The Agricultural and Related Industries Study Group of the Operational Research Society held a one-day meeting on ‘Modelling Agriculture under Pressure’ on 22 May 1991 at the Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. The group promotes the use of the scientific method in solving management problems. The aim of this meeting was to look at different ways of modelling the effect of changes on farm economics and profitability. Three papers discussed partial-equilibrium economic models and national policies. The other three papers concerned farm profitability. The speakers generated lively discussions. One of the most memorable replies was from Peter Midmore to the question of what he would use instead of input-output analysis: ‘1.2’.