Farmers face £40m levy for disease outbreaks

Farmers across Britain face a new levy to help pay for the soaring costs of dealing with animal diseases including bird flu, bluetongue and foot and mouth.

The price of curbing the spread of infections in cattle, sheep and turkeys is likely to cost the taxpayer at least £120m this year. Farmers will be expected to meet some of the cost, through a levy raising around £40m a year which will be based on the size of each farm and its operation.

Though farmers have made substantial losses this year as a result of not being able to sell livestock, the government is determined to push ahead with its plan.