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Against the Grain

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Charlotte Smith presents a ten-part investigation into British agriculture.

Charlotte Smith presents a ten-part investigation into British agriculture at a time of uncertainty and speculation.

Against the Grain: Series 1

Against the Grain: Series 1: Omnibus, part one

24/02/2017

Omnibus, part one

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Against the Grain, Series 1, Omnibus, part one

Charlotte Smith explores the story of British farming and debates its post-Brexit future.

Charlotte Smith presents the first part of her investigation into the story of British farming and discusses what the priorities should be for its post-Brexit future.

Charlotte Smith presents the first half of her investigation into Britain's farming story, and discusses what the world might look like for farmers after Brexit. In part one of the omnibus edition, Charlotte tackles the relationship between politics and farming - at a personal level, with former Agriculture ministers Nick Brown and John Gummer, and at a policy level, in a discussion on the Common Agricultural Policy.

What has the CAP done for rural Britain? The Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness argues that it has held back the forces of large scale business and protected thousands of small farmers who preserve the character of the European countryside. True, says the respected commentator Professor Allan Buckwell, but that's a romantic idea and we need to ask how much longer we want to use public money to support unprofitable small farms.

We don our wellies with visits to farms in the Scottish hills, the arable East of England and an organic, mixed farm in Wiltshire. We're with farmers as they come to town for their annual jamboree, the Farmers' Weekly Awards in London. And the economist Dieter Helm lays out his vision for an industry in which farmers only get public money for providing public benefits.

Producer: Chris Ledgard.

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

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Omnibus, part one

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