AS we start to get towards the more optimistic end of the winter season, thoughts are rapidly turning to what sort of new year we are going to have in the countryside.

Barring disaster, the foot and mouth disease outbreak seems to be in the past but its reverberations are still, unfortunately, with us. Nowhere has this been more keenly felt than at Wharfedale Farmers' Auction Mart in Otley. It was not so long ago that there were two thriving auction marts in the town. Now we are lucky to still have one.

In addition, while everyone is looking forward with anticipation to Otley Show, it is sad to think that the event will probablynot be graced by the presence of sheep or cattle.

Those tourist business which did survive the cull brought about by the effective closure of much of Britain's beautiful countryside must be hoping desperately for a bumper year this year, just at least to keep them going.

A conference organised in Bingley earlier this month by Bradford Council was an attempt to lure tourists and income by using the charms of its rural areas. And the recent event at Bolton Abbey, organised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), was another instance of trying to kick-start the tourist industry once again.

As for the farming industry, the Government has made it clear that there are big changes in the offing with what seem to be hints of the beginning of the end for food production subsidies.

At Bolton Abbey the 'Your Countryside, You're Welcome ' project contrasts sharply with the 'Stay Away' message we were all being fed at the this time last year.

It seems that the balance is shifting. The Government appears to be expressing a great interest in tourism and seems determined to make fundamental changes to the way farming is run.

While seeds are being sown, it will be interesting to see what is actually reaped at the end of the day.