THE devastation and despair caused by foot and mouth will dominate our memories of 2001.

The emotional heartache and the financial losses of individual businesses will take even longer to fade.

But we begin the New Year - as ever - with fresh determination and a new agenda that must secure a profitable and sustainable future for agriculture in Britain.

Co-operation will remain the key word for 2002 - between farmers, farm businesses and the food chain, the industry and Government and the Commission in Europe. Co-operation among farmers - in buying and selling - will help reduce costs and strengthen the trading position of individuals in an increasingly fierce competitive global market. Many more now recognise that we ignore this at our peril.

Adding value will also continue to help farms improve their share of the final retail profits and additional business ventures are a valuable source of greater security. All these efforts must be supported. They must not be thwarted by ill-judged Government intervention. We operate in a single European market in which even the largest UK co-operative is a small player.

The UK Government must do what it can to promote excellence in British agriculture and support its efforts to flourish in the same way as other pro-active member states. It must reduce the burdens of regulation, both direct and indirect, on farmers and acknowledge our reputation as a world class player and performer. It is far better to promote best practice, while ensuring the regulator's major effort falls on the small minority of backsliders, not the vast majority of efficient, well-operated farm businesses.

For 2002 and beyond, all these issues and more must be tackled. The development of alternative crop uses, including green fuels and increased incentives for biodiversity and environmental enhancement, must be on the agenda at home and in Brussels. Another task will be to ensure that France complies with the court ruling on British beef. We also need to make further progress in relaxing the current BSE restrictions as disease incidence continues to fall.

But our first task of the new year must be to put foot and mouth behind us and ensure the Government closes the door on diseases from abroad. The rebuilding work must begin in earnest and in a way that addresses the hurdles that have undermined the efforts of farmers for too long.

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, December 27, 2001