EVEN the historic estate of Castle Howard is not immune to the farming crisis. In a dramatic response to the current problems, it is to stop dairy production altogether and sell off most of its herd.
Redeveloping the dairy operation is not viable, farm bosses say. Instead they are to switch to organic production.
This is a gamble but also, as Simon Howard says, a positive move. Public consumption of organic produce is increasing by about 40 per cent a year, fuelled by concerns about modern agricultural methods. If Castle Howard can successfully go organic, other farmers may also consider this as a route to salvation.
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