What do you think of DERRA? (From Gazette & Herald)

What do you think of DERRA?

AT the height of the foot and mouth crisis the former ministry of agriculture finally expired, giving birth to the new rural overlord, DEFRA, which now celebrates its third birthday.

Like most three-year-olds, DEFRA has given us a lot of frustration and heartache; and has had to take a lot of stick for its attitude to farmers.

To celebrate its anniversary, there is a 3,000 word homily published on the DEFRA website which illustrates its "achievements", together with supporting statements from such independent observers as ministers Margaret Beckett, Elliott Morley and Lord Whitty.

It would be interesting to hear what others think of DEFRA.

My own view is that it has a difficult role to fill, trying to balance the demands of its political masters with the practicalities of farming.

I think it has gone too far in acting as a police force and its rigid interpretation of EU regulations often make it impossible to comply.

Margaret Beckett says she is "proud of our achievements - are you?"

ANIMAL HEALTH COSTS TO BE SHARED

I have been on odd working groups during the consultation process leading to DEFRA's ten-year Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, due to be launched this week.

The document will apparently confirm the principle that DEFRA wants to share the cost of disease control with the industry.

The department stresses the need for a partnership between farmers and the Government, and this was a recurring theme at my fringe meetings.

I tried to make it clear that if the Government insisted on a partnership, then this must also involve the industry in having a voice in policy.

Presently, it is the Government and DEFRA which make the rules, and if they want us to share the costs then we must have more influence in drawing up those rules.

Some pundits are predicting that land prices could rise by as much as 50pc over the next year or two; and this is driven not only by a shortage of land on the market, but also by an increasing demand from non-farming buyers.

Nearly half of all people buying farms are not farmers, which is a worrying trend.

It means that the bottom rung of the ladder, for new entrants into farming, is being taken away and the 50-100 acre farm with homestead will go instead to a family earning bigger money in the City.

This leaves us, then, with the problem of trying to find affordable housing for those who are left to work the land, and the Government needs to come to grips with the solution.

There may be some relief as the housing market passes its peak, and in the south-east there are reports that the rate of registration has slowed by almost 20pc in the last few months.

The Bank of England's monetary policy will inevitably affect house prices as well, and the gradual rise in interest rates since Christmas is beginning to take effect.

Farmers and Friends of the Earth (FoE) may seem unlikely bed fellows, but this week they are joining forces to put Tesco under fire at its annual general meeting.

On the one hand, Sir Terry Leahy will present his company's "great British success at home and abroad" by declaring a profit of £1.6 billion.

Tesco now has a massive 27pc of the UK grocery market, which is way ahead of its rivals.

The farmers and FoE claim that Tesco is clearly abusing its immensely powerful position by putting small traders out of business and bullying suppliers in its never-ending search for cheap food.

The critics want a range of Government measures to restrict the big supermarkets, including a binding code of practice to protect suppliers, a supermarket watchdog and a moratorium on any more shops being taken over by the big boys.

This week's stranger than fiction tale concerns thieves who stole a portaloo and - accidentally kidnapped the man who was using it at the time.

The robbers loaded the lavatory on to their tractor trailer and drove off.

The bemused 45 year old man sitting inside, opened the door to find himself being driven at high speed through the suburbs.

Having completed his business, the man jumped off the back of the lorry and went to the police who later recovered the toilet in a raid!

I got a nice letter from Alan Easton saying how he much he appreciated Philip Place's remarks from the rostrum on his retirement.

Alan, from Sneaton, near Whitby, ran a one-man haulage business serving the farming community and the livestock markets for many years.

Whilst it is sad to see yet another local haulier give up, we all wish Alan a very a happy and well deserved retirement

Don't forget it's Malton Show on Thursday. Do go along and support this local event.

Forward on Tuesday were 200 cattle including 98 bulls and 23 cows; 756 sheep including 631 lambs.

Light steers to 131p from J L Gray, Grindale (average 128p), heavy steers to 122p from W & L Thompson, Middleton (106.8p). Light heifers to 131p from G I Marwood, Harome (114.8p), heavy heifers to 139p from G I Marwood (114p). Light bulls to 112p from J S Collinson, Gilling (107.9p), medium bulls to 114p from P M Allen, Great Barugh (107.8p), heavy bulls to 119p from R H Mason, Wold Newton (108.4p), black & white bulls to 104p from K Kirby & Son, Ebberston (87.8p).

Standard lambs to 131.8p from E Fussey & Sons, Bridlington (121.2p), medium lambs to 133p from D Snowden, Helmsley (122p), heavy lambs to 127p from E W Jackson, Bridlington (118.5p). Medium hoggets to 93.8p from P Nicholson, Nafferton (94.2p), heavy hoggs to 87.2 from C Beal, Yedingham (84p). Ewes to £50 from R Byas, Kilham (£39).

Updated: 11:14 Wednesday, June 23, 2004