17/03/26 Energy bills in rural homes, new livestock worrying laws, processing venison

Rural households struggling to pay for heating oil are to receive government help with their bills. The war in the Middle East has had a massive impact on global supplies of oil, gas and fertiliser - pushing up prices. The Prime Minister has pledged to help people who have seen their bills soar: energy prices will be capped until the end of June; the cut in fuel duty has been extended until September; and the government's allocated £53 million to help vulnerable rural households with their heating oil bills. We speak to the Rural Services Network which welcomes the support, but says a long term strategy's needed to reflect the extra costs of living and working in the countryside.New laws to protect livestock from dog attacks are coming into force. It's the first time the law around livestock-worrying has changed since it was introduced more than 70 years ago The government says livestock numbers have doubled since then, and more people are visiting the countryside with their dogs. The changes include new powers for police; the use of DNA testing to identify dogs which attack; and dog owners can now be ordered to pay for the cost of seizing and detaining their dog. There'll also be scope to issue an unlimited fine - previously the maximum penalty was one thousand pounds. We speak to a dairy farmer from Cheshire whose livestock have been attacked about the difference the new laws will make.All week we're looking at food processing. We visit one of Scotland's biggest venison processors to hear how the raw product is delivered to them and how they deal with wildly fluctuating supplies. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

New research reveals the impact of war on the soils of Ukraine, and in a country once called the breadbasket of Europe that could have long term repercussions. Farmers in South Wales are warning that “sheep will starve” if urgent steps aren’t taken to create access for suppliers cut off following a significant landslip. It has closed the main road to the village of Llanthony since the end of January.All this week we are looking at food processing. Food and drink is Britain's biggest manufacturing sector with an annual turnover of about £148 billion - that's according to the Food and Drink Federation which represents these businesses, and it warns that at the moment weak consumer demand and cost pressures make this a difficult sector to be in. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Lab-grown meat, edible insects and 3D printed mash could be on plates in the next couple of decades. A new report from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland looks at the innovative food technologies most likely to reach us consumers by 2035 - and how they can be regulated to make sure they're safe. The government forecast for farm business income in England for this financial year has been released. The figures underline the difficult financial decisions many are facing. With the exeception of dairy farms and some lowland grazing businesses, all farming is forecast to see a drop in income in comparison with last year - and as the figures were compiled in February, the recent falls in the milk price may yet have an impact on that. This week we're looking at fertilisers - one husband and wife team, who're engineers, have developed a system using enzymes to process chicken muck. They say this type of fertiliser is more efficient to use and will help stop pollution running off farmland into rivers.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

British tomato growers say they may be forced to end their growing season early and import more tomatoes because of the increasing costs of heating. They say the conflict in the Middle East has raised the price of gas, with some growers' bills doubling in the last 2 weeks. Growing tomatoes (and other crops) in glasshouses is an energy hungry industry, and with similar problems across Europe growers say consumers can expect price rises. Simon Conway is Chair of the British Tomato Growers Association.All this week we've been talking about fertiliser - and today its manure and slurry, or muck. There are rules governing this, which, as agriculture is devolved are slightly different across the UK. In Northern Ireland its the Nutrients Action Programme which covers the whole country, in the rest of the UK we have Nitrate Vulnerable Zones - NVZ's - which cover 55% of England, five areas of Scotland, and the whole of Wales. They all restrict WHEN farmers can spread muck, and how much per hectare. But as the weather becomes less predictable, farmers particularly in Wales say the rules are too restrictive. Sally Challoner reports A concession had allowed around 75 shearers from Australia and New Zealand to work here for the season without a work visa - the policy was due to end this year. After warnings that ending it would impact sheep welfare the government now says it will allow shearers in, but there will be more checks and they will have to get a visa at a cost of £682. Jill Hewitt is from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors, Charlotte Smith asked her if the cost of this year's visa could put shearers off coming to the UK.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Marie Lennon

It's less than a month before the new inheritance tax comes in for farmers, and the Government's Finance Bill reaching the report stage is a last chance for any amendments to be considered. After a Government u-turn at the end of the year, the tax threshold was increased, but there are concerns the policy still doesn't give Tenant Farmers, who don't own their land, the same advantage. The Tenant Farmers Association share their concerns. A farm vets practise in Gloucestershire is offering free workshops for Young Farmers groups to spend time with their vets asking questions and taking part in practical workshops. Marie Lennon went to Tyndale Vets for one of the sessions. For decades, farmers have used sewage sludge, or bio solids as fertiliser. That's the waste that comes from us after it's been cleaned up in water treatment plants. Compared to imported artificial fertiliser, its very cheap - it can even be free. But there's concern that sewage-derived fertiliser may contain microplastics, pharmaceuticals and some so-called forever chemicals. The government is proposing to tighten the rules on using sewage sludge on farmland Scotland introduced tighter rules a few months ago – and Wales is also looking to reform. Tom Heap reports.Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Marie Lennon

