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Farming Today

BBC Radio 4
Drought
Sustainable Farming Incentive
Climate Change
Flooding
Agriculture
Defra
Farming
Animal Welfare
Artificial Intelligence
Northern Ireland
Biodiversity
Dairy Farming
Scotland
Agroforestry
Milk Prices
Wales
Sustainable Farming Scheme
Environmental Regulation
Animal Feed
Farming Profitability

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

PublishesDailyEpisodes110Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Farming Today

Latest Episodes

UK scientists working on gene-editing of crops will get access to European markets after the European Parliament voted to relax rules around the practice. We speak to a scientist from Rothamstead Research. We also meet scientists working on gene edit... more

The drought, and the livestock disease bluetongue, are having an effect on milk production, with yield down by 1.5 milllion litres every day, according to the industry body the AHDB. The shortage is pushing up prices for farmers. We speak to a Dutch ... more

More cases of the livestock disease Bluetongue have prompted the Scottish Government to impose tighter movement restrictions. It's the first year the midge-borne disease has reached Scotland. There are fears it could disrupt the up-coming ram sales s... more

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 tha... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ben O'Connor
16-year-old founder developing Farm Flow
Farm Flow
Episode: 24/08/2026: bluetongue, future foods, farm app
Jonathan Scurlock
Renewable energy consultant
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Episode: 22/08/26 Solar power - a panel discussion exploring the issues around solar development in the countryside.
Jackie Copley
Head of policy
CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
Episode: 22/08/26 Solar power - a panel discussion exploring the issues around solar development in the countryside.
William Leschallas
Lecturer in rural land management
Royal Agricultural University
Episode: 22/08/26 Solar power - a panel discussion exploring the issues around solar development in the countryside.
John Dawson
Farmer at Bleak Bank Farm, Dales sheep farmer
Bleak Bank Farm, Yorkshire Dales
Episode: 21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work
Vahan Solorian
Composer of the choral work about sheep farming
Lancliff Singers (collaborator)
Episode: 21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work
Margaret Coleman
Member of Lancliff Singers
Lancliff Singers
Episode: 21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work
Ellen Shales
Ecologist with Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Episode: 21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work
Rupert Macefield
Representative from Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Episode: 21/08/2026: Drought farmer, biodiversity on solar farm, choral work

Hosts

Caz Graham
Host of Farming Today; frequently covers farming and countryside topics for BBC.
Charlotte Smith
Host of Farming Today and This Week programs; regular presenter on rural affairs.
Anna Hill
Host of Farming Today; covers farming news and countryside topics.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 522 ratings
  • Good questions

    I really appreciate how much the journalists on Farming Today push guests on the show. They actually asked them difficult questions and challenge them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aye11111111
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Left leaning and urbanised views

    Still a very left leaning and urban view of the countryside. Typical of the BBC sadly. Doesn’t want to truly understand that the countryside is a working place not an urban playground and won’t talk about the issues the BBC feel are inappropriate

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Billy the Kid!
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great podcast

    Great podcast, but not always uploaded everyday. The last show was 6 days ago. Please can we get back to daily uploads. And no I don’t want the bbc sounds app

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    AdamjBrad
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Great mix of topics

    Don’t listen to the vocal whingers and culture warriors who moan about political bias and compare Farming Today to Countryfile. This is a great little podcast with an interesting range of issues on land use/management (not just farming but also the environment, fishing and planning etc). Perhaps it’s name should be changed though to reflect the greater breadth of coverage beyond just agriculture. That may stop the grumbling farmers (who already have the Farmers Weekly podcast if they really want... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gulvain1
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Stop adverts

    It’s annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Imnotlistening
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Criticism centers on perceived political bias and urban-centric perspectives by some listeners.
Many describe it as essential, educational, and a reliable digest of UK farming news.
Listeners praise the show for asking tough questions and delivering concise, informative updates.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#30
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#249
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#207
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#53
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#56
New Zealand/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

18/08/2026 Bluetongue, solar farm row, vineyards
Q: What are the local concerns about solar farms in Staffordshire?
Residents and officials are worried about land coverage, road suitability for heavy traffic, groundwater stability, and the long-term impact on farming livelihoods and local communities.
24/08/2026: bluetongue, future foods, farm app
Q: Why did you decide to set up Farm Flow at a young age?
Ben explained that moving to a more intensive farming environment prompted him to seek efficiencies and help family farms run like small businesses.
04/08/26 Wheat harvest, waste whey, sheep farmers at risk from disease
Q: What problem does salty whey pose for the dairy industry?
Salty whey is produced in large volumes during cheese production, is high in salt and acidity, and is expensive to treat; it also harms water quality, so finding a way to convert it into a usable energy source could reduce disposal costs and environmental impact.
05/08/26 Scottish first minister on farming resilience; the cost of drought; harvest in Cumbria
Q: How is the government addressing wildfire risk and land management in the Highlands?
Swinney discusses learning from each incident, the role of aerial support and fire breaks, and the need to bring diverse voices to the table to balance safety, habitat, and agricultural needs.
05/08/26 Scottish first minister on farming resilience; the cost of drought; harvest in Cumbria
Q: What is the current situation regarding water availability for farmers in Scotland?
John Swinney explains there are restrictions and contingency planning in place, with ongoing discussions about sustainability of water use and future management arrangements to support farmers and crofters.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Farming Today

What is Farming Today about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Roughly 15 minutes per episode, this show concentrates on farming news, policy, and rural life in the UK, with a strong emphasis on how climate pressures, land use, and government programs shape day-to-day farming. Across recent episodes, themes include drought relief, water management, on-farm energy projects like solar installations, disease management in livestock, and the economics of farming under weather stress. Guests routinely combine farmer perspectives with input from industry bodies, researchers, and policymakers, offering practical insights alongside broader strategic context. A notable strength is the program's ability to pair on-the-ground narratives with policy and science commentary, making it useful for listeners who want t... more

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How many listeners does Farming Today get?

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How many subscribers and views does Farming Today have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Farming Today has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Farming Today?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Farming Today:

1. The Farmers Weekly Podcast
2. FED by Farmers Podcast
3. The Food Programme
4. Ramblings
5. Scotland Outdoors

How many episodes of Farming Today are there?

Farming Today launched 19 years ago and published 110 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Farming Today?

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What guests have appeared on Farming Today?

Recent guests on Farming Today include:

1. Ben O'Connor
2. Jonathan Scurlock
3. Jackie Copley
4. William Leschallas
5. John Dawson
6. Vahan Solorian
7. Margaret Coleman
8. Ellen Shales

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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