Brecon and Radnor Farmers Looking For Urgent Decisive Action

"Government must own up and shoulder the responsibility for the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth and fully compensate a devastated industry," was the unequivocal message given by NFU Cymru President Dai Davies at a recent meeting of Brecon and Radnor members.

Dai Davies told a packed meeting that as far as he was concerned the Union would leave no stone unturned in an attempt to recover losses incurred by its members as a result of the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). He said, "My primary aim is too ensure a fair deal for NFU Cymru members and as a result our lawyers have completed their initial research into the claim for legal redress and the papers have been forwarded to Richard Lissack QC for a detailed view on the next steps in the case.

"I would urge all our members to register their interest in pursuing a legal claim for their losses by contacting the NFU legal helpline and by also keeping a record of their losses and additional costs on a NFU Cymru record sheet that can be obtained via the website, (www.nfu-cymru.org.uk) or the local group office," added Mr Davies.

Members at the meeting also heard an update on the work of the Union regarding the easing of the current movement restrictions put in place as a result of FMD. Mr Davies said, " I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by our members as a result of the FMD restrictions and whilst we are fully committed to eradicating this terrible disease we need to see a sensible timetable for the easing of restrictions in order to get the Welsh agricultural industry back to some sort of normality."

County Chairman, Andrew Lloyd, thanked Dai for all his efforts and reiterated the need to get exports back up and running as soon as possible and highlighted the need for a welfare scheme to ease the burden on hill farms. "We are at the point now where we need urgent decisive action from the Welsh Assembly Government or we face a catastrophic welfare problem in the hills of Wales."

"The Welsh Assembly Government, along with the major retailers of this country who have not so far supported the industry have to realise that without their support there will be no livestock produced in the hills of Wales in forthcoming years, which, in my opinion, will be a national disaster," concluded Andrew Lloyd.