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Farming Today: 14/10/2013

14/10/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 14/10/2013

Tens of thousands of cattle are killed in snowstorms in the United States.

Tens of thousands of cattle have perished in the worst snowstorms to hit South Dakota in living memory. Farming Today talks a rancher who estimates she's lost 65% of her stock.

Farmers in the mid-west of America are still trying to assess their losses, after unseasonable snowstorms hit the state of South Dakota. Tens of thousands of cattle are believed to have perished in the cold and wet. Some ranchers are only now able to get out to their pastures to see whether any of their animals have survived. Charlotte Smith talks to one who estimates that she's lost 65% of her herd.

The first results are in from scientists investigating why this year's sugar beet crop had serious problems, including failure to germinate and twisted roots. They believe the cold spring did have an impact, but that's not the only cause.

And this week Farming Today takes a look at the issue of bio-energy. What are farmers contributing to green energy provision, and what's the knock-on effect for food production?

Presented by Charlotte Smith. Produced in Bristol by Emma Campbell.

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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