skip to main content

BREXIT: FARMING ON THE EDGE

BREXIT: Farming On The Edge BRENDAN JOYCE 01-iloveimg-converted (2) Image Name: BREXIT: Farming On The Edge BRENDAN JOYCE 01-iloveimg-converted (2)
BREXIT: Farming On The Edge 01 GEORGE LEE listening to BRENDAN JOYCE-iloveimg-converted (2) Image Name: BREXIT: Farming On The Edge 01 GEORGE LEE listening to BRENDAN JOYCE-iloveimg-converted (2)
BREXIT: Farming On The Edge 01 GEORGE LEE 01-iloveimg-converted (2) Image Name: BREXIT: Farming On The Edge 01 GEORGE LEE 01-iloveimg-converted (2)

George Lee meets the farmers at the heart of Ireland’s farming industry to hear about the threat from Brexit to them and the country. He hears their concerns and plans for the future. He explores the uncertainty facing farmers and their families. Through the farmers, George shows viewers the issues created by Brexit. Alongside this he explains Ireland’s considerable global significance in food production and food security.

Long Synopsis

Brexit is coming and Ireland’s farmers are worried. Despite December’s Phase One agreement on the Border, EU Citizens and the UK’s Divorce Bill, Brexit could still have devastating consequences for our economy. Trade deals have yet to be agreed and the UK is a critical trading partner; each year we ship more than €4 billion of food and drink to the British.

So how are our farmers preparing for the earthquake when the UK quits the EU? George Lee journeys Ireland, meeting the people leading the battle for our economic future.

George meets farmers across the country. He sees how the fallout of Brexit has already impacted on farmers here. The drop in the value of sterling has caused the loss of customers for tomato grower, Matt Foley in Rush, County Dublin and Elphin Mart Manager Gerry Connellan in Roscommon while farmer and entrepreneur, Marie Martin in Dingle, Kerry describes how potential British distributors and buyers have cancelled meetings in the aftermath.

George journeys on to meet Maura and Donie McKeown in Sligo and Brendan Joyce in the Connemara Hills. He hears concerns about the loss of the UK contribution to farm subsidies and how it could threaten livelihoods and the style of farming we have in Ireland. Brendan Joyce explains how the Common Agricultural Policy ensures good food at good prices and that’s one reason why what happens next with Brexit matters to everyone.

George hears how the looming Brexit trade talks have particular significance for farming in Ireland and our wider community. Ireland is a super-power when it comes to producing beef and around 50% of what we produce goes to the UK. They are our nearest neighbour, they have similar food tastes and standards and they are a good paying customer. Billy Nicholson and his son Niall raise beef cattle on 440 acres near Crosshaven in Cork. Niall has joined his father in partnership to run the business. They explain how it can take five years to plan and raise beef cattle and how they have a two-week window to sell their cattle.

As the fall-out from Brexit continues, George Lee finds out just what the future is for Ireland’s most important industry.