1.   But Peter Walker, the agriculture minister, opposes the idea of a new law.

2.   Exporters will face extra charges for transporting animals inspected by independently nominated veterinarians, said Junior agriculture minister Elliot Morley.

3.   Renate Ku nast, the new food and agriculture minister, will also have responsibility for consumer affairs.

4.   A meeting of agriculture ministers in Luxembourg today has so far failed to reach agreement over farm subsidies.

5.   THE GOVERNMENT is seeking a better drinks tax deal in the European Community to boost the Scotch whisky industry, the agriculture minister, David Curry, said yesterday.

6.   THE Italian agriculture minister, Gianni Fontana, yesterday resigned from the government after being targeted by a corruption probe.

7.   An emergency meeting of agriculture ministers refused a U.K. demand to lift a ban on its exports of beef considered most at risk from the infection.

8.   And his agriculture minister, Douglas Hogg, refused the summons of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss the issue.

9.   And the new agriculture minister, Douglas Hogg, has done the same under questioning in Parliament.

10.   A conservative agriculture minister found himself inspired by his talks with a revolutionary young peasant, and began sketching out a plan to help the poor grow coffee.