Farming Today

The supermarket Morrisons has given notice to some of its pig farmers, because of an oversupply in the market. In a statement, Morrisons said it has to reduce the number of pig producers in its supply chain because of the challenging economic climate. An industry expert explains why the market's taken a downturn and how there are too many pigs and not enough space on farm as farmers struggle to sell their livestock.Last year, a survey by the consumer group Which? voted Northumberland National Park the best in the country, with its history peace and facilities all scoring highly. However, it’s also among the least visited and that’s something the park’s former CEO Tony Gates has spent 20 years trying to change, while arguing with the government over the park’s funding. All week we’re looking at the particular challenges of farming in Northern Ireland as farmers head to the Balmoral Show. Farming in Northern Ireland is heavily livestock-based: 80% of farms have beef or sheep and 10% are dairy. The average farm size is very small, less than 40 hectares, which is about half the size of an average farm in England. Agriculture is devolved, and Stormont decides its own policies, including the post-Brexit system for farm subsidies. We speak to an agricultural economist from Queen's University Belfast,Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

The UK's environment watchdog has warned that regulations designed to reduce water pollution from agricultural sources in Northern Ireland, urgently need to be strengthened. The Office for Environmental Protection, or OEP, has examined Northern Ireland's Nutrients Action Programme and says its measures haven't done enough to improve water quality.Many students of farming get the opportunity to experience hands-on learning, with dairy, beef and arable. At Harper Adams University in Shropshire students not only get to learn how to tend a vineyard, but now they're able to drink their own wine, made with grapes from the University's vines. The first wines have just been released.Vets' organisations are calling for a ban on imports of eggs produced by caged hens, alongside a phasing out of the 'enriched colony' cages currently legal in the UK. The British Veterinary Association and British Veterinary Poultry Association are supporting the Government's plan to end the use of cage systems here - out for consultation earlier this year. The National Farmers Union warned the move would drive more imports, some produced using methods already illegal in the UK.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

A new report warns that UK farming's reliance on imported fertiliser and minerals, puts it at risk in times of geopolitical stress. Analysis, published by the National Preparedness Commission, highlights the fragility of global supply chains on which UK agriculture depends. All week we've been looking at ideas for cutting emissions on the farm. Today we join Stuart Oates, a 7th generation farmer on The Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. He set himself a long term aim: to remove single-use plastics on the farm and end his family’s reliance on fossil fuels. Towards that goal, he’s taken up a Nuffield scholarship, travelling the world to see if the UK can learn from innovations elsewhere, to reduce emissions. We also hear from an organisation which helps farmers recycle their plastic waste. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The pig industry has published a new environmental roadmap to help the sector produce pork more sustainably. It's being led by the AHDB and will focus on things like reducing carbon, improving air quality, managing nutrients and waste and using on-farm energy.All this week we're looking at reducing emissions from farming - one poultry farmer in South Shropshire is trying out biochar, a type of charcoal, to help tackle the ammonia from chicken muck.White Park Cattle are an iconic native breed here in the UK, dating back to Roman Times. They're very distinctive, with white coats, black ears and noses. Their falling numbers back in the early 1970's was the start of the establishment of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust or RBST. Today the RBST has placed the breed on to the Most Urgent category of its Watch list, after a 36 percent fall in the number of calves registered since 2022. We visit one of the few remaining herds in Wales.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new independent report, commissioned by DEFRA, examines the unique challenges facing upland farmers and communities in England. We speak to the author of the report Dr Hilary Cottam. She has been asking people living and working in the uplands what they want for the future. Our National Parks mark their 75th anniversary this week. We hear about the importance of volunteers to the Peak District National Park, and we also visit a peatland restoration project in Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly the Brecon Beacons, in Wales.As the conflict in the Middle East continues, we've been reporting on the impact on farmers and food producers here in the UK who are facing pressure from increasing fuel and fertiliser costs. After farmers in the Republic of Ireland were offered a 100 million euro support package by their government to help cope with increasing costs, farmers in Northern Ireland are asking the UK government for more financial support too. Another impact of the war in Iran is the knock-on effect of spiralling fuel prices on the availability and cost of the plastic wrapping used for silage bales. With tractors already out in the fields cutting grass to make silage, an agricultural supply business tells us prices of some crop plastic may go up by as much as 40%.As the Environment Agency begins to clear thousands of tonnes of domestic and commercial rubbish from a huge flytipping site in Oxfordshire, we hear from the Country Land and Business Association who say that flaws in the application system to become a licensed waste carrier are making it easier for criminals to illegally dump waste at scale.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jo Peacey. A BBC Audio Bristol production.

New research suggests that dredging is affecting water quality in Lough Neagh. Scientists from Queen's University Belfast believe that commercial dredging for sand which is widespread across the Lough has a deeper more harmful impact on ecosystems than originally thought. Serious concerns have been raised about weaknesses at Northern Ireland's Agri-food and Bio-sciences Institute. A report from the Health and Safety Executive highlighted issues with bio containment and the condition of the facilities. AFBI is an arm's length government body which carries out scientific research and also testing for diseases like bluetongue. The HSE report said that at the time of the inspection that testing was unsafe, with measures required to protect the environment. The Institute says action has been taken to 'to drive improvements and address all issues raised.'All this week we’ve been hearing from our National Parks, and today is the turn of Northumberland, covering much of Hadrian’s Wall and the vast Cheviot Hills, it sells itself as home to England’s cleanest rivers and darkest skies. It’s also the least visited and one of the most remote of the National Parks in England and Wales. Rural churches are a hotspot for theft and vandalism according to a new report from the Countryside Alliance. It got data from 37 police forces across the UK which shows that last year nearly 4,000 crimes at churches were recorded, in urban and rural areas, however it says churches in villages and countryside areas are particularly vulnerable.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Prices are starting to increase for the plastic wrap and twine that farmers will need to store grass silage feed through the year. Plastic is made using fossil fuel, which is increasing in price as a result of the war in Iran. We speak to Jack Cordery of Mole Valley Farmers who says supplies are already starting to tighten. With prices for fertiliser also rising because of the war, there are fears that a new carbon tax coming in in January could make things worse for farmers importing it. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - or CBAM - will add import tax to products manufactured with less strict emissions regulations than we have in the UK. Jo Gilbertson of the Agricultural Industries Confederation says producers or importers who use lower emission fertiliser will not be penalised as much.All this week we're celebrating the UK's National Parks. Today we're in Dartmoor in Devon which has a wealth of treasures under the ground, with archaeological remains of international significance. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.