A SERIES of meetings on a number of crucial subjects have been organised by the NFU.

Two road shows, explaining how hill farmers are likely to be supported in the future, will be held at York and Hexham.

Mr Peter Allen, hill farmer and chairman of the NFU's national less favoured area committee, and Sally Gibbins, NFU LFA adviser, will discuss the hill farming allowance scheme.

They will speak at Hexham auction mart on Thursday at 7pm and at the NFU regional office in York next Friday at 10am.

A separate meeting to discuss sheep scab, the cattle herd registration exercise and general livestock issues is at Skipton auction mart on Wednesday at 7pm.

Mr Peter Bates from MAFF entemology will discuss sheep scab and Mr Jonathan Birnie, NFU North East policy adviser, will outline the cattle herd registration exercise.

Two further meetings for livestock farmers will be held in September. Mr Birnie will outline the cattle herd registration exercise as well as sheep identification and other issues.

The meetings are at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, September 5, at 7.30 and Purdy Lodge, Adderstone, near Belford, on September 12 at 8pm.