Farming Programme

We’re discussing real Christmas Trees – and asking whether this year’s summer drought might affect your tree in years to come. Plus, there’s a final update of the year from British Sugar on the beet campaign.

Sean’s looking at ‘cover crops’ to see if that’s the answer to creating healthier soils over the winter. Plus, he looks at the success of so-called Monitor Farms...enabling farmers to learn from others in the industry.

After Sir David Attenborough’s speech on climate change, we’ll hear the views of a prominent member of the Green Party, who is himself a farmer.

With less than a month to go until Christmas, Sean meets the farmer who’s growing a hundred and sixty five million sprouts ready for the big day.

Sean reports from the NFU’s Brexit Summit….and asks are we any clearer to finding out what will happen to agriculture after March next year? Plus, we meet a man who left the UK to help create a giant farm in the desert in Eqypt.

Is enough being done to attract the next generation in to farming? It’s one of the questions being asked on this week’s Farming Programme,

There are harsh words for farmers on the programme this week, as they’re told they’re not doing enough to engage with those not in the industry. Plus, as it’s Armistice Day, Sean is bringing together some of the country’s biggest names in agriculture to pay a very special tribute, on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One

It’s a very different Farming Programme this week as Sean focuses on the issue of mental health. We’ll hear from the organisations offering help, plus hear from one of the programmes regular contributors who’ll explain how a friends suicide lead him to successfully campaign to get mental health on the curriculum in agricultural colleges.

With Halloween just around the corner, Sean meets the farmer who’s just finished growing half a million pumpkins. Thankfully, he won’t be carving them all!

We find out why some Young Farmers Clubs are proposing a vote of no confidence in their National Federation.

It’s all about the weather, with the farmers who want it to rain – and those who’d rather it stayed dry. There’s the first update of the new sugar beet campaign. Also, we'll hear from MPs speaking at Wednesdays Agriculture Bill second reading in Parliament.

We look ahead to Wednesdays second reading of the Agriculture Bill in Parliament...what tweaked are needed to make it work for our farmers? Plus, we’ll take you on a ride on an historic machine that’s not one...but TWO tractors, joined together!

Sean meets the deer farmer, diversifying his business…to ensure its survival. Plus, he looks at the pressures facing agriculture in 2018 – from the summer drought to a ban on insecticides that’s being blamed on an increase in pests on crops growing in the field.

This week, the products helping crops survive extreme weather...both here and in Australia. Plus, there’s more reaction to last weeks Agriculture Bill.

Sean has reaction to the Agriculture Bill, which has finally gone before Parliament this week. Plus, if you’re a beet farmer, we’ve news from British Sugar ahead of the new campaign.

Find out why MPs will be wearing special wheat pin badges at Wednesday's Prime Ministers Questions.

Sean finds out why egg producers are facing soaring costs to feed their chickens. And, we help launch this years Love Lamb Week.

We already micro-chip our pet dogs and cats...on the Farming Programme, Sean meets the researchers who are micro-chipping SLUGS! And, find out why blackcurrants - and Ribena - could be sweeter than usual this year.

We ask ‘how is business at the moment?’ Sean hears from two companies...one selling tractors the other sprayers...who are feeling positive about the year so far.

The pea harvest is over…but it’s fair to say our farmers are from far peased…err PLEASED…with it! Find out why. Also...in the week NFU Mutual released its latest rural crime report, we hear from two farmers who’ve come face to face with criminals on their farms.