Farming Today

Natural England, chicken health, US trade

Farming Today

Natural England, the body responsible for protecting the country's natural environment, no longer has the resources it needs to do its job: so says Prospect, the main union representing Natural England employees. It says that years of funding and staffing cuts have left the organisation, which answers to Defra, struggling to cope. Charlotte Smith speaks to Prospect's deputy general secretary, Gary Graham; and asks Natural England deputy chief executive Alan Law for his take. Any animal can pick up an illness - but once they're put inside, like dairy cows in the winter or housed pigs, there is a higher risk of any disease spreading quickly. Antibiotics and disinfectant have been the weapons of choice for decades, but now some farmers are fighting bacteria ... with bacteria. Continuing Farming Today's focus on farm medicine this week, Anna Jones heads to Cowbridge in South Wales, to meet free-range egg producer James Ford. American farmers want to see the UK move away from EU food standards after Brexit. Agricultural lobby groups in the United States argue that too many European Union decisions around food imports aren't based on scientific evidence. Current EU rules ban hormone fed beef and GM crops for food, both of which are available in the States. US farmers have been presenting their views ahead of a hearing in Washington this week, on a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK. Charlotte asks Ryan Olson, Director of Operations for the North American Export Grain Association, what they want from a future trade deal. Presented by Charlotte Smith - produced in Bristol by Lucy Taylor.

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📆 2019-01-26 08:00 / 00:25:08