大象传媒

New figures from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories suggest that levels of bovine tuberculosis in Wales have fallen significantly over the last year. Between November 2011 and November 2012 there were 1145 instances of the disease in new herd reported in Wales. In the same period last year, there were 880 reports - a 23% drop. And the numbers of cattle slaughtered in Wales because of bovine Tb fell by a third.

However in England, farmers saw a less than one per-cent decrease in new cases last year and a seven per-cent drop in the number of cattle sent for slaughter.

In a statement, Defra told us that whilst the Welsh Government's figures were encouraging, they only reflected a single year. However, the The Welsh Government's chief vet told Anna Hill that a strict annual testing and a zero tolerance approach to the disease could be the reason for the significant decline.

The countryside could benefit from increased manufacturing business and industry, according to Professor Mark Shucksmith at Newcastle university. As part of our week on building in the countryside, Lucy Bickerton visited a factory near Malmsbury where the owners reap the benefits

And could our bumblebees be at risk of disease from honeybee hives? And what can farmers do to help?

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Jules Benham.