Foot and Mouth Disease

[William]

I know its an offroading site, ive said numerous times, it wasnt just an opinion, it was a thoughtless, un-sympathetic well actually unprovoked critism towards a suffering industry. i welcome many opinions but not ones of an insensitive nature. But yes i can clarify this is an offroading website, thanks for pointing it out, i was rather slow on the uptake.
thanks

[Boggert]

No problems,    I understand your fears, I'm not a farmer but have worked with them closely for many years.
I'll be seeing the NFU office on monday to see what they can advise me on inrelation to this matter.

[Wanderer]

GLASS have offered the following advice.

The Green Lane Association (GLASS) advises its members and other motorised recreational users of the countryside to consider the routes they are intending to travel in the light of the current Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Surrey.

Users are in particular requested to refrain from laning within the 'Surveillance Zone' as defined by DEFRA, which can be seen at the following link;
http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/pdf/declaration-pz-sz-rz-070805.pdf

Further information and the current situation can be seen at;
http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth

Whilst there is no evidence that the use of rights of way has ever spread this disease it is only sensible to take precautions.

Members laning in other parts of the country are asked to consider carefully the routes they intend to use, the farming community will, understandably, not be happy about the use of routes that pass directly through farms or adjacent to their entrances, they will not know where you are from or where you have been.

Dave Codrai
Chairman
GLASS
5th August 2007

[welshlaner]

Typicial over reaction, anyon who knows the countyside up here in North Wales knows nealy all lanes pass though farms, fields, open countryside, its not just the "greenlanes" but plenty of tarmac UCR's with plenty of mud on which pass though open farmyards.

Then theres the major A & B roads passing though open unfenced moorland roads, plenty of sheep on them at the moment and sheep muck all which is going to get spead round the countryside.

What does seem supid is to transport the remains of infected animals half way across the countryside to the west country to get rid of the bodys, spraying a few wheels on a few trucks won't help, mud (which might contain the virus) gets everywhere. just driving round here and not going on any lanes at all and you vechicle soon gets dirty with the cattle crossing  and general dirt on the road. You cannot stop the movement of goods and people

[rollazuki]

I think worrying over some stupid hobby of driving through puddles and getting all excited over it is rather irrelevant in comparison to the possibility of people such as farmers not only losing their livelihood but also a way of life. Businesses and families can be destroyed by this disease.

And as for the pathetic comment about farmers getting compensation, speaking from experience, compensation barely covers half of the production costs let alone the measly profit we gamble upon receiving once a healthy animal is sold. And a herd isnt bought a herd is made, and this often taken an entire family tree to achieve. So unless you understand the countryside and how it works, keep your un-educated statements to yourself.

Overreaction!

It annoys me that farmers appear to get compensation for many things, seemingly growing crops and tending fields that arent really required(I dont know the intricate details here, just what is broadcast on the media)

Other sectors of business dont get this kind of compensation. Did Rover garages all get a handout when Rover went under.....NO. They went bust, or had worthless stock sitting on forecourts.
When a model comes out and has a recall or similar which causes sales to slump is there a payout.......NO.

We all see companies, and indeed whole industries come and go, leaving employees and owners weeping and bankrupt. Why is the  farming industry treated differently?

Your somewhat rude and over reactive post has propelled me to write this. Uneducated maybe, but why should your countryside industry be different from any other.....?


Rolla