Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Farming Today

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 FM

Farming Today: 16/09/2011

16/09/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 16/09/2011

EU farmers who continue to flout new laws on battery cages should be shut down say NFU.

EU farmers who have no plans to convert from battery cages once the system is outlawed should be closed down says NFU.

EU chicken farmers who do not meet the deadline to convert from battery cages should be put out of business according to the National Farmers Union. British producers say they have spent million of pounds to meet the new laws on welfare being introduced in January. The old style cages will be replaced by larger colony cages which have scratching and nesting areas for the birds. It's expected some other European producers will not be ready in time. 

Detectives are investigating what is believed to be the biggest case of sheep rustling nationally in 25 years. 1500 sheep were stolen from a field in Lincolnshire in one night. The police say the thieves must have used a two or three tiered truck to have transported all the animals. NFU Mutual says it is rare to have a theft on this scale and often the sheep are sold for meat. 

And the body representing supermarkets says there is very little chance that retailers will take the 'sell by' or 'display until' dates off packaging. The British Retail Consortium is speaking out one day after the Government announced it wants to scrap the labels, which it says are confusing and encourage people to waste food. The British currently throw away five point three million tonnes of edible food each year. 

Presented by Charlotte Smith. Produced by Angela Frain.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Farming Today

16/09/2011

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4