COMMON sense must prevail if agriculture is to succeed in Britain, according to Reg Haydon, chairman of the tenant Farmers Association.

In a New Year message Mr Hayton said: "Rural issues have been under close scrutiny at the highest level throughout 1999 but the results have not been impressive.

While the Government's much heralded action plan for farming following the Downing Street summit had some useful measures, it lacked any coherent long term perspectives."

But Mr Haydon did have some praise for Lord Haskins Better Regulation report.

"If the conclusions reached by Lord Haskins were followed through by the Government, our agriculture industry would be in far better shape."

"As yet we do not know what 2001 has in store, but I would hope that some of the green shoots of recovery, particularly in the milk price, will continue to grow through the year."