Archive Article: 2000/01/28
28 January 2000
• BELGIAN scientists are trying to identify the cause of a mysterious disease which has killed at least 10 cows on two dairy farms. Initially sugar beet pulp was suspected to be behind the problem, under which cows developed bloody diarrhoea before dying. But this has been dismissed and the search is on for the real cause.
• UP to Ir£3m is being paid to 7000 retired farmers in the Republic of Ireland as part of the compensation package agreed with Brussels for last years transition to the k. The changeover meant that payments under various CAP schemes were lowered when converted into national currencies. This top-up – for the countrys early retirement scheme – makes good the shortfall.
• EURO MPs from several member states were treated to British beef at a reception organised by the NFU and the Meat and Livestock Commission in Brussels this week. MLC chairman Don Curry told the MEPs that consumption of beef was back to pre-BSE levels in the UK, but went on to outline the dire side-effects of the crisis on UK pig producers, who were losing £3m a week.
• IRELAND is heading for a massive milk super-levy bill this year, with production currently running about 75m litres (1.5%) ahead of quota. With many herds already dried off due to the seasonal pattern of milk production, scope for cutting back is limited. A final levy of Ir£15m is predicted. *