| The Agricultural Science Association (ASA) has expressed grave concern about the future of the daily farming programme, Farm News, following the recently announced changes in the RTE radio schedule. The President of ASA, James Fitzgerald, said his information from within RTE is that Farm News is unlikely to be included in the new 'Drivetime' programme which will be broadcast between 5pm and 6.30pm each weekday from September next.
"Farm News has been the flagship agricultural programme on RTE radio for the past 31 years. It has provided a vital service to the agri-food industry and rural Ireland. Its demise would represent a serious breach by RTE of its public service broadcast remit."
"Even in the UK, where agriculture is given scant national attention, there is a daily specialist agricultural news programme broadcast by the BBC. This programme is actually twice the length of the current Farm News on RTE," said James Fitzgerald.
"As the body representing professionals in all areas of the agri-food sector, the ASA is calling on management of the national broadcaster to ensure that this vital service continues to have a prominent position in the new broadcast schedule," he stressed.
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