INTRO: Britain's farmers are warning Brexit could have a "huge impact" on the country's agricultural sector...
The industry is hugely reliant on billions in subsidies from the EU which could be lost when the UK leaves...
But there are also concerns over how Britain's farmers will stay competitive outside of the current EU trade agreements...
Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports from the English county of Surrey...
IN: The Broom family...
OUT: ...SOC.
DUR: 2'24"
GEN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-generic.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-rnz.mp3
VON: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-von.mp3
VAT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-vatican.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-icrt.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-ziz.mp3
938LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-938.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-fm4.mp3
<<
VO: The Broom family has been farming in the south of England for more than 100 years...
They're no stranger to the ups and downs of this industry - but uncertainty is at a high among British farmers over how they will fare once the UK leaves the EU...
SOT: Hugh Broom, farmer: "The major concern is that our biggest customers are our European partners in terms of 75 per cent of exports go to Europe. So any farming business in the UK wants to ensure we still have access to those markets on a fair and equal level in terms of tariffs and trading terms."
VO: Farmer Hugh Broom says subsidies are also a big issue for farmers.
Last year nearly three billion dollars was handed out to British farmers from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy - making up more than half of their income.
But it's not known how that money will be replaced.
The UK government has promised to guarantee EU subsidies - but only until 2020.
It a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
"The guarantee of funding up to 2020 is excellent news for our farmers, our environment and rural communities, providing crucial certainty and continuity while we develop a new approach to supporting agriculture and protecting our precious countryside.
"We look forward to working with the industry and the wider public to shape our plans for food, farming and the environment outside the EU."
VO: Any trade deals which the UK strikes post-Brexit could open up new lucrative markets for British farmers...
But they could also bring cheaper imports - something which farmers warn could have a hugely damaging impact...
My-rig Raymond is the President of the National Farmers Union...
SOT: Meurig Raymond, President, National Farmers Union: "If our UK negotiatiors allow free trade into the UK, then I would say strongly that any imported food coming into the UK must be produced to similar standard to what we are expected to produce in the UK."
VO: The unknowns are forcing many farmers to diversify their business...
Hugh rents out a field for events such as weddings - but warns for more rural farmers, it isn't as easy...
SOT: Hugh Broom, farmer: "Here in leafy Surrey we're few and far between, but you go to mid-Wales, you go to the middle of Somerset, you go to the middle of East Anglia where farming is the number one employer and is driving the local economy, it's going to have a huge impact - huge impact."
The problem for the British farmer, is they simply don't know what their post-Brexit future will look like.
Without knowing what level of subsidies, if any, will remain, or whether or not their produce will face cheaper competition from around the world, the picture remains an uncertain one for British farmers.
Dan Whitehead, SOC.
The industry is hugely reliant on billions in subsidies from the EU which could be lost when the UK leaves...
But there are also concerns over how Britain's farmers will stay competitive outside of the current EU trade agreements...
Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports from the English county of Surrey...
IN: The Broom family...
OUT: ...SOC.
DUR: 2'24"
GEN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-generic.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-rnz.mp3
VON: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-von.mp3
VAT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-vatican.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-icrt.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-ziz.mp3
938LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-938.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1115farmers-pkg-dw-fm4.mp3
SCRIPT:
<<
VO: The Broom family has been farming in the south of England for more than 100 years...
They're no stranger to the ups and downs of this industry - but uncertainty is at a high among British farmers over how they will fare once the UK leaves the EU...
SOT: Hugh Broom, farmer: "The major concern is that our biggest customers are our European partners in terms of 75 per cent of exports go to Europe. So any farming business in the UK wants to ensure we still have access to those markets on a fair and equal level in terms of tariffs and trading terms."
VO: Farmer Hugh Broom says subsidies are also a big issue for farmers.
Last year nearly three billion dollars was handed out to British farmers from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy - making up more than half of their income.
But it's not known how that money will be replaced.
The UK government has promised to guarantee EU subsidies - but only until 2020.
It a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
"The guarantee of funding up to 2020 is excellent news for our farmers, our environment and rural communities, providing crucial certainty and continuity while we develop a new approach to supporting agriculture and protecting our precious countryside.
"We look forward to working with the industry and the wider public to shape our plans for food, farming and the environment outside the EU."
VO: Any trade deals which the UK strikes post-Brexit could open up new lucrative markets for British farmers...
But they could also bring cheaper imports - something which farmers warn could have a hugely damaging impact...
My-rig Raymond is the President of the National Farmers Union...
SOT: Meurig Raymond, President, National Farmers Union: "If our UK negotiatiors allow free trade into the UK, then I would say strongly that any imported food coming into the UK must be produced to similar standard to what we are expected to produce in the UK."
VO: The unknowns are forcing many farmers to diversify their business...
Hugh rents out a field for events such as weddings - but warns for more rural farmers, it isn't as easy...
SOT: Hugh Broom, farmer: "Here in leafy Surrey we're few and far between, but you go to mid-Wales, you go to the middle of Somerset, you go to the middle of East Anglia where farming is the number one employer and is driving the local economy, it's going to have a huge impact - huge impact."
The problem for the British farmer, is they simply don't know what their post-Brexit future will look like.
Without knowing what level of subsidies, if any, will remain, or whether or not their produce will face cheaper competition from around the world, the picture remains an uncertain one for British farmers.
Dan Whitehead, SOC.