06/11/20 - Working dog theft, cheese makers in lockdown, future trade and Cornish saffron

Farming Today

• Episode: 06/11/20 - Working dog theft, cheese makers in lockdown, future trade and Cornish saffron
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:40
• Published: 2020-11-06 07:00

There has been a rise in dog thefts over the past few months and its thought some working dogs are being targeted by thieves who then use them to help steal livestock. A BBC freedom of information request showed that 5 police forces have seen around double the number of dogs taken this year in comparison with last. The rise in demand for dogs during lockdown seems to be driving an increase in the price for puppies - and criminals are cashing in. Dog theft is a problem everywhere, but working dogs and breeders in rural areas seem to be particularly affected. Sainsbury’s decision to close all the deli counters in its supermarkets is bad news for some small cheesemakers. The first national lockdown hit artisan cheese producers hard - the closure of restaurants in particular left them with a big fall in demand. While many have recovered some sales via online shops or farmers markets some have now reduced the amount of cheese they produce. We hear from the Government Trade Advisor Tony Abbott - better known for being a former Prime Minister of Australia. And saffron was grown in Cornwall up till the end of the 18th Century. We visit a farm which is bring it back and growing saffron crocuses on the Roseland Peninsula. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons