21/07/26 Farm fatalities, dry potatoes, Welsh farm subsidies, Lake District guide
About this episode
The episode discusses farm fatalities, the impact of drought on crops, and new agricultural policies in Wales.
Farming has one of the worst fatality rates of any industry sector in the UK and new research suggests the true number of health and safety incidents on farm is even higher than reported. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) says 30% of farmers wouldn't log an incident because they fear inspections or legal consequences, and 34% think near misses aren't serious enough to report. The National Drought Group, which includes government agencies, water companies, conservation groups and farming representatives publishes a new report for England today. Last week the Environment Agency said England was NOT in drought, although the South West, parts of Southern England, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire were experiencing 'prolonged dry weather' and river flows aross the country were below normal or exceptionally low. The hot dry weather is affecting the potato crop and growers in Cornwall fear their harvest could fail if the heatwave continues. The Welsh government is announcing a new food strategy at the Royal Welsh Show, and all week we're looking at agricultural policy in Wales. One of the biggest changes has been the re-launch of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, or SFS…
Topics covered
- farm fatalities
- health and safety
- drought impact
- potato crop
- Welsh farm subsidies
- agricultural policy
- Lake District
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, National Drought Group, Welsh government, Sustainable Farming Scheme
Places: England, Cornwall, Wales, Brecon, Lake District National park
More episodes of Farming Today
- 20/06/26: Milk price glimmers, Andy Burnham's rural in-tray, Welsh farming policy.
- 18/07/26 Farming Today This Week: Wildfires, hot harvest, the Great Yorkshire Show
- 17/07/26 The Great Yorkshire Show
- 16/07/26 'Critical situation' for chicken site as water restricted, farm payments for wildlife, the price of chocolate
- 15/07/26 New UK Swiss trade deal, Farming in Protected Landscapes grants, deer control in Loch Lomond
- 14/07/26 Wildfires on farms, England's environmental farm payments
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