Farming Today

15/11/23 - NI badger cull, environmental payment stacking and brassica breeding


Listen Later

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been left wondering what's next after a proposal to cull badgers to prevent the spread of bovine TB was quashed by a court last month, which found the consultation behind the cull was flawed. At the time, the Ulster Farmers’ Union described the decision as "a major blow for livestock farmers"...saying it could now "take years before the issue of the TB reservoir in wildlife is addressed." The Northern Ireland Badger Group - which brought the legal challenge alongside Wild Justice - said "a farmer-led cull would inflict immense suffering on great numbers of healthy badgers."

Farmers in England are being warned that even if they take up multiple options to 'stack' Government payments for environmental work under the new post-Brexit support scheme, they will not receive the same amount of funding they used to get, under the EU's Basic Payments Scheme. That's according to new research by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which found taking up multiple payments can bring stability to farm incomes, but that farmers have to judge how much it might cost them to take up the work, before committing to it.

And brassica crops like cabbages or cauliflowers face many challenges in the field. Pests, diseases and the weather can all reduce yields and affect their quality, which can cause farmers to lose income. We hear from scientists at the University of Warwick, who have been working to develop new varieties which can be more resistant to difficult weather conditions, disease and pests.

Presented by Anna Hill

Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Farming TodayBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

54 ratings


More shows like Farming Today

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,598 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,077 Listeners

The Archers Omnibus by BBC Radio 4

The Archers Omnibus

387 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

892 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,050 Listeners

Money Box by BBC Radio 4

Money Box

32 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,453 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,797 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,878 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,746 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,040 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,090 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

281 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

263 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

158 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

35 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

105 Listeners

Open Country by BBC Radio 4

Open Country

85 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,189 Listeners

The Farmers Weekly Podcast by Farmers Weekly

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

13 Listeners

The Knepp Wilding Podcast by Knepp.co.uk

The Knepp Wilding Podcast

14 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,612 Listeners

Rewilding the World with Ben Goldsmith by Ben Goldsmith

Rewilding the World with Ben Goldsmith

56 Listeners

Rare Earth by BBC Radio 4

Rare Earth

12 Listeners

FED by Farmers Podcast by FED by Farmers

FED by Farmers Podcast

29 Listeners