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Farming Today: Irish Dairy Technology Centre; Farm Suicides; Sheep Footrot

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05/02/2015

Irish Dairy Technology Centre; Farm Suicides; Sheep Footrot

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Irish Dairy Technology Centre; Farm Suicides; Sheep Footrot

Why the Irish government is putting over 25 million euro in the country's dairy industry.

Why is the Irish government putting more than 25 million euros in the country's dairy industry. And why do farmers appear to be such a high-risk group from suicide?

The Irish Government is investing more than 25 million euros in the country's dairy industry. With the imminent abolition of European milk quotas -which limit the amount of milk a country can produce- it's expected there will be more milk on the market and the Irish government says it's vital to invest in the sector to remain competitive. Dairy products make up about 30% of Ireland's exports. The money, along with some investment from industry will go to two dairy research and innovation centres. We hear from Dr Mary Shire at the University of Limerick.

Today, 5th February, is designated 'Time to Talk' day, an opportunity to openly address mental health issues. Farming has just about the highest incidence of suicide of all the occupational groups. In 2013 - the last full year for official figures - 43 farmers committed suicide and that number has been increasing since 2009. Peter Riley of the Farming Community Network explains why farmers appear to be such a high risk group.

This week Farming Today is looking at the prospects for the sheep industry in 2015, as lambing starts to get underway. Researchers at Warwick University believe they may have cracked one of the most troublesome problems known to sheep, and sheep farmers: foot rot. The researchers estimate that at any one time more than a million sheep in the UK are lame from foot rot, but they found during their fifteen year project that the traditional treatment for the problem made things worse. We hear from the Head of Life Sciences at Warwick University, Professor Laura Green.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Mark Smalley.

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