WORCESTERSHIRE NFU members were in buoyant mood at their AGM at the YFC Centre at Hawford, When the National President Tim Bennett praised Terry Hill for his positive example throughout his year as County Chairman in a period of doubts and uncertainties about the impact of the reform of the CAP and when so many farm businesses were struggling.

Because the president had an early breakfast date with the Prime Minister next day, Terry Hill invited him to speak first, before the business of the AGM.

Tim Bennett harked back to his Worcestershire origins.

"My parents still live in Stourbridge," he said. "I don't manage to visit them as often as I would like. I started into farming in a very small way and so can feel for the struggles of small producers and for young people hoping for a foothold on the farming ladder."

"If we do not up our game in communicating to consumers we will be in trouble. The consumer is the king. We must take ever opportunity of talking to those who buy and eat the food we produce. I have been amazed at how little some townsfolk know about home food production, even in one case thinking that rice is grown in the UK.

"We have been the butt of adverse criticisms about damage to wildlife and the environment and we need to set the record straight. While acknowledging that habitats were damaged in responding to the drive for maximum home production, we now see a great many more hedgerows being planted and wide field margins set aside to benefit wildlife.

"Customers in farmers' markets like to meet the person who grew what is going into the shopping basket. There is genuine interest. The phenomenal success of these markets must promote better mutual understanding, bringing town and farm folk together face to face.

"The New Year brings the end of 60 years financial support for food production, except for poultry and horticultural producers, who had to survive by cost cutting. The old system was beginning to drag us down a little, with so much of farming livelihood dependent on subsidy rather than the market. Now we have the stimulating challenge of farming for the market, not for subsidy.

"I want to see a more positive approach from the Government in the application of regulations from Brussels. At present, Defra adopt a regulatory stance in imposing rules. Why not be like the American government and say 'We are proud of our agricultural industry as we get high-quality food?'

"Let us work in partnership with Government to minimise the damage of over-regulation to our industry. Farmers will adapt and change. Will you in Defra?"

At his impending early breakfast with Tony Blair, Tim Bennett would urge that this is the year to go for renewable fuel production as substitutes for fossil fuel.

"As Tony Blair chairs the G8 Summit talks he will want to resolve the climate change issue," he stressed. "He is going to put Defra in charge of our response.

"This must be the year to go for biodiesel, from oilseed rape and bioethanol, a substitute for petrol, to beet and maize. The Germans grow more oilseed rape for biodiesel than our total UK acreage, and they grow the rape on set-aside land.

"If Tony Blair doesn't do something about fossil fuel replacements from crops we can grow when he goes preaching to the world, we will shout!"

Turning to labour, Tim Bennett pointed out that agriculture is now the only industry with a wages board.

"It has a stultifying effect on innovation," he complained.

On the food supply chain, he said "Being at the end of the chain is beginning to help us in the farming sector; beginning to make the chain think of fair trade. We must look to any way to reduce the power of big people in the chain.

"We must be more confident in what we produce and communicate with the consumer, helping them to understand our role in conservation of the countryside and how we safeguard the quality of our produce.

"We must sort out the law on food labelling. Still people are being conned and misled, often thinking that imported produce labelled 'packed in UK' is home grown food.

"Let us be proud of our industry; and project a confident industry, not winging or complaining about the weather or the season, but able to cope with problems.