Farming Today

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 LW

Farming Today: Badger cull, Shellfish protest, Veterinary chaplain

Badger cull, Shellfish protest, Veterinary chaplain

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Badger cull, Shellfish protest, Veterinary chaplain

Badger cull disputed figures; shellfish protest; veterinary chaplain.

A new row over figures for the controversial badger cull.  Fishermen take to the sea to protest about what they say is a lack of action over the death of thousands of shellfish.

There's a new row over figures on badger culling. DEFRA has admitted that it got its sums wrong when calculating the impact of culling on the number of cattle with TB  - but it insists what it's calling a ‘minor discrepancy’ doesn’t change its conclusion that the policy is effective. 
That’s disputed by ecologist Tom Langton who - along with other campaigners against the culls - analysed publicly available data on them for a peer reviewed study which was published earlier this year in the journal Vet Record.  His conclusions were roundly criticised by DEFRA’s chief vet and chief scientific advisor, who have now sent that correction which the Vet Record will also publish. Tom Langton says he thinks the corrected figures demonstrate that the culls aren’t working. But DEFRA told us the paper was produced to fit a clear campaign, and that they had discovered and corrected a minor discrepancy in their calculations. They added this does not change their position that data was manipulated in a way that makes it impossible to see the actual effects of badger culling on reducing TB rates. 
Shellfish producers have taken to the sea to protest about what they say is Government inaction over the seemingly unexplained death of thousands of crabs and lobsters. They claim dredging is uncovering harmful chemicals, and it's destroying their livelihood. But Defra says it's down to an unusual algal bloom. 
We’ve been talking about vets this week – and as we’ve heard they’re four times more likely to die by suicide than the rest of the population. Many have a stressful workload, and as practices work independently, they can feel isolated.  That's part of the reason Allan Wright was appointed as the country’s first chaplain to the veterinary community.
And if you’ve been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this programme, there are details of organisations that offer advice and support at BBC Action Line

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

Badger cull, Shellfish protest, Veterinary chaplain

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4