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20/08/22 Farming Today This Week: Fishing bans, Seasonal labour and Sheep farming

Caz Graham reflects on the biggest farming stories from the past week, from fishing bans and seasonal labour shortages to the future of sheep farming.

Now the UK has left the EU, changes afoot in how farmers are supported by government. Uplands sheep farmers are at the sharp end of these changes, as their incomes often rely heavily on the old Basic Payment Scheme. Many are frustrated with how long it鈥檚 taking to get the new schemes up and running - as Caz Graham finds out, speaking to a sheep farmer in the Lake District fells. Meanwhile others say nature and biodiversity would be better off without sheep-farming altogether...

This week saw revelations about the exploitation of seasonal workers coming to the UK from Indonesia. Caz Graham speaks to Emily Dugan, who wrote about this for the Guardian newspaper; And following a full virtual mailbag of feedback from listeners, we address questions about why international workers are needed in the first place with Tom Bradshaw from the National Farmers' Union.

And the government's announced plans to create Highly Protected Marine Areas in five locations around the UK coast, where there'll be a total ban on all commercial and recreational fishing. But at one of those sites, around Holy Island off the Northumberland coast, islanders say the move will rip the heart out of their community.

Presented by Caz Graham
Produced in Bristol by Lucy Taylor

25 minutes

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Aug 2022 06:30

Podcast