FARMING on the edge of towns was like working in a war zone, according to the NFU.
"Farmers report a grim list of problems from vandalism to prostitution that you wouldn't expect to find in the countryside," said NFU spokesman Russell Griffin.
Commenting on a NFU survey he said: "Not only are the findings gravely disturbing but they also add to the cost of farmers. For example, local authorities will charge farmers for disposing of illegally dumped rubbish."
The NFU, he said, would be lobbying national and local government for a number of measures including more visible policing, an extension of local authority powers for the removal of fly-tipped wastes from private land, and a positive planning attitude towards farming and diversification in the Green Belt.
Mr Griffin said the entrepreneurial spirit that typified Britain's farming industry was alive and well with the survey showing that a significant proportion were taking advantage of the large nearby customer base and diversifying into rewarding new businesses.
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