THE farming industry has been through a lot in the last year, bluetongue is still a spectre on the horizon and foot and mouth is never far away from anyone's mind.

On a happier note, in the last 12 months there have been welcome rises in milk price. Milk Link, in particular, has seen its price increase of nearly eight pence per litre. This goes a small way to make up for the considerable period of time when milk prices were, for many producers, below the cost of production.

The positive news on price has been tempered by a surge in farm costs. Feed, fertiliser, red diesel and electricity have all risen significantly eroding much of the improved milk price. At the same time, farmers also have to cope with other costs, in particular those relating to an ever growing burden of environmental legislation.

Indeed, at the recent Oxford farming conference a major topic of debate was the increasing pressures being put on farmers as a result of new legislation and the balance between food security and environmental stewardship.

Many in the audience suggested that the raft of recent environmental legislation makes it seem as if the government views farmers as purely environmental park keepers. Of course, farmers have always been the custodians of the countryside and undoubtedly take their role in looking after the rural environment seriously - indeed sustainability has been central to a tradition of farming in the south west for centuries. However, no-one should forget that at the heart of farming is the production of food and there is a danger that environmental legislation may force farmers out of business.

Perhaps the biggest example of this is Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). Late last year, DEFRA proposals relating to NVZs were published for consultation and Milk Link took the opportunity to respond by highlighting the major threat to the viability of the dairy industry in the UK should the new regulations come into force. As well as referring to the financial arguments against the NVZ proposals, we questioned the science, and called upon the Government to provide evidence to persuade the EU to withdraw the requirement to reduce the "whole farm limit" of nitrogen. We supported the view that capital grants must be made available for assisting farmers financially, to make the changes to comply with the law, should it ever come into force.

It is important the legislation is not unreasonable and doesn't impose costs on dairy farmers which could drive some out of business. Farmers must be allowed to get on with what they do best which is farming their land both now and for future generations.

For our part, Milk Link will continue to strive to provide sustainable returns to our dairy farmer members. As well as their own farm businesses, it must be remembered that dairy farmers support the economic, social and environmental well-being of many hundreds of rural communities across the UK.