麻豆约拍

A new exit scheme for farmers has just been put out to consultation - it will pay between 拢50-100,000 as a one-off payment for older farmers to stop work. The DEFRA consultation document says 鈥渢his will make more space for the next generation of farmers, as well as providing opportunities for existing farmers who wish to expand to improve their profitability.鈥� But paying farmers to leave is not a new idea: what can be learnt from the previous scheme under the Common Agricultural Policy, which was discontinued because it didn鈥檛 work?

Beavers have already been re-introduced to several sites across the UK to help control water flow and reduce flooding downstream. For the first time, a community-led project is being proposed, around the village of Braunton in North Devon. Over a million pounds has been spent on flood engineering work in Braunton, but it hasn鈥檛 worked. Instead, so far nearly 50 landowners have committed to the idea of introducing beavers.

And will you Stay Local? Over the last year many people started to shop locally for food, and farmers around the country stepped up, changing the way they supply food to their local community, and meeting a new demand. But will that new supply chain continue?

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for 麻豆约拍 Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons