There is strong praise for our Department of Agriculture in the current British Farmers Weekly. The Government's response to foot-and-mouth disease, it says on the opinion page, has been exemplary. "Where decisions have been needed, government has been decisive. Where flexibility has been required, government has been flexible. Where help has been called for, government has been supportive. While our government has launched a consultation on the future of pig swill, the Irish have banned it." The praise ends with: "Sensible policies from a government in control. We could do with some of that over here."