Fisheries minister George Eustice on reclaiming our waters; Schmallenberg virus outbreak; improving river quality of the Severn

Farming Today

• Episode: Fisheries minister George Eustice on reclaiming our waters; Schmallenberg virus outbreak; improving river quality of the Severn
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:11:34
• Published: 2017-01-23 01:00

Farming Today goes fishing with fisheries minister George Eustice for his vision for the industry after Brexit. During the referendum campaign there was lots of talk about 'reclaiming our waters'. But what, Charlotte Smith asks him, might that look like in reality? And how would it be achieved? Cases of Schmallenberg disease are rising among livestock. Charlotte speaks to vet and sheep specialist Paul Roger who explains that it's spread by midges during the summer and so is becoming apparent now as early lambing gets underway. There was a large Schmallenberg or SVB outbreak in 2011/12 across Europe, then animals built up immunity to it, which it seems is no longer the case. Farmers are currently being urged to submit affected lambs for post mortem examinations so the level of infection can be assessed. There is a vaccine, which was used last time round, but there aren't any stocks at the moment. Regulating the quality of drinking water - we hear why the stretch of the River Severn in the West of England from Tewkesbury to Shrewsbury is a pollution priority for Severn Trent Water. It takes water for its customers from the river and so wants it as clean as possible. That means convincing farmers to drastically reduce the impact of pollution from farms flowing into the Severn. Pesticides, fertilisers even soil from fields can all cause problems. BBC Midlands Rural Affairs Correspondent David Gregory-Kumar has been to see students from a local college, who could well be the farmers of the future, being challenged to improve things. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Mark Smalley.