A Northern Ireland council is to lobby the BBC on concerns it is isolating the rural community by axing a long running farming show.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) is to write to BBC Northern Ireland director, Adam Smyth to urge him to reconsider a potential move to end the rural radio segment ‘Farm Gate’ after 30 years on the airwaves.
The full council chamber heard this week that a “worrying trend” by the BBC could “further alienate” the farming community of Northern Ireland.
Crotlieve SDLP rep, Declan McAteer bringing forward the motion, said: “This council views with deep concern, BBC Northern Ireland’s move to axe the agricultural feature segment programme, ‘Farm Gate’ from their Radio Ulster schedule.
“And further demands that BBC NI fulfils its obligations and responsibilities as a public service broadcaster to the farming and rural community.
“We also call on BBC NI to formally commit to providing regular, adequate, and bespoke coverage of live agricultural issues, including market and produce trends.”
He added: “As a small group farmers are feeling isolated and pressurised at the moment.
“The plan by the BBC NI to remove the only broadcast featuring agricultural information is creating further angst to farmers.
“There are four thousand farming businesses in our council area who form an integral and constituent part of the local area, as do the remaining 20k other farm businesses who form a major industry in Northern Ireland.
“This programme is an important lifeline, providing up-to-date information to farmers that affects their livelihoods and has been on the air for over 30 years.
“The majority of farmers I know are loan workers living in isolation. To cut off this service will only further alienate them.
“Minority interests are recognised by the BBC when it comes to culture, language or hobbies, so why remove agriculture?
“So, I call on them to consider once again before they axe this programme, to listen to the farming and rural community who want their way of life reflected by their public broadcaster.”
The now shorter segment of Farm Gate, began as a stand-alone programme over three decades ago.
It was later moved to a regular morning slot on Radio Ulster and Evening Extra, but was dropped from the latter show in recent times.
The Local Democracy Service understands the BBC has still not confirmed that it is officially cutting the show and is still finalising its farming and agri-business news plans.
Slieve Gullion UUP cllr, David Taylor added: “As a public broadcaster the BBC has an obligation to provide an important information output to all of our communities.
“Each one of us contributes financially to that broadcaster, it is important that they deliver for our communities and certainly this decision has dented confidence in rural communities.
“It is a worrying trend that we are seeing from the BBC.
“Even the business section we would have seen in their news slots has been removed too.
“The move on Farm Gate has created a lot of disappointment and I know that the UFU (Ulster Farmers Union) has expressed serious concerns about it.
“I hope that the BBC will give consideration and review this decision and I would implore upon others to do all that they can to try and return this programme to the airwaves.”
