Farming Today

The government is promising a complete overhaul of the water system, which it says will protect households from disrupted water supplies and bring in tougher oversight of water companies. The new water white paper, which paves the way for the Water Reform Bill, proposes the abolition of Ofwat to create a new regulator. It promises new reforms bringing councils, water companies, farmers, and developers together to deliver joined-up local plans to tackle river pollution, water resources and housing growth. We ask the Rivers Trust what it means for agriculture and the health of our rivers.
All week we're talking about winter feed - from simple grass to complex proteins. Some farmers have already used up the forage which they grew to feed their animals over the winter. We visit a dairy farmer in Herefordshire who's had to buy in maize to feed his livestock and reduced his herd numbers because there's a shortage of fodder.
Glyphosate is a commonly used but controversial weedkiller. Councils use it kill off weeds and it's used in regenerative farming to kill off cover crops, planted to help protect and nourish soils over the winters, before planting the main crop. In the USA courts have ruled that the chemicals in it are linked to cancer. In the UK, the government's reviewing whether it should still be allowed. We speak to farmers, scientists and campaigners about its future.
Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union has signed the Mercosur trade deal. Farmers across Europe have been out on the streets protesting against it and farming unions in the UK warn that it could threaten the future of family farms. The free trade deal between the EU and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay gives European businesses access to a market of more than 250 million people and is seen as a way of offsetting business lost because of US tariffs. However it will also open the door to tariff-free imports of food, particularly beef, which European farmers argue is not produced to the same standards. The deal was not approved by all EU countries, France and Ireland were among those voting against, and it will have to be ratified by the European Parliament.
All week we're focusing on what farm animals are eating this winter, from grains to soy and silage: it is a mixture of forage, things grown on the farm like hay or silage; and feed that's bought in from the UK or abroad. A combination of geopolitical events, a challenging UK harvest, and an exceptionally dry summer in some areas has put pressure on the supplies of feed. The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) says the UK needs a national protein strategy to safeguard feed security because that impacts food security
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

This week two watchdogs published reports on the Government's performance on the environment. The Office for Environmental Protection warned that, unless swift action is taken, the Government could miss 21 out of 43 legally set targets on biodiversity and protecting land and sea. Meanwhile, the National Audit Office published a report saying that substantial reform is needed in the way DEFRA, the Environment Agency, and Natural England operate.
Our sister programme, Farming Today, has been exploring the UK cheese industry. We visit a Somerset cheddar maker, a goat's cheese maker in Carmarthenshire, and an exporter making the most of growing demand for UK cheese around the world.
It may be more than a week since Storm Goretti unleashed hurricane force winds on Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly but rural businesses are still clearing up the wreckage.
Presenter: Charlotte Smith
Producer: Sarah Swadling

Students and staff are campaigning against recommendations to end vet training at the University of Cambridge. The recommendation comes from the School of Biological Sciences which says there is no viable future for undergraduate vet courses at the university. We speak to a student who'll graduate next year and one of the faculty's professors who are campaigning to keep the course going.
All week we've been talking about cheese, today we meet a cheese monger who founded the Real Cheese Project. It supports independent cheese makers and works with dairy farmers across the UK and Ireland to champion small-scale producers.
Farmer Iain Colville breeds cows and sheep on the family farm in County Down, but when he's not wearing his wellies, he dons his a wig for hearings in London where he works as a barrister.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The National Audit Office, the public spending watchdog, has published a report looking at efficiency and effectiveness in England's environmental regulation. It found that complexity, outdated IT systems, skills shortages, and a risk averse culture were affecting how well DEFRA and the regulators Natural England and the Environment Agency are working. The NAO says that substantial reform is needed, but that it's optimistic there is the impetus and political will for change.
The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland outlines progress on the Sustainable Farming Programme, and on efforts to cut pollution in Lough Neagh. The lough supplies 40% of Northern Ireland's drinking water and is facing what the Minister calls a 'biodiversity and ecological crisis'.
Continuing our exploration of the UK cheese industry, we visit a Somerset cheesemaker whose products are found on the shelves of several major supermarkets.
Presenter: Caz Graham
Producer: Sarah Swadling