This Farming Life

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Factual: Life Stories

Documentary following the struggles and triumphs of very different farming families.

Documentary series following the struggles and triumphs of very different farming families in beautiful and remote landscapes.

Series 4

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James Thornton

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Jo Roe

This Farming Life: Series 4: Episode 12

Episode 12

BBC Two - This Farming Life, Series 4, Episode 12

It’s the height of summer, and the farmers figure out ways to adapt in changing times.

Emma and Ewan search for a new farm. Matt and Dani embark on a new project. Joyce introduces her lockdown purchase. Frank and Georgia fine-tune a new goat milk ice cream.

It’s the height of summer - time to prepare for the colder months. This year, coronavirus means farmers are looking much further ahead, finding ways to survive in changing times.

In the Lake District, Matt and Dani Blair are almost a year into their new venture. Matt is preparing for winter, bringing in the hay while the sun shines. But his vintage, temperamental bailer keeps breaking down, and rain is on the way. Later, Matt embarks on a new plan for the farm, and together with Dani, their son James and right-hand man Murray, they consider how the new farm is fairing a year after the big move.

In Northumberland, Emma and Ewan have some big news. After five years working alongside Emma part time, Ewan has decided to leave the fire service and become a full-time farmer. But, their small 100 acre farm can’t sustain them both, so they begin their search for a new, bigger farm.   When the ideal opportunity presents itself on the Isle of Bute, Emma and Ewan decide to go for it and make an offer. If successful, their lives could be about to change.

Joyce Campbell is used to working her 6,000 acre hill farm on the northernmost part of the Scottish mainland alone. Because of coronavirus, twins Frances and Mure have been home from university for the last five months and are helping out on the farm full time. Working together, they move her herd of Saler cross cows two miles along the North Coast 500. Later on, Joyce reveals a very special lockdown purchase.

Father and daughter team Frank and Georgia Hunter are continually finding ways to adapt and survive on their 600 acre mixed livestock farm.  All farmers' markets are cancelled, so Frank instead sets up shop at the end of the lane and encourages people to buy their dairy and meat produce directly. Their decision to diversify into goat farming five years ago is really paying off, and they’ve got another cool idea up their sleeve: goats' milk ice cream.

This Farming Life: Series 4

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Following the ups and downs of six farming families in Scotland and the north of England.

Following the ups and downs of six farming families in Scotland and the north of England as they face up to one of the toughest years for farming to date.

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This Farming Life

Series 4

Episode 12

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