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Farming Today: Brexit or Bremain and UK farming; TTIP and beef; Open Farm Sunday

03/06/2016

Brexit or Bremain and UK farming; TTIP and beef; Open Farm Sunday

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Brexit or Bremain and UK farming; TTIP and beef; Open Farm Sunday

The blue-on-blue row over the EU referendum at Defra. Sybil Ruscoe presents.

The blue-on-blue row over the EU referendum at Defra: environment secretary Liz Truss is campaigning to stay in Europe, while farming minister George Eustice wants out.

The blue on blue row over EU Referendum at Defra: Environment Secretary Liz Truss is campaigning to stay in Europe while Farming Minister George Eustice wants out. They speak to the BBC's Robin Markwell at the Bath and West Show. 

Whilst TTIP, the transatlantic trade and investment partnership being thrashed out by the EU and the US, could bring some opportunities for exports, some vulnerable UK sectors like beef and poultry could be threatened by the sheer scale of US farming. Some of its methods are currently banned by the EU, such as feeding hormones to beef cattle and bleaching poultry meat.
Some British protected food - like Aberdeen Angus beef, Gloucester Old Spot pork and Stilton cheese - could also face a threat as Sally Challoner discovered from cattle farmer John Davies, the Deputy President of NFU Cymru - who farms in the uplands of Brecon. 

If you're an avid Archers fan, you'll know that it's Open Farm Sunday this weekend. It's now in its 11th year and gives everybody the chance to meet farmers and growers on their farms. One of the producers opening their five-bar gate this Sunday is Packington Free Range, a mixed family farm near Lichfield in Staffordshire. Andrew Dawes went to meet Annabel Shackleton, who's national manager for Open Farm Sunday and Alec Mercer from Packington where they have 1200 pigs in their outdoor unit. 

Presented by Sybil Ruscoe and produced by Mark Smalley.

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