ABOUT 120 farmers attended a meeting at the Beaufort Hotel, Raglan, to hear a number of interesting speakers.

The first was Mr Keith Spencer of auctioneers Rennies who updated the audience on the continuing saga of the closing of Abergavenny and Monmouth livestock markets. He said the preferred site for the new proposed market was Raglan with its strategic importance to the motorway network.

The next speaker was Mr Maurice Vellacott from Exmoor who spoke humorously about farming and his fears for the UK industry with thousands of fertile acres in the Eastern Bloc joining the EEC.

Mr David Handley of Farmers for Action reported on the recent milk price increases which were due partly to the recent blockades of dairies.

The next open meeting will be held on Monday, November 6th, at the Beaufort Hotel, Raglan, when all farmers are invited to hear John Loftus talk about getting all UK dairy farmers into three co-ops.