FARMERS could be paying too much fortractors, batteries and vitamins for animal feed, says the NFU, which islaunching a 'cost busting campaign' to help farmers "squeeze every lastdrop of income" from their businesses.

The campaign aims tohelp farmers get better value for money on purchases like tractors, farmmachinery, fertilisers and animal feed products.

Researchshows that:

- Some makes of tractor are up to 20 per centcheaper abroad, while some parts such as batteries are up to 40 per centcheaper.

- British farmers pay at least £280 per product toapply for permission to use identical pesticides from abroad - a costwhich no other European farmers have to bear.

- Between 75 and95 per cent of the global market for vitamins for use in animal feed iscontrolled by three companies, leading to claims that farmers are beingover-charged.

A dedicated team at NFU headquarters willinvestigate the supply and distribution of farm machinery to see ifregulations governing franchise agreements with dealers are putting upcosts.

The NFU is also looking for farmers to join a potentiallawsuit against three multi-national vitamin companies.

Thecampaign will also involve sharing information among farmers about thebest deals, and encouraging farmers to join forces and buy inbulk.