Farming Today

01/11/24 Budget: upland farmers and environmental schemes, tax rules, home nations. Soil surveys Nov 01, 2024

As part of the budget, farmers in England have been told direct payments will be phased out more quickly than originally planned. Under the EU system farmers were paid subsidy based on the amount of land they farmed - that system is being replaced with new schemes, which are different in the four nations of the UK. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland farmers continue to get direct payments at the moment. In England the phase out started in 2021. So many farmers are already getting around half what they used to, with payments ending in 2027. In England, the biggest reductions will be for the farmers who historically got the biggest payments. We speak to an upland farmer whose old payments are ending but he says there aren't any new schemes he can apply for yet, so he's losing tens of thousands of pounds. Changes to inheritance tax and agricultural property relief were also announced in the budget. We speak to a rural property expert about what impact those changes will have. Farming unions say farmers and their families may have to sell up to pay the tax.

NFU Scotland gives their reaction to the budget.

All week we've been focusing on soils. A project to analyse soil health with a view to improving the environment and profitability has been taken up by hundreds of farmers. Technicians go on to farms to look at what might be done to improve the land and make it more sustainable. Lloyds Bank is paying for some of its customers to take part in the audit which is carried out by the Soil Association Exchange.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

31/10/2024 - The Budget: inheritance tax will apply to farms from April 2026 Oct 31, 2024

We look at how the Budget affects agriculture and farming businesses. Inheritance tax will apply to farms from April 2026. The National Farmers' Union tells us farming is being "bled dry" and has "nothing left to give". The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, has confirmed that next year's farming budget for England remains unchanged at £2.4 billion. There was no mention of nature in the Chancellor's budget speech, something the Wildlife Trusts highlighted, saying "The UK Government must commit to long-term strategic funding for nature’s recovery and provide greater funding for environmental regulators".

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

30/10/24 Budget preview, environmental targets, soil health on dairy farm, pumpkins Oct 30, 2024

Labour's first Budget for 14 years will be delivered by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves today. The treasury's confirmed a 6.7% increase in the national living wage for UK workers over the age of 21 and the national minimum wage for those aged between 18 and 20 will also rise by £1.40 per hour. It's one decision that could impact farming businesses. We look at what other potential announcements could mean for agriculture and the environment.

The government's set out new criteria for meeting nature conservation targets. Environment secretary Steve Reed made the announcement at the COP16 biodviersity summit in Columbia. He renewed the pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030. However the government's said it's had to revise its estimate of how much land in England currently qualifies for those targets - it's not as much as it thought. Sites of Special Scientific Interest will only count when they're in a favourable or recovering condition.

All week we've been unearthing stories of farms that are paying close attention to the health of their soils. Today we hear from a dairy farmer in west Wales who's turned his back on what he describes as a 'traditional farming system' to take a more ecological approach, working from the ground up.

It's almost Halloween and for some farmers, pumpkin picking has become an important diversification but bad weather has ruined the harvest in parts of the country this year. One grower in Cheshire had to cancel his pumpkin festival, which accounts for half the farm's annual income. However the family's turned to its orchards and is holding an apple festival instead.

Presenter = Steffan Messenger Producer = Rebecca Rooney

29/10/24 Hedgehogs on red list, soil survey in Northern Ireland, wet weather and grape harvest Oct 29, 2024

Hedgehogs have been moved up the red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation. The IUCN says the European Hedgehog is in worrying and widespread decline, and it has moved it from "least concern" to "near threatened". We ask the Mammal Society why hedgehogs are a cause for concern.

All week we're digging down into the subject of soil. Northern Ireland is running one of the most comprehensive soil nutrient sampling schemes that any country has ever undertaken. The £37 million 'Soil Nutrient Health Scheme', funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs aims to sample nearly every one of Northern Ireland's 700,000 or so fields. It's believed the results could help farmers improve their soils, better manage nutrient application and reduce nutrient loss to water bodies, not least Lough Neagh.

