New support for
farmers to help them deal with the impacts of bovine TB, and
reduce the risks of further outbreaks, was announced by
Agriculture Minister Jim Paice today.
The Defra-funded TB advice and support service was launched as Mr
Paice visited a Devon dairy farm to see the impact of the disease
there.
From today, all TB affected cattle farmers can access free
support from the Farm Crisis Network (FCN) on the financial and
business implications of an outbreak. Trained volunteers will
provide confidential advice and information on where to go for
more specialised help and support.
For the worst-hit farmers, FCN’s new Business Support Group will
work directly with farmers to provide tailored advice through the
length of their outbreak.
Defra will give additional support to farmersunder
long-term restrictions and those experiencing their first ever
breakdown through one-to-one visits from private vets, to help
them understand how TB spreads and what can de done on their farm
to reduce risks. A pilot training event for private vets was held
last week, in the Southwest.
Defra, the National Farmers Union, Animal Health and the Food and
Environment Research Agency have developed a joint training
programme on practical biosecurity measures for farmers. On-farm
events will be rolled later this year.
Jim Paice said:
“TB is having a devastating effect on many farms and farm
businesses, especially in the West and South West of England.”
“This new service will help farmers deal with the very real
financial impacts of TB outbreaks and reduce their risks of
suffering further breakdowns. There is a lot of expertise in the
NFU, Fera, the veterinary profession and the Farm Crisis Network
and I am pleased we are providing advice and support with them.”
“This is just part of the radical overhaul of our TB eradication
programme which I promised, because we are serious about
tacklingthe disease”.
FCN Executive Director, Reverend Sarah Brown said:
“I am delighted that this initiative allows FCN to work in
partnership with other agencies to offer real support to all farm
businesses facing the threat or reality of TB.
“There is no farm in England, large, small, prosperous or
struggling, that need feel that there is nowhere to turn in the
face of TB. FCN’s support is always completely confidential and
can be key to turning round a bad situation.
“And now that we are able to offer support before things get bad
we anticipate that this initiative will make a real difference to
the ability of many farmers and their families and businesses to
weather this terrible disease.”
The new service implements a recommendation made by the Bovine TB
Eradication Group for England in their 2009 Progress Report that
raised the need to provide TB affected farmers with more effective
and better focused support and advice.
Notes to editors
1. Details of how to access the FCN
service.
2. The Bovine TB Eradication Group for England was established,
in November 2008, to make recommendations to the Secretary of
State on bovine TB and its eradication. It is made of
representatives from the farming industry, veterinary profession,
Animal Health and Defra. Click here
to see their 2009 Progress Report.
3. The Farm Crisis Network (FCN) is a non-profit making charity
providing practical and pastoral help to farmers. In August 2009,
the FCN published a report “Stress and Loss – the impact of bovine
TB on farming families”. Click here to see
the report.
4. .A comprehensive and balanced bovine TB eradication programme
will be published in early 2011. A consultation
on our proposed approach to badger control is currently underway
and will close on 8 December.
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Contacts:
Defra Press Office
Phone: 020 7238 6600
NDS.DEFRA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Tom Briggs
Phone: 020 7238 6140
tom.briggs@defra.gsi.gov.uk