26/05/2011

The weather continues to affect food production across the UK. Winds of up to 100 miles an hour earlier this week have damaged hundreds of acres of polytunnels protecting soft fruits, like strawberries and raspberries destined for supermarkets in the next few weeks. Angus Growers in Scotland, one of the largest soft fruit producers in the UK, say it could cost them 6 million pounds.

Whilst in East Anglia experts are predicting if drought conditions don't improve, farmers could see the barley yield halve and other crops drop by 10-40%.

Also on the programme, the National Farmers Union says it's angry the industry could soon have to pay the whole cost of inspecting animals and meat, an estimated cost £20 million nationally. The move still has to be approved the Government. The Food Standards Agency says it isn't right for it, as the body which inspects and regulates abattoirs, to also subsidise them by not charging the real cost of the inspections.

And hear how a dairy farmer is employing a waste-not want-not approach to his business in Norfolk.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith; Producer: Angela Frain.