24/02/2012

The next two weeks is the busiest lambing period of the year for UK farmers. The National Sheep Association says once that has passed, the industry will have an idea of the scale of the impact of Schmallenberg Disease. The virus which causes birth defects in lambs and calves, has been confirmed on 58 farms. It is thought that if the number of cases in the UK mirror those in Europe some farmers could be forced out of business and the price of lamb on supermarket shelves could increase. Caz Graham visits a farm watching and waiting as lambs are born in Cumbria.

The organic group, the Soil Association defends the system of farming against criticism from a leading food security expert. Professor Tim Benton, the UK's Global Food Security Champion says the environmental benefits seen on organic farms can never compensate for the fact they produce less food..

And a group of MP's say they have found a legal solution which could make it possible for the British Government to take back some of the control of fishing in British waters, whilst still being part of Europe's Common Fisheries Policy.

This programme is presented by Caz Graham and produced in Birmingham by Angela Frain.