Topsy turvy year for NI farmers

Northern Ireland farmers can look back on a year of topsy turvy markets and near misses with plagues and pestilence.

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.