The third broad region is the west,where it's a different story again.The climate is warmer than in the north and much wetter than in the east.The resulting rich soils in the west provide excellent pasture,and the farms there are quite large,typically around 800 hectares.The main products are milk,cheese and meat.

So,clearly,there are marked differences between regions.But this does not prevent quite a strong sense of solidarity amongst the farming community as a whole,right across the country.This solidarity comes in part from the need to present a united from in dealing with other powerful interest-groups,such as government or the media.It also owes something to the close co-operation between all the agricultural training colleges,through which the great majority of farmers pass at the beginning of their careers.And a third factor making for solidarity is the national structure of the Farmers'Union,of which virtually all farmers are members.

Finally in this short talk,I would like to say a little about the challenges facing farmers in the next...