Foot and Mouth aid package a token gesture, says CLA

The news that Defra is to provide £12.5m to assist the English livestock industry, which has suffered considerable losses due to Foot & Mouth Disease and now Bluetongue, has been tentatively welcomed by the CLA but the organisation still has concerns.

Angus Collingwood-Cameron, CLA North East Director, explains; "We do welcome this announcement by the Secretary of State, particularly as he has sought to address some of the problem areas that we have been highlighting over the last few weeks. Hill farmers have been really hammered by the FMD restrictions, so we are delighted that the Hill Farm Allowance is being utilised to provide emergency assistance. It is also good news that there will be additional marketing budget to increase demand for home grown meat.

"However, this should not be seen as the end of the matter. This package represents a small fraction of the money lost by the livestock industry, and by the wider rural economy, due to these disease outbreaks. These losses are ongoing with a dreadful sheep trade and escalating feed costs.

"Also, we are yet to see the small print and it is worth noting that the Minister's statement does include some caveats. Where is the money coming from? I trust that it is not a case of "robbing Peter to pay Paul". There will be real anger if real, new money does not appear."

Annabelle Morshead, who farms at Haydon Bridge and is CLA North East Chairman, added; "While we should be grateful for small mercies, this is but a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. With sheep prices as they are, and rising costs, I estimate that this package will cover less than 10% of my losses that are directly attributable to FMD. There will be many farmers in the same, or worse, predicament and Government must not be allowed to think that this package solves the problems."