Prices in the 1970s .

. .

– IN 1972, the Price Review awards were designed to take us into Europe and expand home production by £100m in the next year to save on imports and sterling payments into the European Community budget.

– The best award was for sheep, with an increase of more than 9%, when taking the rise in the winter keep supplement into account.

– The review increased prices for cattle and this worked out at more than +7%, including the winter keep rise and the increase for milk, which is related to the beef herd requirements, came to +5%.

– The NFU had been pressing for an extra £1.50 per cwt on cattle and were disappointed with 85p, especially as the 1p increase on milk would come out of the Milk Fund. The Exchequer's estimated cost of the receiver award was £49m, and not £70.5m, because none of the money for milk or sugar beet was deemed to fall on the taxpayer.

– The pig award was low – under 3%.

– Cereals were also affected – +7.5% for barley, +5.5% for wheat and +5% for oats, which just about covered costs due to a 60% cut in the fertiliser subsidy.

– Eggs – 15p per dozen for large brown.

– Hay £11 per tonne.

– Oat straw £4.6 per tonne.

– Barley straw £3.75 per tonne.

– Potatoes (wholesale whites) 50-55p (per 56lb)