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Farming Today

BBC Radio 4
Climate Change
Agriculture
Farming
Dairy Farming
Inheritance Tax
Animal Welfare
Flooding
Biodiversity
Sustainable Farming Incentive
Northern Ireland
Trail Hunting
DEFRA
Sustainable Farming
Artificial Intelligence
Wales
Potatoes
Farming Profitability
Farms For City Children
African Swine Fever
Organic Farming

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

A new trade deal is signed with Switzerland: it's welcomed by farmers, but will it go any way to combat a significant downturn in food and drink exports, while imports are on the rise?

The Farming In Protected Landscapes scheme is part of the new sy... more

Tinderbox conditions on fellsides and moorland have led to wildfires across the country. We hear from farmers in the centre of the blaze.

This week we're looking at England's post-Brexit farm policy. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the main sub... more

Pig farmers in Scotland have welcomed a £2m emergency support package from the Holyrood Government, but say it's not enough to stop them losing money. An outbreak of African Swine Fever in Spain has led to an oversupply of pork across Europe which is... more

How practical would it be to grow our food underground? It’s a question being investigated by researchers at the University of Shefffield who are growing crops more than a kilometre below ground-level in a working mine near Whitby.

The Environment ... more

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Recent Guests

John Barrett
Head of Agriculture at AF, Farmers' Co-operative Buying Group
AF (Agricultural Federation)
Episode: 06/07/2026 Commoners can apply for government schemes, fishing, fertiliser
Professor Andrew Lovett
Professor from the University of East Anglia, works with regional farmers
University of East Anglia
Episode: 06/07/2026 Commoners can apply for government schemes, fishing, fertiliser
Harry Barnett
Director of Holcomb Emerald, Growers of Potatoes and Onions
Holcomb Emerald
Episode: 06/07/2026 Commoners can apply for government schemes, fishing, fertiliser
Mike Curran
CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
Episode: 06/07/2026 Commoners can apply for government schemes, fishing, fertiliser
Stuart Taberner
Farm manager at Farrington and Sons, Northamptonshire
FRW Farrington and Sons
Episode: 01/07/2026 Muirburn, grain that's too dry, intercropping
James Peck
Farmer from PX Farms
PX Farms, Cambridgeshire
Episode: 01/07/2026 Muirburn, grain that's too dry, intercropping
Kenneth Stephen
Spokesperson for The Scottish Gamekeepers Association
NatureScot working group
Episode: 01/07/2026 Muirburn, grain that's too dry, intercropping
Gerry Knox
Water Science Institute researcher from Cranfield University
Cranfield University / Water Science Institute
Episode: 30/06/26 Scottish organic farmed salmon, soil health, water management
Helen Browning
Chief executive of Soil Association
Soil Association
Episode: 30/06/26 Scottish organic farmed salmon, soil health, water management

Hosts

Anna Hill
Host of Farming Today with long-standing involvement in BBC agriculture coverage.
Charlotte Smith
Host of Farming Today and This Week segments; frequent field reporting.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 521 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 Kingdom4 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 Kingdom10 months 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.

Listeners value practical farming insights and industry experts.
Proactive in challenging guests with tough questions.
Some listeners feel coverage is too policy-heavy at times.
Well-researched reporting and on-site field pieces.
Shows breadth by covering environment, farming policy, and market issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#46
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#30
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#186
France/Science
Apple Podcasts
#58
Sweden/Science
Apple Podcasts
#93
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#100
Hong Kong/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

17/06/26 Abattoir charges, pheasants and insects, Scottish farming with nature.
Q: What exactly do you want to see then?
A clear timeline showing how money will be more equitably distributed across funding pots and simpler access to agri-environment schemes for farmers.
08/06/26 Brown or white eggs? The outlook for cereal farmers
Q: Are the eggs nutritionally different or does diet play the bigger role?
Nutrition is primarily determined by what the hens are fed rather than their breed, with feeding regimes and overall welfare impacting nutritional quality more than the breed itself.
08/06/26 Brown or white eggs? The outlook for cereal farmers
Q: Do white eggs then have fewer carbon emissions than brown ones?
Yes, the guest suggests white egg layers are more efficient overall, with better feed conversion and longer laying cycles, which can lead to a lower carbon footprint per egg, though the difference is not vast and depends on farming practices and the specific production system.
27/05/26 Heatwave and water shortages - the impact on farming, Scottish farm co-operative.
Q: What impact do you think you're having on the local food economy?
The farm describes building a resilient model with potential for scale, aiming to strengthen the local food economy through their 100-acre operation and partnerships.
12/05/26 Farming in Wales after Senedd elections; mapping soils in Northern Ireland; new national plant health centre
Q: Will realignment with the EU and border changes affect how plants and pests are controlled in the UK?
While we keep a dynamic alignment with EU regulations, there will still be biosecurity controls on high-risk plants through plant passports, national notification, and inspectors at critical points, ensuring we can act quickly even if border checks are reduced.

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?

A concise, one-dish overview of the countryside and food industry, blending policy analysis with on-the-ground reporting from farming communities and rural events. Episodes frequently explore climate, animal health, soil, pests, and market dynamics, often pairing regulatory updates with practical case studies from farms, nurseries, and supply chains. A standout trait is the ability to translate complex policy into tangible implications for farmers, retailers, and consumers, while maintaining accessible storytelling through on-site reporting and expert commentary from agriculture, environment, and science figures. This mix makes it a strong fit for listeners who want timely, actionable insight into UK farming, food systems, and rural life, w... 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. Ramblings
4. Gardeners' Question Time
5. Money Box

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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Farming Today?

Recent guests on Farming Today include:

1. John Barrett
2. Professor Andrew Lovett
3. Harry Barnett
4. Mike Curran
5. Stuart Taberner
6. James Peck
7. Kenneth Stephen
8. Gerry Knox

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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