First published in 1962, the original blurb read: “The traditions of agriculture are timeless. But current practice is far removed from the world of William Cobbett’s Rural Rides. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food embraces an industry where technical improvements can make the production methods of a decade ago as stale as yesterday’s newspaper. And wide is the range of the Ministry’s functions – from financial assistance to farmers to the attempts by the National Stud to breed a winner of the Derby.

To maintain a healthy and prosperous agricultural industry, the United Kingdom Government makes grants and subsidies to farmers which cost the taxpayer £250 million or so a year. Why and how they do this is the story which this book tells.

Expert advice plays an important part in raising the productivity of farms, and the book describes the kinds of technical advice the Ministry provides to farmers through the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the Agricultural Land Service. The way in which the Department responds to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease provides an exciting example of its work to protect animal and plant health.

Regulating the composition and labelling of food and drink is another of the Department’s many functions – an activity of considerable interest to the housewife. It also assists the fishing industry by helping fishermen to modernize their craft and equipment and by carrying out research on such problems as conservation of stocks and methods of storage.

This book presents a vivid portrait of a Department of State which has played a major part in making British agriculture one of the most efficient in the world, and which will have great responsibilities in the years ahead especially if the UK joins the Common Market.” Today it can be read in its historical context.