fmd petition

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:00 pm

The Prime Minister's website has a petition on it calling for:-

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Call on the government to provide financial compensation to all farmers who suffer financial loss as a result of the government restrictions of movement of animals which are a consequence of the lapse in Bio-Security at the Government's own laboratory at Pirbright in August 2007."
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FARMERS-FMD/sign

stew · Post by **stew** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:29 am

for gods sake
why go looking for someone to blame
just get over it
and thank god your livestocks ok
i for one wont be signing a pettition for compo
how i do hate this nanny state and claim culture society we live in today

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:07 am

I've signed it. Dead easy to do.

I agree with Stew's sentiments and get totally fed up with the blame culture but at the same time things are as they are, and you simply don't get anything done nowadays unless you make a fuss, much as I would prefer this were not the case.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:06 am

I can't believe it, reports of farmers so deep in the mire that they commit suicide and some people think their families should 'just get over it'. Do you realise how bad this situation is for stock farmers? Maybe we in the Dexter world are beter off than others as for most of us this is our hobby, but to criticise others for claiming compensation for ruined and bankrupt businesses which are a direct result of failures of a government owned agency is a bit rich. Movement restrictions may not have caused you any problems but others are in a nightmare situation and I for one hope that anyone suffering from what is government incompetence gets compensated for their suffering. If someone took away your livelyhood through crass stupidity, would you not want some form of compensation?
Martin.

stew · Post by **stew** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:50 am

the lads that got killed out should get paid out ,that gos without saying.
but the rest of us should be able to take it on the chin
and think themselves lucky they still have a reason to get up in a morning
but theres always someone to blame nowadays

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:56 am

Wow! Just in the last few minutes since I signed the petition, another 70 have signed up as well. Thanks Estelle.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:43 am

I, too, abhor the compensation culture which is now with us, but I also dislike the fact the we now live in a world where almost no-one seems to accept personal or corporate blame for anything nor, apparently, feels any shame for mistakes made however devastating they turn out to be. When people and companies are seen to be properly and harshly punished for mistakes which have far reaching consequences maybe we will get back to the out-dated idea of personal responsibility. And the compensation culture will fade away. I'm not holding my breath.

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:14 pm

Hill farmers main income comes from selling stock in the September sales, overdrafts are paid off and preperations made for winter. They have to move their stock off the hills because grass growth and quality is declining. At the moment these farmers are using up the feed that was destined for the breeding stock left on farm throughout winter. With no income from sales how are they suposed to replenish these stocks, without money they or their stock cannot survive. As we all know, as soon as a disaster is looming the banks start twitching and may call in loans and overdrafts that are at the moment keeping these farmers afloat. It is predicted that many will go under winter, but never mind we can just tell them to 'take it on the chin' and everything will be ok!
Martin.

happy hollidays · Post by **happy hollidays** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:53 pm

I personally have no need for compensation because I earn no money, but it should be available for those who wish to claim. I am quite certain that their mortgage lenders would like them to be able to meet their repayments to mention just one bill of many. In an ideal world most farmers wouldn't want to resort to such a thing but it isn't ideal. With the most expensive time of the year looming it may bring a little relief to those in need.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:13 pm

Well, if anyone wants a little light relief in these troubled times try looking at the petitions which were rejected or, indeed, some of those which weren't. An interesting insight into the 'mind' of the nation :p

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:24 pm

I signed the petition as I believe farmers should be entitled to compensation. Nobody likes to feel they require compensation, but this is something else. A government establishment failed to adequately maintain its drainage which enabled the FMD virus, which is one of the most infectious diseases known, to escape into the environment. To make it worse, the poor drainage situation had been communicated in advance with a warning of the potential consequences. Still nothing was done. Heads should roll when the dust settles on this.

Colin

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:18 pm

Just been told our nearest abattoir has decided to close because the owner can't stand another round of FMD etc. It has caused such a worry for the local farming community, that the council is buying it apparently otherwise many farmers would have to travel a very long way with serious affect on local business.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:24 am

Also, because of not being able to take stock to market, some local farming friends have just accepted £33 a head for good quality, but over-sized lambs. They have so many they have to reduce numbers.

It's a pity that when supplies should be low and more difficult to get, the price goes down!!!

Rob & Alison Kirk · Post by **Rob & Alison Kirk** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:50 am

During the 2001/2002 FMD we were commercial farming. Lambs were graded on farm & I can remember averaging £22.12 each for top quality lambs, after stoppages. At the time we had a litter of labrador puppies - £800 for 2 bitch puppies & a cheque for just over £700 for some 30+ lambs! That particular batch of lambs had gone to Tesco, who were charging up to £9kg for lamb!! As soon as the export market has gone, prices paid to farmers always fall. Store lamb prices fell as low as £12 and we were told we were lucky!!

Thank goodness we're not commercial farming now. It's the commercial 'boys' who are really in a terrible mess with an uncertain future. Having been there we are only too aware of the difference between commercial farming & farming our Dexters as we are now. Yes, we've had some inconvenience and concerns, but we're still better placed selling to a niche market rather than through the commercial market.

Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 1:52 pm

Yes, we're just about to have 3 pups out of our Jack Russell. They'll be £200 each and it only takes a few weeks!