17/03/21 Reductions in cod catches, lamb and beef prices buoyant, hungry gap imports, AHDB horticulture levy

A new deal on fish catches between the UK, the EU, and Norway has been struck. It’s the first since we left the EU. The Total Allowable Catch for cod, plaice, saithe and herring has been reduced, but there’s an increase for haddock and whiting. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation say they're disappointed with deal.
The prices farmers are getting for their sheep and cattle are relatively buoyant at the moment. It seems a combination of fears about a No Deal Brexit and export tariffs, combined with the Covid lockdown, has made a big difference.
Deliveries of organic vegetables have become increasingly popular, but what do farmers do when they don’t have enough to fill their boxes? This time of year is known as the hungry gap, something we’re exploring all week.
Every year farmers pay millions of pounds in a mandatory levy to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to fund research and marketing. But a month ago after pressure from a group of petitioners, a vote was held asking horticulture growers if they wanted to keep paying it. 61% of those who voted said they wanted it to end. Now they fear they may be asked to pay for next year’s levy because it needs parliamentary approval to end it, and the next bills could be sent out before that happens.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.