15/09/20 - Compensation for poultry processors, on-farm cider production and global soil study.

Banham Poultry in Norfolk re-opened this week after a partial closure because of a COVID-19 outbreak. More than a hundred and twenty staff tested positive for Covid at the plant, which slaughters 180 thousand birds a day. The group also owns 16 broiler farms, rents 19 and has 9 independent growers. Thousands of birds supplying the plant had to be slaughtered on farm, and the company lost millions of pounds. Now, they want compensation from the Government.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation has welcomed a decision from the Government to include shooting on the list of sports exempt from the "rule of 6" COVID restrictions.

After months of pub closures there is a surplus of cider apples. Some farmers growing apples on contract for drinks companies have been paid to let their fruit rot in the fields this year. But for others who make and bottle cider on-farm, the boom in online shopping has been a benefit. We visit one farm where they've seen a 5-fold increase in online sales.

And a new study looking at soil erosion across the globe has found more than 90 per cent of the conventionally farmed soils are thinning.

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons