E12
12. Episode 12
All the farmers from across the year reflect on what each season means to them.
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S8 E12 · D Day for Dairy Farmers
This Farming Life is a reality and documentary TV series that premiered on BBC Scotland on March 7, 2016. It has 8 seasons and 96 episodes so far and is still airing new episodes. The latest episode, Season 8 Episode 12 "D Day for Dairy Farmers", aired on May 12, 2026.
Documentary series following the struggles and triumphs of five very different farming families in some of Scotland's most beautiful and remote landscapes.
Last updated
96 episodes · 8 seasons
2016 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 10 years ago
E12
All the farmers from across the year reflect on what each season means to them.
E11
Martin prepares two young bulls for the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh.
E10
Sybil prepares for George's birthday and the arrival of her sister and niece from England.
E9
Bobby and Anne must gather their pregnant ewes from the hills ready for lambing.
E8
Spring arrives and John is expecting 6,000 new lambs, so hires in extra staff.
E7
Lambing season is just a month away. Martin tends to 500 pregnant ewes.
E6
Sandy Granville surveys the damage to his croft after one of the worst storms on record.
E5
In the far north, John is expanding his flock and his land.
E4
In the east of Scotland, Martin's sheds are full of pregnant cows.
E3
Crofters club together to dip their sheep in insecticide before mating time.
E2
George and Sybil gather in their sheep from over six square miles of rugged mountainside.
E1
Sea shepherd Sandy gathers in a flock of wild sheep from a remote Scottish island by boat.
2017 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 9 years ago
E12
Dairy farmers Stuart and Aylett Roan take a break from the cows to prepare for piglets.
E11
Janet and Alastair find something very unusual in a group of young female sheep.
E10
David is beset by pests and, out on the hill, his lambs are under threat from predators.
E9
Weaning time at the buffalo farm gives Stevie and his neighbours a sleepless night.
E8
Mel tries every trick in the book to help a first-time mum bond with her lambs.
E7
Highland cow Goldilocks gives Janet and Alastair a fright when a calving goes wrong.
E6
Alone on the farm, Mel must act fast to help a trapped bull.
E5
Steven and Tracey turn to technology to increase their chances of female calves.
E4
Robin and Penny's family arrive in the Highlands for the annual festive ceilidh.
E3
Stevie risks the wrath of the buffalo mums when he ear-tags four newborn calves.
E2
Newlyweds Mel and Martin introduce the newest member of the family, four-month-old Erin.
E1
On Mull, new entrant farmers Janet and Alastair take their lambs to auction.
2019 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 7 years ago
In the Highlands, new crofters Lynn and Sandra welcome more new sheep and take delivery of a batch of hens that they hope will lay the foundations of an egg empire.
Raymond and fiancee Jen take a busman’s holiday to Switzerland to help their friends gather their valais blacknose sheep from the mountaintops but their holiday turns into an Alpine adventure.
Raymond and a team of volunteers give the valais blacknose sheep a bath. Kirsty and Tom rescue fallen sheep on the isle. Stevie attempts to milk his first buffalo.
Lynn and Sandra harvest their first honey. The Rodgers give bull Mario a send-off. Raymond’s flock is under threat from flystrike, and 50 of Stevie’s buffalo escape.
Lynn and Sandra face the danger of a drought on the croft. Stevie’s buffalo herd go for a cooling dip in the loch. And at the Royal Highland Show, Raymond and Johnny aim high with their Charolais, while Aimee puts her pony skills to the test.
Raymond tests the market for his cross-bred valais blacknose sheep. Lynn and Sandra go to their first ever auction to buy sheep and hens for the croft.
In Shetland, Kirsty tackles her first breach birth. Stevie’s favourite pygmy goat Ginger struggles to give birth to twins. Raymond’s cows run amok on their way to the fields and the Rodgers take young heifer Nadia to the Balmoral Show.
The Rodgers face a final TB test. Animals arrive at Lynn and Sandra’s croft. Raymond is kept guessing by his surrogate sheep and a calving boom starts at Kirsty and Aimee’s farm.
