Farming Today

24/07/20 A vaccine for bovine TB - field trials begin. Wildflower meadows for pollinators.

Farming Today

Government scientists are about to start field trials of a new vaccination which they say is a major milestone in their battle to eradicate bovine TB. Defra's chief scientific advisor Professor Gideon Henderson explains the scientific breakthrough in developing a DIVA test which can tell the difference between an infected and a vaccinated animal. Dairy farmer Phil Latham who's lost cattle to TB, gives a cautious reaction - he says there's a long way to go. Wild flowers and pollinators go hand in hand and a group of farmers in Wiltshire have noticed a big increase in insect numbers in areas where they've changed arable and pastureland into wildflower meadows. They harvested seeds from a site around an old airfield that had an abundance of wild flowers, and planted them on chalk down-land. It's part of a scheme to create wildlife corridors and promote bio-diversity. Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Rebecca Rooney

Next Episodes