Farming Today

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 FM

Farming Today: 19/04/23 Restocking chickens after avian flu; Dartmoor independent review; community land ownership.

19/04/23 Restocking chickens after avian flu; Dartmoor independent review; community land ownership.

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 19/04/23 Restocking chickens after avian flu; Dartmoor independent review; community land ownership.

Restocking after bird flu; review of management of Dartmoor; community land ownership.

Chicken producer says he's not been able to fully restock after avian flu. Government agrees to independent review of management of Dartmoor. Community land buyouts in Scotland.

Despite the joy at seeing free-range poultry allowed back outdoors again, the country's leading free-range chicken producer has told Farming Today that he is unable to re-stock any of the thousands of sheds which had been infected, because there is no agreement on a disinfection protocol, six months after the disease swept through the free-range poultry industry. Millions of free-range poultry are now allowed out once more after an unprecedented lock-down because of avian flu. We speak to Mark Gorton from Traditional Norfolk Poultry, which produces free-range and organic chicken and turkeys on more than fifty farm sites.

The Government has agreed to set up an independent review into the management of Dartmoor.  It follows pressure from a group of MPs representing areas of Dartmoor alarmed at recent proposals from Natural England to significantly reduce grazing levels on the moor. 

All week we're looking at land ownership, the idea of community land has taken root in Scotland, with more than 500,000 acres of the country now owned by local community groups, and a Scottish Government fund of ten million pounds a year has been made available for community land buyouts. The majority of the community-owned land is in the Outer Hebrides, with 70 per cent of the people there now participating. 

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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

19/04/23 Restocking chickens after avian flu; Dartmoor independent review; community land ownership.

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4