# 23/09/2026: Bluetongue, Defra funding, Growing pulses

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/farming-today-385282/23-09-2026-bluetongue-defra-funding-growing-pulses
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/farming-today-385282/23-09-2026-bluetongue-defra-funding-growing-pulses.md
Podcast: [Farming Today](https://stenobird.com/podcast/farming-today-385282)
Published: 2026-09-23T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0031t4q
Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0pbxxl1.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/farming-today-385282/episodes/23-09-2026-bluetongue-defra-funding-growing-pulses
Duration seconds: 842

## Resource

Vets in the South West are testing breeding rams to see if the disease bluetongue has caused infertility. One vets practice in Devon said of the 500 rams they've tested, a quarter were a cause for concern. One farmer we spoke to has had to buy in extra rams to replace those found to be temporarily infertile. There's a warning the breeding season could be delayed, leading to fewer early lambs next year. The second window of funding for environmental schemes on farms has opened - and closed within hours. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the Government's fund to pay farmers for things like improving soil and creating wildlife habitat. The budget of £233m was all allocated within six hours. And we speak to a Malawian student who's in the UK looking at what farmers here could learn about growing pulses - a staple crop there but not widespread here. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Sally Challoner.

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## Transcript

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