There has been growing disquiet among farming leaders and countryside campaigners about some BBC reporting of key issues, particularly around coverage of the Government's planned badger cull to tackle the scourge of bovine TB.
The BBC Trust, the broadcaster's governing body, has now announced it will carry out a review of rural issues, including news, current affairs and factual programmes.
News of the inquiry was well received in the Westcountry, where farmers in particular have found themselves at odds with the way in which some stories have been presented.
David George, spokesman for the National Farmer's Union (NFU) in the South West, said there was "no room" for even the perception of bias in the BBC's coverage.
"It is not bias in terms of the facts, it is bias in terms of the presentation," Mr George said yesterday. "It may be wholly unintentional but the BBC is expected to present these issues fairly."
Mr George said some complaints had been of long standing, including comments made by well-known presenters and the "presentation and tone" of pieces on the long-awaited badger cull, which is set to go ahead this summer.
"Farmers have got together and made complaints in the past," Mr George added, "and the comments haven't been repeated.
"If this review does find there has been any unintended bias hopefully that will be corrected and we can look forward to a more even-handed tone in future."
The NFU's last clash with the BBC came last autumn when president Peter Kendall wrote to then BBC director general George Entwistle demanding an urgent review of the way the badger cull debate was being reported.
Farmers had taken particular exception to a report on BBC Newsnight which had blurred out the face of a protester who had threatened to take direct action against the cull.
In the same programme, a farmer who argued that tackling the disease in badgers was crucial to limiting the disease in cattle was named and had his face shown.
"The clear suggestion was that anti-cull protesters are being intimidated by farmers," Mr Kendall said at the time.
"This suggestion is disgusting and clearly biased."
The BBC said the protester had requested anonymity because he was concerned he would be targeted.
Including the anonymous interview, the BBC said, meant the report could "challenge their position and plans for direct action".
Part of the trust's annual work plan, the review is the latest in a rolling programme of impartiality investigations looking at different aspects of the BBC's output.
The trust has responsibility, as set out in the charter, to "do all it can" to ensure the impartiality of the BBC.
Work is expected to begin this summer, although the terms of reference for the independent report have yet to be set.
It will include content analysis and audience research, while submissions will be invited from the BBC executive as well as interested stakeholders.
A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said it was looking to contributing to the review, admitting it had had "swipes" at the BBC in the past.
"Countryfile, for example, has a mighty audience but if we polled our membership, I'm sure the result would be 'could do better'," he said yesterday.
"We've long held the view that it has now become a programme for people who like to look at the countryside rather than for people who live and work in it."
The spokesman said it often encountered problems when pitching possible stories to the BBC, possibly because the broadcaster was so urban- centred.
"We are looking forward to seeing the terms of reference and fully participating in the review," he added.
"We have more than 100,000 members who deserve to have their voice heard.
"We are very keen to put forward their views as to what should happen in the future. It is a crucial issue for our membership."
