Fight virus cash cut, farms advised

4 June 2001



Fight virus cash cut, farms advised

By FWi staff

FARMERS representatives have been advised that they have a good legal grounds to contest the reduction of foot-and-mouth welfare compensation.

The National Farmers Union had been investigating this since the government cut Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme payments in April.

Now NFU Cymru Wales has announced that legal advisors believe they have “a good case” for taking the government to court.

NFU Cymru president Hugh Richards accused Tony Blair of backtracking on a promise in March that rates would not be reviewed for two months.

“This was a disgraceful action and represents a complete U-turn on the part of the Prime Minister,” said Mr Richards.

He added: “A cynic might say that the rates were lowered because the government cannot cope with the backlog of animals.”

Mr Richards argued that rates for sows and hoggets are being based on prices for the few animals still going into the domestic market.

He said that their true worth is determined by export demand that is now cut off. “This is clearly wrong.”

New-season lambs are now worth 32, a drop of 10, while for clean cattle under 30 months the rate would drop from 80p/kg down to 65p/kg.

An NFU Cymru spokeswoman said as yet there was no timetable for any legal challenge to the reduction.

The scheme was set up to alleviate animal welfare problems arising from foot-and-mouth disease movement restrictions.

On 26 April Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said payments would be cut to bring them more in line with the market.

The minister told the House of Commons it was imperative that the rates for the scheme were not more financially attractive than those offered by abattoirs.

Meanwhile, the NFU has proposed a series of schemes to safeguard the future of livestock farmers hit by the disease.

A purchase-for-destruction scheme had been proposed by the NFU, which could take a certain number of lambs off the market.

Light lambs, under 15kg, that usually go to the Mediterranean, could be taken off the market to prevent them undermining the normal market.

The union has met New Zealand farming representatives to discuss directing their exports to other European countries that the UK cannot supply.

Public purchasing schemes that could see lamb being diverted to buyers like the Ministry of Defence and processing sectors, are also being considered.

Quota utilisation for farmers who are unable to restock in time and a top up for the Sheep Annual Premium Scheme must also be addressed, says the union.

• More cuts ahead for welfare scheme, FWi, 08 May, 2001
• Union anger at disposal payment cuts, FWi, 27 April, 2001
  

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