[wraymond]

Might be useful to research the level of:
1. Farm failures leading to local communities dispersing.
2. 2nd & 3rd generations not following their family into farming.
3. Farms selling part or all of their land to developers who value the land way over agricultural capital - soon to lose agri-subsidy from Europe!

The facts are that more than a few farmers know labour rates in Eastern Europe are vastly different to here and seek to utilise the opportunity to capitalise. Also as said earlier the supermarkets have them over a barrel and are completely and ruthlessly dictating what they, the supermarkets, want to pay.

The farmers are not all single minded animal enthusiasts but are also in business to make profit and I for one don't blame them for a minute. As a young child I lived on a farm in North Thoresby, Lincs. for some years and first heard of the 24 hour working day. The world has moved on from picture-postcard Haywains and many of those quaint farmhouses are second homes for city dwellers.