Sunday 27 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
26/07/2006
NFU to step up pressure on tb
NFU President Peter Kendall vowed to step up the pressure for a cull of TB-infected badgers, after what he described as a deeply disappointing meeting with Defra Secretary of State, David Miliband, on the subject in London today (Tuesday).
Mr Miliband told Mr Kendall plans for a targeted cull of diseased badgers had been put on hold until at least late autumn, whilst Defra vets investigated the cause of an apparent decline in the number of new cases of TB in cattle.
But Mr Kendall said that he felt the Secretary of State was using the figures as a pretext for further foot-dragging, and said he planned to call an urgent meeting of farming and veterinary stakeholders to step up the pressure for action.
He said: “We have waited long enough for the Government to summon the courage to deal with the root cause of the TB disaster, and I not prepared to take either no, or wait, for an answer.
“Whatever the extent of the decline in new cases of disease and whatever the cause of it, the fact remains that in the first five months of this year, almost 2,000 farms suffered a TB breakdown and over 13,000 cattle were slaughtered.
“Those figures demand action. They do not excuse inaction.
“I intend to convene a meeting of industry stakeholders at the earliest opportunity to put together a strategy for tackling the wildlife reservoir of disease and to agree a programme of action to step up the political pressure.
“I have also warned the Secretary of State that it will be incredibly difficult to persuade farmers to engage in his proposed partnership strategy for animal health and welfare for as long as he refuses to lance the boil of bovine tuberculosis.”
Mr Miliband told Mr Kendall plans for a targeted cull of diseased badgers had been put on hold until at least late autumn, whilst Defra vets investigated the cause of an apparent decline in the number of new cases of TB in cattle.
But Mr Kendall said that he felt the Secretary of State was using the figures as a pretext for further foot-dragging, and said he planned to call an urgent meeting of farming and veterinary stakeholders to step up the pressure for action.
He said: “We have waited long enough for the Government to summon the courage to deal with the root cause of the TB disaster, and I not prepared to take either no, or wait, for an answer.
“Whatever the extent of the decline in new cases of disease and whatever the cause of it, the fact remains that in the first five months of this year, almost 2,000 farms suffered a TB breakdown and over 13,000 cattle were slaughtered.
“Those figures demand action. They do not excuse inaction.
“I intend to convene a meeting of industry stakeholders at the earliest opportunity to put together a strategy for tackling the wildlife reservoir of disease and to agree a programme of action to step up the political pressure.
“I have also warned the Secretary of State that it will be incredibly difficult to persuade farmers to engage in his proposed partnership strategy for animal health and welfare for as long as he refuses to lance the boil of bovine tuberculosis.”
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
Ford 7840 Dual Power, 4wd - Ballyclare(GBP 10320)
Massey Ferguson 6490-4 - Cirencester
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
John Deere - 8410T - Norwich(GBP 43000)
Used Massey Ferguson 6499 - Littleport(GBP 51000)
New Holland T6080 PC - Omagh(GBP 55800)
Related News
Consultation on TB is step forward - NFU - 15 Sep 2010The consultation on badger control, launched by Defra Minister of State Jim Paice today, is a major step forward in the battle to control the spread o...
Stepping up pressure in rural rat control - 08 Feb 2012The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use will be focussing on farmers and gamekeepers during 2012, to help them improve rat control efficacy and e...
TB increase puts pressure on dairy beef calf supplies - 17 Dec 2008Dairy beef specialists in the Midlands and South of England are struggling to find enough calves to rear and finish - which means the dairy beef secto...
TFA welcomes first steps towards TB eradication strategy - 19 Jul 2011The Tenant Farmers Association has given a cautious welcome to today’s announcement from Government setting out its intention to select two pilo...
Pressure bears fruit, says NFU - 17 Jun 2005The announcement made today by Defra, that now allows farmers to apply for the Entry Level Scheme at monthly intervals, is a vindication of the NFU's ...
NFU response to farming pressure group - 13 Dec 2005Tim Bennett, President of the NFU, responded today to the creation of a new farming pressure group 'Better NFU'. Speaking during a journalists' bri...
NFU turns up pressure onTB at Dairy Event - 16 Sep 2009The NFU will be keeping up the pressure for action on bovine TB during this year’s national Dairy and Livestock Event. An NFU update on TB incl...
NFU praises milk price pressure - 05 Jan 2011The NFU has today praised Dairy Crest Direct’s (DCD) milk price target of 27ppl for the New Year. NFU dairy board chairman Mansel Raymond sai...
NFU Cymru welcomes first step - 08 Aug 2007NFU Cymru has welcomed the Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones' decision to allow livestock to be moved directly to authorised slaughter as of mid-...
Important step forward says NFU as markets set to resume - 31 Aug 2007The NFU has welcomed the news that livestock markets can resume from Monday next week outside the 10km foot and mouth surveillance zone, which still i...
