皇家华人has raised a number of concerns to the BBC about its coverage of farming and rural affairs and has met with them to discuss this.
The BBC's decision to run a week-long focus on farming, has seen reports exploring comprehensive issues in greater detail. 皇家华人has been engaging with BBC News teams to provide briefings and interviews.
Click on the links below to see the topics explored during the week and where NFU spokespeople and farmer members have been featured.
- Monday 19 August - Climate Change
- Tuesday 20 August - Brexit
- Wednesday 21 August - Nature
- Thursday 22 August - Welfare and Diversity
- Friday 23 August - Next Generation
Monday 19 August - Climate Change
NFU Deputy President Guy Smith was on NFU member Joe Stanley’s farm in Leicestershire talking to BBC Breakfast and the BBC News Channel about climate change and the impact extreme weather has had on crops. Catch up below.
Great to hear on ’s explain that the IPCC report was not about curbing British livestock production but being aware of sustainable systems and where your food comes from. Catch up (from 53 mins 30 secs)
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
"Farmers are on the front line of climate change." NFU DP speaking about farming being part of the solution to tackling on 's . Find out more about our ambitions for agriculture
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts was interviewed by the BBC's environment correspondent about the importance of investing in our flood and coastal defences, and this was broadcast on the BBC lunchtime news.
NFU Vice President explained to why the Fens are a valuable region for food production yet hugely vulnerable to flooding and the impact of . Catch the full report (from 20 mins 30 secs)
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU sugar board chairman Michael Sly pre-recorded an interview from his farm in Cambridgeshire with BBC News at Six and Ten that looked at the Fens as a highly productive area of food production that is also hugely vulnerable to flooding and climate change.
Tuesday 20 August - Brexit
For a piece on Brexit aired on BBC bulletins across the day, the NFU’s director of EU exit and international trade, Nick von Westenholz, briefed the BBC with farming’s views on Brexit. The four UK farming unions also provided a statement. Catch up below.
NFU director of EU exit and international trade was interviewed by reacting to research from that reiterates farmers’ concerns over a no-deal . Catch up with all the coverage so far:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
Nick was also interviewed on BBC 5 Live Wake Up To Money at 5.30am to discuss Brexit, farmers' concerns and the opportunities that lie ahead. The programme also pre-recorded interviews with NFU horticulture board chairman Ali Capper, NFU crops board chairman Thomas Bradshaw, NFU uplands forum chairman Thomas Binns and NFU next generation forum chairman Simon Gadd.
NFU Deputy President Guy Smith spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about the impact the recent wet weather has had on this year’s wheat harvest. Catch up from from 51 mins .
Wednesday 21 August - Nature
BBC Breakfast was again broadcasting from NFU member Joe Stanley’s farm to talk about emerging technologies in farming, how they could be used going forward and the impact of the recent wet weather on this year's wheat harvest.
.’s returned to ’s farm this morning, where he explained the impact the recent wet weather has had on this year’s wheat harvest. Watch the full interview from 2hrs 51mins:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU environment forum chairman Phil Jarvis recorded an interview with the BBC highlighting the positives that farmers contribute to the UK environment, all while producing high quality food. He highlights some of the challenges that farmers face, including the weather. This features on the main news bulletins on Wednesday.
NFU environment forum chair tells how British farmers contribute to the environment, all while producing high quality, healthy food. Catch up from 21mins 30secs:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU President Minette Batters was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, giving the NFU’s perspective on a potential UK-US trade deal, following a last week with the head of the American Farm Bureau Zippy Duvall who said the UK must accept US food standards.
NFU President explained why any potential UK-US trade deal must respect our existing high quality food, animal welfare and environmental standards. Listen to the full interview from 1hr 20mins:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU horticulture and potatoes board chair Ali Capper was interviewed on (listen from 9 mins) covering the NFU's concerns that a that the end of freedom of movement in a no-deal Brexit would mean a critical supply of people for British food and farming will be cut off overnight.
Thursday 22 August - Welfare and Diversity
BBC Breakfast was on Joe Stanley’s farm for the final time where they will be talking about rural crime and the wide-ranging impacts this can have on farmers.
. explains the realities facing farmers when it comes to for .Catch up with all the latest coverage:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU chief land management adviser Sam Durham was interviewed live on BBC Breakfast to highlight the issues of rural crime and react to the recent spate of sheep butchering across the Midlands. The programme also featured a farmer who had recently suffered an incident on their farm.
Did you hear call for more action to tackle sheep butchering and on and Breakfast? Watch the full interview here from 1hr 19mins mins:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
NFU horticulture and potatoes board member Tim Papworth talked to BBC News about how a farm accident changed his life. Watch the interview below.
Like in all jobs, farmers are exposed to risks. Changing a light bulb is a simple task but for it changed his life. A powerful account on ?? For more advice read blog:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
Friday 23 August - Next Generation
The final themes explored are technology and farming’s next generation. BBC Breakfast visited NFU member Growing Underground, a vertical farm located at a disused air raid shelter in Clapham.
On the final day of , NFU member lets take a look around its underground vertical farm and explains the benefits of using in . Catch up from 3hrs:
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets)
BBC London looked at the challenges facing farmers as the country prepares the leave the EU. NFU Deputy President Guy Smith was interviewed in advance.
An looks at young female first generation farmers and their experiences in the industry. The BBC interviewed Hannah Jackson (the ).
A examines the debate over climate change and the role of livestock production, emphasising the role UK grasslands play in locking in carbon.
Follow for more information and media coverage during the week
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