Farmers angry after Blair curbs FMD clean up

Farmers across the UK are angry following a decision by Tony Blair to clampdown on the cost of disinfecting farms affected by foot and mouth after fears were raised that the bill could reach £800m.

A government memo reported in the Daily Telegraph on Monday July 23 shows that work and materials for cleaning farms are currently costing the Government £2m a day and could run up a bill topping more than £800 million. The memo states the average cost of cleaning farms in England and Wales is £104,000 is unreasonable against a comparison of clean up operations in Scotland costing £30,000 and as little as £10,000 in some other European countries.

The memo said: "We cannot rule out that cleaning and disinfection costs will be limited in some way, possibly by setting a ceiling on each farm or even that it will no longer be carried out other than at cost to the farmer."

"The Prime Minister has said that no new expenditure on cleaning and disinfectant should be incurred until we can estimate and organise the financial implications more accurately."

The suspension of final clearing and disinfection has angered the National Farmers Union (NFU). A spokesman said: “This sends a very bad message to the farming industry when the emphasis should be on disease control measures. We have consistently supported Government in trying to get the biosecurity message across as this is the only way we can stop the disease. This will be leaving hundreds of farmers in limbo, unable to plan re-stocking and rebuild their business.”

There have been 1,880 confirmed cases in UK since the outbreak began, affecting almost 9,000 farms and resulting in the slaughter of 3,588,000 animals. (AMcE)