FARMING DEALT ANOTHER HAMMER BLOW

TWO new cases of foot and mouth disease last week, and another this week, have dealt a hammer blow to the farming industry, coming at a time that is the most important period in the livestock year, when farmers trade their stock and their income for the year depends on it.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Sep 2007, 18:34 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:24 BST

Farmers from the South East met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London on Thursday when Surrey NFU chairman Mike Giffin, a dairy farmer and farm consultant, told him: "The first outbreak was hard enough to deal with, but news of the second outbreak just as we were getting back to normal was a disaster.

"This is a vital time of the year for farmers, who rely on trading their stock for their income for the year."

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He added: "The Prime Mini-ster was sincerely interested in the issues we raised but the reality is that we have to get on top of the disease first. We did agree that the first priority was to contain and eradicate this outbreak and I am grateful for Mr Brown's continued commitment."

NFU President Peter Kendall was also at the meeting. He said: "This is a group of farmers which knows what is happening at ground level and how the disease is threatening their businesses.

"For every day that the situation continues they are losing money because they cannot trade. However, we all know that the control and eradication of the FMD is the priority at the moment. I continue to urge all farmers to check their stock daily and remain vigilant with strict biosecurity controls."

For full story see West Sussex Gazette September 19

Related topics:FarmingGordon BrownSurreyLondonSouth East