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Farming Today: 18/02/2014

18/02/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 18/02/2014

Contaminated floodwater poisoned livestock in Wales. Can Somerset learn lessons?

Livestock in Wales died as a result of eating silage contaminated with lead deposited by a flood in 2012. Are there lessons to be learnt for the rain-soaked south of England?

The worry in the rain-soaked south of England is not only 'when will the floodwaters go?', but 'what will they leave behind?' Researchers at the University of Aberystwyth have published a paper which shows livestock died as a result of eating silage contaminated with lead, deposited by a flood in 2012. The lead, a remnant from heavy metal mining in the area, killed several beef cattle. Anna Hill discusses the findings with the university's director of agriculture, Professor Will Haresign, and asks whether there are lessons to be learned for other areas of the country.

Staying with the floods, Anna finds out about a special edition of Radio 4's Costing the Earth. Tom Heap explores how best to avoid disasters like this in the future.

Wildlife groups have worked for years to protect native red squirrels from being overwhelmed by greys, which out-compete them for food and pass on disease. But it seems a new saviour could be the horizon, in the shape of the pine marten, which happily feeds on grey squirrels. Scientists in Ireland have found that in areas where there are significant populations of European pine martens, grey squirrels have declined in number or disappeared altogether.

And Sarah Falkingham has a report from the Yorkshire Dales National Park about proposals to convert old stone barns into houses, without planning permission. Some National Park Authority officials claim the landscape will be changed forever if barns become houses, while others believe it will bring a welcome injection of cash for struggling farmers.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Anna Jones.

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