Farming Today

08/03/24 Farmer protests; Red Tractor / green tractor row; Learning to lamb.


Listen Later

The consultation on the Welsh Government's controversial Sustainable Farming Scheme has now closed. The National Farmers Union Cymru marked the moment by placing 5,500 pairs of wellies on the steps of the Welsh Parliament to highlight the farming jobs which could be lost if the plan is adopted. Farmers across Wales, and some in England, have held tractor convoys and protest meetings over the past few weeks. We look at what's led farmers to take action now.

The whole idea of a green tractor standard should be dropped according to the levy body the AHDB and the National Farmers Union. They say they want 'a more transparent approach which works for farmers'. This is an ongoing dispute about the farm assurance scheme Red Tractor which had designed a voluntary green tractor element, called the greener farms commitment. This would have seen farmers share environmental information with retailers, for a premium, and so help those retailers meet sustainability targets. Farmers said it was developed without proper consultation and their discontent forced two reviews of Red Tractor: one on governance, which was published last month; and a wider review of the scheme, which is expected to take much longer. We speak to the AHDB.

We've been talking about lambing all week - from the exhaustion of nights in the lambing shed to the highs, and lows, of this time of year. We've mainly been on farms talking to farmers but members of the public are learning to lamb at St Fagan's near Cardiff. The National Museum of History runs a working farm and an annual lambing course aimed at non farmers.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith

Producer = Rebecca Rooney

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Farming TodayBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

54 ratings


More shows like Farming Today

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,594 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,075 Listeners

The Archers Omnibus by BBC Radio 4

The Archers Omnibus

388 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

890 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,049 Listeners

Money Box by BBC Radio 4

Money Box

32 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,454 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,798 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,878 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,751 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,042 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,093 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

283 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

261 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

158 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

35 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

104 Listeners

Open Country by BBC Radio 4

Open Country

85 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,186 Listeners

The Farmers Weekly Podcast by Farmers Weekly

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

13 Listeners

The Knepp Wilding Podcast by Knepp.co.uk

The Knepp Wilding Podcast

14 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,615 Listeners

Rewilding the World with Ben Goldsmith by Ben Goldsmith

Rewilding the World with Ben Goldsmith

56 Listeners

Rare Earth by BBC Radio 4

Rare Earth

12 Listeners

FED by Farmers Podcast by FED by Farmers

FED by Farmers Podcast

30 Listeners