Farmers worry about vegetarian Defra boss

THE news that the new boss of the farm and environment department Defra, Hilary Benn, is a vegetarian is causing raised eyebrows amongst Yorkshire livestock farmers - including hill farmers who are already struggling to make a living raising sheep on the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales.

The appointment of Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn as Secretary of State for Defra received a generally warm welcome from farmers and landowners (See News, Friday), although there was sadness about the departure of David Miliband from the post to become Foreign Secretary.

But when news leaked at the weekend that Mr Benn is a vegetarian, livestock producers suffered a stab of doubt: does that mean that he will be less attentive to the needs of cattle, sheep and pig breeders?

There was, however, an opposite reaction from Yorkshire's growing band of organic market gardeners and vegetable growers: Mr Benn is believed to be keenly interested in organic food matters and they hope he will do more to boost that sector.

Mr Benn is the third Defra secretary since the department was formed just over five years ago during the chaos of the foot and mouth debacle. The first, Margaret Beckett, is remembered for the unmitigated disaster over English farm payments - some of which are still unpaid more than two years late - and her successor, David Miliband, who won considerable praise for trying to sort out the mess.

Mrs Beckett was sacked as Foreign Secretary last week by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown and was once again succeeded by Mr Miliband. Farming organisations have praised Mr Miliband for his work in getting Defra back on track and hope that Mr Benn will continue the good work.