Col wrote:

I agree, most farmers aren't rich, but this is in spite of getting the
subsidies/compensation! There's something wrong here.
ISTM there are too many farmers chasing too little market. And in
a properly competitive market that means some farmers should
go to the wall. Unpleasant, but that's harsh economics for you.
I do not see why imported food should drive the price up. In a
truly competitive market the cheapest/best product should prevail,
whether that comes from here or abroad.

You say the "cheapest/best product should prevail" as if they are the
same thing. They are not.

For instance, in livestock farming UK farmers have to comply with
welfare standards (quite right too) and have to abide by identification
rules (every cow and bull has to have an individual passport so the meat
on your table is traceable back to an individual animal. This ensures a
high quality product but the costs are massive. There are many countries
in the world where animal welfare is virtually non existent (and where
BSE or poultry diseases, for instance, are rampant) and where the
farmers receive very large subsidies from their government. This allows
them to flood our market with sub standard food.

This is not true competition. Farmers in the UK are being hit from two
sides. There is the consumer who will only shop on price, irrespective
of the quality or risks, on one side and a government that seems intent
on destroying farming on the other.

--
Howard Neil