Plans afoot to trim UKstock
Plans afoot to trim UKstock
By Alistair Driver
CIVIL servants are considering plans to ensure that Britains livestock industry, already devastated by foot-and-mouth, is unable to return to pre-crisis levels.
MAFF officials believe livestock numbers could be permanently reduced if the government buys up sheep and beef quota from farmers. Officials are formulating details of the scheme which will be put before the next farm minister after the general election.
The plan is likely to be welcomed by conservationists who have claimed that too many livestock have caused over-grazing in upland areas. More than 4m animals have been slaughtered because of foot-and-mouth, according to official statistics. But some industry sources suggest the final death toll will top 8m.
Civil servants have revealed their plans to farm leaders. The government would buy sheep and suckler cow quota from farmers who leave the industry. Quota would be stockpiled in a national reserve, guaranteeing that livestock numbers were reduced. It would not be reallocated.
Sheep farmers reacted with dismay to the plans. John Thorley, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said there was no indication of whether farmers would ever be able to buy the quota back. "My gut feeling is that once quota has been taken away it will not come back."
Unless farmers were allowed to farm, the proposals would contribute to the dereliction of the countryside, said Mr Thorley. "I dont see it as a good thing in any way. Unless the government does something dramatic to restore confidence in the industry I cant see people going back in."
But the NFU has backed the plans. "It is entirely feasible," said NFU deputy director general Ian Gardiner. The scheme would provide crucial short-term relief for sheep farmers, who had lost 30% of their market because of the F&M export ban, he said.
The departure of some farmers after F&M could provide other with a golden opportunity to restructure, said Mr Gardiner. Vacated holdings could be combined with neighbouring farms to create bigger, more efficient units. The union would encourage new entrants into sheep production once the export market returned.
It is unclear whether the government would pay the market price or encourage producers to quit farming by paying more for quota. Sheep quota sales averaged just £3.63/unit last year, according to Hereford quota traders Thompson Land & Property. Suckler cow quota sales averaged £212/unit.
George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, said current quota values may be too low to encourage farmers to leave the industry.Farmers would sell their quota on the open market, he said: "I am not sure MAFF officials have thought about it too deeply."
A MAFF spokeswoman said the ministry was unable to comment on future government policy until after the general election. *