Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

02/11/2026 Water management, milk price cut

This year's drought hit farmers hard and we've already seen flooding this autumn; so how can we better manage water?

After the UK's hottest summer on record and widespread drought, the Met Office is now warning of a heightened risk of wet and stormy weather this autumn. From drought to flooding, these extremes are raising urgent questions about how we manage water for food production. That's what we're looking at this week.

We visit a group of graziers in Powys, hoping to tackle the issue by creating wetlands on Painscastle Commons, and hear from Jerry Knox, Professor of agricultural water managment at Cranfield University.

Dairy farmers are facing another period of uncertainty, as fluctuating milk prices reflect the impact of that extreme weather, along with high input costs and turbulence in European markets. The dairy company Freshways is making a big cut to the basic price it pays; from December its farmers will get 7 pence a litre less. Dairy analyst Chris Walkland says this will mean farmers losing money.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Release date:

12 minutes

On radio

Tomorrow 05:45

Broadcast

  • Tomorrow 05:45

Farming Tomorrow: Another Country with James Rebanks

Farming Tomorrow: Another Country with James Rebanks

A document of the lives of rural workers in and around three English villages.

Farming Tomorrow: AI on the Farm

Farming Tomorrow: AI on the Farm

Charlotte Smith explores how artificial intelligence is transforming agriculture.

Farming Tomorrow: The Briefing Room asks How will climate change affect our farms?

Farming Tomorrow: The Briefing Room asks How will climate change affect our farms?

Will we still be able to grow enough food as temperatures rise and rain patterns change?

Farming Tomorrow: Kiri's Farm

Farming Tomorrow: Kiri's Farm

A stand-up comedian, a vegan and a farmer walk into a bar.

Podcast