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Farming Today: 24/05/2013

24/05/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 24/05/2013

The humble spud becomes less humble as potato prices soar.

Farming and countryside news with Charlotte Smith. Recent weather is blamed for a shortfall in potato crops, leading to a steep rise in price.

Over the past few weeks there has been a steep rise in the price of potatoes. A shortfall due to the weather is being blamed for a threefold increase in the price paid by caterers and small food outlets. The British Potato Council says it expects prices to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the delay in planting this season's crop. Also on Farming Today, The Scottish Government has outlined how it'll share the £6 million it's making available to help farmers hit by bad weather.

Those who lost more than 10% of their ewes, or lost 5 or more per cent of other breeding livestock will be eligible for compensation - as will arable farmers who had to re-sow more than a fifth of their crops. Farmers can apply to the fund from the beginning of June and a committee will then decide who to give the money to. When the package was announced on May 1st , Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary , Richard Lochead said the money was to help farmers get back on their feet after the worst snow in living memory. And around a third of wild plants in Britain are edging towards extinction. Figures from the charity Plantlife show that out of a total of about 1,400 wild plants, 45 are classed as Critically Endangered, 101 species are Endangered and 307 species are listed as Vulnerable. Presented by Charlotte Smith. Produced by Anna Varle.

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