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Farming Today

BBC Radio 4
Drought
Sustainable Farming Incentive
Flooding
DEFRA
Agriculture
Climate Change
Farming
Blue Tongue Disease
Artificial Intelligence
United Kingdom
Agroforestry
Animal Welfare
Potatoes
Soil Health
Scotland
European Union
Northern Ireland
Food Security
National Farmers Union
Foot and Mouth Disease

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

The official estimates for England's harvest 2026 are in, and the figures from the governnment show that its the smallest harvest of both barley and oats since 2012. Wheat saw a small increase with losses in the South and East offset by a better harv... more

The official estimates for England's harvest 2026 are in, and they don't make happy reading. Provisional figures from the government show that it's the smallest harvest of both barley and oats since 2012. Wheat saw a small increase with losses in the... more

Half of farmers say they've had rubbish fly tipped on their land, and the majority of those asked say the problem is getting worse. These are the results of a survey of 512 farmers in England and Wales by the National Farmers Union - which is campaig... more

After months of negotiations, British Sugar and the National Farmers Union have agreed a price for sugar beet farmers for 2027/28. It's lower than last year, with a one-year contract paying £28.50 per tonne for up to half of the contract tonnage. Thi... more

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Recent Guests

Robbie Moore
Shadow Minister for Food and Environment
Conservative Party
Episode: 06/10/26 Rural connectivity, dry stone walls, Conservative party conference.
Harry Byatt
Dry stone waller and craftsman
Independent craftsman, Northumberland
Episode: 06/10/26 Rural connectivity, dry stone walls, Conservative party conference.
Adrian Ramsay
Green Party MP and Rural Affairs spokesperson
Green Party
Episode: 05/10/26 Pig industry in crisis, beating the bounds, Green Party conference
Ian Wilkinson
Founder, FarmED
FarmED (Cotswolds)
Episode: Farming Today This Week: food industry whistleblowers, red diesel, disease resilience, apprenticeships, Shetland wool, demo farm
Samantha Reisbrough
Curriculum lead and lecturer in agriculture at Kendall College
Kendall College
Episode: Farming Today This Week: food industry whistleblowers, red diesel, disease resilience, apprenticeships, Shetland wool, demo farm
Clare Griffith
Plaid Cymru MSP and Cabinet Member for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
Plaid Cymru - Welsh Government
Episode: 02/10/26 Food industry climate whistleblowers, farm apprenticeships, Plaid Cymru conference
Samantha Rysbrough
Curriculum lead and lecturer in agriculture
Kendall College
Episode: 02/10/26 Food industry climate whistleblowers, farm apprenticeships, Plaid Cymru conference
Ben Sowerby
Apprentice at Kendall College program
Kendall College
Episode: 02/10/26 Food industry climate whistleblowers, farm apprenticeships, Plaid Cymru conference
Neil Sowerby
Ben's father and dairy farmer
Sowerby farm
Episode: 02/10/26 Food industry climate whistleblowers, farm apprenticeships, Plaid Cymru conference

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 Kingdom7 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 Kingdom3 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
#34
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#28
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#51
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#114
New Zealand/Science
Apple Podcasts
#121
Hong Kong/Science
Apple Podcasts
#130
South Africa/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

02/10/26 Food industry climate whistleblowers, farm apprenticeships, Plaid Cymru conference
Q: How is the drought affecting policy on slurry spreading and water pollution, and what measures are being considered to balance environmental risks with farming needs?
The response delays the closed period and points to a flexible, technology-driven approach to spreading slurry, aiming to avoid risks while recognizing changing weather patterns.
02/10/26 Food industry climate whistleblowers, farm apprenticeships, Plaid Cymru conference
Q: First though, the Plaid Cymru Conference starts in Llandudno later today. What are the party's priorities for rural resilience and sustainability in Wales?
Clare Griffith explains the shift from legacy farm payments to the sustainable farming scheme, emphasizing accessibility, funding certainty, and a long-term commitment to support Welsh farmers.
Farming Today This Week: food industry whistleblowers, red diesel, disease resilience, apprenticeships, Shetland wool, demo farm
Q: Why are apprenticeships important for farms today?
They provide practical on-farm learning alongside formal theory, helping new entrants develop the skills to manage modern farms and sustain family operations.
17/09/26 Farmer protests in Romania, sheepdog trials, Scottish arable cooperative.
Q: Give us the background to all of this, Nick. What's the broader context?
Nick Thorpe explains that Romania is facing a disease-control challenge with two outbreaks, resulting in an export ban on live sheep through December 2026, which has severe economic consequences for shepherds and the sector, and points to EU warnings and mismanagement allegations by Romanian authorities.
18/09/2026: Lib Dem Party Conference, Glutinous Snails, BBC Awards finalists, The Farmers Wife on stage.
Q: What kind of money would you put up for this then?
The Lib Dem proposal would significantly increase funding, aiming to double or substantially boost the ELMS budget through targeted measures and by restoring certain taxes, with a plan to reach roughly an extra billion pounds while ensuring funds are effectively focused on food security and environmental objectives.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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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What are the audience demographics for Farming Today?

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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. Open Country
3. FED by Farmers Podcast
4. The Food Programme
5. Gardeners' Question Time

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Farming Today?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Farming Today from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Farming Today?

Recent guests on Farming Today include:

1. Robbie Moore
2. Harry Byatt
3. Adrian Ramsay
4. Ian Wilkinson
5. Samantha Reisbrough
6. Clare Griffith
7. Samantha Rysbrough
8. Ben Sowerby

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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