TB and Dairy

Rory Chairs NFU ConferenceHistoric outbreaks of bovine TB near Penrith are a clear warning of the devastating potential of this disease. I have seen first-hand the extreme distress and destruction that endemic TB can wreak on a farm business. The value of British farms cannot simply be measured in terms of food security – as important as this is. Farms are valuable in and of themselves and form an integral part of the fabric of British culture, heritage and history. Much more still needs to be done to ensure a fair price for farmers’ work and produce and I continue to campaign actively on this issue.

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RORY MEETS WITH NFU MEMBERS TO DISCUSS CUMBRIA’S FARMING CHALLENGES

Penrith and The Border MP Rory Stewart last week attended a meeting of farmers from North Cumbria, organised by the National Farmers Union (NFU) and held at Low Wood Farm, Warwick Bridge, to discuss the challenges around Bovine TB (bTB) and Brexit, and hear the concerns of local farmers. Acknowledging the potentially catastrophic effects of […]

FURTHER MEASURES TO ERADICATE BOVINE TB

Further measures to tackle bovine TB in England were announced today as part of the Government’s 25-year strategy to eradicate the disease and protect the livelihoods of dairy and beef farmers. Bovine TB costs taxpayers over £100m every year and England has the highest incidence of the disease in Europe. In 2015 alone over 28,000 […]

BLUETONGUE VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FARMERS IN BRITAIN

Bluetongue (BTV-8) vaccines for sheep and cattle arenow available across Britain, with supplies approved for use in vet practices from this week. There is a high risk of an outbreak of Bluetongue towards the end of the summer as a result of infected midges being blown across the English Channel from France, where the disease […]

NEW CATTLE MEASURES TO HELP DELIVER TB FREEDOM IN ENGLAND

Further measures to protect England from bovine TB are being introduced as part of the government’s comprehensive strategy which is on track to deliver TB-free status for over half of the country by 2019. From 6 April 2016, new legislation will require farmers in the Low Risk Area of England to arrange for post–movement testing […]

EU DAIRY SUPPORT PAYMENTS COME EARLY FOR UK FARMERS

EU support payments to help hard-pressed UK dairy farmers manage cash flow problems will start arriving in bank accounts from today (Monday, 16 November 2015) – two weeks ahead of schedule, Farming Minister George Eustice has announced. The first payments have been made to over 10,000 farmers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – […]

EU AID PAYMENTS LINKED TO MILK PRODUCTION FOR UK FARMERS

UK dairy farmers will receive a one-off support payment linked to milk production to help with cash-flow problems caused by volatile prices, Defra has confirmed. Ministers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales had flexibility about how to allocate their share of the UK’s £26.2 million overall direct aid package but all have opted to pay […]

RORY ​PRAISES CROSS-BORDER BUSINESS MODEL

Rory Stewart MP visited Appleby Creamery recently, to see exactly how their cheese is made, and learn all about their forthcoming expansion. The creamery, established in 2007, was named Cumbria’s Best Small Producer in 2013, and employs five full time members of staff and four part time. But this is now set to increase during […]

UK ANNOUNCES ALLOCATIONS FOR EU FARMING SUPPORT PACKAGE

Hard-pressed UK dairy farmers will receive a one-off support payment to help with their cash-flow problems stemming from the current low prices for milk and other produce, the Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss announced today. In England, dairy farmers will share £15.5 million in recognition of the prolonged period of low prices in this particular farming […]

RORY HOLDS DROP-IN SURGERY FOR FARMERS AT BORDERWAY UK DAIRY EXPO

Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and The Border, will be holding an informal drop-in surgery at the British Blue Cattle Society stand at this year’s UK Dairy Expo at Carlisle’s Borderway Mart, on Saturday 7th March 2015. The UK Dairy Expo is the leading dairy event in the UK and showcases the best of dairy […]