Cheshire bluetongue meeting
National NFU Livestock Chairman, Thomas Binns, will listen to the concerns of Cheshire livestock farmers whose businesses are being affected by the Bluetongue restrictions.
The Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak and the imposing of Bluetongue restrictions on parts of Cheshire has put into sharp focus the precarious situation in which beef and sheep farmers find themselves. Although FMD movement restrictions are easing, many livestock farmers now find themselves unable to trade with a large part of the country as they now find themselves in a Bluetongue Surveillance Zone. The situation has been further compounded by the sharp downturn in the lamb price.
The meeting which takes place at the Macclesfield Conservative Club, Macclesfield on Thursday 15 November, starting at 7.45pm (doors open no earlier than 7.30pm) will outline the way in which the NFU has tackled both diseases and the potential for the future control mechanisms. The meeting will also explore what changes need to happen if farmers are to receive a fair price for what they produce. All farmers are welcome to attend the meeting.
Mr Binns said: "Recent events have shown how vulnerable farmers are to sudden changes in the market conditions. Those Cheshire farmers who fall within the Bluetongue Surveillance Zone are now faced with a limited market and depressed prices. We need to take urgent action to help these businesses and the market is key to achieving this.
"I remain convinced that there is sufficient value within the red meat supply chain for farmers to receive a fair price for what they produce.
"It is likely that Bluetongue restrictions will be with us for the foreseeable future. If livestock farms within the affected areas are to survive, the Government needs to listen to their concerns and act accordingly. However, the Government alone cannot address all of the issues that these businesses face. Retailers, processors and consumers need to understand that they must act responsibly to ensure that the producer receives a fair price to deliver a sustainable livestock sector."
