The final report into the devastating mass deaths of shellfish along the north east coast says the incident was 'catastrophic' to the industry. We speak to one of the fishers affected.

Throughout this week we're going to be looking at into health, mental health and wellbeing in rural Britain. Today we go to the Peak District to meet a group of women farmers who've set up their own support group.

And new rules come in tomorrow allowing poultry farmers to legally pick up birds under a certain weight by their two legs when catching them. Not everyone's happy.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

Has the National Food Strategy for England been watered down? We hear reports that a Food White Paper expected in the spring has been dropped.

The Welsh Government announces its new Sustainable Farming Scheme. Some environmental groups are calling it a missed opportunity. We hear from the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs on what's being described as a 'once in a generation' event.

And plant breeders in Scotland have unveiled a UK-bred blueberry.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Has the Government’s Food Strategy been watered down? It wasn’t launched with a huge fanfare, but Defra has published its Food Strategy for England.

Most rural councils have no targets for building the social housing that many people on the lowest incomes rely on, and the government now says they don’t need to set any; that’s according to a new study from the University of the West of England.

The soft fruit harvest is in full swing and the recent sweltering weather has proved something of a challenge for the thousands of seasonal workers labouring under polytunnels to bring in a crop which has ripened early this year. We’re exploring different aspects of the UK’s soft fruit sector all through this week. Today we visit a Nottinghamshire farm producing around 2500 tonnes of strawberries and raspberries each year.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Welsh government has unveiled a new system of payments for farmers. The sustainable farming scheme or SFS replaces the current basic payment scheme or BPS, which farmers received under the EU. BPS is being wound down and farmers in Wales are being encouraged to take part in the new scheme, which will pay them to produce food sustainably and protect the environment. Farming unions welcome some aspects of the SFS but say farmers now face a cliff edge as old payments are phased out next year. Environmentalists say that although it's a step in the right direction, it is also a missed opportunity and Wales needs to do more to protect biodiversity and tackle climate change.

Presenter: Anna Hill

Farmers and environmentalists are bracing themselves as major changes to the financial support system for agriculture in Wales are announced today. Agriculture is devolved, and policy is decided separately in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Welsh government will publish details of its sustainable farming scheme or SFS later.

Plant breeders in Scotland have unveiled a UK-bred blueberry. The James Hutton Institute has grown thousands of seedlings to develop a berry with good flavour, yield and able to tolerate the UK climate. They plan to call the new variety Highland Charm.

The Countryside Charity CPRE says new analysis shows that two-thirds of mega solar farms are built on productive farmland. They'd like to see more solar power generated from rooftop systems instead.

Presenter: Anna Hill

The State of the UK Climate Report for 2025 is published today, Caz Graham explores the findings with Professor Liz Bentley of the Royal Meteorological Society.

Presenter: Caz Graham

The Government is carrying out a farming profitability review in England, to inform policy. There’s been a call for evidence and practical solutions. We ask the National Farmers' Union what could be done to help.

Out in the sunshine at the Great Yorkshire Show - pig showing and curly fleeced Wensleydale sheep.

A new strategy for tackling rural crime across Wales will offer greater protection for people and wildlife in the countryside, according to the Welsh government. Priority areas include tackling damage to ancient monuments, or heritage crime, and attacks on livestock, with new awareness courses for animal owners.

Chronic bee paralysis has been in bee populations for thousands of years, but cases are rising in the UK and it’s estimated up to 2% are affected. The disease is not notifiable so doesn’t have to be reported, and bees can have the virus and not show symptoms. We speak to Professor Giles Budge who's working on the disease at Newcastle University.

The Environment Agency is increasing the number of inspections on farms to tackle pollution and poor practice. We join an inspector making a return visit to a farm in Shropshire.

All week we're taking a deep dive into the UK's shellfish industry. Almost 90% of the mussels produced in Scotland are grown in Shetland. We visit a farm which produces 1000 tonnes a year on long ropes dotted on 24 sites around the islands. We also visit Oban where scientists are working on a trial to selectively breed our native oysters to make them more resilient to climate change and pollution.

Presenter = Caz Graham

Curly sheep, innovation and profitability on farm - we visit the Great Yorkshire Show.

Caz Graham is out in the sunshine at England's largest agricultural show to see the livestock and ask what's the mood this year for farmers.

The Government is carrying out a Farming Profitability Review in England, to inform policy. There’s been a call for evidence and practical solutions which closes today. We ask the National Farmers' Union what could be done to help.

Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

A new strategy for tackling rural crime across Wales will offer greater protection for people and wildlife in the countryside, according to the Welsh government. Priority areas include tackling damage to ancient monuments, or heritage crime, and attacks on livestock, with new awareness courses for animal owners.

A new ban on the use of lead in ammunition has been announced by the UK government, in a bid to stop the toxic metal contaminating fields and waterways. Shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with a lead content of more than 3% are to be prohibited. It's a long-awaited move that ministers say will protect iconic wildlife and improve water quality. There'll be a three year transition period, but conservation groups say they'd like to see it introduced straight away.

All week we're taking a deep dive into the UK's shellfish industry. Almost 90% of the mussels produced in Scotland are grown in Shetland.  We visit a farm which produces 1000 tonnes a year on long ropes dotted on 24 sites around the islands.  

Should British farms and supermarkets have to pay the travel and visa costs of seasonal staff? The idea's been suggested as a way of protecting workers travelling to the UK to pick fruit and vegetables, some of whom are taking out loans to get here, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The Employer Pays Principle feasibility study, jointly commissioned by the government and the Seasonal Worker Taskforce, looked into the idea which has support from some retailers and recruitment agencies. The National Farmers Union however, has concerns about the challenges growers would face if forced to cover these additional costs, from job cuts to reduced production.

Presenter = Steffan Messenger

Chronic bee paralysis has been in bee populations for thousands of years, but cases are rising in the UK and it’s estimated up to two percent are affected. The disease is not notifiable, so doesn’t have to be reported, and bees can have the virus and not show symptoms, so it’s prevalence is difficult to ascertain. We speak to Professor Giles Budge who's working on the disease at Newcastle University.

As part of our week-long look at shellfish we visit Bridlington in East Yorkshire the largest lobster port in Europe, There are no quotas for catching crab and lobster and most of it is exported.

After concerns about the rising number of abstraction licences, we speak to a water management expert who advises farmers in on the driest parts of the country.

Presenter = Anna Hill