大象传媒

Last year 拢3.5 billion pounds of EU subsidies were claimed by UK farmers, landowners and food producers. Critics say at a cost of 拢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 拢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 拢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.