magazine who says it's all about getting shoppers through the door, but can ultimately devalue food. All this week on our sister programme Farming Today we've been looking at the rural heritage buildings that make up our countryside, from barns to country houses. Today we hear from students learning heritage construction skills, a church in need of renovation, and historic mill stones.And we're at a livestock market carol service, where a silver brass band replaces sheep and cattle in the stalls.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

The major changes needed to make farming profitable - we hear from Baroness Batters on her long awaited review.Charcuterie is often a favourite over the festive season, which means this is a busy time of year for Lizzie and Andrew Baker in Ammanford in South Wales. They rear rare breed pigs on their farm and have a charcuterie and smoking business too.We’ve been taking a look at historic rural buildings this week, their cultural value and how to preserve them, and this morning we’re heading to Northern Ireland. When a local community group began the restoration of an old corn mill, in County Fermanagh, it sparked interest in a number of old mill stones long abandoned on local farms. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

We ask why veg is always a loss leader at this time of year, and whether farmers suffer as a result. For the price of a first class stamp you could buy 21 kilos of carrots if you head to one of the discount supermarkets. The stamp would cost you £1.70, the carrots are on sale at 8p for a kilo. Who takes the hit?Extreme weather events mean it’s become hard to predict how farmed poultry will turn out come Christmas. We meet an organic farmer in Devon whose birds are smaller following the hot, dry summer. And should the old grand houses that dot our countryside be regarded as vital heritage which must be preserved? Or are there other ways of dealing with them? All this week we’re looking into what the future may hold for historic buildings in rural areas. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

Village churches are as much a part of our rural landscape as trees and hedgerows. However according to a recent survey by the National Churches Trust, as many as nine hundred of Britain's countryside churches are in danger of closing in the next five years. We visit a church in North Cumbria where the farming community is determined to save it. We also speak to the National Churches Trust about their fears for the future of small rural churches.There's also discussion of the latest government changes to planning regulations.Producer: Rebecca Rooney

The Prime Minister has told a select committee he is aware of the pressure farmers are facing because of the government's plan to reimpose inheritance tax on them. However, despite close questioning from his own MPs, he made no commitment to change. Sir Kier Starmer was in front of the Liaison Committee which is made up of all the Chairs of the House of Commons Select Committees, who head up investigations into government departments. The countryside charity the CPRE, says it's concerned that most new housing is being built on green-field sites. It fears the government will create urban sprawl as it tries to fulfil its manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of the next parliament.All week on Farming Today we’re talking about the rural heritage buildings that make up our countryside, everything from old farm barns to country mansions. All of these buildings will need maintenance and repair, but there's only one centre in the UK teaching NVQ Level 3 qualifications, in Heritage Construction skills. We visit the Tywi Centre in Carmarthenshire,.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Caz Graham talks to the President of the Irish Farmers Association, Francie Gorman, about the journey he's embarking upon from Dublin to Brussels by tractor as part of a Europe wide protest. Farmers are concerned about Common Agricultural Policy reforms, which could see the budget ringfenced for farm subsidies cut by around 20%. They're also angry about the potential impact of a trade deal between the EU and the South American bloc MERCOSUR, which could mean an increase in beef from Brazil and other cheap imports. An environmental group in Northern Ireland plans to demonstrate the benefits of nature friendly farming on a 90-acre hillside farm it’s recently bought in County Fermanagh. The Ulster Wildlife Trust says the new Fedian Nature Reserve is a rare example of farmland largely free of chemical or fertiliser inputs.Traditional rural buildings are rich with history and a unique record of how farming and country life has changed over the centuries. But many are under threat; they’re expensive to maintain and often not practical for modern use. Throughout this week we’re going to be hearing about efforts to preserve them, and we start in Nottinghamshire where an old farmstead has been repurposed as The Walks of Life Museum in Tuxford. Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Sarah Swadling

