27/05/26 Heatwave and water shortages - the impact on farming, Scottish farm co-operative.
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of a recent heatwave and water shortages on farming in the UK, featuring visits to affected farmers and highlighting local food systems.
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
People in this episode
Host: Caz Graham
Topics covered
- heatwave
- water shortages
- livestock farming
- crop planting
- local food systems
- agro-ecology
- community supported agriculture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio 4, Lauriston agro-ecology farm, Irish government
Places: UK, Cumbria, East of England, Lincolnshire, Scotland
More episodes of Farming Today
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- 30/05/26 - Farming Today This Week: pig supply chain problems, hot weather impacts and singing farmers
- 29/05/26 Water abstraction, food inflation, local food systems.
- 28/05/26 Rural crime, restoring signposts, Welsh food project
- 26/05/26 Mounting pressure for Scottish pig farmers, funding for rural churches, selling farm produce at markets
- 25/05/26 - The History of Crofting
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