A majority of European Union agricultural ministers, including France and Germany, urged renewed help for dairy farmers struggling with price declines. The price European dairy farmers receive for milk peaked in mid-2008 and has since fallen 40 percent to price levels unseen since 1992, the EUobserver reported Tuesday. Sixteen out of the European Union's 27 agricultural ministers on Monday voiced concern over the so-called milk crisis, while hundreds of farmers protested outside the meeting in Brussels. In order to prevent a disappearance of farms on a grand scale, the EU must take strong and concrete new measures, the agriculture ministers said in a joint statement. In July, the European Commission recommended a series of support measures, including milk promotions and allowing increased farmer subsidies.

By Dan Buglass Rural THE Common Agricultural Policy, which comes at a cost in the region of 40 billion (GBP 36bn) to European taxpayers, was last subject to a major review in 2004, with the new regime taking effect on 1 January 2005.

NFU Cymru is calling for a common-sense approach to new rules on nitrates and set-aside land.

THE Government should be congratulated on its moves to protect the environment on farmland, say leaders of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, (CPRE).

By Dan Buglass Rural LITTLE progress is being made in Geneva by the representatives of 35 countries at the World Trade Organisation's discussions aimed at liberalising international commerce.