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Farming Today: 08/10/2014

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08/10/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 08/10/2014

Farming minister George Eustice addresses the issue of falling milk prices.

Stories include cuts to rural health practices, farm-based activities for elderly retired farmers and the latest on falling milk prices with farming minister George Eustice.

As Farmers for Action protest against falling milk prices, the milk processing companies claim that they are reacting to global events. We ask how the rest of Europe's Dairy farmers - who are they facing similar pressures, how they are dealing with plummeting prices? Kevin Belamy, a senior analyst with the Dutch bank Rabobank gives us the picture. Then Farming Minister George Eustice responds to the hardships that many British dairy farmers are experiencing. Anna Hill puts asks him whether now is the time for the Voluntary Dairy Code to be made mandatory. 

On Monday's edition of Farming Today we reported on the pressures faced by rural GP practices. Today we hear from Rob Gee of Coniston in the Lake District who is Chair of the 'SOS Group, Friends of Coniston Surgery'. We hear how villagers are campaigning to keep their surgery open. 

What happens to older men from rural communities who no longer work on farms, and who face the challenges of rural isolation and ageing? That's what's being addressed by The Countrymen's Club who're hosted by Rylands Care Farm in north Dorset. Twice a week the men come and help muck out the livestock. As part of our Rural Health theme we meet them on the farm.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Mark Smalley.

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