NFU working on uplands aid package
An aid package to ensure hill farming in the North West survives is being drafted by the NFU's hill farming spokesman Will Cockbain.
Mr Cockbain, who farms in Keswick, Cumbria, firmly believes the plight of the upland and livestock farmers in the region is now getting desperate as Foot and Mouth movement restrictions continue. The first case of bluetongue in the UK is compounding the problems.
Mr Cockbain said: "Many farms still have stock which should have been sold in August and early September and we still have no timescale for the return to the auction mart which is vital for sales of breeding and store stock. Half a dozen confirmed cases of Foot and Mouth disease 300 miles away has completely paralysed the autumn sales program causing huge cash flow problems and without movement we have a looming welfare issue in the hills.
"The NFU President Peter Kendall has called for an aid package for the livestock sector and we are also working on a specific uplands package which the Government must recognise as being vital if they wish to see upland farming survive the current crisis."
Speaking at the NFU fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth yesterday, Mr Kendall said: "Livestock movement restrictions and the ban on exports could not have come at a worse time for hill and upland farmers. I have spent much time in the last two weeks speaking with affected farmers and their difficulties can hardly be overstated."
Mr Kendall said that farmers recognised that theirs was a risky business and did not expect to be rescued by Government every time problems cropped up. But this was a very different situation. The virus which was causing such havoc had originated in a Government laboratory and Government had to face up to its responsibilities.
Against this backdrop, Mr Kendall called for a support package to help alleviate the situation: "I urge Government to explore all possible avenues to support the sector in this hour of need. There are options available and we want to sit down with Government and make sure some help is urgently delivered.
The whole livestock sector is suffering but the biggest pain is being felt by hill and upland farmers. We must ensure that these farmers, who are at the start of the production chain and who are critical to the production cycle across the country and the environmental management of the uplands, are able to survive."
