Farming Today

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 FM

Farming Today: 30/06/21 - The 25 Year Environment Plan, barley for Welsh whisky, harvesting elderflowers and Farming for the Future.

US secretary of agriculture, EFRA Committee reports, haricot beans

30/06/21 - The 25 Year Environment Plan, barley for Welsh whisky, harvesting elderflowers and Farming for the Future.

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 30/06/21 - The 25 Year Environment Plan, barley for Welsh whisky, harvesting elderflowers and Farming for the Future.

Are the government’s environmental policies "toothless"?

MPs says the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan does not provide sufficient direction to leave the countryside in a better state for the next generation.

“Policy and targets are inadequate to address plummeting biodiversity loss, made worse by nature policy not being joined up across Government” - Those are the stinging criticisms made by MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee after assessing the Government’s plans to protect England’s wildlife and countryside. Despite promises to ‘leave the countryside in a better state’ for the next generation, the group of cross-party MPs said the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan does not provide sufficient direction to do this.

Despite only 6% of farmland in Wales currently dedicated to arable, on the West coast it’s ideal for barley, and new opportunities are opening up for barley growers supplying the food and drink industry. We find out about new whisky distillery working with farmers in the area.

We’ve heard a lot about the shortage of pickers on farms around the country over the last few years, but farmers have been very resourceful in the way they are coping. We visit Belvoir Farm in Leicestershire, where they grow organic elderflowers to make cordial. They pay members of the local community to pick their flowers and also gather more from nearby hedgerows.

And we can announce the finalists in the Farming Today "Farming for the Future Award" - part of the BBC’s Food and Farming Awards.

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Farming Today

30/06/21 - The 25 Year Environment Plan, barley for Welsh whisky, harvesting elderflowers and Farming for the Future.

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4