Normality a long way off
Normality a long way off
By Richard Allison
ALTHOUGH DEFRA is declaring many areas to be free of foot-and-mouth, movement restrictions continue to delay a return to normal on many livestock units across the country.
Some restrictions have been lifted, but new movement controls are still causing confusion. The National Sheep Associations Chris Lloyd explains that rules for sheep movements were aimed at the autumn trade of replacement ewes. "But there was uncertainty concerning ewes being moved to winter keep."
The NSA received many enquires from producers as new rules suggested ewes could only be moved once this winter. However, this should only apply to sheep changing ownership, he adds.
Mr Lloyd believes that DEFRA have taken all comments on board and will shortly announce an additional licence scheme. This will cover sheep being moved to and from off-lying winter grazing, providing they have sole occupancy.
NFUs East Midlands office also received many queries on the one move only rule, says policy adviser Rob Pile. "The additional licence scheme will make life easier."
There is more good news with the East Midlands region being declared disease free, allowing stock to move without flocks being blood tested, he explains. "Cutting out the need for blood sampling reduces will make licences easier to obtain."
A county is given free status three months after the last case of F&M and blood testing within the 3km protection zones have been completed, explains a DEFRA spokesperson.
The key objective for Lancs is to get downgraded to an at risk area and the infected area line moved northwards, says NFU north-west policy adviser Rodney Bacon. But he warns that there are still several weeks of agony ahead before restrictions are lifted.
Downgrading to at risk status requires at least 30 days to pass after the last case, no infected areas and blood testing to be completed in all 3km protection zones, adds NFU policy adviser Veronica Waller.
"The NFU is currently lobbying for Cumbria to be split into two areas. This would allow producers in areas away from the Penrith spur to have movement restrictions lifted earlier when down graded to at risk status," she says.
Movement restrictions have already been lifted from nearly 7000 farms in North Yorks and the north-west, according to DEFRA. Of these, 20% are farms within the Thirsk blue box area. However, Jonathan Trenholme has seen little benefit on his beef unit, near Thirsk.
"There has been hype surrounding lifting of blue box restrictions, but many farms are still under Form D restrictions. We are seeing no real benefit."
Mr Trenholme normally finishes 350-370 beef cattle each year, but currently has only 100 animals. Like many other producers in North Yorks, he hopes to source more cattle to fatten this winter.
"After many hours on the phone, DEFRA has finally said we can move cattle, providing they are from other Form D farms within North Yorks. But its proving impossible to find store cattle within these limitations, they are normally brought in from Cumbria, Co Durham and Northumbria," he says.
DEFRA is now looking into the possibility of allowing limited movements across the border from Co Durham, he adds.
In areas free from F&M cases for some months, producers are asking how long movement controls have to remain. Mr Pile believes it is unlikely that movement controls will be lifted in disease free areas before next year.
The main issue being raised by NFU members in free areas is the delays in obtaining licences from local trading standards departments. "Its an organisational shambles, they dont have up to date information and DEFRA supplied them with untested computer software to handle applications." *
MOVEMENTRESTRICTIONS
• One move only rule for sheep.
• Much confusion.
• Store cattle shortage