91Èȱ¬

Farmers in Northern Ireland are being consulted on a plan to give them extra payments for growing protein crops for animal feed, such as beans, peas and sweet lupins. The aim is to reduce dependence on importing soya based feeds, while improving soil health. We hear from the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots.

A new system of Biodiversity Net Gain will mean that developers – whether they’re putting up houses or undertaking infrastructure projects – will have to convince planners that their proposal will lead to at least a 10% increase in biodiversity. To help achieve that, Natural England is running a series of Biodiversity Credits Scheme pilots, where developers can buy ‘credits’ to meet their obligations, which will then be invested into habitat provision. We visit one on the South Downs.

Mussel farming in the waters of the Menai Straits between Anglesey and mainland Wales could be in jeopardy unless new management measures are approved soon.
Local producers fear that their livelihoods could disappear completely unless a new Fishery Order is introduced to safeguard them.

And as agricultural businesses become more reliant on data gathering, GPS and the internet, the National Cyber Security Centre has published guidance for the industry to keep it safe and make it more resilient to any threats. We hear how hackers could take control of on-farm systems from machinery to automated environmental control.

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for 91Èȱ¬ Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons