CROP farmers may also find themselves affected by foot and mouth restrictions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) has issued new guidance on the precautions to be taken to safeguard all types of farming operations in the light of the current foot and mouth problems and to prevent further spreading of the highly contagious disease.

Ministry officials advise that all farmers should only allow access to their farm with prior permission and keep the number of visitors to the farm to a minimum. A diary should be kept noting when visitors came to the farm and what parts of the farm were visited.

While crop farms may not have to worry about losing stock of their own, they should still follow precautions to make sure they do not help to spread the disease - which can be carried on clothes or vehicles - to other properties.

Farmers who have both crops and livestock should ensure that all people or machinery entering or leaving the farm are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, but can otherwise proceed with crop farming as normal.

Even infected farms may be able to carry out some crop operations, however, with the permission of the divisional veterinary manager.

The full details of the latest guidance can be found on the MAFF website, www.maff.gov.uk.

Updated: 09:21 Thursday, April 05, 2001