Farming Today

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Farming Today: 04/02/22 Pig processors; Salmon and Brexit; Elm Trees.

04/02/22 Pig processors; Salmon and Brexit; Elm Trees.

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 04/02/22 Pig processors; Salmon and Brexit; Elm Trees.

Pig processors defend their track record. Salmon exports. Disease-resistant elm trees.

Meat processors defend their record on tackling the backlog of pigs on farms.
Scottish salmon producers and Brexit. Disease-resistant elm trees.

Processors have been defending their track record after the government said they need to do more to tackle a backlog of pigs building up on farms. Farmers can't get all their pigs slaughtered and an estimated 35,000 healthy pigs have been culled on farm, unable to enter the food chain. The DEFRA minister says processors haven't taken full advantage of support measures, including a temporary visa scheme which would allow more butchers to work here. But the British Meat Processors Association says it's unfair to blame them. They said last year they processed more pigs than they had done for 15 years. 

Farmed salmon is one of Scotland's most lucrative food exports. The sectors had to adapt quickly since Britain left the European Union. Mowi is one of the biggest producers of salmon. We visit their factory to find out how they've adjusted to the new rules and regulations.

A dairy farmer is re-introducing elm trees onto his land. Dutch elm disease wiped out more than 20 million trees in the British landscape 50 years ago. Peter Shallcross from Wiltshire is working with Butterfly Conservation to import disease-resistant varieties from Spain and plant them on his farm.

Presenter = Caz Graham
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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04/02/22 Pig processors; Salmon and Brexit; Elm Trees.

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