Moving the bluetongue protection zone boundary is the only way to save the south and east's livestock industry.
That may sound a harsh assesment of the situation, but as someone farming in Kent at the moment I can assure it isn't. Those of us trapped inside the zone have few marketing options and no chance to move stock to traditional winter grazings outside the zone.
The number of slaughterhouses in the zone is negligible, particularly when you look for any with serious capacity. Quite simply those finishing stock in the zone have been left high and dry and need access to their usual outlets, denying them this chance to trade is unforgiveable.
I can understand the reticence of farmers in other parts of the country to expand the zone, but I would urge them to consider how they would feel in our position. European evidence suggests animal movements play little if any part in bluetongue transmission, so there is no logic in trapping animals in an arbitary zone. More welfare problems will abound if this change isn't made early next week and businesses will collapse.
Having already suffered at the hands of foot and mouth, the regions farmers cannot be left high and dry by bluetongue too. They deserve help not hindrance and its down to their fellow farmers to help. Lobby your local NFU group to pass the message up to HQ.
The decision is simple, either expand the bluetongue zone or have the destruction of the south and east's livestock sector on your conscience for many years to come, its up to you. All I ask is that you think what you would want others to do were you in the situation they are now.