Rural Crime, Sheep Shearing, Growing Grass, Lupins

Farming Today

• Episode: Rural Crime, Sheep Shearing, Growing Grass, Lupins
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:27
• Published: 2018-06-08 07:00

The chair of the National Rural Crime Network believes that rural police forces aren't getting a fair deal when it comes to funding from the government, and says the funding formula for police forces doesn't recognise the costs of policing rural areas. Charlotte Smith asks her what the specific challenges for policing the countryside. Sheep farmers in some areas have started shearing early this year. It's because the recent warm wet weather has meant that conditions are perfect for fly strike - where flies lay their eggs in the fleece and the maggots then burrow down into the sheep's skin. We catch up with farmers experimenting with growing lupins as a source of protein for livestock. They hope to find a way of replacing imported soya. Continuing a week-long look at grass and pasture, we hear from Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig, who explains how getting grass right is at the heart of his business. Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Emma Campbell.