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Farming Today: 17/06/19: Underwater crops, general licences and farm safety

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17/06/19: Underwater crops, general licences and farm safety

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 17/06/19: Underwater crops, general licences and farm safety

Farming is the most dangerous job in the UK - we ask why.

The ongoing saga of the general licences to shoot pest birds continues. New licences have been released, but how different are they really?

After heavy rainfall in many parts of the country some farmers are now counting the cost of flooded fields and lost crops. We speak to one pea-grower in Lincolnshire whose ankle-deep in water.

Another update in the ongoing saga of the general licences which allow the shooting of some bird species to protect crops, livestock or wildlife. After a legal challenge by the Wild Justice Group, Natural England agreed they were unlawful and removed 3 licences at the end of April. Many countryside groups protested, both at the removal and they way it had been carried out, and Michael Gove took control of the issue away from Natural England and announced a consultation. 4,000 responses and some weeks later, the 3 licences were re-instated late last week... as a 'temporary way forward'. The licences are not exactly the same, herring and black backed gulls are no longer covered and the licences don't apply in some protected areas. DEFRA says there will be a further more detailed consultation on all this later in the year. 

And farming is the most dangerous job in the UK. Every year, an average of 32 people die working on our farms, despite numerous campaigns. This week we're going to look at why farming has such a problem and what is being done to change it.

Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Heather Simons

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