Farmers will be able to take animals to market later in areas at low risk of foot-and-mouth disease after government vets eased movement restrictions. | Farmers in areas at low risk of foot-and-mouth disease are able to take animals to market after government vets eased movement restrictions. |
The reopening of markets in Wales, Scotland and parts of England is a boost for hard-hit farmers. | Markets are reopening in Scotland, Wales and parts of England. |
But, until exports are restarted, surplus meat available in the UK means prices are low. | One Skipton auctioneer said the move would be a boost for hard-hit farmers but sale prices are expected to be especially low. |
| Until exports are restarted, prices will remain low while surplus meat is still available in the UK. |
| EU experts have agreed that exports for some parts of the UK can resume next week if there are no more outbreaks. | EU experts have agreed that exports for some parts of the UK can resume next week if there are no more outbreaks. |
| I'm not looking forward to too high a price David Pearson, farmer |
| Auctioneer Jeremy Eaton said he was glad to be able to put some cash in the farmers' pockets when Skipton market reopens later. |
| "We are pleased to be back trading but obviously it's against a backdrop of not being able move stock down into the south of England and the Midlands," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "It's fundamental to making sheep industry work in this part of the world." |
| "I fully expect the prices we achieve today to be well, well below the cost of production," he said. |
| Farmer David Pearson who is hoping to sell some of his stock, said: "I'm not looking forward to too high a price." |
| RESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Greater London and BuckinghamshireFMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and ScotlandBluetongue controls: Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire |
| He said he had hoped the government might have made some payments to hill farmers to give them "some breathing space". |
| Restrictions on moving livestock to market in areas classed as being low-risk for foot-and-mouth disease are being eased from Thursday. | Restrictions on moving livestock to market in areas classed as being low-risk for foot-and-mouth disease are being eased from Thursday. |
Defra said the relaxation of restrictions would be subject to "stringent" biosecurity measures. | To allow important movements of animals, rules which restrict lorry drivers' operating hours have been relaxed. |
| The Department for Transport have increased the daily driving limit to 10 hours, instead of nine, for the next month. |
| The foot-and-mouth low risk area includes all of England, Scotland and Wales, apart from south-east England and the Home Counties. | The foot-and-mouth low risk area includes all of England, Scotland and Wales, apart from south-east England and the Home Counties. |
| Disease confirmed | Disease confirmed |
Farmers fear that movement restrictions in south-east England and East Anglia because of bluetongue disease - which will continue to apply - could reduce the numbers of people willing to buy livestock at reopened markets. | There were also concerns that movement restrictions in south-east England and East Anglia because of bluetongue disease - which will continue to apply - could reduce the numbers of people willing to buy livestock at reopened markets. |
RESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Greater London and BuckinghamshireFMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and ScotlandBluetongue controls: Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire | The restrictions could last for two years with experts warning they will only be lifted when an, as yet unavailable vaccine, is developed. |
The restrictions could last for two years with experts warning that they will only be lifted when an, as yet unavailable vaccine, is developed. | |
| Earlier this week, the government announced that cattle at four farms surrounding the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak would be culled as a precaution. | Earlier this week, the government announced that cattle at four farms surrounding the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak would be culled as a precaution. |
| The disease had been confirmed at a Surrey farm, near Wraysbury, after tests on livestock returned positive. | The disease had been confirmed at a Surrey farm, near Wraysbury, after tests on livestock returned positive. |
| The farm is within the current protection zone around previously-infected farms. | The farm is within the current protection zone around previously-infected farms. |
| It is the eighth farm in Surrey found to have the disease since August. | It is the eighth farm in Surrey found to have the disease since August. |
Meanwhile, national farmers leaders have rejected calls from farmers in East Anglia for a protection zone imposed after the declaration of bluetongue to be extended to cover the whole country. | Meanwhile, national farmers' leaders have rejected calls from farmers in East Anglia for a protection zone imposed after the declaration of bluetongue to be extended to cover the whole country. |
| Such a change would make it easier for animals to be moved but it would also mean that live animals would not be allowed to be exported for two years. | Such a change would make it easier for animals to be moved but it would also mean that live animals would not be allowed to be exported for two years. |
|
|
| Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Do you work in the livestock trade? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| |
