Stubble burning
Sir: It ill behoves Tom Thatcher, whom I take to be a Salisbury Plain grain farmer, to address arrogantly the general public on the advantages (to the farmer) of stubble burning. Those of us who are simultaneous- ly being lectured by his name-sake on the need to live within our budgets must now also endure constant conflagrations, power cuts, financial loss from smut damage and even death on smoke-bound motorways, to maintain high agricutural incomes.
While the facts, as expounded by Mr Thatcher, are not disputed, the NFU would be well advised to cooperate with the police and legislature in ensuring the prosecution and punishment of farmers who allow their fires to get out of control. Otherwise there will be a massive groundswell of opposition the next time the level of agricultural support becomes a political issue.
G. F. Palmer
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