Stock collection postcode lottery

THE CHAIRMAN of the National Fallen Stock Company has ruled out an end to the big variations in collection charges when a new pricing structure for the scheme is introduced in June.

Farmers across the UK have contacted FARMERS WEEKLY to register their frustration at the huge variation in removal charges.

In Cumbria alone farmers are paying from £9–£40 to have a single sheep removed and from £30–£100 for cattle.

But, speaking ahead of a stakeholder meeting on the scheme next Tue (April 26), company chairman Michael Seals said the differences would remain.

“It is all a question of competition and postcode,” he insisted. “In areas where several companies operate farmers can shop around, but it is a commercial reality that the greater distance a lorry has to travel the higher the charge is likely to be.”

Where there was little or no competition, livestock producers could trim costs by using farm transport to deliver dead animals to approved disposal points, or to strategically located collection centres, he advised.

Self-help could also offset the pick-up charge some collectors made for each farm visit regardless of the number of animals involved.

Mr Seals said he understood why NFSCo members wanted to see more contractors operating in the field, but standards had to be met.

Of the 65 applicants who wanted to tender during the recent review of prices more than half were rejected under Animal By-product Processing Order regulations.

“Farmers should not expect to see a lot of new approved contractors on the list when it is published in mid-May.”

However, Mr Seals promised that new NFSCo initiatives would emerge from next week’s stakeholder meeting.

Derek Morgan, who will represent the Farmers Union of Wales at the stakeholder meeting, said the news that farmers really wanted to hear was that the EU had reconsidered the totally unjustified on-farm burial ban.

As that was very unlikely, they would like to see more competition between contractors and financial incentives to encourage the establishment of collection centres.

“The present arrangements are not fair to everyone,” claimed Mr Morgan, who chairs the union’s hill farming committee.

“Some very incompetent contractors are not delivering the service they promised, and the very big variations in pick up charges are unacceptable.

“It is up to the NFSCo to ensure that the money received from the government is used to help farmers get rid of fallen stock in the most efficient and cost effective way.”