Farming Today

It’s been a summer of drought, extreme heat for much of the UK, lots and lots of sunshine, and all week on Farming Today we’ve been talking about solar energy, from large scale solar developments to roof top panels on farm buildings. It's a topic that raises blood pressures: some rural communities feel that too much good growing land is being turned into an industrial landscape as solar panels march across fields; others say it's a small price to pay for clean renewable energy ; and for farmers, after another tough year, a diversification like solar power could make all the difference to the bottom line.
We explore some of the issues around solar power in more depth, with three expert guests: Dr Jonathan Scurlock a renewable energy consultant; Jackie Copley, head of policy at the Campaign to Protect Rural England or CPRE; and William Leschallas lecturer in rural land management at the Royal Agricultural University.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

We revisit a vegetable farmer who told us during the second drought in June that he was having to use extra water to try and get his crops established. Will Shakeshaft from Greens of Soham says he's had hardly any rain since then, and his potatoes and beetroot are struggling, with yields and quality down.
A new report using information gathered over 12 years shows that biodiversity can thrive alongside a solar farm - if it's planned and managed correctly. The report was produced by Suffolk Wildlife Trust on the Broxted Estate.
And we visit a sheep farm in the Yorkshire Dales, which featured in research to produce a new three-part choral work based on a full year in the life of a Yorkshire Dales shepherd.
Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Sally Challoner.

The UK Health Security Agency is investigating the outbreak of salmonella that’s led to confirmed cases in more than 200 people, and the death of one person. Initial findings suggest it could be linked to imported eggs. Salmonella is extremely rare in UK produced eggs - all laying hens have to be vaccinated against it, and there’s a ‘passport’ system ensuring that all hens, eggs and feed are fully traceable. Although the vast majority of eggs we buy to cook with at home are British, eggs and egg products used in restaurants and other food services can often be imported to reduce costs. Not all of the countries they come from enforce the same production standards as the UK, The British Egg Industry Council says there needs to be a stricter testing regime for imported eggs. We eat around 40 million eggs a day in the UK, and import five million of those. We speak to an expert about how you begin to track down where a salmonella outbreak might have come from.
Beekeepers are warning that the lack of rain this summer could have long term consequences for their bees, which are vital pollinators for many crops.
Roof-top solar on agricultural buildings - we visit a dairy farm and ice cream producer in Derbyshire where it's making a big difference to electricity bills.
Presenter = Caz Graham
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Caz Graham is at the Hawkshead Show in the Lake District, to see why local shows like this are so important to rural areas.
All over the UK, through the summer months, communities come together for village shows. There are hundreds of them, each reflecting the distinct flavour of the farming, food, local customs and the people of the villages and towns they’re held in.
Produced by Sally Challoner.

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.