MAFF takes flak on foot-and-mouth
22 February 2001
MAFF takes flak on foot-and-mouth
By FWi staff
THE Ministry of Agriculture is under fire for failing to publish details of the foot-and-mouth outbreak as soon as they become available.
Farmers eager for information are complaining that they have been largely left to rely for information on agricultural websites rather than the government.
One farmer, whose farm lies within the exclusion zone thrown around the suspect farm on the Isle of Wight, learned of the disease outbreak from the radio.
Dairy producer Steve Cowley of Lee Farm, Wellow, is just miles away from one of the farms under restriction while tests are carried out on livestock.
“We have had no instruction from the ministry this time at all and neither did the local vet who also heard about it [the disease outbreak] from the radio.
“The vet tried to get accurate information, but so far nothing ties up. Weve heard different stories from everyone weve talked to.”
But Digby Scott, whose National Pig Association website was first to report that all meat exports would be banned from Britain, urged farmers to be patient.
“MAFF is running all round the country trying to find the source,” he told FARMERS WEEKLY. “Its like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”
The MAFF website now includes a homepage about foot-and-mouth. A helpline (0845 0504141) is open from 8am-8pm Mon-Fri and 9am-1pm Sat.