A new family, dairy farmers the McLeans, are introduced. Raymond goes the extra mile to save his lambs. Stevie faces buffalo cow number 666, and Kirsty and Aimee take last year’s calves to market.
Inspectors arrive to check Raymond and Johnny’s subsidy claim. Kirsty and Aimee gather the flock in from St Ninian’s Isle. Lynn and Sandra host their first workshop at the croft.
New entrant crofting couple Lynn and Sandra send their first pigs to slaughter. Raymond’s best bull Major is injured in a brawl.
As the new year begins, we meet three new farming families. Father-and-son team Raymond and Johnny Irvine, Shetland sisters Kirsty and Aimee Budge and the Rodgers family in Co Down, Northern Ireland and buffalo farmer Stevie Mitchell returns.
2020 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 5 years ago
Emma and Ewan search for a new farm. Matt and Dani embark on a new project. Joyce introduces her lockdown purchase. Frank and Georgia fine-tune a new goat milk ice cream.
Emma and Ewan attempt to shear all their sheep, Matt and Murray embark on a dramatic gather, and Helen and Graham are forced to make a decision with devastating consequences.
Coronavirus grips the nation just as lambing is in full swing. The farmers pull out all the stops to keep their businesses afloat.
It’s a bumper lambing season for Matt and Dani. Emma and Ewan struggle with John Jo, their Whitebred bull, and there’s love in the air at Split Rock Croft.
Emma Gray sells sheepdog Meg for a world record-breaking price. Matt and Dani face the new farm's first cattle TB test. Joyce fights to save a poorly ewe.
It’s late winter, and Storm Ciara is wreaking havoc for hill farmer Joyce. Frank and Georgia’s water supply is cut off, and Helen and Graham deal with an escapee.
Helen and Graham's herd undergo blood tests, and Grey is introduced to sheep for the first time. Matt deals with an unexpected arrival, while Isla and George put their plans on hold.
Disaster strikes for Helen and Graham. Emma and Ewan receive bad news. Frank and Georgia introduce pygmy goat Pluto to the ladies, and Joyce heads to Edinburgh.
Ewan trains JohnJo the bull. Isla and George fight to save a poorly deer calf. Matt and Dani reach an important milestone, and Joyce tries to get the best price for her calves.
The stags are roaring on Isla and George’s farm, and Matt and Murray shop for a new tup. Joyce rescues her ewes, and Helen and Graham fear the worst for their poorly piglet.
Father and daughter team Frank and Georgia compete in the Westmoreland County Show, Matt and Murray deal with a DIY disaster and an escapee calf, and Emma and Ewan find out if their pedigree bull is firing on all cylinders.
In Armadale, a hill farmer prepares for one of Europe's biggest sheep sales, while in Haweswater, a couple take on the biggest gamble of their lives by moving to a larger farm 10 miles north.
2021 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 4 years ago
The Frasers experience teething problems with their new farm shop. In Fife, Mike and Pete work on their new joint venture. Emma and Ewan get back to training sheepdogs.
In Orkney, Sean draws one step closer to his dream. Plans for the farm shop are halted by a dramatic birth in Loch Ness. It’s launch day for the Love family in Stranraer.
Pumpkin season arrives at the Girvans' farm in Loch Ness, Kayleigh’s milkshakes go down a treat, and Emma and Ewan put their new tups to the test.
Emma and Ewan head to Kelso Ram Sales in search of three new tups. In Orkney, Sean joins the ranks of farmers selling stock online, and it's harvest time in Fife.
Barbara launches her first sunflower afternoon tea event, Sean and the family are faced with tragedy, and plans finally become reality for the Love family in Stranraer.
Emma and Ewan compete in the Bute Agricultural Show, Mike heads to Northern Ireland in search of a pedigree tup, and the drought causes problems for the Love family in Stranraer.
