The latest figures from Defra show nearly 20,000 badgers were killed across England last year, as part of the Government's policy to tackle TB in cattle.  Badger campaigners say that the continued culling is leading to local extinctions. Defra says there are no easy answers, but badger culling "has proved highly effective and needs to remain a part of our holistic approach". Jeremy Clarkson says if he wanted to make money from his thousand acre Oxfordshire farm he'd put as much as possible into government environmental schemes.  Instead he's turned it into a TV show and for the third series, which starts today, he's gone into pigs.  Fusarium basal rot: its a fungus and apparently the single biggest problem facing the country's onion growers. This week we're looking at crop pests and diseases and the efforts being made to combat them. Researchers are looking into technology which can sniff-out early stage disease. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

03/05/24 Latest badger cull figures, Jeremy Clarkson, sniffing onion disease

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

Science

Anna Hill reports from the second Farm to Fork Summit held this week in Downing Street. To coincide with the event, the Government released it's Food Security Index - which looks at how much of the food we eat is produced here, but also takes into account other things, like fertiliser prices, global trade and biosecurity risks. The Prime Minister said he wants to expand UK fruit and veg production.  Around 120,000 visitors and 4,000 head of livestock have been at the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland this week. Helen Mark reports from the show, and grills the NI Farming Minister over his plans for future farm payments. And South East Water has launched a 25 Year Environment Plan, which includes creating a new super nature reserve. More than 80% of the area covered by the company across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, is agricultural - so what will this mean for farmers? Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

18/05/24 - Farming Today This Week: Farm to Form Summit and the Balmoral Show

Helen Mark visits the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland. In the week when the Northern Ireland Assembly has declared the country to be in an ecological and biodiversity crisis, Helen asks the new Minister for Agriculture, Andrew Muir, how he sees farming and the environment working together. Produced by Beatrice Fenton.

17/05/24 The Balmoral Show

Farmers are being asked to support South East Water with its new 25 year environment plan - launched this week - which includes creating a new super nature reserve. More than 80% of the area covered by the company across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire, is agricultural. The company is under investigation by OFWAT after it was revealed as the worst performer for supply interruptions last year, and some local farmers are not impressed by the new plan. Land use and the rules around it are back under the spotlight following new government advice on planning for solar farms. It's made clear that councils should only give permission for panels on high quality farmland when "necessary", and that they should take into account any other solar farms in the area to consider their cumulative impact. This follows changes earlier this year which made it harder to put panels on the 'best and most versatile' farmland.  We reflect on new Government plans for horticulture revealed at the Farm to Fork Summit. And we meet the Northern Ireland sheep farmer who has turned his everyday life into a tourist attraction. Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

16/05/24 - Water company landscape plan, solar farm planning, horticulture strategy and rural tourism

In this special programme, Anna Hill reports from the second Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street. The Government says it wants to increase the amount of home grown fruit and veg - after figures released this week who only 17% of fruit and 55% of vegetables eaten in the UK, are produced here. More money will be released to help fruit and veg farmers invest in new equipment. As well as interviewing Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, we hear from delegates who were invited to the summit about what it could mean for food and farming. Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

15/05/24 - The Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street

The Government says it wants more home grown fruit and veg - after releasing figures that show only 17% of fruit and 55% of vegetables eaten in the UK, are produced here. It's releasing more funding to help fruit and veg farmers invest in new equipment. The announcement come as the Prime Minister hosts his second Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street.  New rules in Wales mean holiday-let owners now have to rent their accommodation out for at least 182 days a year in order to qualify for business rates. It's designed to help develop a fairer housing market for locals, but farmers who have diversified with self catering accommodation in old farm buildings say it's bad news. And we meet the conservation sniffer dog helping to track down rats and ferrets that are threatening seabirds on Rathlin Island off the North East coast of Northern Ireland. Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

03/05/24 Latest badger cull figures, Jeremy Clarkson, sniffing onion disease

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