I'm afraid there is more bad news to come for the south east. On 15 November the export rules will change again and they won't do anyone in the former F&M risk zone any favours at all, in fact they'll put us further back in terms of prime sales than we are now. I was shown a map defining the new rules on Wednesday night, unfortunately, I can't remember the exact detail and the source who showed it to me wasn't able to let me take a copy (understandably as there are only a limited number of copies of the map in circulation and passing it to the press would have been more than their life was worth). In basic form the new rules will free up exports for the rest of the country, but there will be areas where the 21 day standstill prior to export will continue to apply and crucially for the south east no stock will be able to be exported at all (I think that's right, I'll confirm when I can) and even more critically, no stock will be able to move to slaughter outside the area unless they go direct from farm to abattoir. That means no markets and possibly no collection centres either. This was fought strongly by stakeholders in the meeting, but as one said "it was a question of who's leg we cut off first". Also, DEFRA assembled the stakeholder groups representatives in a room and wouldn't allow them to consult with anyone before a decision was made. Somewhat unfair tactics I'm sure you'd all agree. I'm pressing to find a copy of the map. The only good news from all of this is that the rules will only be in force for one month, Jonathan Long, Livestock Editor, FW

Yes I was there. An excellent speaker .It did give me just a little more confidence in the scientific world at Pirbright, however I have little confidence in DEFRAs' handling of this whole thing other than it is clear they want us to shut up dissappear and sort out this problem while they still hold all the regulatory cards.The  tone of letters I have received from Rooker and Shaw  and todays press release from Benn only re-enforce my opinion .

Romneymarsh, I sympathise with your predicament in the east. You are right you blokes are bearing the brunt, and we are luckier in the west. However the protection zone is causing problems over here as well, partly due to the welsh assembly trying to outdo the 3rd reich. Even though we are nearly 200km from the nearest infected premise, One bloke whose farm is in England but his drive is in Wales has been 2 weeks trying to get permission to take stock off the farm, also many farmers have farms either side of the protection zone and cant move stock around. Up until 2 days ago stock going to slaughter in Wales could not go direct to the abbatoir from Herefordshire farms but could go via a collection centre in Oxfordshire. I think the crazies are in charge. Good luck Romney, I am totally pissed off but I reckon it will get worse when the disease travels the last 200kms to get here.

Jacobus:

According to the June 2007 agricultural census there were 5.6m cattle (2.5% down on 2006) and 15.2 m sheep (down 3.1%) in ENGLAND.  I guess DEFRA are assuming figures will have fallen again by next summer.

The Scots and the Welsh will presumably be making their own arrangements!

 

I guess someone's forgotten cattle have to have two doses 

I guess it makes sense that the doses are for England but FWi are still carrying a story that it's for Great Britain.