Many crops have suffered with the wet weather this year. For vineyard owners, the wet has encouraged detrimental diseases and low yields. For organic wine producers, the options to combat the effects of a wet summer are minimal. We visit a vineyard where this autumn's harvest is half what it should be, because of the weather.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

28/10/24 - Salmon deaths, mink eradication and soil Oct 28, 2024

A rise in sea temperatures is being blamed for the death of more than a million fish on salmon farming sites. MOWI - the company that runs the sites - says increased sea temperatures in the last 2 years led to an influx of jellyfish and algae, which harmed the fish. But campaigners say having large numbers of salmon concentrated in once place is the real problem - claiming it compromises their health, making them more vulnerable when water temperatures fluctuate.

Invasive mink could be eradicated from the South East of England. Mink eat water voles - as well as other animals and birds - and projects are underway across the country to try and eradicate them. After successful efforts in Norfolk and Suffolk, The Waterlife Recovery Trust, with the help of volunteers and landowners, has laid two thousand floating "smart traps” along waterways.

And soil has been rising up the agenda in the last decade - among farmers, conservationists and politicians. Farmers in England can be paid to improve soil health and, in Northern Ireland, the government is funding country-wide soil sampling. So how much difference is it making?

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

26/10/24 Farming Today This Week: greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, illegal meat imports, alpaca spit test, white maize Oct 26, 2024

This week we are focusing on livestock and their impact on climate change. We hear about the concerns over the number of livestock here in the UK, and find out how farmers are reducing emissions by growing cattle faster or breeding sheep to burp less.

A BBC freedom of information request has revealed that the amount of illegal meat seized by border force officials has doubled in a year.

Charlotte Smith revisits a farmer growing white maize, a staple crop in his native Zimbabwe. Eleven years since her last visit, David Mwanaka now rents a council farm near Cambridgeshire and his farm selling exotic crops is going strong.

Alpaca breeders use something called a 'spit off' or a 'spit test' to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

25/10/24 - Neonics, reducing emission from dairy and PYO pumpkins Oct 25, 2024

Following an application from farmers for the emergency use of a neonicotinoid pesticide on next year's sugar beet crop the Government has told Farming Today that it will ban neonics, but that a decision on this application will be taken 'in line with legal requirements'. We understand that that means farmers may get permission this time - but not again.

We visit a Wiltshire farm, where the family who run it have spent the last 4 years changing the way they do things to reduce their carbon footprint. It's a mixed farm with dairy, beef and arable, and alongside trying to reduce the emissions from their livestock, they're also hoping to increase how much carbon they sequester by planting trees in an agroforestry project.

And the Bower family farm in Staffordshire grows crops, and vegetables and has a herd of sheep and another herd of beef cattle. But locals are far more likely to know it for the pumpkin patch and the play barn - which pull in more than 100,000 visitors every year. We head to the pumpkin patch!

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

24/10/24 - Reducing emissions from beef, diversity training in farming, cattle sold as no one to take on farm Oct 24, 2024

This week we are focusing on livestock and their impact on climate change. We've heard about the concerns over the number of livestock here in the UK, and today we find out how beef farmers are reducing emissions by growing cattle faster.

An online course has been launched to raise awareness of the importance, and lack of, diversity in UK agriculture. Nuffield Farming Scholarships say farming is one of the least diverse industries in the country in terms of ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation, and one of the barriers to changing that is the lack of understanding in the sector.

The latest government figures show that 60% of farmers are over 55, with 38% over 65 and just 15% are under 45. The reality of that is highlighted by farm sales: Michael Read is 79 and has an award winning heard of Lincolnshire Red cattle, or at least he did until earlier this month when the herd was sold as none of the family wanted to take on the farm.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

23/10/24 - Bird of prey deaths, ruminant emissions and spitting alpacas Oct 23, 2024

The RSPB says more than 1,300 protected birds of prey have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years. The Birdcrime report blames rogue gamekeepers who, it claims, are more concerned about protecting the gamebirds on their shooting estates. But the British Association for Shooting and Conservation says its members have "absolutely zero tolerance" of the illegal shooting of birds of prey.

