FMD: Government Must Compensate Farmers

SURREY - The Tenant Farmers Association has described the news of a fresh outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Surrey as heartbreaking, reports Farming UK.
calendar icon 13 September 2007
clock icon 2 minute read
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we need a package of measures which compensates the industry for its losses and, where possible, allows some activity to carry on

TFA National Chairman Reg Haydon

The additional news that the virus is of the same strain as that which leaked from the Pirbright laboratories and caused the first outbreak at the beginning of last month heightens the pressure on the Government to compensate the industry for the losses it will inevitably suffer.

TFA National Chairman Reg Haydon said "I cannot believe we are back to square one with this new outbreak. If we thought the virus leak from Pirbright was serious before this happened there is now no excuse the Government can give for not compensating for the losses that will accrue as we work to tackle this new outbreak."

"The TFA members with livestock I have spoken to are naturally angry, upset and demoralised. For many, particularly in the hills, it is this time of the year when they gain the bulk of their income as they sell the crop of lambs and calves to finishing farms on low lying land. What chance have they got now? Where are they going to get the feed to sustain those animals through the shut down period? I will be asking the Government to move quickly to put in place measures to deal with these issues," said Mr Haydon.

"This is one of the busiest times of the year for livestock sales. The biggest ram market of the year was due to take place on Friday in Kelso and the £60,000 of cost to stage that event will be a total loss along with the much needed income to those selling. The whole cycle of livestock production will be hit hard. The TFA urges the Government to look constructively at ideas for how this might be resolved perhaps through the use of virtual markets" said Mr Haydon.

"Of course we have got to hit this hard and do all we can to eradicate this disease once and for all. That is why the national movement ban of livestock is a necessary evil. However, alongside that we need a package of measures which compensates the industry for its losses and, where possible, allows some activity to carry on," said Mr Haydon.

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