Just last week a coalition of nearly 30 farm organisations told DEFRA that to charge livestock farmers for dealing with animal disease outbreaks (a plan known as cost-sharing) was "divorced from reality".
They pointed out - quite rightly - that the foot-and-mouth outbreak has cost the industry £100m and the sector is also suffering from rocketing feed and energy costs.
But DEFRA's response is to today publish a consultation which seeks views on how the farming industry could be further involved in the decision-making process for animal health and welfare..."and the principles of how the funding for animal health and welfare can be shared between government and the industry in the future."
It would seem that the industry's pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears.
Does this not explain why many farmers have no trust in DEFRA and no respect for DEFRA?