Lib Dem - Government has let farmers down over blue tongue
Following confirmation that 2 animals at a local farm have tested positive for blue tongue disease, Serena Tierney, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Mid Sussex, said:
"Yet again the government has let our farmers down. These positive results will be a further worry for farmers, who are already anticipating another difficult summer.
"As long ago as last May, my Lewes colleague, Norman Baker MP asked the government for details of the contingency plans for blue tongue. . Yet it was November before they started making plans to get the vaccine. Even then, it took more than 6 weeks for them to place the order and vaccines still won't be available until May.
"Still worse, they may not have ordered enough. They have ordered 22.5 million vaccine doses but there are 60 million livestock resident across the UK, and cattle have to be vaccinated twice. The protection zone is already much larger than last year and so more animals will need to be vaccinated.
"The development of the vaccine has already been slowed by the biosecurity failures at Pirbright, which also caused last year's outbreaks of foot and mouth.
"Despite the current £1 billion hole in Defra's budget, the Government must certainly not resort to applying a levy to farmers to cover the costs of such disease outbreaks.
"As usual, the government has demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of or interest in farming issues. That lack of interest extends to West Sussex County Council whose spokesman(**) referred to it as 'just an economic disease' . That is a very short-sighted view. If our livestock farmers cannot make a living from farming, the whole community loses our ability to be self-sufficient in food.
"We hear a lot from the government about the need for energy self-sufficiency. Food self-sufficiency is at least as important and yet it gets no priority at all. The vaccine for blue tongue does not affect the value of the animal for food. It doesn't even affect its organic status. It is a disgrace that the government continues to drag its heels over this matter."
ENDS
Notes to editors follow
1. See footnotes
2. Extract from Norman Baker's speech in House of Commons:
Bluetongue is also of concern to farmers in my constituency. The Minister may have seen South East Farmer magazine, which has focused on that issue. The May 2007 edition has the headline:
"Disease could strike this month".
The magazine states that bluetongue is already found across the channel and "with a fair wind" could cross to Kent and East Sussex.
During the past 10 years there has been a succession of major body blows to the livestock industry, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot and mouth disease. Other health issues have also affected the economic viability of farming; I hope that bluetongue will not be the next problem. What assessment has the Minister made of the threat of bluetongue to farmers in my constituency and more widely? What plans are in place to prevent bluetongue, if that is possible, or to deal with it if it does occur? What will be the arrangements for-I hope that it does not come to this-livestock restrictions, culling or compensation if bluetongue does arrive?
I am conscious that I am asking the Minister lots of questions, and if he has to write to me subsequently, I will understand. However, it is important that my questions be answered for the benefit of those in my constituency who have asked me to pursue them with him today.
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(**) Referring to: Interview between Chris Rider and David Edwards both of WSCC to Mid Sussex Times: recording available at http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/mid-sussex-news/Bluetongue-virus-strikes-in-Haywards.3744066.jp