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Farming Today: 31/03/22 - Fertiliser, food waste and Australian sheep farmers

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31/03/22 - Fertiliser, food waste and Australian sheep farmers

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 31/03/22 - Fertiliser, food waste and Australian sheep farmers

Fertiliser prices and the debate on food waste.

We look at the discussion around food security and food waste.

With fertiliser prices rising, Defra Secretary George Eustice responds by delaying new restrictions on some, and clarifying the rules on muck spreading. And we hear more detail on have also been released about the Sustainable Farming Incentive or SFI - part of the new system of farm payments being introduced in England.

The food waste charity WRAP estimate that just over 3% of food harvested is wasted before it gets to consumers - and once in our homes we waste far more. With MPs discussing food security and prices in a Westminster Hall debate called for by the SNP, we hear from farmer Will Woodhall who grows spring onions and beetroot alongside cereal crops - but who this year hasn’t been able to sell all his produce. 

The Trade and Agriculture Commission deliver their advice on the Australia-UK trade deal to ministers today - looking at the impacts of the deal on UK food and farming - and that’s what we’ve been doing all week. Farmers here are worried they will be exposed to imports of cheaper meat, and in particular lamb meat, which is produced in ways that aren’t allowed here. Peter Hadfield has been in Merriwa to hear what Australian sheep farmers make of it.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Caitlin Hobbs

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