New fines for fly-tipping, Shetland monitor farm, straw shortage, farm machinery

Farming Today

• Episode: New fines for fly-tipping, Shetland monitor farm, straw shortage, farm machinery
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:38
• Published: 2018-01-16 07:00

Householders are to face new fines for employing unlicensed waste carriers, under new rules being proposed by the government to kerb fly-tipping. But the CLA, which represents landowners, say it's not enough to stop the illegal dumping of waste. We visit Bigton Farm in Shetland, the UK's most northerly 'monitor farm' and part of a £1.25m project aimed at encouraging farmers to improve their businesses by sharing knowledge about best practice. Last year's cold spring has caused a straw shortage with prices doubling in a year, so farmers are looking to bedding alternatives this winter. Dr Jon Paul McCalmont from Aberystwyth University has been working with one farmer who is using miscanthus for animal bedding. And more on this week's look at farm machinery: Anna Hill visits Cheffins machinery sales in Cambridgeshire. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.