Farming Today - 10/12/2010

Caz Graham hears it could be the end of the road for misleading food labels. At the moment, Danish bacon and Thai chicken is sometimes labelled as British if it is processed in the UK. But EU Ministers have voted to ensure pork, sheep, goat and poultry must carry country of origin labels. Which, the consumer magazine, say the vote is a victory for British farmers. Cloned meat will soon be on our tables, according to Professor Keith Campbell, who cloned Dolly the Sheep. He tells Farming Today the meat is safe to eat, and that advances in cloning science mean animal welfare concerns are no greater than for other modern methods of reproduction. Farming Today hears the tough economic climate has led to a marked increase in both rustling and poaching. Wildlife Crime Officers right across the country say deer poaching is now becoming big business, and a visit to Cumbria reveals hundreds of ewes and lambs have been stolen in several separate incidents. And as the ice and snow begins to thaw in some parts of the UK, concerns have been raised that salt found in water after the thaw could be dangerous for wildlife. A roadside walk with David Harpley from Cumbria Wildlife Trust reveals verges are now providing habitats for species which normally live in salt marshes. Presented by Caz Graham, produced by Melvin Rickarby.