Emma and Ewan earn their first pay cheque for the new farm, while Joanna and Donald press ahead with plans for their farm shop and Sean returns home to the family farm.
Young farmer Sean hits the road for his annual sheep shearing trip, while the Love family press ahead with their dairy plans. Ronnie and Pete prepare for the Royal Highland Show.
Emma and Ewan hatch a plan to breed peacocks, Barbara gets her pumpkin plan off to a strong start, and Ronnie and Pete turn to cutting-edge science.
Ronnie and Pete prepare for a leggy new arrival, Joanna embarks on a steep learning curve, and young farmer Sean nears the end of a bumper lambing season.
Lambing is in full swing for the Cursiter family on Orkney, and it's full steam ahead for the Love family’s dairy plans. Meanwhile, Emma and Ewan struggle to get to grips with their new farm.
Following six farming families in some of Scotland’s most remote locations. Emma and Ewan move to their forever farm on Bute, while cousins Donald and David prepare for a busy lambing season.
2023 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 2 years ago
The Barclay boys hope to win the coveted Young Handler trophy at the Royal Highland Show. Rachel and Camy put their hopes in lamb patch. Nikki and Ollie open their doors to the public.
Jenni’s alpacas get their annual short back and sides, the MacDonald’s cattle make an epic journey across a tidal sandbar, while Nikki and Ollie down tools for Gala Day.
No matter what time of year, a farmer’s to-do list is never done. On his croft in the Cairngorms National Park, Robert is up to his elbows at lambing time. He has learned much from his dad Donald, but he still needs to call in the vet for a sick ewe. In Moray, Nikki and Ollie head to a local hotel to taste test a new dish made from their own rabbit meat. And in South Ayrshire, lambing is done, and the Barclays begin preparing their best sheep for show season.
Carianne searches for the missing mother of a newborn calf. Rachel and Camy are on the hills tending to their Cheviots. John and Heather help to deliver their Beltex lambs.
Jenni moves her alpacas to their new arena. The MacDonalds organise a massive breakfast run for their pregnant cows. Nikki and Ollie invest in a new honesty shack.
Rachel and Camy prepare to welcome this year’s Park Cheviot lambs. Nikki and Ollie’s rabbit breeding programme bears fruit. Robert heads to market to sell last year’s calves.
Carianne takes a bull to the Oban Highland Show. The Barclays are up all hours as they start lambing. Rachel and Camy gather in their ewes for an important pregnancy scan.
A deep freeze scuppers plans for the Barclays in South Ayrshire. Nikki and Ollie sell their produce at a Christmas farmers’ market. Robert gets to work on the new alpaca arena.
Fraser and Carianne head to the mainland to buy new tups. The Barclay family prepare their sheep for the Lanark Winter Show, while Nikki and Ollie try their hand at farming rabbits.
In North Uist, the Highland cattle are moved to a tidal island, and pregnancy is scanned. It’s showtime for Camy and Rachel, and in the Cairngorms, Jenni expands her animal menagerie.
The Barclays are finding their feet with the new Fat Lamb business. Rachel and Camy head to Lairg to buy more ewes. Nikki and Ollie find out if their favourite buffalo is pregnant.
Robert finds out how many of his cattle are pregnant in the Cairngorms, the MacDonalds test out their potato harvester in North Uist, and Nikki and Ollie’s cow goes into labour.
2025 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 1 year ago
E12
Andy and Jo bring in their crops and discover if they've made the grade. Nick and Holly are diversifying to secure their farming future, and the Bakers get their own milking cow.
E11
The Thomsons thrash out plans for Nick to take over the family farm. The Imrie's farm-to-fork event is hit by a storm, and Sally takes her son to market to sell his own lambs.
E10
On Papay, Paul and Mel juggle farm work with wedding prep, while Sally’s ewes in Caithness have been struck by a mystery illness. Jo and Andy turn lambs into much needed cash.
E9
The Imries prepare for their biggest event so far, but online ticket sales go down. Nick has a new business idea, while the Bakers pause shearing to join the Papay fun weekend.
