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Farming Matters!
Foot and Mouth Disease

pigs


Prevent the collapse of British farming

28/6/01 - Ewen Cameron has warned the government that urgent action is needed to prevent the collapse of British farming. There were no significant measures to help rural areas mentioned in the Queen's speech, nor has there been any announcement of an inquiry into the foot and mouth epidemic. A full and proper inquiry is needed rather than blaming farmers for the spread as Mr. Blair has done recently. Bishops, NFU representatives, and members of both Houses of Parliament have all expressed concern. (Western Daily Press)



Government back tracks on 'match-funding'

27/6/01    The Western Morning News, which has been running the 'Green Wellie Fund' to raise money for the Addington Fund, had a front page article on the failure of the government to match-fund donations as the WMN understood was originally promised.(25/6/01)
Even some donations made by churches seem likely to be excluded from the match-funding as it is now being interpreted.

Understandably people who have made donations believing that they would be matched are very angry, especially as there had already been an assurance given that church donations would be matched. Newspaper funding etc was to be assessed on how much was individual and how much 'corporate' and matched accordingly.

People have used the churches and the newspapers as a convenient tool for giving, this is not 'corporate' funding in the true sense of the word! The Western Morning News however was not even made aware of this proviso and is calling on the government to honour its pledge. So are its readers as the postbag shows today. We will be watching to see what response they get!


Fears of mass cull persist

6/6/01 - Farmers across the country continue to fear a further mass cull of their livestock once the General Election is over. MAFF say that they only have contingency plans in place but the rumours persist that further action is being planned. The 'Farmers Weekly' was asking for first-hand knowledge (in confidence) of any such plans. News Catch-up 5/6/01
(Tel. 020 8652 4752 or 07967 634971)

Other local newspapers were also asking questions but not receiving definitive answers. However there is obviously a need for confidence and trust to be re-built between the rural communities and government.

This is also true where funds have been promised for rural businesses affected by foot and mouth restrictions. To date they say that they have received nothing and when they do it could be too little too late.

Western Daily Press 6/6/01.
and Farmers for Action - Foot and Mouth Disease