Farming Today

The first UK trial of a vaccine for avian flu has started. Bird flu costs the government an average of £174 million every year and there have been 95 outbreaks in the UK since last autumn. Other countries have used vaccination to try to control the disease: five vaccines are licensed for use in the European Union, but not in the UK. The new trial will see 1000 turkeys vaccinated and, if successful, the vaccine may be rolled out to turkeys and ducks. The cost of the vaccine and the surveillance testing afterwards however, means chickens won't be included.
As the impact of the war in the Middle East is felt on world markets, there are concerns about the cost and availability of fuel and fertilizer. This time of the year, when spring planting is underway, both are in high demand. We hear from manufacturers and suppliers about the effect.
Land and its uses is seen as the answer to some of the big questions faced by society: cutting greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable energy; building new homes to ease the housing crisis; making space for nature to halt the collapse of wildlife numbers; and farming to feed the nation. However land is a finite resource, so the debate over which land should be used for what purpose is becoming increasingly charged.
The Calver family in Somerset installed a cheddar turning robot in their cheese cave 10 years ago. It was a world's first and we made a programme about it. We revisit the farm where the robot is still going strong and the family are now making ricotta, mozzarella and raw milk cheddar as well.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

British chickens are unlikely to be vaccinated against bird flu because of the cost and concerns about trade. The first UK trial of an avian flu vaccine is underway on 1,000 turkeys and if it's successful the vaccine may be rolled out to them and to ducks. But the British Poultry Council says that given the cost of the vaccine and the surveillance testing afterwards chickens won't be included.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise farming - but how? trials are underway all over the country looking at everything, from soil to bees.
Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The government's launching its first field trial of a bird flu vaccine, in turkeys in England. The poultry industry has been calling for an avian flu vaccine, which could protect millions of birds against the disease. Five veterinary vaccines are approved for use across the European Union, but they haven't been approved in the UK. We speak to the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer about how the trial will work
As the impact of the war in the Middle East starts to be felt on world markets, groups in the UK who buy fertiliser and fuel for farmers, are fielding calls from farmers worried about price rises. This time of the year, when spring planting is underway, both fertiliser and fuel are in high demand.
All week we're talking about land use, and the many demands that are being put on farm land, from growing food, to producing green energy, mitigating climate change and managing water. We talk to the people who are going to be affected by plans for a big reservoir in South Oxfordshire.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

MPs question top civil servants about surveillance at Dover Port and illegal meat. The EFRA Committee said nearly a fifth of consignments directed from Dover to a border control point 20 miles away at Sevington, were failing to do so.
All week we’re exploring how farmland is being used. Solar farms can be controversial, but how do farmers and landowners with tenants view the issue? Norfolk County council has more than 16,000 acres in tenant farms. It's decided that none of its tenants will be allowed to put solar panels on their land, although they are encouraged to install them on farm buildings.
We've all been told that less waste is good, and we're urged to recycle, but what if your household rubbish could be used to grow tomatoes or salad ? A landfill site next to the M4 in Wiltshire has installed a prototype inflatable structure which will use cleaned gases from waste, to grow food under cover.
Presenter - Anna Hill
Producer - Rebecca Rooney

The first shipment of tariff-free UK beef has arrived on shop shelves in the United States. It's part of the UK-US trade deal which allows a reciprocal movement of 13,000 tonnes of US and UK beef across the Atlantic. For British farmers, the government claims the deal is worth £70 million a year, if the quota is fully used. We ask a trade expert how significant it will be.
All week we’re talking about the varied pressures on farm land, from energy production to growing food. Deepdale Farm on the North Norfolk coast has sandy loamy soil. For many years one of its fields produced a healthy crop of carrots, but continual production, combined with high rainfall, led to a catastrophic degradation of the soil and in 2020 the field slipped, and flooded the village below. It was a massive shock and led to a wholesale re-assessment of how the land is managed. The farm's since become organic and introduced cover crops and flood protection systems.
Farmers are being asked to join a project to investigate whether growing a variety of the common dandelion could solve a worldwide shortage of natural rubber. Natural rubber production has been falling in its native sites in South East Asia because of disease and climate change. Scientists are breeding a special variety of dandelion indoors, without soil, in hydroponic or aeroponic systems, and harvesting it to create high quality rubber.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney