Letter: Farming crisis

Sir: It is ironic that the Ministry of Agriculture and commentators respond to the current farming crisis by proposing that we put the oldest and "least efficient" farmers out to pasture.

Some restructuring may be needed. But without linking proposed retirement schemes with schemes for new farm entrants - so that the farms do not all get swallowed up by bigger ones - we will shortly have an even more dire situation. What we need is new energy and ideas in this industry led by new young farmers, not ever-larger farms run by big business for the ever more powerful and concentrated food industry.

By allowing more amalgamation, the ministry will be responsible for encouraging the loss of more rural enterprises and jobs, greater field sizes and the loss of hedgerows and related biodiversity.

The farming community and others concerned with the rural economy and environment must insist that support for farmer retirement be very closely linked to support for new entrants, as other countries have done to their industries' benefit.

VICKI HIRD

Policy Director

Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming

London N1