The Green Alliance says the number of ruminant livestock in the UK needs to be reduced to reach Net Zero targets, and that farmers should be supported to change their businesses.

And the British Alpaca Society estimates there are around 45 thousand alpacas in the UK, kept for breeding and for their high quality fleece. Alpaca breeders use something called a spit-off or a spit-test to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action!

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

22/10/24 - Unspent flood money, low emission sheep, seasonal workers and bison calves Oct 22, 2024

Less than 5% of a £50 million fund promised to farmers who were hit by last winter's floods, has been paid out. The Farming Recovery Fund was set-up by the previous government to support farmers whose land had been damaged by floodwater during Storm Babet and Storm Henk. But figures revealed by a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Farmers Weekly show that, so far, just £2.1 million of it has been spent.

A selective breeding trial on a sheep farm in Shropshire is hoping to reduce methane emissions from the animals by around 35 per cent within 5 years. Lambs taking part in the experiment are put into a metal box with a window - called a Portable Accumulation Chamber - so their emissions can be measured. Animals found to produce lower levels of methane are then selected for breeding programmes - in time reducing the emissions from the flock.

The number of Seasonal Workers allowed visas to work in poultry and horticulture next year in England has been confirmed by DEFRA - 43,000 in horticulture and 2,000 for poultry. Although the announcement has been welcomed by the National Farmers Union, it's pressing for a permanent scheme which would run every year.

And the Bison introduced into a woodland in Kent as a re-wilding project have had calves. But why are rangers are collecting their dung?

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

21/10/24 - Budget concerns for farming and the environment, emissions from livestock Oct 21, 2024

We hear warnings from the Country Land and Business Association that changing tax rules for farms could close many down.

The RSPB says any cuts to the farming budget would put nature and climate targets at risk.

To start our week looking at greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, we speak to Professor Sir Charles Godfrey of the Oxford Martin School who says we should be producing less and better meat.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

19/10/24 - Farming Today This Week: Biodiversity COP, UK wine and organic milk shortages Oct 19, 2024

The UK is in danger of violating international agreements on restoring nature, according to The Wildlife Trusts. It says the upcoming COP 16 on biodiversity is a crucial chance for the Government to demonstrate how it will meet targets to halt and reverse the decline of nature by 2030.

As the grape harvest gets underway, we take a deep dive into a growing UK farm sector - viticulture. There are more than 10,000 acres of vines grown across the UK, and that area is expanding. Recent data shows more than 80 new vineyards opened in 2023 - bringing the total number to more than a thousand for the first time.

And where has all the organic skimmed milk gone? Our listeners wanted to know...so we found out.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

18/10/24 - COP 16, soil microbes, wine tourisim Oct 18, 2024

The UK is in danger of violating international agreements on restoring nature, that's according to the Wildlife Trusts. The Trusts' chief executive, Craig Bennet, tells us next week's COP 16 on biodiversity is a crucial chance for the Government to demonstrate how it will meet targets.

Tom Heap explores the microscopic world of microbes, including an experiment to improve the resilience of wheat.

Viticulture is one of the fastest growing parts of agriculture here in the UK. Recent data shows that more than 80 new vineyards opened in 2023, bringing the total number to over a thousand for the first time. But many rely on tourism to make them financially stable, and the industry body Wine GB estimates there were over 1.5 million visits to vineyards and wineries last year.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton

17/10/24 - Review of Defra's rules, decline in the beef herd, wine harvest Oct 17, 2024

The government has announced that Defra should be a 'key economic growth department' and has ordered a review into its regulations and regulators. That's been welcomed by some, like the Country Land and Business Association, which says ministers need 'a laser like focus on identifying and removing the barriers to economic growth in the countryside'. The National Farmers' Union told us it wants a 'proportionate and predictable' regulatory environment for farmers. But others are more wary: campaigners have described the move as 'dispiriting', fearing that it could mean less regulation to stimulate economic growth at the cost of environmental protections. The internal review will be led by an economist, Dan Corry, who was head of the Number 10 Policy Unit under Gordon Brown.

