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Farming Today: 13/06/2011

13/06/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 13/06/2011

Farmers facing drought tell Charlotte Smith how they are coping.

Farmers are facing a difficult harvest in the face of drought conditions. Charlotte Smith asks what they can do to save their crops.

Farmers in parts of Eastern England face the threat of abstraction bans now an official drought has been called in their area. Several other regions are facing near-drought conditions following months of dry weather and little rainfall. Charlotte Smith asks how badly farmers have been impacted and what they can do to cope with limited water. 

Only the third outbreak of bilberry blight anywhere in the world has broken out in the Roaches area of the Peak District. It has the potential to destroy large areas of vegetation and important wildlife habitats. Farming Today reports on how scientists from Moors for the Future are trying to stop it spreading further. 

The German E. coli outbreak cost some British salad growers £15 thousand per hectare in lost sales, according to MEP Richard Howitt who is campaigning for compensation. MEPs will vote this week on whether to give £187 million to salad farmers who have been impacted by a drop in sales. 

Presented by Charlotte Smith. Produced by Anne-Marie Bullock.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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13/06/2011

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