大象传媒

Succession is a tricky subject for farmers to talk about. With the average age of a farmer being around 58, it can be hard for both the older and the younger generation to discuss the long-term future of the family business. And what happens when many family members are involved? We hear from a farmer who's had bitter experience of a lack of succession planning. We also speak to an expert from the University of Exeter about how planning for the future can actually benefit the farm business.

Caz Graham has been to meet scientists at Lancaster University who've been studying how ploughing fields affects water run-off. She hears that contrary to popular belief, working fields with the contours of a hill can sometimes increase the flow of heavy rain into the lower fields and watercourses.

And we hear from researchers at Queen's University in Belfast who've been awarded over a million pounds to find a new way to improve testing for banned antibiotics and growth hormones in cattle and horses.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jules Benham.