Exchange - the online auction facility for agriculture from FWi. The survey was conducted from 20-24 April 2001. Isabel Davies, Alistair Driver, Donald MacPhail, Jonathan Riley, Johann Tasker, Sarah Walton, Shelley Wright. More than one-third will only partially restock their farms. Fewer than half expect their businesses to recover in the near future.
Many producers believe the crisis is a watershed for British farming.
In some cases, fields will remain empty as farmers shut down unprofitable enterprises. Cumbrian farmer Kenneth Chalmers, whose livestock was slaughtered last month plans to give up rearing beef and concentrate instead on his dairy herd. He believed farming would become more environmental. Farming policy may favour small farms that help the environment and are self-sufficient. Martin Howarth, policy director for the National Farmers' Union, said ministers should sit down with farm leaders to help manage any changes.