Farming in crisis

The UK's farming industry is still in the doldrums, hit badly by falling prices, though financial assistance is now being given.

BBC News Online looks at the causes, the symptoms and the effects - both in general and in a number of case studies from around the UK.

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Farmers win sympathy but no cash
Alex Kirby reports on the plight of UK farmers, struggling to ride out the worst agricultural crisis in 60 years.

Farming profits halved

Financial rescue package

Why farmers think they deserve help

Prices: Years of feast and famine

Mark-up: Lamb crisis winners and losers

Form-filling infuriates farmers

Pigs: Overproduction and other factors

Sorting out the sheep to cull

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'Struggling to survive'
The UK's farmers are "barely holding on to survival by their fingertips", according to a report by the National Farmers' Union.

Stress and suicide in the country

Lodgers and llamas: Making ends meet

'Bad businessmen and bad farmers'

Logging on to profits

Bad diet: Farmers face a long-term problem

Devolution: What it means for ewe

 Alternative strategy: Direct selling and the Web
Tim Hirsch reports from Bristol

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A hillfarmer's story
BBC North's Adrian Pitches reports on the changing moods of a North Pennines hillfarmer he has followed through the year.
 January
 April
 July

Northern Ireland: A pig farmer's tale

Not all gloom: Optimism in East Anglia

Wales: A way of life at risk

US perspective: Midwest farmers going broke

 Grain farming: Not all doom and gloom
BBC1's Countryfile reports from East Anglia
 "Twenty-five years ago, farming had a future..."
Martin Cassidy reports from Northern Ireland
 "In the US, market forces usually triumph..."
Brian Barron reports from the American Midwest