Farming Today

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Farming Today: 22/05/24 - Farm labour, flower growers and live export ban

22/05/24 - Farm labour, flower growers and live export ban

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 22/05/24 - Farm labour, flower growers and live export ban

Could people off work with long term sickness be employed picking fruit and veg?

Could people off work with long term sickness be persuaded to get out into the fields to pick fruit and veg?

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show a record number of people are not employed due to long term sickness. The Government's launching a new task force with the aim of getting people who are off work and on benefits, back on the payroll. The Prime Minister has suggested they could they be persuaded to get out into the fields to pick fruit and veg.

The wet weather is impacting farmers across the country - and flower growers are being hit too. For many of those exhibiting this week at the Chelsea Flower Show, the heavy rain has meant losses of precious stock. Some haven't been able to exhibit this year at all.  

And animal welfare organisations have welcomed a ban on exports of some live animals from Great Britain for slaughter and fattening, which has come into law this week. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses are covered by the ban - but animals can still be exported live, for breeding and competitions.

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