Despite the impact of avian flu, which has been devastating for some turkey farmers, the industry says there will not be a shortage this Christmas. Poultry farms were hit so badly in 2022 that many farmers brought in contingency plans to cope with the possibility of the disease striking them.Rural roads are significantly more dangerous than urban ones. The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that 956 people were killed in 2024, that's 72% more than on urban roads. The figures have been analysed by NFU Mutual insurance, and it's now calling for more specific training for driving on rural roads, especially for those who break the law.The Spanish region of Catalonia is still coping with the arrival of African swine fever, which was first diagnosed in wild boar on November 28th. There have now been 13 confirmed cases in wild boar, and 80,000 pigs are having to be slaughtered as a precaution. The authorities are looking into the possibility that the disease may have leaked from a research facility.Thousands of people are still not connected to the National Grid and rely on generators for power, according to the energy regulator. Ofgem estimates up to 2,000 properties in the UK are still off-grid. Some have been asked to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds if they want a connection. Now a charity in Northumberland says the government should do more to help.All week, we've been talking about rare breeds of livestock and at just 15 years of age, Sebastian Carr is quite the celebrity in the world of rare breed pigs. He's won awards for his herd of Saddlebacks. His passion for pigs began when he was just eight and he received four piglets as a Christmas present.Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Food Standards Agency has agreed to a public consultation on the fees it takes from abattoirs. They are charged by the FSA for their official vets and meat hygiene inspectors who monitor food safety and animal welfare. The smallest abattoirs already get a 90 percent discount, but under the new system being proposed that reduction would benefit more businesses. We’ve been exploring the world of rare and native livestock breeds all this week, and they don’t come much rarer than the Ancient Cattle of Wales. There are only around 200 of them left. Earlier this year they were added to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist, and now the Ancient Cattle of Wales Society is on the case, trying to reverse the decline in numbers by promoting the breed. And we meet a couple of retired tenant farmers who now go around the country offering holiday relief for farmers, who struggle to leave their livestock for holidays. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Colorado Beetle which is a major threat to potato crops has been officially eradicated from the UK. It was last identified on a farm in Kent in 2023. It's distinctive, with orange and black stripes and can completely strip the leaves off potatoes and other leafy plants like tomatoes and aubergines. Farmers are being asked for their views as part of a consultation to ensure fairness in the supply chain for arable crops. Defra wants to hear from growers, processors and industry bodies over the next eight weeks as part of fair dealing reforms. It says it aims to give producers stronger protections against unfair practices.Donald Trump has announced a 12 billion dollar farm aid package. It comes against a backdrop of the trade dispute with China, and other countries too, over tariffs which have severely disrupted soya bean exports and hit farming profits. What does it mean for the UK?All week we've been talking about rare breeds of livestock, at just 15 years of age, Sebastian Carr is quite the celebrity in the world of rare breed pigs. He's won awards for his herd of Saddlebacks, in 2023 he scooped gold in the British Pig Association New Pedigree Breeder of the Year, the youngest person ever to do so. His passion for pigs began when he received four piglets as a Christmas present seven years ago, now his whole family’s involved.Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Spanish region of Catalonia is still coping with the arrival of African Swine Fever, which was first diagnosed in wild boar on November 28th. There have now been thirteen confirmed cases in wild boar, and 80,000 pigs are having to be slaughtered as a precaution. The authorities are looking into the possibility that the disease may have leaked from a research facility. Despite the impact of avian flu, which has been devastating for some turkey farmers, the industry says there will not be a shortage this Christmas. Poultry farms were hit so badly in 2022 that many farmers brought in contingency plans to cope with the possibility of the disease striking them. All this week we're talking to farmers with rare livestock breeds. Today, we're on the Isle of Lewis where passionate rare breed crofter Paul Rowlston has spent years collecting and preserving rare breeds of Scottish livestock, at the north end of the island. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

