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17/01/2008
Sheep industry a vulnerable target on government's anti-livestock agenda, says Wool Board Chairman
The UK's national sheep flock is a target on the government's hit list for livestock production, according to British Wool Marketing Board chairman Frank Langrish.
Speaking at the BWMB's annual conference in Bradford on Wednesday (January 16th) Mr Langrish said sheep farmers didn't realise that there was no wish by government to maintain a national flock - or for that matter any other ruminant livestock.
"It's all part of DEFRA's policy to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases. The government believes a reduction in livestock numbers will have a marked effect on the statistics. I am sure you will agree with me that this is the logic of the asylum, where the lunatics are now completely in charge," said Mr Langrish who farms in Sussex.
He told the conference that the future of the sheep industry - and the amount of wool produced - would be solely the responsibility of producers.
"Governments no longer wish to have any more to do with agriculture; any thought of food security has, for the time being, disappeared," added Mr Langrish.
The conference was told that an on-going period of cost-cutting was underway to reduce the operating expenditure of the Wool Board.
"But some areas of the board's expenses are a vital part of the business of promoting and marketing British wool. We could save £600,000 at a stroke, by doing away with all marketing and promotion. It sounds a lot, but how much would the price of wool fall if we no longer promoted it?
"The marketing and promotion budget costs only £10.00 per producer - that's just or 1.7 p/kg."
Mr Langrish gave an update on the DEFRA review of the Wool Board's operations.
"The consultation document was sent out in July 2006 for submissions to be received by end of October 2006 and the report to finalised by January 2007.
The basis of the consultation was: "To consider whether the functions set out in the British Wool Marketing Scheme (Approval) Order 1950, and the exemptions and other arrangements subsequently applied by the British Wool Marketing Board, remain appropriate in light of developments in the sheep and wool industries, and whether any changes are needed''.
Commented Mr Langrish: "The submissions received were, whilst acknowledging the concern about current prices, almost universal in their support of the Board's activities. The initial draft of the report recognised this. However, this was not what DEFRA wished to hear and following a further 17 drafts DEFRA seemed to have come to the conclusion that the whole exercise was a waste of time.
"It seems to me that what DEFRA should have asked for was consultation on whether there was any alternative to the British Wool Marketing Board. We believe the report will be published in two months time.
Speaking at the BWMB's annual conference in Bradford on Wednesday (January 16th) Mr Langrish said sheep farmers didn't realise that there was no wish by government to maintain a national flock - or for that matter any other ruminant livestock.
"It's all part of DEFRA's policy to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases. The government believes a reduction in livestock numbers will have a marked effect on the statistics. I am sure you will agree with me that this is the logic of the asylum, where the lunatics are now completely in charge," said Mr Langrish who farms in Sussex.
He told the conference that the future of the sheep industry - and the amount of wool produced - would be solely the responsibility of producers.
"Governments no longer wish to have any more to do with agriculture; any thought of food security has, for the time being, disappeared," added Mr Langrish.
The conference was told that an on-going period of cost-cutting was underway to reduce the operating expenditure of the Wool Board.
"But some areas of the board's expenses are a vital part of the business of promoting and marketing British wool. We could save £600,000 at a stroke, by doing away with all marketing and promotion. It sounds a lot, but how much would the price of wool fall if we no longer promoted it?
"The marketing and promotion budget costs only £10.00 per producer - that's just or 1.7 p/kg."
Mr Langrish gave an update on the DEFRA review of the Wool Board's operations.
"The consultation document was sent out in July 2006 for submissions to be received by end of October 2006 and the report to finalised by January 2007.
The basis of the consultation was: "To consider whether the functions set out in the British Wool Marketing Scheme (Approval) Order 1950, and the exemptions and other arrangements subsequently applied by the British Wool Marketing Board, remain appropriate in light of developments in the sheep and wool industries, and whether any changes are needed''.
Commented Mr Langrish: "The submissions received were, whilst acknowledging the concern about current prices, almost universal in their support of the Board's activities. The initial draft of the report recognised this. However, this was not what DEFRA wished to hear and following a further 17 drafts DEFRA seemed to have come to the conclusion that the whole exercise was a waste of time.
"It seems to me that what DEFRA should have asked for was consultation on whether there was any alternative to the British Wool Marketing Board. We believe the report will be published in two months time.
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