E8
Andy and Jo compete at the Royal Highland Show. Sally juggles sheep and children while shearing her flock, and the Imrie family's event business kicks off in style.
E7
Paul turns to the community for help with a ewe in distress. The loss of some land puts succession into focus for Nick, while Ben and Matt race to get the event site ready on time.
E6
In the midst of lambing, Sally's son William gets chicken pox. Storms cause a lambing nightmare for Nick and his easy-care sheep. Jo and Andy must dig up precious wheat fields.
E5
With no hospital on Papay, Mel must have her baby on mainland Orkney. Nick and Derek fight to keep a calf alive and a nursery group get a lambing surprise at the Imrie family farm.
E4
John and Antoinette have their hands full, as Ben’s had to take a full-time job. The Morrises have a very difficult lambing, and Sally gets some long awaited news.
E3
The Imries wrestle stubborn pigs, while it's Nick’s easycare sheep versus dad’s trad breeds. On Papa Westray, Paul's ram has had a secret rendezvous with two ewes.
E2
A chasm appears in Andy and Jo’s wheat field, single mum Sally pregnancy-scans her ewes, while the Imrie family discuss an events business set-up to take pressure off the farm.
E1
It’s a big year as Nick prepares to take over the family farm from dad Derek. Jo and Andy await the fate of their swamped crops, and Paul and Mel trade farm tools for fish and chips.
2026 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 6 months ago
Behind on the dairy shed build, Lucy and Adam still need to buy cows to milk. Callum and Zara are building for their future, and Terrence’s heart appointment gives cause to reflect.
Emma's trail cams capture a family of hungry otters, big money is at stake for Ally at a prestigious ram sale, and it’s showtime on Arran for Callum and Zara’s young kids.
Andrew and Gayle’s baby boy arrives amidst the busy summer season, the dairy shed build takes its toll on Adam’s leg, and Ally and his crofting pals shear sheep on a remote island.
Noah, Bethany and Ally pull out the stops at their local show, Lucy and Adam have a new baby and a new business plan, and Callum receives a surprise award.
Andrew is singled out by His Royal Highness at a farmers' market, Emma and Rob’s first farm wedding and calving time collide, and Callum and Zara host historic sheepdog trials.
Lucy has a cunning plan to pair up dairy cows with motherless beef calves, Emma's parents are shown the ropes and left in charge, and signs of predation give Ally a tough decision.
Zara is shattered by a shocking discovery on her cattle round, Noah misses lambing his Herdwicks while studying for school exams, and Gayle is signed off work with pregnancy concerns.
Callum and Zara believe their newborn lambs are vulnerable to bird attacks, Lucy and Adam face selling their herd if the new farm falls through, and Emma prepares for an open farm day.
Adam and Lucy’s cows must test negative for TB before they can be moved, strict measures to protect Gayle’s pregnancy complicate lambing, and Bethany’s skills save a lamb’s life.
Zara worries that Callum’s accident has had a lasting effect, Emma and Rob call in the vet for a difficult birth, and Ally and Bethany set sail for an island sheep gather.
Ally is hoping to make his mark at Dingwall Mart, Adam and Lucy are under huge pressure to make the big move earlier than expected, and winter storms cost the Glenn family dearly.
Dairy farmers Lucy and Adam risk it all with a huge financial gamble. Meanwhile, Callum's attempts to get lambs to market are hampered by storms, while Emma and Rob wrangle a feisty bullock.
A date for the next episode of This Farming Life hasn't been announced yet. Follow This Farming Life in the Streambay app and you'll be notified as soon as a new episode airs.
The most recent episode of This Farming Life, Season 8 Episode 12 "D Day for Dairy Farmers", aired on May 12, 2026.
This Farming Life has 8 seasons with 96 episodes in total.
This Farming Life first aired on BBC Scotland on March 7, 2016.
Download the Streambay app, follow This Farming Life, and you'll get a push notification the moment each new episode is released.
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