ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines production, income and price trends in agriculture in the post-war period. It considers the position of the consumer and focuses on the environmental issues. The first point to be made in considering the position of the farmer is that, in the period since 1970, production and income trends have behaved in a rather complicated way. Richard Body’s work has achieved the distinction of being the subject of a prestigious conference organised by the Centre for Agricultural Strategy and the Centre for European Agricultural Studies. Two reasons seem to account for its appeal. The first is Body’s sheer skill as a pamphleteer; he weaves a spell which is compelling despite the fact that the structure of the argument is not always clear. Secondly, his proposals appear to involve minimal damage for any particular interest group, and potential benefit to some.
