DAIRY farmers in the Wellington area and across Taunton Deane will have to diversify if they want to stay in business.

That's the warning from Jeremy Browne MP, whose Taunton constituency covers Wellington.

Mr Browne said: "Prices have picked up in recent months but it is still difficult for farmers to make a decent financial return on milk.

"New Government regulations regarding the disposal of nitrates are causing considerable concern among farmers.

"There is limited scope for major investment in capital projects when the profitability of dairy production has been depressed for so long.

"Some local farmers have seen the benefit of diversifying their business into enterprises such as farm shops selling produce from their farms.

"There is increasing public support for local produce and awareness about the environmental impact of transporting food over long distances which is helping to make consumers more inclined to visit local farm shops."

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