07/03/2011

Charlotte Smith hears the risk of a flu pandemic is increasing as the world eats more meat. Growing populations and changes in diet in the developing world mean more animals are being kept in close proximity to humans, and viruses may evolve more rapidly as a result.

And as the budget for flood defence is cut by 8%, flooding Minister Richard Benyon explains how river and coastal defences are being tested this week in the UKs biggest ever emergency exercise.

In 2006 the government was fined hundreds of millions of pounds because of the inefficiency of the Rural Payments Agency. Farming Today hears the body, which pays farm subsidies, is once again missing its targets.

2 million cattle are slaughtered annually to sate our appetite for beef. A trip to a Devon cheese maker reveals that many of those animals are a by-product of the dairy industry.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Ruth Sanderson.