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Farming Today: 31/07/23 Imported eggs up, rural services in crisis, sea temperature rises

31/07/23 Imported eggs up, rural services in crisis, sea temperature rises

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 31/07/23 Imported eggs up, rural services in crisis, sea temperature rises

Imports of eggs are up 276%. British egg producers say they're not surprised.

Imports of eggs are up 276%. The latest figures from the Government show that just under 7 million dozens of eggs were brought into the UK in May, giving that massive year-on-year increase. British egg producers say they're not surprised; facing increases in the price of feed and restrictions because of avian flu, they warned last year that retailers weren't paying enough and that was forcing people to either cut the number of laying hens they kept or give up altogether. That led to shortages on supermarket shelves and the appearance of Italian eggs instead of British ones.  

This week here on Farming Today we're going to be looking at rural services.  From GPs and buses to shops and pubs, getting and keeping basic services in the countryside can be problematic. We'll find out why that's still the case and what communities are doing to get round the barriers. In England 13 rural organisations have come together to form the Rural Coalition, calling for a rural strategy, fairer funding and investment in infrastructure, so people in the countryside are not, as they put it,' unfairly disadvantaged'.

The sea off England's north east coast is getting hotter, and that's bad news for wildlife. It causes huge problems for birds, fish and plant life.  Scientists and wildlife experts say they are seriously worried.  

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31/07/23 Imported eggs up, rural services in crisis, sea temperature rises

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