Farming Today

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Farming Today: 27/03/24 - ELMs change, leather and otters

27/03/24 - ELMs change, leather and otters

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 27/03/24 - ELMs change, leather and otters

Are government environmental schemes threatening food security?

New restrictions are being brought in to limit the amount of land farmers can put into environmental schemes in England.

The Government is placing a 25% cap on the amount of land farmers can take out of food production, and put aside for certain environmental schemes. Farmers can be paid for environmental actions - like growing seed for wild birds - as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, or SFI, which is replacing the old EU farm subsidies in England. Now, new applicants who choose a selection out of 6 of the schemes, will only be able to put a total of 25% of their land into them. The new cap comes after some raised concerns around our food security - winter flooding and the high cost of fertiliser has made growing food more expensive....and after the Government increased payments for environmental schemes in January, more farmers took them up.

Centuries ago, leather production would have gone hand in hand with animal husbandry in the UK, but now animal hides are very low value - and seen by many as a waste product. There are just a handful of tanneries left in the UK for processing hides into leather. We meet a farmer whose starting the fight back.

And wildlife experts say recent river flooding could be putting otters at risk. Strong currents can wash away cubs and high water levels can flood their river bank homes, or holts. 

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

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27/03/24 - ELMs change, leather and otters

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