Cut UKflock by buying up quota says Haskins

19 October 2001




Cut UKflock by buying up quota says Haskins

By Alistair Driver

GOVERNMENT should buy up sheep quota from farmers to reduce the size of the national flock, according to its own rural recovery co-ordinator Lord Haskins.

The recommendation is made in his report on how Cumbria could recover from foot-and-mouth, which was published yesterday (Thu, Oct 18).

In the report he also tells the government to relax F&M movement controls so farmers can move stock in and out of high risk counties like Cumbria. He says the government needs to do more to ease the plight of farmers who still have stock but are caught up in movement restrictions.

It could fund a scheme to help get feed on to their farms, while these farmers should receive free business advice, the report says. It also recommends more is done to get EU state aid to affected businesses in the farm supply chain.

In the long term the report says livestock markets should continue but there would be less of them and farmers must be more disciplined to ensure their survival. "Playing the markets by taking a few animals from one market to the next must end," Lord Haskins told farmers weekly.

His other recommendations include extending the role of the Cumbria Rural Action Group, introducing more flexibility with rural planning and a "go-slow" on future farm regulation. The government should support local marketing initiatives and encourage more use of the internet.

There are also recommendations to help non-farming rural businesses, such as opening the countryside completely after Christmas regardless of the F&M situation.

lord Haskins made his recommendations, some of which apply to all areas hit by F&M, after meeting parties in Cumbria and other affected areas.

He says the sheep quota purchase scheme would be a "one-off" to remove excess industry capacity. He denied the intention was to get rid of farmers.

"Farmers could sell half their quota under the scheme. The aim is to cut out overstocking because there are far too many sheep. Nobody can sell them – its a shambles," he told FW.

Government officials have been discussing a sheep quota purchase scheme with farming organisations since the spring. Introducing it may lead to accusations that the government is trying to get rid of farmers, but some farmers may see it as a vital financial lifeline

The National Sheep Association said it was against the idea, but the NFU said such a scheme could help restructure the industry and provide relief for farmers. &#42


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