In these desperate times, I must spread the word about just how important it is that farmers, their families and friends remain united if we are to save the countryside as we know it today.

Everyone will have seen on TV, heard on the radio or read in newspapers like this just how bad things are. But there is one organisation that has continued to run the gauntlet and hold fast to its beliefs that farming can and will survive.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is the only organisation which has the knowledge and the power to sit down at the table with government ministers and the European minister and be heard.

It was the NFU that was responsible for hard lobbying which resulted in the retention of the suckler cow premium, the retention of the sheep annual premium and oilseeds area payments.

The NFU was also responsible for pushing for a valid national cattle database in to ensure real safety in the food chain.

Now, more than ever, we need a strong NFU. it's the only way we're going to be heard. It is a united voice for every generation of Yorkshire farmer.

John Duggleby (farmer),

Beswick,

Driffield.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.