Farmers press case for action

HUNDREDS of farmers from across the region attended a rally to highlight the current crisis in agriculture.Around 400 farmers gathered at Thirsk racecourse yesterday to hear speeches from local Tory MPs Anne McIntosh, John Greenway and David Curry.They presented a united voice - telling farmers that they would be taking their concerns and fears about their declining incomes and threatened futures to Westminster and press the Labour Government to act.And they said, as a matter of urgency, they would be demanding that the Government apply for £1 billion compensation from a special Euro fund to alleviate farmers in the EC who suffer when their national currency is strong. The Government has refused to accept this money because, as a condition, it has match it with £700 million. At least nine other European countries have benefited from compensation of this nature, the rally heard.In an impassioned speech, Ryedale MP, John Greenway, said the future of farming as a way of life was under threat.He said: "We are concerned not just about the problems we have in 1998 or 1999 or 2000. We are concerned about the future of rural communities in Yorkshire for this generation, the next generation and for decades after that."He added: "We are not asking for handouts. We are asking for the right to compete on fair and equal terms with the rest of Europe."Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh said a key concern was the drop in farm incomes - down 50 per cent on last year.Newly-elected NFU president Ben Gill said the campaign to solve the crisis would continue with more rallies planned. He urged farmers to write to Tony Blair and spell out their individual problems.Chairman of the York branch of the NFU, Tim Leather, who farms at Green Hammerton, between York and Harrogate, said people were pleased with the turnout. He added: "It shows the very strong feeling of farmers in terms of their loss of income and their lack of a future. We have got to hope the MPs carry our view." He said the two keys to alleviating the current crisis would be to lift the beef ban and the release of the compensation money from Europe.Story goes here