Now restocking time runs out
Now restocking time runs out
THOUSANDS of livestock farmers face having no animals or milk to sell next year because of the constraints placed on them by foot-and-mouth controls
Only 686 out of 9500 farms that have lost their animals in the F&M cull have been given the go ahead to restock, DEFRA secretary Margaret Beckett has revealed.
Time is running out for those that have not go the go ahead to breed animals this autumn for next year and for thousands of others hampered by F&M movement controls.
Government chief scientist David King was left in no doubt of the severity of the problems when he attended a recent NFU council meeting in London. Angry delegates from heavily restricted areas, including Cumbria, Durham, Devon and South Wales, demanded a relaxation of the crippling autumn movement controls.
NFU Cumbria council delegate Peter Allen warned Prof King that farmers could resort to illegal movements. "A desperate situation leads to desperate action," he said.
NFU livestock chairman Les Armstrong told him patience is running out. "We are now at the stage where the controls are interfering with the breeding programme and that has enormous consequences," he said.
Prof King indicated that the government may be prepared to relax the controls. "I would say there are likely to be further changes – but not where there is a risk of further spread of disease," he told the NFU council meeting.
Mr Allen and Mr Armstrong were part of a delegation of Cumbrian farmers due to meet Prof King in London on Thursday (Oct 18). *
They are demanding an end to the "nothing in, nothing out" rule in high risk counties they say prevents farmers from restocking. They also want a bigger role for local vets in licensing movement.
Mr Armstrong told FARMERS WEEKLY that mid-November is the "very latest" most sheep farmers can breed their animals.
Many in high risk counties are struggling to meet this deadline because they cannot source breeding animals from within the county. Delays with the movement licensing system and the need to blood test sheep before movement add to the problems, he said.
Mr Armstrong was given the all-clear to restock on Sept 22 after his animals were culled in the spring but said he has been unable to get hold of breeding animals since.
About 1000 farmers in Cumbria alone are in the same position and face the prospect of being without stock next year, Mr Allen said.