The size of England's beef herd has continued its fall. It's come down by 5% in the last year and now stands at 595000. In the ten years before that, the number of cattle bred for meat fell by 13%. The National Beef Association is calling on the Government to introduce new payments to farmers to halt what it calls an alarming trend.

UK winemakers' harvest is underway. It too has fallen victim to the weather which has made the cereal harvest in England one of the worst since the 1980s. For grapes, the wet cold weather prevented or delayed pollination, with some yields are down 90%.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

16/10/24 Bluetongue restrictions, champagne producers in Kent, organic milk Oct 16, 2024

Bluetongue disease continues to affect livestock across England, and into Wales. The virus, which can be fatal to sheep, is transmitted by biting midges, which breed in warm temperatures. Over the last few weeks, DEFRA has increased the areas where animal movements are restricted. We speak to a breeder in Suffolk whose pedigree flock is under lockdown because of the restrictions. He's been unable to sell his rams at market and has criticised the government for not tackling the disease sooner. He feels he should be compensated. Defra says it's taking prompt action to mitigate the spread of the disease.

All week we're discussing wine, and in England, sparkling white wine has been going from strength to strength. That's attracted interest and investment from one of the world’s best known Champagne houses. Taittinger has opened a vineyard near Canterbury in Kent and will soon be bottling its first wine from there.

Listeners have told us they can't get hold of semi skimmed organic milk in the supermarket. We speak to a dairy consultant to find out why.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

15/10/24 - Renewable community benefits, English sparking wine, grassland payments Oct 15, 2024

New energy infrastructure projects like solar and wind farms don't always go down well with local communities. But what if people living nearby got cheaper energy bills or even owned shares in the development? When asked about new energy infrastructure last month, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said he wants to "do deals with local people so they can see a benefit for their community". We find out how that could work for rural people.

We visit Chapel Down on the North Downs in Kent. It's England’s largest wine maker and still has ambitious plans for expansion, including planting more than 100 acres of new vines.

More than 30 organisations have written to the Government to say the current system of farm payments is encouraging some farmers to tear up fields of permanent pasture, which could be managed to become species-rich meadows.

And how do you harvest walnuts? We go along and take a look.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

14/10/24 - Harvest 2024, eco-friendly twine, UK wine Oct 14, 2024

The 2024 wheat harvest is the second worst since records began in 1983, according to DEFRA. That won't be much of a surprise to famers across the country who have battled wet weather which has destroyed some crops and disrupted planting plans and harvest. What will it mean for farm businesses and consumers?

We visit a trial in Cornwall which is testing if twine made from sisal could be an an eco-friendly alternative to wrapping bales of hay and straw in plastic netting. Sisal twine is made from plants and was traditionally used by farmers until it was replaced by plastic.

And vineyards are preparing to start harvesting their grapes at this time of year. We get a snapshot of this growing sector.

Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

12/10/24 Farming Today This Week: charges for inspections at abattoirs, beef prices, slurry spreading in Wales, water management Oct 12, 2024

Proposals for abattoirs to take on more of the cost of vets and meat inspectors are 'excessive and dangerous' according to the meat industry. The Association of Independent Meat suppliers or AIMS which represents both big and small slaughterhouses, says the Food Standards Agency's plan to remove or reduce the discount offered to smaller abattoirs risks 'single-handedly destroying the foundations of the British meat industry. The FSA have urged people to take part in their consultation.

Farmers are getting the highest price for their beef animals in England and Wales, for ten years. Part of the reason, according to Meat Promotion Wales, is growing domestic demand. We speak to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Some Welsh farmers claim they're having to choose between the risk of polluting rivers or breaking the law, ahead of a controversial muck-spreading ban. New rules forbid slurry spreading across Wales from mid October to January, in an effort to protect water quality.

