1970-1999

In the headlong pursuit of production inorganic fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides boosted production and in the 1960's high yielding species combined to create huge arable units. Larger and more sophisticated machinery, as in other occupations, has replaced many farm labourers.

Grants to drain wetlands, remove hedgerows and fell woodlands made more land available and in areas led to the destruction of a landscape unchanged for generations.

Factory farming, the intensive rearing of poultry, pigs and cattle was well established, food became cheap and available to all. However the green and healthy image of British farming took a series of setbacks. Steroids used for beef and poultry production were banned. Edwina Currie and salmonella combined to decimate the poultry industry and BSE has seen beef drop to prices last seen over 25 years ago.