18/09/23 Rural crime; Hops for beer; World sheep dog trials.
Calls for every police force to have a dedicated rural crime team. British hop growers say their industry is struggling to survive. World sheep dog trials in Northern Ireland.
Every police force in the UK should have a dedicated rural crime team - the call comes from the National Rural Crime Network which comprises rural and farming groups and Crimestoppers. As we reported last month, the cost of rural crime went up by 22% last year, that's according to the insurers NFU Mutual. They put the cost of thefts and damage of things like tractors, GPS systems and power tools at nearly Β£50 million in 2022, up from Β£40 million in 2021.
It's harvest time for British hop growers - but they say that it's not a great time to be in the business. With the popularity of craft beer, you might think that hop growers would have a good market, but they say work force costs, fuel inflation and brewers holding stockpiles of hops since the pandemic mean the industry is struggling to survive.Β
The world sheep dog trials have been taking place in Northern Ireland - 240 dogs and their handlers were competing in the hopes of becoming World Champion at Gill Hall country estate in Dromore.
Presenter = Charlotte Smith
Producer = Rebecca Rooney
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