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Episode details

Radio 4,14 Jan 2026,14 mins

14/01/26 Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales, cheese exports, Lamma machinery show.

Farming Today

Available for 28 days

The Welsh government has implemented its Sustainable Farming Scheme or SFS. There are three levels for farmers to join: first, Universal Actions which all farmers have to comply with to get funding; then optional enhanced actions; and finally collaborative projects. Wales' Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies says the collaborative approach the government used to create the SFS is needed to tackle river pollution. All week we’re talking about cheese. In 2024 UK cheese exports were worth £887 million, around three quarters of that was destined for Europe. Last year DEFRA announced sanitary and phytosanitary agreement between the UK and EU, aimed at reducing paperwork for agri-food exports by aligning standards. One dairy exporter, Coombe Castle International, says there’s growing demand in Asia, the US and Australia too. Farmers are heading to the NEC in Birmingham for the big machinery show: LAMMA. It's a showcase for all that's high-tech in agriculture. We ask one of the organisers what's new, and whether farmers are feeling confident enough to buy. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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