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Farming Today: Cost of the Floods, Butterflies and New-builds

19/02/2014

Cost of the Floods, Butterflies and New-builds

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Cost of the Floods, Butterflies and New-builds

As the floodwaters subside in some areas, the cost of the clear-up is beginning to emerge.

Farming and countryside news. The true cost of the clear-up begins to emerge, as the floodwaters start to subside. And find out why 2013 was a bumper year for farmland butterflies.

As the floodwaters start to subside in some areas of the UK, the true cost of the clear-up is beginning to emerge. It's expected that claims for storm and flood damage will amount to up to £80 million for the insurers NFU Mutual. The company who insure almost three quarters of farms in the UK and many rural properties say they've already been dealing with more than 8000 claims.

After suffering from the wet weather in 2012, last summer proved to be a bumper year for farmland butterflies. A new report out today shows that almost double the number of butterflies on farmland were recorded compared to the year previously.

The Government says that fewer homes were built between 2009 and 2010 than any year in peace time since the 1920's. With just over 100,000 new builds during that time, they are now urging developers and local councils to build more houses. With land being in such high demand Farming Today looks at whether farmers could be sitting on a goldmine.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Lucy Bickerton.

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