15 September 1999
Farmers ‘crisis of their own making’

THE farming lobby is milking its plight for more than its worth and is telling “more than a few porkies” in the process, argues a columnist in The Independent.

James Erlichman attacks farmers for their “lack of candour” about the problems they face in beef and sheep markets.

He also says overproduction means farmers themselves are to blame for the state the industry is in.

The link between provider and consumer of food is also the theme of a new series of articles in The Herald.

Mr Erlichman suggests that consumers no longer believe farmers who claim that food safety takes precedence over profit margins.

He cites the BSE crisis, the outbreaks of E-coli as well as concerns raised by genetically-modified food.