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Farming Today: 30/04/2012

30/04/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 30/04/2012

Charlotte Smith hears from dairy farmers facing an eight per cent cut in their pay.

Dairy farmers say a cut to their milk price means losses of thousands of pounds. Dairy Crest says it's acting to secure the future of its dairies in a very challenging market.

Dairy farmers say a decision to cut the amount they are paid for milk with just four days' notice could cost them thousands of pounds and could force some out of business altogether. Milk processor Dairy Crest will pay 2p a litre less to around 500 of its UK farmers from the start of May. The National Farmers' Union has described the move as exploitation and warned other processors may now follow suit. Dairy Crest says it is acting to secure the future of its dairies in a very challenging market.

There are still 1.3 million acres of common land in England and Wales alone but the Foundation for Common Land fears many in the UK are being abandoned. Charlotte Smith takes a walk around a centuries-old common in the Chilterns to find out what makes them special.

This programme is presented by Charlotte Smith and produced in Birmingham by Angela Frain.

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30/04/2012

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