AMONG a crowd of some 300 who gave Conservative leader William Hague an enthusiastic reception at Leominster on Thursday last was a large contingent of Young Farmers from the Herefordshire Federation who wanted to know whether there was a future in farming for them.

Mr Hague told the gathering in a barn at Wharton Bank Farm that the future would have to be fought for as the Government had little interest in farming. He stressed that more help was needed now if young people were to stay in the industry. People in the urban areas needed to be alerted far more to the importance of farming, said Mr Hague.

The Opposition leader flew into Wharton Bank by helicopter on schedule as part of a whistle-stop tour of constituencies during the day. He landed in brilliant sunshine and after a quick lunch with farm owner, Mr Hugh Black, he gave a lively and witty speech from a stack of straw bales. But although his words were reassuring and he agreed to take on board several issues, he had no new cure to solve the crisis in farming.

He said that some changes in policy were needed in the short term if there was going to be a long-term future. Firstly, it was necessary to claim more agri-monetary cash from the EU. Every time the Euro went down the Government was saving money, pointed out Mr Hague.

He emphasised the need to cut red tape and called for a bill to be introduced for proper labelling laws. Examples should be highlighted of imported food that didn't meet British standards.

Owen Whittall, of the county federation of YFC, told him that the climate gave young farmers little opportunity to carry on farming and Stephen Bowen, a former YFC member from Abbeydore, pointed out that the Euro was proving a double-edged sword for farmers.

Philip Hughes, of the county federation, wanted to know what safeguards could be put in place to stop bureaucracy strangling the industry and was told by Mr Hague that regulations were being 'gold-plated' in Britain while other countries 'put them on the shelf'. He was determined to stop unnecessary bureaucracy. Farmer David Handley asked how farmers could fight the strength of the supermarkets. Mr Hague said greater co-operation and greater producer power were needed.

Answering a question about the pressures facing small abbatoirs, Mr Hague said that the number of inspectors had to be reduced and costs lowered. And in answer to a question about cheap imported vegetables, picked by young children, Mr Hague said the problem should be highlighted and he agreed to pass the matter to his agricultural team.

Cecil Pritchard of Stoke Prior, handed Mr Hague a litre bottle of mineral water, costing 45p wholesale, and said that a farmer received 16.5p for same bottle full of milk. What is the logic in this, he said. He wanted Mr Hague to refer the matter to Tony Blair.

Mr Hague said it was a glaring example of the need to get more producer power into the industry.

The Conservative leader was introduced by Mr Bill Wiggin, prospective parliamentary candidate for Leominster, and thanked by Virginia Taylor, prospective parliamentary candidate for Hereford.