Farming Today This Week

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Farming Today

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 FM

Farming Today: 27/04/24 Farming Today This Week: illegal fishing, land mines on farmland in Ukraine, universal credits, trees and forestry

27/04/24 Farming Today This Week: illegal fishing, land mines on farmland in Ukraine, universal credits, trees and forestry

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 27/04/24 Farming Today This Week: illegal fishing, land mines on farmland in Ukraine, universal credits, trees and forestry

Targeting illegal fishing and the danger of landmines for Ukrainian farmers.

Targeting illegal fishing, the danger of landmines for Ukrainian farmers and ministers discuss farmers wrangling with welfare payments.

Illegal fishing on rivers and watercourses is on up according to the police, who are stepping up patrols with other agencies.  Angling clubs pay thousands of pounds every year to stock rivers with fish for members and taking fish without permission is theft.  Better training of police in poaching laws has led to a recent spate of convictions and a legal first for volunteer river bailiffs.

MPs have highlighted the impact of changes in welfare payments on farmers.  Farmers historically claimed tax credits to boost low incomes, but the system has changed and they now apply for Universal Credit. But eligibility 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 as a nightmare which is having an impact on farmers mental health. 

Around 38 million acres of Ukrainian farmland has now been rendered too dangerous to farm by Russian mines.  According to the Mines Advisory Group charity there have been more than a thousand mine accidents in Ukraine since 2022, with farmers making up one of the largest single groups of casualties.

From Welsh government plans to get them planted on farms to the ever missed English planting targets and the recent cuts to the budget for planting in Scotland, trees are the subject of much debate in rural areas.  All this week we've been discussing trees and despite our fondness for them and need for timber, we still don't like commercial forestry. 

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Farming Today

27/04/24 Farming Today This Week: illegal fishing, land mines on farmland in Ukraine, universal credits, trees and forestry

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4