Some open and shut cases

The most positive step, from an agricultural point of view, has been the launch of the first collection centre in Yorkshire which took place last Monday, at York.

This is a milestone in the long-awaited road back to recovery and we managed to place some 70 cattle and 200 sheep from both Ryedale and the Vale of York.

More importantly, this provided an outlet for some 25 producers who would have had to travel much greater distances to an abattoir to get their livestock slaughtered and the collection centre facility is going to offer a little relief for the smaller producer.

For the lay person, it means that those 25 producers, instead of making individual journeys to abattoirs, perhaps 50 or 60 miles away, can transport their stock to York from whence they are amalgamated into four full wagon loads for the onward journey. Apart from the economics, you will appreciate the reduced risk to our livestock industry.

Please don't forget the basic rules for collection centres:

- York is the only one approved in our district, but the facilities are open to Malton Market customers through their usual channels.

- Every animal has to be licensed into the market.

- The auctioneers do have to arrange for the stock to be pre-purchased; and although there is an element of sorting within the market itself, you cannot just turn up without prior entry.

- At the present time, cattle will continue to be sold on a deadweight basis but we are offering an alternative liveweight sale for sheep.

- You do not need to have your stock inspected by a vet on the farm, but the market employs a vet to inspect the animals on arrival.

- Currently, we are aiming to get all of the stock into the market early on a morning between 7am and 8am, but circumstances may change.

I think it is fair to report that all the producers involved were grateful for the facility, and for this reason alone we will continue to offer the service, despite it being a cost burden to ourselves.

Anyone wanting further information, please contact the helplines: at Malton on (01653) 697820/692151 and York on (01904) 489731.

It seems anomalous that the Government's message to open up the countryside runs alongside the deepening crisis in our county, with the worst Yorkshire situation since foot and mouth started in February.

Settle is already a hot spot, whilst Northallerton and Westerdale are being watched with fearful expectation. These areas are going through the most dreadful, heartrending experience and we feel every sympathy for those involved; whilst, at the same time, we mustn't underrate the difficult decisions that those managing the crisis need to take.

Watching the news last evening, the demonstrations clearly show the depth of feeling that farmers have to try and save innocent livestock that is caught up in the swathe of contiguous killings. I am afraid I am one of those that now starts to question the validity of this policy, which inevitably involves the risk of incoming human traffic of officialdom which has hitherto been exposed to the disease at whatever level.

Precautions and disinfectant can only go so far. and there is a serious question mark that the spread of disease may well have been extended by those seeking to prevent it.

Our county council has taken the bold decision to open up a lot of footpaths south of the A170 and there will be many that question the wisdom of the decision.

I cite my own case purely as an example - the public footpath from Badger Bank at Westow leads through Howsham Wood and across fields to the village which contain both sheep and cattle grazing on the pasture.

At the moment, there is nothing I can do to stop people putting livestock at risk, but I do think that our footpath officers could have been asked to ensure every route was free of contiguous animals. There can be little danger in walking through arable fields, but the same cannot be said if you are going to traipse around adjacent to sheep, cattle and the rest.

We have been told that we can write a letter of complaint to the Chief Executive, Jeremy Walker, at North Yorkshire County Council, Northallerton.

I note with concern that the Environment Agency has issued a joint press release with the National Angling Alliance to enable rapid reopening of closed fisheries, except those within the 3km protection zones around infected premises.

Having watched the disease jump up to 20 miles at a time, this 1 mile exclusion zone seems to be wholly inadequate.

I would immediately say that I have every sympathy with those owning rods or riparian rights, but an angler from Settle or Northallerton is hardly likely to be welcomed with open arms by a farmer adjacent to the River Rye.

The advice, and I stress that it is advice only, is given to anglers that they should not go fishing if they have handled cattle, sheep, goats or pigs within the last seven days; but I find that difficult to accept when compared to my own staff at collection centres who have to sign a declaration that they do not even live on premises connected with such livestock.

I really believe that there should have been a bit more thought and control put into the gradual opening up of our countryside rather than adopt the Blair "Open for business" approach.

For a humble correspondent, I get quite a few letters and am exposed to justifiable flack from those that disagree.

My latest thoughtful missive comes from Trevor Schofield whose views deserve summary in this column.

I stand accused of political bias and a lack of understanding of changes taking place in Europe and the world.

- There is too much emphasis on moving stock round markets and a question mark over the future of livestock marketing at all.

- Why not let F&M run its course through our national herds and build up national immunity.

- The British invented BSE and then exported it.

- Too many people want to make a quick profit which will lead to industrialised prairie farming and the destruction of the small farmer.

Time is always scarce for all of us, but I have thought about my response which is as follows:

- My political bias extends to my fighting for those who live in, out of, and care for the countryside. I was just as critical of the last Tory minister during the BSE crisis, who was appalling in his big hat, and it is a strange feature that up until now, Labour governments have tended to suit agriculture. I don't believe current New Labour are headed the same way.

- Moving stock around is no new phenomenon, and the old drovers routes criss-cross the whole of our sceptred isle. More recently, even I remember up to 2,000 cattle being shipped from Ireland and railed into York each week for distribution around the north of England. I am convinced that the proposed 20-day ban on livestock movement is not only unworkable but would create a lot of hardship for both the animals and the genuine small livestock farmer.

- Livestock markets are at the moment the only public place where welfare can be observed and movement controlled. To do away with livestock markets would be a social disaster for our community, not only robbing us of an unique part of our heritage but also an invaluable independent marketing service. Don't forget, auctioneers are the only link in the marketing chain who are seeking to enhance the financial return to the farmer.

- If we are to achieve industrialised prairie farming, then we should take Mr Schofield's advice and abolish markets, restrict movement and accept FMD as endemic.

I don't agree and, although I accept the need for reform, I want to see a vibrant countryside maintained by profitable farming activity and enjoyed by the whole nation.

By the way, and I don't mean to be unkind, but my extended family are not 33pc vegetarian.

A friend from Geordie country sent me a cutting from the Newcastle Chronicle in which a leading American scientist accuses MAFF of being responsible for the accidental release of the FMD virus.

Dr Patricia Doyle claims that British Ministry of Agriculture trials of a synthetic US registered foot and mouth vaccine was the real source of the outbreak and that the prosecution of Bob Waugh is an attempt to cover up their own mistake.

This is quite an amazing claim and, if there is any truth in it, it would sit comfortably with some of the other rumours that have been flying around concerning MAFF's activities prior to the announcement of the disease in February.

Updated: 09:35 Thursday, June 21, 2001