Letter: The farmer's fate

Sir: While I agree with Sean Rickard that the Common Agricultural Policy is in urgent need of reform,why ditch a system of support that has produced a plentiful supply of ever cheaper and better quality food for 50 years?

Most governments have, over the past 200 years, intervened in agriculture. When they have not, price and supply has varied widely. Mr Rickard need only look at the total failure of Freedom to Farm in the US: rural poverty, low prices to the producers and little or no benefit to consumers.

SYDNEY CARR

Wellow,

Nottinghamshire