35 per pig offer a disaster
1 September 2000
35 per pig offer ‘a disaster’
By FWi staff
A DISASTER is how farmers leaders have described the governments offer of 35 per pig compensation for producers caught up in the swine fever outbreak.
In a statement farm minister Nick Brown ended speculation by announcing that this figure would be paid on animals over 60kg under the animal welfare disposal scheme.
A flat fee of 10 per pig is to be paid for smaller animals.
These ammounts are paid for animals subject to movement restrictions in surveillance zones slaughtered to prevent overcrowding problems.
In the open market farmers could have expected to receive about 75 for a 70kg pig.
In a joint statement National Pig Association chairman John Godfrey and National Farmers Union president Ben Gill condemned the compensation and warned it could drive producers out of business.
“For several weeks Nick Brown has given us the impression that he understands the depth of the financial burden suffered by pig farmers inflicted by livestock movement restrictions, they said.
“During that time, affected pig farmers have worked tirelessly in co-operation with government vets and at not inconsiderable personal cost. In this context 35 per pig is doubly inadequate and a disaster.”
They said that 100 would only just have reflected the market value and costs.
When our members do their sums, they will be tearing their hair out trying to see how to cover the shortfall.”
Mr Godfrey warned many pig farmers in the UK were already beyond their credit limits with banks and feed suppliers alike following the worst two years of trading on record.
“Clearly, we hope that the pig farmers affected will continue to behave with the extreme care and professionalism they have shown to date.
No one wants individuals to continue to suffer and we shall do all we can to help the families affected.
I regret to say though, that for some the shortfall will be just too much.”
Mr Godfrey said when an outbreak occurred in Holland in 1997, farmers got rapid action and full market value.
He asked: “Why is it that the UK government cannot fully support British agriculture when it is so desperately in need and clearly behaving responsibly and looking after the welfare of the animals in its charge?
On the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme NPA regional director Ian Campbell said the government was insulting farmers.
He claimed the EU had said would not object if full compensation was paid for these animals.
The decision is quite clearly back with the UK government, he said.
If this is what the UK government thinks is a reasonable reward for people simply going about their business and have been caught up within restriction placed by government, then I think its a very sad statement of what this government thinks of the food industry in this country.”
Mr Campbell added that the minister did not even have the courtesy to pick up the phone and tell farmers leaders of his decision before issuing a press release.