Thousands of people are still not connected to the National Grid and rely on generators for power, according to the energy regulator. Ofgem estimates up to 2000 properties in the UK are still off-grid. Some have been asked to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds if they want a connection. Now a charity in Northumberland, where Ofgem identified a particularly large cluster of off-grid households, says the government should do more to help. Despite higher than average rainfall across some of the country, other areas are still in drought, following the exceptionally dry and hot summer. The National Drought Group has reported that record breaking rainfall in November helped the Midlands move out of drought, but parts of Sussex remain in drought.Rural roads are significantly more dangerous than urban ones. The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that 956 people were killed in 2024, that's 72% more than on urban roads. The figures have been analysed by NFU Mutual insurance and it's now calling for more specific training for driving on rural roads, especially for those who break the law. All week we're catching up with rare and native reeds. Longwool sheep of which there are several breeds, are on the priority list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. There are just 99 registered flocks of the distinctive Lincoln Longwool and the number of sheep has declined to around eight hundred.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Governments of the UK need to do more to support native farm animal breeds. That's the view of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust which says that while there have been many warm words about the importance of rare and native breeds, clarification is needed on what the post-Brexit support schemes will offer. And the Trust says government funding should be given to the national gene bank.The sprout harvest in Scotland is in full swing, with hundreds of tonnes being cut for Christmas. Has it been a good sprout year?  A new project in Northern Ireland is using vets to help farmers look after their health. The ‘Nip It In The Bud’ campaign was launched at a veterinary conference.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Rural traditions, from morris dancing to dry stone walling and tartan weaving, could be internationally protected by UNESCO. The government has launched its search for examples of living heritage to go onto an inventory.With dairy companies continuing to cut the prices they pay farmers for milk, the man appointed to ensure fairness and transparency in the UK agricultural supply chain says he'll be watching out for any breaches in the coming months. Richard Thompson is the first in the new adjudicator role, looking first at the dairy supply chain. His report says some farmers are still afraid to speak out in case of reprisals.The UK has temporarily banned all imports of pig products from Spain after an outbreak of African swine fever in wild boars there. It's Spain's first case since 1994. The disease is spread by ticks and can be devastating to commercial herds. The National Pig Association here says it's vital our government puts adequate controls at borders to keep the disease out.The first cases of bluetongue disease In Northern Ireland have been confirmed. Two cows on a farm in County Down have the disease with a further 44 in the same herd suspected of having it. A 20km control zone has been implemented around Bangor in County Down. There have been more than 200 cases in England and Wales since July this year, though none in Scotland so far. This year's summer drought has cost arable farmers in England an estimated £828 million. The think tank the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says crops were hit by a very hot spring and summer as well as the resulting lack of water.All week we've been looking at winter jobs, including hedge laying and tidying sheds.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Rural traditions - from morris dancing, to dry stone walling to tartan weaving - could be internationally protected by UNESCO. The government has launched its search for examples of living heritage, from the people who are involved with them to go onto an inventory. With dairy companies continuing to cut the prices they pay farmers for milk, the man appointed to ensure fairness and transparency in the UK agricultural supply chain says he'll be watching out for any breaches in the coming months. Richard Thompson is the first in the new adjudicator role, looking first at the dairy supply chain. His report, which covers the year from July 2024 to June 2025, says some farmers are still afraid to speak out in case of reprisals. And you've probably noticed cattle vanishing from the fields as they come inside to protect the grass for spring. For livestock farmers this marks the start of months of daily feeding and changing bedding- and as part of our week looking at winter farming jobs we're off to the North York Moors with new entrant Mark Burrell. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

A group of Labour MPs with rural consitituancies have urged the Government to think again on Inheritance Tax Changes, with some abstaining on a Commons vote on the issue earlier this week. This is the ongoing row over the Government's plan to re-impose inheritance tax on farming and business assets over a million pounds, which was introduced in last year's budget and is due to take effect from April next year. Ministers insist the plan is fair and say its time to move on. The cost to arable farmers of this year's summer drought has been estimated to be £828 million. The think tank the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says farmers will lose the income as a result of what it says is the second worst UK harvest on record, where crops were hit by a very hot spring and summer as well as the resulting lack of water. A pioneering project to help the crews on fishing boats manage the unpredictability of their earnings has been launched in Cornwall. Weather conditions, fuel prices and market demand can mean that one week crews will earn, but the next they won't, making budgeting tricky.  Citizens Advice Cornwall says its led to problems - which is why, along with other local groups, it's set up Net Savings, a government backed collaboration to help fishing crews with financial advice. And as part of our week-long look at winter jobs on farm, we meet a cider apple farmer who'll be tending his trees throughout the season. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

There are warnings that an increase in the amount of sugar cane that can be imported into the UK tariff-free will impact British sugar beet farmers, who are already getting a lower price for their produce because of an oversupply of sugar. The government has announced that 325 thousand tonnes of raw cane sugar, sourced from anywhere in the world, will be tariff-free from 1st January 2026. That's a 25% increase by volume on previous years. Campaigners have warned a huge oversupply of battery storage sites for renewable energy is threatening to blight Scotland’s countryside. The charity Action to Protect Rural Scotland, or APRS, says a study it’s publishing today shows there is four times as much battery storage planned as we are likely to need for the transition to green energy. That, it says, means unnecessary damage, planning blight and lost farmland across the country.And we attend the sale of an unrivalled collection of vintage farm wagons and horse drawn carts - amassed over 40 years - which went under the hammer at an auction in Dorset. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

The UK has temporarily banned all imports of pig products from Spain afrer an outbreak of African Swine Fever in wild boars there. It's their first case since 1994. The disease is spread by ticks and can be devastating to commercial herds. The National Pig Association here says it's vital our government puts adequate controls at borders to keep the disease out. Northern Ireland has had its first case of bluetongue, in County Down. The government has introduced a 20km restriction zone to control the spread. There have been around 200 cases in England and Wales this year, though none in Scotland. A farmer is calling on the Scottish Government to fund a multi-million pound dairy development programme, which would encourage farmers to keep cows with their newborn calves for longer. David Finlay has been pioneering the unconventional system on his farm near Kirkcudbright - which is now the largest commercial 'cow-with-calf' dairy in Europe. And all this week we're looking at the jobs farmers need to do over winter - today, cleaning up ready for next season. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.