Farming Today

The Return of the Hen Harrier?

Farming Today

Hen harriers have had their most successful breeding season in a decade - but is it enough to bring the species back from the brink? The hen harrier has been at the centre of conservation controversy. They predate on grouse chicks - which causes problems for gamekeepers on shooting estates. Some hen harriers have been illegally killed, and some simply disappear. So there's longstanding conflict between conservationist groups and the shooting lobby. Caz Graham brings two of them together - the RSPB and the Moorland Association - to discuss the significance of thirty-four chicks fledged from nine nests across the North of England. The Government has taken its first step towards a 'public money for public goods' system for farmers. Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, has announced the first agri-environment scheme directly funded by the UK - not Europe. It's called 'Payment by Results' and rewards farmers for delivering tangible environmental benefits. It's already being trialled in the Yorkshire Dales and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has now committed an extra £540,000 to extend the project. And we continue our exploration of on-farm production with a Cornish strawberry grower turned jam maker. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Anna Jones.

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