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Farming Today: Mushrooms, Wheat, Salt Marsh and Chartered Agriculture

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16/10/2014

Mushrooms, Wheat, Salt Marsh and Chartered Agriculture

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Mushrooms, Wheat, Salt Marsh and Chartered Agriculture

Sybil Roscoe with news of warnings that foraging for fungi is damaging ancient woodland.

Sybil Roscoe presents news of warnings that foraging for fungi is damaging ancient woodland, and how salt marshes are protecting vulnerable coastlines.

Warnings that foraging for fungi is damaging ancient woodlands. In London and the south east of England, foragers are scouting in the woods for fungi and then organised teams of pickers are arriving by the van load to collect mushrooms. Sue Ireland leads the care of 11,000 acres of green spaces - including Epping Forest in Essex, Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire and London's Hampstead Heath, she says its a huge problem.

The long, hot and dry summer of 2014 has resulted in a record wheat harvest. However, the volatile global commodity market has seen wheat prices fall by thirty percent leaving farmers frustrated. Mike Hambley from the NFUs combinable crop board says that farmers need to be able to buffer up their business to cope with world markets.

Scientists have discovered that salt marsh plants could protect our beaches; by reducing the height of damaging storm-surge waves by nearly 20%. It's the first time researchers have been able to measure the protection salt marshes could provide in our sea defences. Anna Hill meets Dr Iris Moeller from Cambridge University who is one of the lead scientists on the project.

The Institute of Agricultural Management is launching a new qualification - Professional Agriculturalist - to recognise farming skills. Tim Brigstocke says it will reward farmers for their professionalism. 

Presented by Sybil Roscoe. Produced in Bristol by Ruth Sanderson.

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