13/04/26: Alternative fertilisers, Capercaillie in the Cairngorms.

The Ulster Farmers Union is calling for government help for farmers, because of the impact of the war in Iran on fuel and fertiliser prices. Amongst other things it suggests a one-off fertiliser support scheme and transparency in pricing. But a group of global sustainability experts says this is the moment that food systems should end what they call a dependence on synthetic fertilisers. As we've been reporting, the spike in energy prices because of the conflict in the Middle East has meant a spike in fertiliser prices. On top of that, a significant proportion of the world's fertiliser supplies also travels (or not) through the Strait of Hormuz.This week we're focussing on farmers' innovations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We begin with a look at the scale of the challenge. Scientists at Kew are using techniques associated with archaeological digs to test where soybeans have been grown. They hope it could help cut tropical deforestation associated with soybean production.Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

A new independent report, commissioned by DEFRA, examines the unique challenges facing upland farmers and communities in England. We speak to the author of the report Dr Hilary Cottam. She has been asking people living and working in the uplands what they want for the future. Our National Parks mark their 75th anniversary this week. We hear about the importance of volunteers to the Peak District National Park, and we also visit a peatland restoration project in Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly the Brecon Beacons, in Wales.As the conflict in the Middle East continues, we've been reporting on the impact on farmers and food producers here in the UK who are facing pressure from increasing fuel and fertiliser costs. After farmers in the Republic of Ireland were offered a 100 million euro support package by their government to help cope with increasing costs, farmers in Northern Ireland are asking the UK government for more financial support too. Another impact of the war in Iran is the knock-on effect of spiralling fuel prices on the availability and cost of the plastic wrapping used for silage bales. With tractors already out in the fields cutting grass to make silage, an agricultural supply business tells us prices of some crop plastic may go up by as much as 40%.As the Environment Agency begins to clear thousands of tonnes of domestic and commercial rubbish from a huge flytipping site in Oxfordshire, we hear from the Country Land and Business Association who say that flaws in the application system to become a licensed waste carrier are making it easier for criminals to illegally dump waste at scale.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jo Peacey. A BBC Audio Bristol production.

The English Uplands are special and defined as areas of elevated land with rugged terrain from moorlands to mountains and typically above 300 metres. A new report "Towards a Flourishing Uplands: Phase 1" has called for more local decision making with a shift away top down directives. Dr Hilary Cottam lead the independent review for Defra. She's published 19 insights which she says, will help meet challenges faced by those who farm the land, as well as the demands of nature, the rural economy and communities. Dr Cottam spent time walking and talking in the uplands, from Devon to North Yorkshire, to find out what people really think of the current state of affairs, what they want for the future and how those visions differ.All this week here on Farming Today we've been looking at National Parks. The Peak District National Park was the first one and is 75. Local people have been a huge part of the Park since it was established thanks to a mass trespass on Kinder Scout, and local volunteers are vital to it today, helping restore paths, plant trees and maintain access for everyone to enjoy its beauty. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

New research suggests that dredging is affecting water quality in Lough Neagh. Scientists from Queen's University Belfast believe that commercial dredging for sand which is widespread across the Lough has a deeper more harmful impact on ecosystems than originally thought. Serious concerns have been raised about weaknesses at Northern Ireland's Agri-food and Bio-sciences Institute. A report from the Health and Safety Executive highlighted issues with bio containment and the condition of the facilities. AFBI is an arm's length government body which carries out scientific research and also testing for diseases like bluetongue. The HSE report said that at the time of the inspection that testing was unsafe, with measures required to protect the environment. The Institute says action has been taken to 'to drive improvements and address all issues raised.'All this week we’ve been hearing from our National Parks, and today is the turn of Northumberland, covering much of Hadrian’s Wall and the vast Cheviot Hills, it sells itself as home to England’s cleanest rivers and darkest skies. It’s also the least visited and one of the most remote of the National Parks in England and Wales. Rural churches are a hotspot for theft and vandalism according to a new report from the Countryside Alliance. It got data from 37 police forces across the UK which shows that last year nearly 4,000 crimes at churches were recorded, in urban and rural areas, however it says churches in villages and countryside areas are particularly vulnerable.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been holding tractor protests and blocking traffic. They’re asking for more financial help as they face rising fuel prices. The government in the Republic of Ireland has told farmers there, that 100 million euros are being made available to support them. The huge rises in fuel costs since the war in the Middle East, may be putting pressure on households across the UK, but farmers say their costs are being pushed so high, they could be facing a crisis for their businesses. The Country, Land and Business Association, the CLA, has revealed it made two bogus applications for licensed waste carrying. Businesses can apply for these licences and then charge people to take away their rubbish. The CLA made the applications to prove the system is flawed, one application was made on behalf of a cow called Beau Vine and another for a fictitious character called Laurie Load, both were approved by the online system, with no checks. National Parks are celebrating 75 years of existence and we're talking about them all week. Today, we’re heading to the Black Mountains in Bannau Bryceiniog or the Brecon Beacons as it's also known, where a peat land restoration project is making a big difference to the landscape.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Prices are starting to increase for the plastic wrap and twine that farmers will need to store grass silage feed through the year. Plastic is made using fossil fuel, which is increasing in price as a result of the war in Iran. We speak to Jack Cordery of Mole Valley Farmers who says supplies are already starting to tighten. With prices for fertiliser also rising because of the war, there are fears that a new carbon tax coming in in January could make things worse for farmers importing it. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - or CBAM - will add import tax to products manufactured with less strict emissions regulations than we have in the UK. Jo Gilbertson of the Agricultural Industries Confederation says producers or importers who use lower emission fertiliser will not be penalised as much.All this week we're celebrating the UK's National Parks. Today we're in Dartmoor in Devon which has a wealth of treasures under the ground, with archaeological remains of international significance. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

