麻豆约拍

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee hears from Secretary of State Michael Gove and Farming Minister George Eustice. Michael Gove says that differences between British and American standards over the chlorination of chicken could block a trade deal with the USA. In the USA chickens are routinely washed in chlorine to kill organisms such as campylobacter and Salmonella. Mr Gove argues that the practice is safe, but allows US poultry farmers to keep more chickens in a smaller space, thus compromising animal welfare standards.

He revealed that a command paper to be published in January would outline a new system for farm payments; public money will be spent on public goods - so farmers will no longer get a payment based on how much land they have, but rather for environmental enhancement and farm productivity.

On a more festive note, we hear about Fairy jelly - crab apple jelly made with edible gold, from a Sussex producer Ouse Valley Foods. And in Wales the Farming Union of Wales is urging people to shop locally - as Christmas trade can be vital to keeping rural shops going. Marieclare Carey-Jones reports from Carmathen.

As part of a day of poetry celebrating the Winter Solstice here on Radio 4, the poet-in-residence, Alice Oswald reads her poem, Blackbird.

Produced by Emily Hughes.