Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Farming Today

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 LW

Farming Today: Farming Today This Week

Farming Today This Week

20/08/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Farming Today This Week

With Caz Graham. The UK agricultural industry claims 3.5 billion pounds in EU subsidies.

The UK agricultural industry claims 3.5 billion pounds in EU subsidies each year. Farmers say it is a fair price for meeting farming and environmental standards in food production.

Last year £3.5 billion pounds of EU subsidies were claimed by UK farmers, landowners and food producers. Critics say at a cost of £110 for every tax payer, the agricultural industry shouldn't need to be supported in this way. There are a variety of schemes available, the largest of which is the Single Farm Payment, which was claimed by 100,000 farmers last year at a cost of £1.75 billion. Other schemes such as Entry and Higher Level Stewardship reward farmers for conservation work on their land. Presenter Caz Graham visits John Braithwaite, an arable farmer from Staffordshire to see how he meets the standards necessary to claim the money - and how it's changed the way he farms. Working alongside John is Nigel Baskerville from FWAG, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, who helps support John as he manages the conservation areas on the farm. 
Also on the programme - as farmers across the UK are awarded money based on different criteria, a Scottish crofter explains how she uses the £700 subsidy to pay for feed, whilst an Inverness mixed farmer says without the subsidy food prices would go up. It's not just farmers and landowners who claim the money. Some of the biggest recipients of money from the European Common Agricultural policy are large, multi-national companies that process food or sell commodities. The National Farmers Union Policy Director explains why millions of Euros are claimed by sugar and dairy processors. 

Presenter: Caz Graham ; Producer: Angela Frain.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Farming Today

Farming Today This Week

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4