About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges facing Dartmoor ponies, upland farming in England, and the implications of new agricultural policies.

Dartmoor is famous for its semi-wild hill ponies that roam across the moorland. But concerns have been raised by the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association that new agri-environment schemes will require such a steep drop in the numbers of grazing livestock in the area that up to 93 percent of the ponies will be lost. We hear from the association's Secretary, Joss Hibbs. Next year will be the last that farmers in England receive direct subsidy payments, based on how much land they farm. Direct payments have been particularly important for upland farmers in areas like the Lake District, where they are now being replaced by environmental schemes. Caz Graham speaks to two generations of a Lake District farming family about the continued viability of upland farming. The Government has published fresh guidance this week for farmers and food businesses to help them prepare for the new sanitary and phytosanitary - or SPS - agreement between the UK and the European Union, which is expected to be brought in in around a year's time. The Government says the SPS agreement will make it easier for British farmers to sell into the EU, but it could also mean a change in the agro-chemicals farmers can…

People in this episode

Host: Caz Graham

Guest: Joss Hibbs

Topics covered

• Dartmoor ponies
• agri-environment schemes
• upland farming
• subsidy payments
• sanitary and phytosanitary agreement
• agro-chemicals
• peatlands

Keywords

• Dartmoor ponies
• agri-environment schemes
• upland farming
• subsidy payments
• sanitary and phytosanitary
• agro-chemicals
• UK peatlands

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dartmoor Hill Pony Association

Places: England, Lake District, UK, European Union, Dartmoor, UK peatlands

More episodes of Farming Today

• 05/06/26 Dartmoor ponies, upland economics, Open Farm Sunday · June 5, 2026 · 14 min
• 04/06/26 High Court rules the Food Standards Agency overcharged abattoirs, hydropower funding, upland farmer groups · June 4, 2026 · 14 min
• 03/06/26 EU trade agreement, peat restoration and water voles, Scottish uplands · June 3, 2026 · 14 min
• 02/06/26 Rural skills gap, upland farming in Wales, Future Countryside. · June 2, 2026 · 14 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Farming Today podcast page.