THE price war between Britain’s supermarkets is putting pressure on local farmers, according to Robert Hicks, the general secretary of the National Farmers’ Union in the area.

While supermarkets have pledged to get closer to the farming industry after the horse-meat scandal, the price war had seen prices fall for beef producers, said Mr Hicks.

Britain is importing beef from such countries as Poland, he said.

“It’s folly to be importing food,” he added.

Britons are concerned about the welfare of livestock, quality of meat and deceit by overseas producers after the horse meat scandal, he said.

However, Ryedale sheep breeders are currently benefiting from good grazing and farmers are optimistic about the prospects of a good harvest, after two poor summers and cereal crops being affected by disease.

But while crops are encouraging because of the good weather this spring, local farmers are concerned about the among of weeds growing in crops, especially black grass.

Mr Hicks said Ryedale was seeing fewer mixed farms, as more farmers seek to specialise in particular aspects of the industry.

Some farmers were renting additional land to grow such crops as silage and potatoes.

The NFU, which now has some 400 members in Ryedale – about three quarters of the farming population – was playing a key part in such issues as the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

“It is important to our local farmers and we are able to provide a strong voice in Europe on it,” said Mr Hicks.