03/02/2011

Charlotte Smith hears calls for a pay rise and an extra day off for farm workers. The Unite union says that despite the economic climate, farm wages must rise. The National Farmers union has branded the call 'outrageous'.

The price of wool has hit a 20 year peak. For many years it has cost farmers more to shear their sheep than the wool is worth. But the global sheep flock has declined, and Farming Today visits a Shropshire sheep farm where one farmer is grateful to now be in profit, but still can only sell his fleeces for £1.70 each. The British Wool Marketing Board say that is set to double, and farmers should now invest in sheep which give a high wool yield.

And ten years on from the 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis, a report from Holsworthy market in Devon examines how bio-security measures have changed, to curtail this fast-spreading disease.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith. Producer: Melvin Rickarby.