Poultry Farmers are warned this winter is on course to be among the worst for Avian Flu. This week all poultry in England and Northern Ireland was ordered inside after a number of new cases. The Pirbright Institute's head of Avian Virology explains why the H5N1 strain of bird flu has become more able to spread, describing it as 'almost a super strain'.

A household name in food processing says it's worried about future supplies of raw materials, because farmers confidence is so poor. McCain is the single biggest buyer of British potatoes. It commissioned an online survey of 200 farmers from across the industry, called Farmdex. It found that 51 per cent of respondents had considered leaving farming in the past year, while 40 percent believe they may be forced to leave the industry in the next decade due to economic pressures. McCain is calling on the Government and other food industry players to take steps to improve stability for farmers.

And, we visit a small company producing seeds for joyously different varieties of veg from Wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled Cress to the Musselburgh Leek.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith

Producer: Sarah Swadling