The consultation period for the second statutory review of the British Potato Council is about to end. What should its outcome be? Do you want to see the BPC stay? And if so, should it remain the same? What should change? How effective are they at using your levy money? Do they provide you with value for money? We'd like to hear what you think. Regards Mike Abram Senior Arable Writer Farmers Weekly

As we are about to have an enormous change in agriculture with the SFP as from 1st Jan. I suggest that this is extended to all the Councils/Authorities and marketing and advisory bodies. Do we really need them at all? Perhaps the best way to find out, would be to wind them all up on 31st.Dec. and then let the staff publish a prospectus for their business model and justification for their salaries. If we farmers do not need them or are not prepared to pay for these bodies, they will know exactly where they stand. Having just gone through the process of trying to compile a budget for a tender rent for a farm with no historic entitlements, it is painfully clear to me that the implications of non-subsidy crops has yet to understood by most non-farmers in the food and supply chain.

It is many many years since I grew potatoes. The costs and returns would frighten me to death now. But surely SFP money is a drop in the ocean in relation to all the other figures. If £60, £80 or even £90 per acre was pertinent surely you should not be taking the risk anyway? Jack Caley

I didn't take the risk as I couldn't make the fugures add up even with a figure of only £10.00/acre as a peppercorn rent. In case you are worndering about the land type: grade 1 and 2 fenland silt with small beet quota, plenty of dykes, no hedges, trees or fences to maintain.