09/02/21 Report demands more funding for natural flood defences, farrowing crates, farm in a box

Farming Today

• Episode: 09/02/21 Report demands more funding for natural flood defences, farrowing crates, farm in a box
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:39
• Published: 2021-02-09 07:00

A report by MPs accuses the government of failing to set targets for preventing flooding and demands more funding for farmers to help with natural flood defences. We hear reaction from the National Farmers' Union national flood risk adviser, Mhari Barnes. All this week we’re discussing animal welfare. Today, it’s pigs in farrowing crates. These are metal pens used to contain sows for about four weeks when they give birth to their piglets, and they’re used to stop the sow from crushing her piglets when she lies down. But they are controversial because although the sow can lie down or stand up in the crate, she can't turn around. We hear about some of the alternatives used on farms. And how a charity has been introducing children from urban schools to country life in lockdown, by sending them a farm in a box. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.