Farming Today

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Farming Today: 21/03/24 - Universal Credit changes for farmers, mussel farming

21/03/24 - Universal Credit changes for farmers, mussel farming

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 21/03/24 - Universal Credit changes for farmers, mussel farming

A change to the benefits system hits farmers disproportionately.

Why some farmers are being told they must give up their businesses and get a new job to keep receiving benefits.

Some farmers who already rely on state benefits are being told they need to look for paid work and ditch their farm businesses if they want to continue receiving those benefits. It’s happening because of changes in the way welfare is delivered, so farmers on Tax Credits are now being switched to Universal Credit. But eligibility for Universal Credit is calculated using monthly income and expenditure, which doesn’t sit well with farm businesses where these can vary enormously depending on the season. The transition process has been described by famers as a nightmare and, as we’ll be hearing shortly, it’s also having an impact on mental health.

And CCTV… for fish! John Holmyard runs a ‘rope-cultured’ offshore mussel farm in Lyme Bay about 5 miles off the south coast of Devon. He's been working with the University of Plymouth to monitor what impact the farm has on the marine life around it.

Presented by Caz Graham
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

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