Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

28/04/25 - Spring flush is causing problems at dairies, pulses, swapping cows for trees.

Why this year's spring flush is causing problems at dairies.

Dairy farmers are being advised to cull or sell cows or reduce their feed as processors across the country struggle with high volumes of milk. The spring flush has been particularly good this year, with cows put out to grass earlier, and that's meant they're producing more milk. But dairies can't cope and some are warning that while they'll pay the agreed price for the contracted amount of milk any extra will be bought at a much lower price.

We grow quite a lot of pulses in the UK and most go into animal feed, but with changing consumer tastes and a changing climate farmers are also trying to grow things like chickpeas and lentils, with varied results as we'll hear this week.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Release date:

12 minutes

Broadcast

  • Tomorrow 05:45

Podcast