Working Our Land

Description

Over production and an over use of chemicals is leading to a crisis in farming. It is predicted that millions of acres in Britain could be taken out of food production. We open with time lapse shots of arable farming (Oxford Scientific Films). Interview with Professor David Harvey of the University of Newcastle who believes that the EEC Common Agricultural Policy is unsustainable due to surplus production. The commentary continues with background information including the Government’s white paper ‘Farming and the Nation’ which called for an increase in agricultural production - a view that has since been discredited. Interview with Patrick Holden of the Soil Association about the over use of fertilisers to increase production.

Interview with David Condor of the CPRE who talks about the problems caused by intensive farming and the numbers of farmers who are going bust. Over aerial views of fields and a quick shot of a grain store we learn that the EEC continues to buy all that farmers produce at artificially high prices perpetuating the over production. Interview with the director of Friends of the Earth, Jonathon Porritt who predicts a grim future for farming.

Interview with Dr Malcolm Bell of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology who explains why farmers are encouraged to be intensive. Views of a combine harvester at work in a field. Interview with Gordon Tonkinson who is a Shropshire tenant farmer about the trend to over production. Earlier this year the government announced new plans for the rural economy. We see newspaper cuttings and a b/w still of the agriculture minister at the time, Michael Jopling. Interview with the current minister for agriculture, John MacGregor who admits that some farm land is going to have to come out of production but talks about alternatives including an increase in land for forestry and more diversification into leisure usage. We return to Jonathon Porritt who welcomes the comments.

Interview with Doctor Bob Bunce of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology who talks about the European system of part-time farmers. We see views of a pick your own fruit farm who is an example of farmers selling directly to the public. Interview with organic farmer, Julian Rose about the great potential for direct selling. The programme is wrapped up with further interview comments from participants already named.

Credits

Thanks to the National Environmental Research Council
Commentary: James Bellini
Camera: Julian White; Charles Pitts
Time lapse and specialist photography: Oxford Scientific Films
Sound: John Coates; Robin Ward
Production Assistants: Pat Radford; Jenny Wright
Production Secretary: Annie Clarke
Graphics: Stuart Kettle
Film Editor: Ken Jones
Research: Kathleen Darby
Producer: Vivica Parsons
Written and Directed by Paul Cleary

Notes

Production number 1173/87.