War in the Middle East has led to price shocks in fertiliser and fuel for farmers. The situation puts a sharper focus on products already being developed to reduce reliance on imported fertiliser. We hear about two innovations: granular fertiliser produced from byproducts including incinerated chicken droppings, and a fertiliser using nutrients extracted from human urine which is being trialled in a project to grow native trees in Wales. And, we're touring some of the UK's National Parks this week. Today, efforts to conserve the iconic and charismatic Capercaillie in the Cairngorms National Park. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

In a week that has seen several wildfires break out across the country, we hear from Dr Matthew Jones, who leads a group researching wildfires across the globe. He explains to Charlotte Smith why the risk of wildfires is so high in the Spring months. We also hear from a farmer still dealing with the aftermath of wildfires last year. The impact of the Iran conflict has led to government concerns about a potential shortage of CO2 - an important ingredient in many food and drink production processes. In response, the government has awarded a £100 million pound grant to the Ensus factory at Redcar to re-start production after it was mothballed last year. The plant produces bioethanol, CO2 and animal feed from wheat and maize. However, the National Farmers’ Union are concerned that “the £100m investment from government is not conditional on Ensus using British wheat”. Caz Graham speaks to Grant Pearson, the chairman of Ensus.As many farmers are continuing or starting to plant Spring crops for harvest later in the year, we hear from the AHDB about how this year's Spring cereal and oilseed drilling is progressing across the country. We also visit a project in Cumbria doing a different type of planting: using a drone to plant a crop of on wet peatland, known as Paludiculture. With fields of bright yellow oilseed rape coming into bloom across the country, one grower tells us why more farmers have been planting the crop this year compared to last. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jo Peacey. A BBC Audio Bristol production.

The Derbyshire Fire Service is urging people to take more care after they were called to a wildfire across 18,000 square metres on Tuesday. This week has also seen two wildfires in West Yorkshire - where fire crews tackled another one last month, as well as a fire on heathland in Dorset. After the wet winter you might have thought that fires were less likely but fire officers warn that although the ground is damp, the recent dry spell means grass can catch light quickly and spread the blaze. We discuss the prospects for wildfires this year and catch up with a sheep farmer who had to save his flock fires last year on the North York Moors. All this week we're looking at spring planting - today we hear from a herb business which began 30 years ago with 11 acres, and is now planting out on 600 acres. They specialise in herbs used in traditional Asian cooking. Grown on the edge of Wolverhampton, they’re distributed to wholesalers all over the country. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Farmers in the North East of England have welcomed the re-opening of the UK’s only carbon dioxide production plant after 6 months of inactivity. It was mothballed last year, after the US trade deal made it unprofitable. But the war in the Middle East has led to government concerns about CO2 shortages, and they’ve awarded a £100 million pound grant to the Ensus bioethanol factory at Redcar to re-start production. Paludiculture is the practice of farming on wetlands, like bogs or re-wetted peatlands and fens. Defra awarded grants to 12 projects to look at growing crops in lowland peat; the UK’s peatlands store 3 billion tonnes of carbon and keeping peat wet means locking it in the earth, so it’s not lost as C02 contributing to global warming. The Holker Estate on the southern coast of Cumbria is one of those exploring the potential of paludiculture.And oilseed rape is having a good year.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.