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Farming Today: 25/10/2013

25/10/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 25/10/2013

Will the government's pollination plan address the decline of both bees and bee farmers?

Farming news. Bee farmers say their numbers are in decline along with their hives. Can a new National Pollinator Strategy help? Charlotte Smith speaks to the Bee Minister.

Bee farmers say they're not being offered enough help to increase the numbers of commercial beekeepers. The Bee Farmers Association say the mobile hives which are used to pollinate fruit trees and crops are essential for farmers. They say the overall number of hives in the UK has fallen by more than a half in the last 20 years and the Government's current plans don't do enough to boost bee populations.

This week, Defra have organised a meeting to create a new pollinator strategy, which will be published in December. They say that they recognise the need to address our declining numbers of bees, through environmental schemes and research into disease.

And we find out about a scheme to help children experience farming. The County Council's Farm-wise scheme this week hosted over 1000 kids, many of whom got up close to farm animals for the first time, as well as learning more about where their food comes from.

All this week, Farming Today is looking at the return of organic food. But it's not all about what's on the supermarket shelves. According to the Soil Association, box schemes have proved popular and good value for money. We speak to one scheme organiser in Brighton who says his production costs have been the same for the past six years

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside. Presented by Charlotte Smith, and Produced by Jules Benham.

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