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Farming Today: 28/05/20 - Re-opening rural communities, AI in goats and free range eggs.

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28/05/20 - Re-opening rural communities, AI in goats and free range eggs.

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 28/05/20 - Re-opening rural communities, AI in goats and free range eggs.

We discuss how best to ease lockdown for rural communities.

Should rural tourism businesses be allowed to "un-lock"?

Current lockdown rules in England allow people to drive to walk in the woods or sit on a beach - but NOT to stay away overnight. But some rural communities know people are breaking the rules, and using their second homes or renting cottages. The Countryside Alliance wants the government in England to allow pubs with gardens and self catering cottages to re-open. Meanwhile, in the South West they’re asking visitors to think twice before coming, but this weekend were inundated. Charlotte Smith discusses what should happen next.

Artificial Insemination is routinely for cows - it means cows can be bred using a larger gene pool, and without the expense of buying and keeping a bull. The process is much less common in goats, but we visit a farm in Wales where they've recently introduced it.

And, there has been a surge in demand for eggs during lockdown. Some retailers say they’ll have to import eggs to keep up, but producers say if customers are flexible they can provide the eggs.

Presented by Charlotte Smith
Produced by Heather Simons

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28/05/20 - Re-opening rural communities, AI in goats and free range eggs.

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