After a record breaking year of rainfall across many parts of the UK water management has become an ever pressing issue for farmers. In Wales, it's a year since the launch of the Welsh Government's Natural Flood Management Accelerator programme. We visit a natural flood management project that's part of the two-year £4.6 million pound programme.

Conservationists in Devon are working with Natural England to see whether there could be some kind of financial support for farmers who make space for beavers on their land as part of natural flood management.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

11/10/24 - Employment rights, beavers, Welsh slurry spreading rules Oct 11, 2024

The government has published its Employment Rights Bill - so what will it mean for farmers and the staff who work for them? Its key proposals include protection against unfair dismissal from day one, flexible working, improved rights for sick pay, bereavement and parental leave, and a move to regulate zero hours contracts. Most of the planned changes won’t take effect until 2026 and there’ll be a period of consultation between now and then.

Conservationists have long argued that the reintroduction of beavers can help reduce the risk of flooding - the dams they build slow the flow of water in rivers, holding it back from built-up areas further downstream. Well, beavers have been living wild on the River Otter in East Devon for at least 16 years, but last year, there was significant flooding in the area.

And some Welsh farmers have claimed they are having to choose between the risk of polluting rivers or breaking the law, ahead of a controversial muck-spreading ban. New rules forbid slurry spreading across Wales from mid October to January, in an effort to protect water quality. NFU Cymru says there is "enormous concern" after wet conditions have hampered efforts to empty slurry stores ahead of the deadline. But the organisation representing Welsh rivers' trusts say farmers have had years to prepare for the changes.

Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

10/10/24 Threat of the bark beetle to UK forestry, seabed damage in protected areas, re-wiggling rivers Oct 10, 2024

How best to stop the spread of a tiny beetle that could have a huge impact on the future health and profits of UK forestry? From the end of this month all new planting of spruce, with a handful of exceptions, will be banned across much of the south east of England. The restrictions form part of the Government's plans to control the bark beetle, a pest which has caused significant damage to forests across Europe. It was first found in the UK in 2018, this latest measure is a new addition to current rules restricting the felling and movement of spruce trees, their bark and their wood.

Environmental groups say the Scottish Government is failing the nation’s marine environment by leaving large areas of the seabed unprotected. It’s ten years since the introduction of Marine Protected Areas, but restrictions have still not been fully implemented.

We're talking about how we manage water in the landscape all this week, so we’ve been to see how re-wiggling a river works on a restored floodplain in Wiltshire.

Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

09/10/24 - Natural capital report, Thames Water reservoir, beef prices Oct 09, 2024

We cannot achieve food security or climate stability without restoring nature according to a new report from Natural England, which outlines the value of the natural world to our society and our economy. The State of Natural Capital Report says the wildlife and countryside in England should be seen as a 'National Wealth Service' - an economic asset which is vital to national prosperity. It puts a figure on the value of some natural services - for instance it claims pollination is worth around 500 million pounds to agriculture.

Thames Water wants to build a new reservoir near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, which could hold 150 billion litres of water! It would cover 4 and half square miles and the company says it would secure future water supply for 15 million people across the South East. But local campaigners say Thames Water should focus on reducing water leakage, before building it. We hear from one farmer facing a compulsory purchase order of some of their land if the plans are approved.

And farmers are getting the highest price for their beef animals in England and Wales, for ten years. Part of the reason, according to Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru), is growing domestic demand.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

08/10/24 - Cell-cultivated protein, natural flood management, Dartmoor wild camping Oct 08, 2024

More than a million pounds is being given by the Government to the Food Standards Agency, to decide what needs to be put in place to ensure new, "cell-cultivated" foodstuffs will be safe to eat. We hear from the FSA's Chief Scientific Advisor.

The long-running case about whether the public can 'wild camp' on Dartmoor, will be heard in the Supreme Court, where a final determination will be made. The dispute is between Dartmoor National Park and landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall, who own Stall Moor common on south-west Dartmoor.

