The Archers - 11/08/2008

David and Ruth are on their way to a meeting with Matt about the digester. They bump into Ed, congratulating him on persuading Will to come home. They tell him they've heard from Mike that Oliver's planning to get out of dairying. This is the first Ed's heard - he marches off to Grange Farm. Ed finds Oliver, and isn't willing to accept his plans. He tries to convince Oliver that there's a future. He tells Oliver that he can take a back seat and let Ed and Mike run things for him. Oliver agrees, saying he'll give them a year to make a go of it. Matt and Annabelle explain to David, Ruth and Adam that, as maize prices have risen since last year, they'll have to adapt their plans. They'll need to make the digester bigger, and accept food waste. None of them are happy - they promised the village this wouldn't happen. But they accept they have no choice, and agree they'll go to back to the village with the new plans. After they've gone, Matt grumbles to Annabelle. Why do they have to drag the others every step of the way - this scheme is supposed to be making them money! Episode written by Mary Cutler.