MARK Rooke, the farmer from Nawton who tests GM crops, suggests that Josie Downs and Friends of the Earth, would be better occupied in studying foot and mouth disease than in protesting about GM maize being licensed as animal fodder.

For me it is not an either/or question. I do have grave concerns about the long term environmental effects of GM crops and have also been working hard with farmers and other concerned local people on our foot and mouth committee here in Goathland.

As well as taking all possible precautions and segregating sheep from people, we have read up as much as we could on possible causes and solutions to the problem. Out of all that I have read, the literature produced by the Green Party strikes me as the most thoroughly researched. They seem to have the best grasp of the immediate and historical causes of many of the problems faced by farmers at the present time and are very concerned about the plight of small farmers.

I would be glad to pass this information on to Mr Rooke. It seems to me that farmers need all the help and support they can get at the present time. Whether they be GM protesters, 'townies', 'greenies', 'incomers' or farmers - all have in common their concern for the future of the countryside.

We should be helping and listening to each other, rather than labelling and judging, or we'll never find a way through this present crisis.

MRS JACKIE FEARNLEY

Goathland

Updated: 09:00 Thursday, August 30, 2001