Farming Today

The RSPCA is updating its welfare standards for dairy cattle under its RSPCA Assured scheme. The changes come into operation this April and include: more access to pasture - a minimum of 120 days a year; changes to rules around transport of pregnant cows; and use of RSPCA Assured slaughterhouses. The changes also mean that electronic collars, which are used instead of fencing, will be banned under the scheme.
Grey squirrels are a big problem for foresters. They strip off bark and leave trees dead or deformed. They also spread squirrel pox disease which kills native red squirrel populations. The government's issued a new policy statement on managing grey squirrels in England. It includes financial incentives and advice to help landowners take action, and it encourages a more collaborative approach to control numbers.
All week we're looking at people who are starting out in farming. Rodrigo Navarro is a former chef and last May he set up a free-range egg business in Hampshire. He started as part of the Pitch Up scheme, which matches newcomers with large landowners or estates.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Scotland has introduced legislation to set legal targets on nature restoration and halt the loss of biodiversity. The Scottish Government says this will ensure that the country is 'on a bold ambitious journey to be nature positive by 2030'. The Natural Environment bill, which was passed by the Scottish parliament last week, also gives ministers new powers over land use and deer management.
The right to roam in Scotland, which gives people access rights, is being 'hollowed out' by a lack of money according to a new report from the walkers’ group Ramblers Scotland. It says that some of the essential infrastructure needed to ensure the rights of both walkers and land managers has disappeared, with too few local staff to handle issues when people don't stick to the rules, and not enough money spent on maintaining paths.
All week we're talking about new entrants: the people who come into farming with no family farm to work on, or inherit. The vast majority of farmers who own land pass it on to other members of the family, so it can be hard for people from outside the industry to get hold of land. Land is expensive too, which forms another barrier. Tenant farms where all or some of the land is rented make up about a third of farmland in England, but getting a tenancy is hard work and again requires some capital. One rural charity, The Addington Fund, has set up a new new entrant scheme to help people get a foot on the farming ladder.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Sustainable Foods 2026: a conference in London which brings together big food companies, supermarkets, producers and scientists in a drive to transform our food systems - but what does it mean for agriculture?
Flooded farmers say government needs to spend more on infrastructure to make rural communities are more resilient in the face of climate change.
The secret lives of octopus, revealed in new report. Their numbers have increased dramatically - what is the impact on the fishing industry?
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The weather has dominated life for many this month, from storms and flooding in South West England to snow and rain in parts of Scotland, flooding in Northern Ireland and strong winds and rain across Wales. Rural communities and the leader of Devon County Council have called on the government for urgent financial support because of the impact of this month's storms, particularly on roads and railways saying more frequent rough weather highlights the need for more investment.
All this week we are talking sustainable systems - whether that's how we farm or how we make farming a more economically sustainable and resilient business. The University of Lincoln has been working with a Nottinghamshire farmer on an innovative project called ‘Reverse Coal’, which has just won a national sustainability award. We visit Pollybell Farms to find out more about biochar.
A tale of legacy, love and rare breeds: Clifford Freeman farms in Gloucestershire where he has the world's biggest herd of Gloucester cattle. He is also the custodian of his father's collections of rare breed sheep and pigs and vintage farm wagons. Eric Freeman was a farmer, broadcaster and rare breeds pioneer.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Sustainable Foods 2026 - a conference in London which brings together big food companies, supermarkets, producers and scientists in a drive to transform our food systems - but what does it mean for agriculture?
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney