Letters: It might be that farmers have a lot to whinge about...

ASDA's decision to use UK rather than New Zealand lamb is to be welcomed. There is sound economic sense in utilising a native resource rather than wasting money and fuel transporting meat. Ross Clark compares farming to mining in the early 1980s. Yet, through an export ban on British beef, it is being denied the opportunity to be profitable.

He accuses farmers of "mass poisoning". Yet it was government that promoted the use of offal in animal feed and suppressed reports that it might be harmful. The majority of farmers who did not feed such products to their livestock and have not experienced BSE among their animals have the right to feel the victims. Such farmers have seen their incomes slashed, markets taken away and the strong pound reduce subsidies and the remaining export market.

HAZEL CAMERON

Glasgow