Follow the real-life stars of farming and our ‘Combine-Cam’ in brand-new Farmwatch programmes across BBC Local

On Thursday 7 August, farmers will be taking over the airwaves, with Harriet Cowan from Clarkson’s Farm and Mike Wilkins from The Great British Bake Off presenting a live programme on every BBC Local Radio station across England.

From early morning milking routines to long hours spent harvesting under the summer sun, BBC Farmwatch will offer a comprehensive look at the daily realities of modern farming, as well as discussing some of the most pressing issues facing the industry in 2025.

For example:

• 25-year-old farmer Jo Lawrence in Herefordshire who unexpectedly took over the family farm at 17 – leaving her in charge of a 200-acre site, with more than 1500 sheep and cattle
• Investigating the financial and emotional cost of farm fires in the East and West Midlands
• Meeting a 5th generation wool farmer in County Durham
• 12 hours of outside broadcasting from a mixed farm in Somerset which makes its own Gelato

We will also be broadcasting live from a combine harvester using ‘Combine-Cam’, so viewers can watch a field being harvested and ask questions directly to farmers whilst they’re working.

Farmwatch will bring farming stories from all corners of the England to audiences on BBC Local Radio, BBC Sounds, and BBC News. We’ll be broadcasting non-stop for 24 hours across all 39 BBC Local Radio stations, hearing directly from farmers across the country and following the harvest journey from field to fork.

Even the BBC’s most famous fictional farm in Ambridge, is getting in on the act, with The Archers on BBC Radio 4 featuring a special BBC Farmwatch storyline as some of the farmers of Ambridge tune into their local radio station on Thursday 7 August and are inspired by what they hear.

Chris Burns, Head of Local Audio Commissioning, said: “Farming communities are the lifeblood of this country and we’re proud that BBC Local can once again bring their real stories to our audiences. This is about connecting audiences with the people and places behind the nation’s food supply.”

BBC Farmwatch will be a celebration of all things farming starting on Thursday 7 August on your BBC Local Radio Station and on BBC Sounds.

• Listen to Farmwatch on BBC Sounds

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