Horsemeat row tops NFU agenda
More than 1000 farmers are at the NFU conference in Birmingham to discuss matters ranging from the horsemeat scandal, the crop crisis and the row over milk prices.
Latest ITV News reports
Hundreds attend NFU conference in Birmingham, full report
Floods, tuberculosis and the horsemeat scandal have resulted in a "diabolical year" for farmers across the Midlands.
Hundreds have attended the National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham, expressing their concerns and trying to find solutions.
There is now warning it could be another tough year ahead.
Keith Wilkinson reports.
Pork found in some beef samples tested by Leicestershire County Council
by Jane Hesketh
Leicestershire Trading Standards officials say they may be taking enforcement action against the suppliers of beef products that contain pork.
Leicestershire is one of 28 local authorities asked by the Food Standards Agency to make random tests on beef products in supermarkets and takeaway outlets.
Of the eight venues they visited two of the beef samples were found to contain pork.
Suleman Nagdi from the Federation of Muslim Organisations says their religion does not allow them to eat pork at all and he's calling on the government to take urgent action against the suppliers of mislabelled or contaminated meat.
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Environment Secretary: "This criminal activity should be stopped"
Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson MP, has said that buying something labelled beef which ends up being horse meat is "fraud".
Speaking at the NFU conference in Birmingham, where one thousand farmers have gathered, he also told listeners "we must ensure the British public have confidence in the industry and what they're eating".
1,000 farmers attend NFU conference in Birmingham
1,000 farmers have gathered at the NFU conference in Birmingham to discuss what has been described as "a diabolical year".
Farmers across the region have been facing a whole number of problems - drought, floods, tuberculosis, HS2 running through their farms and the horse meat scandal.
They've heard how more food will have to be produced in England instead of being imported from other countries, because our population could increase by the equivalent size of "four Birmingham's" in the next eight years.
Farmers from across the Midlands have been talking to ITV News Central.
Anti-badger cull protests outside NFU conference
Following the Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson announcing badger cull plans, protesters have gathered outside the ICC in Birmingham where the NFU conference is taking place.
Environment Secretary tells conference badger cull will help
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson today told farmers a badger cull would help prevent the spread of bovine TB:
"Bovine TB is spreading at an alarming rate and causing real devastation to our beef and dairy industry.
"The authorisation letters issued today confirming culling can proceed this summer in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset is an important step towards taking the action we need to tackle the spread of this disease in wildlife."
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Environment Secretary: Horsemeat scandal was 'totally unacceptable'
Secretary of State at Defra, Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, says sale of horse meat as beef was totally unacceptable.
He told the NFU conference in Birmingham.
"I am determined this criminal activity should be stopped."
NFU president: 'a diabolical year for farming'
Peter Kendall, the NFU president is addressing farmers from across the UK at the anual National Farmers Union conference at Birmingham's ICC this morning. He says it has been a 'diabolical year' for farming.
Mr Kendall says Britain needs greater self sufficiency in food production and that England's population will have to grow by more than four million people within eight years. He said:
"That's more than four Birmingham's worth of extra mouths to feed."
Farmers have come to Birmingham for the conference to discuss issue that have affected them in the past year.
The recent horsemeat scandal is high on the agenda as well as prices of animal feed and the recent bad weather affecting crop.
NFU: Consumers want more British meat
More than three-quarters of consumers wants supermarkets to stock more food from British farms, according to a National Farmers' Union survey:
- 78% said supermarkets should sell more food from British farms
- 43% said they were more likely to buy traceable food from farms in Britain following the horsemeat scandal
A thousand people were polled by the union.
NFU boss: Farmers 'furious' about horsemeat scandal
The head of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said farmers are "furious" about the horsemeat scandal.
Peter Kendall said that shorter supply chains and better labelling of British meat would help prevent a repeat.
He added: "Our research also demonstrates the strong demand for British-farmed products, and so retailers, processors and food service companies have a responsibility to ensure there is clear country of origin labelling on the products that consumers purchase."