大象传媒

Pig farmers are being warned to step up bio-security after a highly infectious disease was found to have arrived in Europe. Asian-American Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea - PED - has wiped out an estimated 8.5 million pigs in America since May last year. It's now been detected in Ukraine. Organisations are rolling out contingency plans in the UK soon.

Around 31 pubs across the UK close each week. Yet according to the real ale group Camra, 69% of pub-goers believe that a well-run pub is as important to rural life as a post office, local shop or community centre. Well many rural pubs are now finding niche ways to draw in custom and make them stand out from the rest - and for one in rural Gloucestershire - the Salutation Inn at Ham - this has meant rearing their own pigs.

Not everyone looks forward to Christmas. For some farmers it can be an extremely stressful time, especially for those living in very isolated areas. There are several helplines and advice services available for farmers to call, if they feel it's getting too much. The Farming Community Network keeps its lines open every day, and says with changes to the Common Agricultural Policy, this could be a difficult year.