DiscoverFarming Today03/09/25 Lough Neagh blue green algae, feed mill, Unst Show
03/09/25 Lough Neagh blue green algae, feed mill, Unst Show

03/09/25 Lough Neagh blue green algae, feed mill, Unst Show

Update: 2025-09-03
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People living and working around Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland say pollution in the lake has become worse over the hot summer this year. The Lough supplies about forty per cent of Northern Ireland's drinking water and for the past couple of years it's been covered with a toxic blue green algae, which has grown due to pollution from agriculture, broken water treatment facilities and industrial waste. The algae's also had a big impact on the fishing industry.

All this week we’re looking at animal feed. There's a drive to source and grow more of it in the UK, especially as new regulations come in to tackle deforestation linked with growing soy for animal feed. We visit a traditional feed mill in Gloucestershire which makes a feed mix from local wheat, oats, peas and beans.

The island of Unst in Shetland is the most northerly inhabited island in Britain. It's also considered to be the true home of the Shetland pony and is the venue of the most northerly agricultural show in the UK. The Unst Show has been going for more than 150 years and draws crowds from across Shetland and beyond to see cows, sheep, poultry and ponies being exhibited.

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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03/09/25 Lough Neagh blue green algae, feed mill, Unst Show

03/09/25 Lough Neagh blue green algae, feed mill, Unst Show

BBC Radio 4