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Farming Today: Mental health, Emergency loans for Scottish farmers, Flood insurance in Somerset, Bluetongue warning

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15/02/2016

Mental health, Emergency loans for Scottish farmers, Flood insurance in Somerset, Bluetongue warning

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Mental health, Emergency loans for Scottish farmers, Flood insurance in Somerset, Bluetongue warning

How do mental health issues affect farmers and their families?

Farming news presented by Charlotte Smith. A look at the mental health issues affecting farmers and their families as part of BBC's In the Mind season.

The NHS estimates that one in four adults will experience some form of mental health problem this year. All this week the programme will explore the mental health issues affecting farmers and their families, and what help is available in rural areas.

Scotland's rural affairs secretary has apologised for delays in administering farm subsidy payments, and now there is a £20 million loan on offer to Scottish farmers to help bridge the gap. The National Farmers Union Scotland says if the loan is to be effective, the money needs to be available quickly.

In April a new system for insuring properties in high risk areas will be launched, called FloodRE. But as our reporter Clinton Rogers has discovered, without a cap on insurance premiums, those affected by flooding could still be paying a high price.

Experts at the Animal and Plant Health Agency say there is a high likelihood of bluetongue disease arriving in England this year. Widespread outbreaks in France last year mean there is an 80 per cent chance that infected midges (which carry the virus) will arrive in the UK by the late summer.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Fiona Clampin.

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