The meat industry say increased charges for Food Standards Agency staff such as abattoir vets and inspectors could threaten some operations. New charges come into force at the end of this month, and the hourly rate for some services will be more than 20% higher. The Food Standards Agency says a global vet shortage means it is having to pay more to recruit and retain them, and there are other inflationary pressures across the sector. We speak to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers. Food producers, manufacturers, importers and exporters are all being asked to get prepared early for the new trading system under the EU/UK Trade Agreement, which is expected to come in next year. The new agreement will include a relaxation of the food biosecurity paperwork, known as SPS or Sanitary and Phytosanitary rules. The International Chambers of Commerce say this is good news. And trade disruption caused by the war in the Middle East has pushed oil and fertiliser prices up. Farmers here are worried there could be shortages of imported fertiliser. With this in mind, some farmers are looking at ways of mitigating the situation. David Morgan keeps a large herd of beef cattle at Peterchurch in Herefordshire’s Golden Valley. He’s invested in slurry separating equipment to help produce better home grown fertiliser.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Government's decision to ban lead shot from 2028 will impact the ability to control deer numbers - that's according to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation which says that the new legislation, which will cover England, Scotland and Wales, will ban the ammunition used by many deer stalkers. Last month the Government released its 10 year English deer strategy, which estimated that one-third of England's woodlands are damaged by deer, with urgent action needed to protect trees and wildlife. A new loom is being built for a woolen mill in Wales which closed down 50 years ago. Cambrian Mill is in an area once known as the 'Huddersfield of Wales' as it was so important to wool production, and when it closed down it became the National Wool Museum which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.Farmers use a variety of things to add nutrients to soil and plants to improve the quality and quantity of crops, from organic fertilisers like manure and compost to sewage sludge and man made fertilisers like liquid nitrogen. We're talking about all of them this week, as well as their impact on the environment. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The first UK trial of a vaccine for avian flu has started. Bird flu costs the government an average of £174 million every year and there have been 95 outbreaks in the UK since last autumn. Other countries have used vaccination to try to control the disease: five vaccines are licensed for use in the European Union, but not in the UK. The new trial will see 1000 turkeys vaccinated and, if successful, the vaccine may be rolled out to turkeys and ducks. The cost of the vaccine and the surveillance testing afterwards however, means chickens won't be included.As the impact of the war in the Middle East is felt on world markets, there are concerns about the cost and availability of fuel and fertilizer. This time of the year, when spring planting is underway, both are in high demand. We hear from manufacturers and suppliers about the effect.Land and its uses is seen as the answer to some of the big questions faced by society: cutting greenhouse gas emissions by generating renewable energy; building new homes to ease the housing crisis; making space for nature to halt the collapse of wildlife numbers; and farming to feed the nation. However land is a finite resource, so the debate over which land should be used for what purpose is becoming increasingly charged. The Calver family in Somerset installed a cheddar turning robot in their cheese cave 10 years ago. It was a world's first and we made a programme about it. We revisit the farm where the robot is still going strong and the family are now making ricotta, mozzarella and raw milk cheddar as well.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

British chickens are unlikely to be vaccinated against bird flu because of the cost and concerns about trade. The first UK trial of an avian flu vaccine is underway on 1,000 turkeys and if it's successful the vaccine may be rolled out to them and to ducks. But the British Poultry Council says that given the cost of the vaccine and the surveillance testing afterwards chickens won't be included. Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise farming - but how? trials are underway all over the country looking at everything, from soil to bees.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The government's launching its first field trial of a bird flu vaccine, in turkeys in England. The poultry industry has been calling for an avian flu vaccine, which could protect millions of birds against the disease. Five veterinary vaccines are approved for use across the European Union, but they haven't been approved in the UK. We speak to the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer about how the trial will workAs the impact of the war in the Middle East starts to be felt on world markets, groups in the UK who buy fertiliser and fuel for farmers, are fielding calls from farmers worried about price rises. This time of the year, when spring planting is underway, both fertiliser and fuel are in high demand. All week we're talking about land use, and the many demands that are being put on farm land, from growing food, to producing green energy, mitigating climate change and managing water. We talk to the people who are going to be affected by plans for a big reservoir in South Oxfordshire.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney