Letter: Farming crisis

Sir: You say that the Government "can act to moderate the pace and alleviate the pain" of the crisis in farming (leader, 28 August).

It is difficult to find sympathy for farmers who have been happy to make substantial profits for many years from irresponsible and unsustainable farming methods. The most pressing action to be taken now is by the public in considering its own eating habits.

Perhaps now some of the facts are out in the open, consumers will decide whether the 600,000 unwanted male calves born every year is an acceptable price to pay for consuming dairy produce. Similarly if the public could witness the shocking reality of intensive farming it might temper its appetite for cheap meat with some consideration for the welfare of the animals.

ELIZABETH RUSSELL

PAUL RUSSELL

Brighton, East Sussex