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Farming Today: 30/08/2011

30/08/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 30/08/2011

Anna Hill hears how demand for venison could lead to 500 more deer farms in the UK.

Scotland needs 500 more venison farms to keep up with consumer demand according to the body representing the industry. In the past three years UK sales have risen by a third.

Anna Hill hears that UK sales for venison have gone up by a third in past three years. The body representing the industry in Scotland says to keep up with demand, another 500 venison farms need to be created. Both roe deer and red deer are being marketed as game meats. 

The state of the nation's rivers has improved dramatically in the past 50 years, according to the Environment Agency. It says work carried out in partnership with farmers in recent years has helped to reduce farm pollution from running off the land and into waterways. The Agency has published a list of the 10 most improved rivers, including the River Nar in East Anglia. One fisheries manager along the River Nar says the river which feeds into his smaller lakes became clogged up with silt from the river over the years. He says he has seen improvement following recent dredging work.

And also in the programme, the seeds which will grow into next seasons potatoes will soon be ready to be lifted from the ground in Scotland. The country is world famous for producing seed potatoes because of low aphid levels and mild climate. 

Presenter: Anna Hill; Producer: Angela Frain.

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