Farming Today

Supplies of the vaccine for the livestock disease Bluetongue are in short supply after a large outbreak in the south west of the UK. A mild winter, hot dry summer, and the midges - which cause the disease - moving into densley populated livestock areas, have all contributed to the worst ever outbreak, which has now affected Wales and Scotland too. We speak to the president of the Sheep Veterinary Society about when we can expect more vaccines.
All this week we're looking at solar farms. Today we're in Staffordshire where the country council has launched a campaign called “Stop the Solar Land Grab”. The council is particularly concerned about the effect three solar farms will have on the community of Drointon.
And the hot weather has been good news for the UK's increasing number of vineyards. But winemakers in Devon and Cornwall say it’s left them in "uncharted territory.” One new challenge is how to replicate their normal crisp flavours because the heat changes the taste of the grapes.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a package of measures to help drought-hit farmers in England, saying food production is national security. It will give more flexibility for farmers in environmental schemes, and easier access to water. More details will also be announced today about plans to help farmers build reservoirs on farm. The NFU says it's a start, but action needs to be taken now to make the UK more resilient to future floods and drought.
All this week we're looking at the solar industry - from solar farms on agricultural land, to panels on farm roofs to generate power. Today we hear from the industry body, and a farm where hens are grazing amongst the panels.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Prime Minister's due to announce a package of support to help farmers in England cope with the drought. The measures will include putting an extra £50 million of Defra's budget towards this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive and offering up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs, to enable farmers to store water in the winter which they can use in the summer.
As well as drought and heat, livestock farmers are staving off an outbreak of bluetongue - it’s a disease which affects cattle and sheep, but not humans. The South West is dealing with hundreds of cases, mostly in sheep in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. However there’ve been cases in Northern England and Wales as well, and for the first time ever, a couple of cases in Scotland.
Brassica growers say the sector's in crisis. Farmers say crops like brocolli and cauliflower are dying in the fields because of the drought and extreme heat.
The hot weather means demand for salad is up but when it's too hot, the crops don't like it - and nor do the pickers. We visit a grower in Lancashire where workers are picking by torch-light to avoid the heat.
Vitamin B12 is essential for our diets, it's found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, but not in plants, or not until now, that is: scientists have developed a way of fortifying peashoots with B12 and hope to get them in supermarket salad bags in the next year or two.
This summer marks the end of an era for the Thompson family and their berry farm at Blairgowrie, in Perthshire, one of Scotland's most important soft fruit growing areas. The Thompsons have decided to end commercial production because they say the business is no longer economically viable.
Presenter = Caz Graham
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Brassica growers are warning their crops are in crisis after the relentless heat has left them stunted or dying in the ground. The British Growers Assocation says crops including cauliflower and broccoli are half the size they should be, putting prices up.
We meet growers at Tebay services on the M6 in Cumbria. The company has been working with the horticulture and mental health charity Growing Well, and have established a kitchen garden to keep their cafe and farm-shop stocked with the freshest possible salad and veg.
And it's the end of an era for the Thompson family on their berry farm in Perthshire. They've decided to end commercial production as they say it's no longer viable. For their very last cherry harvest, they invited the public to come along and ‘pick their own’ with the proceeds going to charities.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

Bluetongue, the livestock disease that is transmitted by midges, is spreading, especially in the south west. It affects farm animals including sheep and cattle. It doesn’t affect people, but it can be very painful and fatal to livestock. Annual bluetongue statistics are counted from July to June, the so-called bluetongue season. Since the end of June this year, there have already been more cases than in the whole of the previous season. Hundreds of farmers in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset are coping with the virus in their sheep, in particular. We visit a farmer near Exeter whose flock is just beginning to emerge from a bout of bluetongue.
We import more than 80% of fresh tomatoes, and more than 50% of lettuce. However, new analysis from the environmental think-tank The Green Alliance suggests that if the UK replaced half of fruit and vegetable imports with homegrown produce, it would generate nearly £2 billion for the economy and make us more self-sufficient in food production than we’ve been for the last 25 years.
Vitamin B12 is essential for our diets and is found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, but not in plants - until now. Scientists have developed a way of fortifying pea shoots with B12 and hope to get it in supermarket salad bags in the next year or two. After successful trials, agri-tech company Lettus Grow and the John Innes Centre believe it could work for other crops too. B12's very expensive, but growers say they've developed a super-efficient way of getting it into the pea shoots.
Presenter: Caz Graham
Producer: Rebecca Rooney