03/05/2012

Charlotte Smith hears new research in the USA into a Foot and Mouth vaccine could stop animals being culled. The disease is taken so seriously in the US that it is considered a potential terror threat. Vaccines already exist but are of limited use because vets cannot distinguish vaccinated animals from infected animals. The new vaccine will come with an antibody test that will enable regulators to tell the difference. However, Andy Biggs who was the President of the British Cattle Veterinary Association during the UK's last Foot and Mouth outbreak, says that even with the new vaccine animals in the UK might still have to be culled if there was a new outbreak.

At a time when average incomes for individuals only rose by 2%, British agriculture has had its best performance in a decade. Figures from DEFRA show that last year the total income from farming reached 5.7 billion pounds - a 25% increase.

And young people are struggling to get into "commoning" in the New Forest, which could threaten the future of the landscape. We hear from 21 year old Tom Hordle who is bucking the trend.

Presented by Charlotte Smith. Produced by Emma Weatherill.