Farming Today

Researchers at Leeds University say a new study shows deliberate burning of moorland for grouse shooting leads to an additional half a million people, on average, being exposed to unsafe levels of particulate pollution - that's on top of the pollution cause by wildfires. The study was co-authored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which is calling for a licensing scheme for controlled burning to be brought in for England. In Scotland a plan to bring in licensing was temporarily put on hold by the Scottish Government in the aftermath of extensive wildfires last summer. Moorland managers argue that wildfires cause more pollution than controlled burning - and that controlled burning reduces the risk of wildfires.
A fifth of the Duchy of Cornwall's property, owned by the Prince of Wales, could be sold in the next 10 years to help invest £500m into tackling housing and nature crises. The Duchy has a large number of tenant farmers and is introducing a new tenancy agreement, which concentrates on regenerative farming. We find out what's different about this type of tenancy.
All week we're celebrating British flowers and today we visit a commercial grower in Norfolk which grows 35 million tulips every year and supplies most of the UK’s leading supermarkets. It's invested five million pounds in new technology so it can stay competitive and compete with imported blooms.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Today is final judging day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, ahead of the show's opening to the public tomorrow. This year, the Great Pavilion will include a mini flower farm, to promote British production. The display's been created by 8 growers from the organisation Flowers From The Farm. It says, after years of the market being dominated by cheaper imports, interest in British flowers is burgeoning. Now, more producers are needed to keep pace with the new demand.
The UK's largest food and farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, has had a difficult couple of years. Its new Chief Executive, Paul McLaughlin, tells Anna he's confident a standards overhaul will make the scheme work better for farmers and consumers.
Hare coursing has been a long-standing problem for farmers, damaging crops, fencing and land. New sentencing guidelines for hare coursing will come into effect next month taking into account the impact of the crime on farms and rural communities. We hear from a farmer in Essex says he’s been targeted almost 200 times in eight months.
Presenter: Anna Hill
Producer: Sarah Swadling

Too many pigs, not enough space: farmers struggling to sell their livestock.
New strategies for tackling the spread of animal disease. We ask, how much is being done to stop it getting here in the first place.
Vets' organisations are calling for a ban on imports of eggs produced by caged hens, and a phasing out of the legal 'enriched colony' cages in the UK.
And prize winning sheep at the Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The Balmoral Show near Belfast is Northern Ireland's biggest agricultural show. It's held over four days and attracts more than 100,000 visitors. This year there are record numbers of livestock entries. We speak to some of them, including breeders who've brought backed the traditional Irish Moiled Cattle back from the brink.
Presented by Louise Cullen and produced by Rebecca Rooney.

New strategies for tackling African Swine Fever. We ask how much is being done to stop it getting here in the first place.
Yesterday the King delivered his speech outlining what the Government hopes to achieve in its next parliamentary session, no matter who is at the helm. How much was in there for farmers?
A campaign has been launched to raise awareness of sepsis among farmers.
Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.