A complicated deal to provide vital subsidies for farmers was agreed months ago in Brussels. But the paperwork on this side of the channel has gone haywire, the Government's computers have crashed and the money is missing.....MILLIONS of it. Last year the Government promised every penny was going to be paid out by March. It wasn't. Now the Government says it will be paid out by October. Farmers are deeply distrustful.

This is both a scandal and a tragedy. Unless farmers are paid and paid soon many face the danger of insolvency. And unless the Government solves the paperwork problems then we'll all have to cough up....because the rules demand that every country complies or else is forced to surrender a hefty fine..........to Brussels.

For once it is not Europe's fault, it is purely ours. The Government set up a special Rural Payments Agency (there's a link to them below) to deal with it.

Somerset's farmers have been writing to me in desperation and by the score. I am fighting on their behalf. Help me to help them. Show your support by getting in touch

CONTACT ME 

I pledge to copy everything to the man of schoolboy appearance pictured below who has just taken over from Margaret Beckett as Secretary of State.

His name is David Miliband. His knowledge of farming is currently very small.

(Don't bother contacting Lord Bach who used to have special responsibility for Farm Subsidies. Mr Blair gave him the boot.)

(We are not responsible for the content of external web sites)

• http://www.rpa.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/home Rural Payments Agency
• http://www.defra.gov.uk/  Department of the Environment, Farming, Fishing and Rural Affairs
• http://www.nfu.org.uk/x151.xml NFU in the South West

And, if you haven't already done so, have a look at my general farming page: FARMING & FOOD