It's one year since the launch of the Welsh Government's Natural Flood Management Accelerator programme - a 2-year, £4.6 million investment in nature-based solutions to reduce flooding. We visit one of the 23 projects.

And people living in a small coastal community near Robin's Hood Bay in North Yorkshire say they fear being cut off this winter, after a landslip caused the closure of the only road in and out of their village. It's not yet known when the road will be fixed. In the meantime the council has set up an alternative route - a 12 mile diversion via a former railway line - but, locals say it's unsuitable and potentially unsafe during the winter months.

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

07/10/24 Charges for abattoir inspections, water management Oct 07, 2024

Plans to get abattoirs to take on more of the cost of vets and meat inspectors are "excessive and dangerous" according to the meat industry. The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, (AIMS) which represents both big and small slaughterhouses, says the Food Standards Agency's proposal to remove or reduce the discount offered to smaller abattoirs risks "single handedly destroying the foundations of the British meat industry".' The FSA, which covers England, Northern Ireland and Wales, has issued a "call for evidence" on the proposed changes, saying that the costs of providing inspectors and official vets have increased and that needs to be passed onto businesses.

All week we're going to look at water management. After a year that has seen storms and vast amounts of flooding, how we respond to weather events in future as the climate changes is a hot topic. We speak to one of the scientists leading a new, government funded research project. Using cutting edge technology the new Flood and Drought Research Infrastructure will measure flooding and droughts to create models that will allow us to predict them, and to find out how we might be able to reduce their impact in the future.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

05/10/24 Farming Today This Week: 'Poultry police', dairy recruitment crisis, imported carrots, deer. Oct 05, 2024

Poultry keepers say they can't access government websites to register their birds. From 1st October anyone who keeps birds has to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, to help with monitoring bird flu outbreaks, even those with just one or two chickens. Failure to comply could mean a fine of £2,500. However bird owners who've tried to register say the system is not working. Defra says it's had a high number of applications and is working at pace to process them.

Dairy farmers are finding it a 'real struggle' to recruit new staff, according to industry experts, The farmer-owned dairy coop Arla spoke to nearly 500 UK dairy farmers and just under 90% of them said they had advertised jobs and had few or no applicants at all. So what’s holding young people back from a life working with dairy cows in a career that can also involve robotics, veterinary science and data analysis to mention just a few of the skills involved in modern milk production?

The UK is 97% self-sufficient in carrots, according to the British Carrot Association, but poor weather over the last year has meant supermarket shelves stocked with bags of carrots imported from China, Israel and other countries. Is that a trend that’s likely to continue?

We’ve been talking about deer all this week, their impact on the environment and how to manage their growing population.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

04/10/24 Poultry register, fishing and offshore wind farms, TB in deer Oct 04, 2024

Poultry keepers say they can't access government websites to register their birds. From 1st October anyone who keeps birds has to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, to help with monitoring bird flu outbreaks, even those with just one or two chickens. Failure to comply could mean a fine of £2,500. However bird owners who've tried to register say the system is not working. Defra says it's had a high number of applications and is working at pace to process them. It says it will be improving its technology to make it more effective for people to register.

Fishermen in the South West of England say they are "beyond frustrated" by proposals to expand offshore wind farm sites off the coast of Devon and Cornwall. The Crown Estate's latest plan includes thousands of square miles off Land's End and the Isles of Scilly, currently prime fishing grounds, and an expanded zone off north Devon. Fishermen claim they - and other EU boats - will be squeezed into ever more pressurised fishing grounds. Meanwhile, those in favour of an expansion of offshore wind are wondering why it's taking so long to get anything off the ground.

All week we've been talking about deer, just like cattle, wild deer are susceptible to tuberculosis, and there’s concern that they could transmit the disease to other wild deer, and cattle. In the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, a group of farmers, land owners, vets and deer-stalkers are one year into a project, looking into this. They’re monitoring the prevalence of TB in wild deer through drone surveys and blood tests, and giving hands-on training on how to spot TB in deer carcasses.

Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected