NFU Cymru welcomes first step

NFU Cymru has welcomed the Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones' decision to allow livestock to be moved directly to authorised slaughter as of mid-night tonight. This is a very important first step for Welsh farmers affected by the current Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Surrey, England.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President, has just come out of a meeting with the Minister in Cardiff. He said, "We do have some concerns as we need to see as many slaughter facilities as possible reaching the standard in order to maximise competition in the market place. We will be monitoring abattoir prices in the hope that they will reflect the position before the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak and the fact that there will be a tighter supply initially. We also repeated our request to the Minister for an early consideration of moving stock to collection centres in order to address the remoteness of some farms and the scale of their enterprises."

NFU Cymru also discussed the current fallen stock measures with the Minister but the union still has reservations that fallen stock left at the end of the lane for collection may comprise the tourism sector - a view that the tourism representatives present at the meeting shared. Dai Davies said, "In our firm view farmers should be permitted to bury any fallen stock on farm and we welcome the fact that the Minister has agreed to consider this matter again."

During this afternoon's meeting NFU Cymru representatives also impressed on the Minister the early need for welfare licenses and highlighted the difficulties posed for dairy farmers with heifers calving on land away from the main holding.

NFU Cymru also welcomed her decision to allow farmers to use set-aside land for grazing while the movement restrictions are in place, subject to notifying their local divisional office.

Dai Davies will meet with the Minister for Rural Affairs again next Monday, 13 August 2007, to discuss the unfolding situation relating to the current Foot and Mouth outbreak in Surrey.

Mr Davies concluded, "I would like to make an earnest plea to our customers and consumers in Wales and beyond to buy Welsh produce, and meat in particular, whenever possible. I can't remember a time when we needed the support of the Welsh public in sourcing home-grown produce more. I urge all shoppers to buy Welsh and buy local."