Farming Today

Farming Today

All rural life is here: daily news of food, farming, the countryside and the environment with analysis and context from the BBC's experts in the field. Presented by Anna Hill and Charlotte Smith, Farming Today goes out every weekday on Radio 4 at 0545 (14 minutes)and at 0635 on Saturdays (22 minutes).

  • Updated:
    Daily
  • Episodes available for:
    7 Days help

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Recent episodes (6)

  • 26 May 12: Chelsea Flower Show

    Sat, 26 May 12

    Duration:
    26 mins

    Available:
    6 days remaining

    Charlotte Smith meets Gold medal winners at the Chelsea Flower Show and asks whether winning makes a difference to growers and their business. From lillies, roses and orchids to this year's Plant of the Year Digitalis 'Illumination Pink', Charlotte sees and smells a collection of the best and brightest British plants and flowers.

    Download 12MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • 25 May 12 French GM Maize Ban

    Fri, 25 May 12

    Duration:
    15 mins

    Available:
    5 days remaining

    With Charlotte Smith. France's ban on growing GM Maize has been rejected by the European Food Safety Authority. The European Commission tells us the rules may change rather than France, and 5 other countries, being forced to drop their bans. After closing 2 milk processing plants, losing a supermarket contract, and cutting prices to farmers Dairy Crest has posted an overall loss of £10m for the last financial year. Much of the loss has come from the company writing off £80m from the value of its dairies division. An asparagus grower and wheat farmer share their experiences of the stop-start spring. And, the warm weather is bringing on the blooms in traditional hay meadows, which are now a rare habitat

    Download 7MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • 24 May 12 Science Funding.

    Thu, 24 May 12

    Duration:
    15 mins

    Available:
    4 days remaining

    Anna Hill asks the Chief Executive of the biosciences research funding body, the BBSRC, how much of a new round of Government investment will be spent on GM? And, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Science explains why he thinks GM deserves ministerial and public support. Plus, the fish DNA test which scientists hope will stop illegal trawling. And why Sunshine and Patience are watchwords for dairy farmers at the moment.

    Download 7MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • 23 May 12: Milk Mergers

    Wed, 23 May 12

    Duration:
    15 mins

    Available:
    3 days remaining

    A merger of two dairy co-ops could mean better milk prices for some UK dairy farmers. Anna Hill asks Milk Link's CEO if it'll also spell longer term security for contract prices.

    Download 7MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • 22 May 12 GM Trials in Peril

    Tue, 22 May 12

    Duration:
    15 mins

    Available:
    2 days remaining

    Trials of GM crops within the UK are in peril due to protests over GM wheat. Anna Hill presents.

    Download 7MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • 21 May 12: Show cattle welfare concerns

    Mon, 21 May 12

    Duration:
    13 mins

    Available:
    1 day remaining

    Anna Hill hears how some dairy farmers are being accused of artificially enhancing cow udders to compete in the show ring. Vets say it threatens animal welfare.

    Download 6MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

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