Some sectors of agriculture were back in the money in 2007, but bird flu, blue tongue and foot-and-mouth disease all caused anxiety.

The biggest turnaround in fortunes came in the local dairy industry while grain producers too enjoyed a profitable 2007.

After years of scrimping and cost cutting, dairy farmers saw a surge in farm gate prices and at last some reward for their early morning starts and constant weekend work.

From a little over 16 pence per litre early in the year, farmers returns frothed up nicely as the summer wore on and by autumn producers were creaming in closer to 30 pence.

Source: BBC News