A new report just published by the Migration Advisory Committee has highlighted agricultural workers as being severely vulnerable to exploitation. The M.A.C. also says immigrant workers with little or no English are more likely to be exploited and this is why it advised the government to include an English language requirement in its visas for butchery workers last year. 800 visas were granted to help ease a bottleneck of pigs being processed, because of a shortage of workers. The report also details how Brexit and Covid have both had an impact on the availability of labour, from home and abroad. We ask committee chair Professor Brian Bell whether safeguards, such as the Gangmasters Licensing Authority are working well enough to protect vulnerable workers. We also ask the NFU for their response and ask what they make of plans to pilot a rural visa, to help stop depopulation in more remote communities.

A cheesemaker in one of the most remote parts of England has been celebrating the seal of approval after winning gold at the World Cheese Awards. Doddington Dairy, in the Glendale Valley in Northumberland has had a turbulent 12 months. This time last year, they lost power for 11 days following Storm Arwen, and when the back-up generator broke down, the owner had to drive miles overnight to get a replacement, so they could milk the cows. However, owner, Neil Maxwell, says getting the seal of approval from experts is priceless for a small cheesemaker.

Presenter = Anna Hill

Producer = Rebecca Rooney