Exclusive: Farm industry still bears scars of the foot and mouth disaster

Foot-and-mouth took hold on British farms 10 years ago today and is estimated to have caused more than £30bn worth of damage to the economy, with six million cattle slaughtered in a bid to contain the disease.

Latest Government figures show there are 2,086 fewer full-time farmers in Yorkshire than there were prior to the outbreak, with a reduction in part-time producers also having been seen, although poor farmgate prices and market volatility will have also significantly contributed to the decline.

The data, which reveals the extent to which rural Yorkshire has changed, comes on the day the Yorkshire Post launches its 2011 Environment Awards, aiming to recognise and celebrate firms, groups and individuals carrying out environmental work in the region.

The 2001 outbreak took months to contain and led to a widespread revamp of animal movements, with surveillance operations at UK borders stepped up to detect contaminated meat.

Both Defra and Richard Ellison, regional director of the National Farmers’ Union, said the UK is now far better placed to deal with another outbreak, with one of Government’s top vets saying recent successes in dealing with diseases were largely attributable to the vigilance of the nation’s farmers.

However, Harvey Locke, president of the British Veterinary Association, said he is worried about the effect cutbacks would have on this surveillance, as well as into research into animal diseases, warning that the disease remains only “a holiday away” from returning to the UK.

Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks have been reported in recent months in Turkey and Bulgaria, both popular holiday destinations with Britons with an estimated two million travellers heading to each country each year.

About 50 people each day are having illegal foods seized at ports and airport on entry to the UK, Defra figures show, with more than 21,200 illegal personal food items such as meat and dairy products being seized by UK enforcement agencies each year.

Dr Locke also expressed concern about the effect cuts would have on the Government’s ability to mobilise official vets, private practice vets who carry out disease surveillance and tests on their behalf.

Mr Ellison said he did not think the decline in farmer numbers was totally attributable to foot and mouth disease but that it had changed the way many farmers operate in the region.

“Those who got it were probably the lucky ones because compensation was available and for the first time ever in their lives many farmers had money in their back pocket and a blank farm.

“Some farmers got straight back into it while others decided to farm along different routes. Many others diversified into things like tourism and farm shops as a result of having capital that they did not have before.

“Those who did not get it were still subject to the restrictions on animal movement but did not get any money.

“The impact was very dramatic in several parts of the county. I can remember vividly going up to Settle in May and seeing the grass growing over the tops of dry-stone walls because there was no livestock grazing there.”

The Government’s deputy chief veterinary officer, Alick Simmons said that while cutbacks were taking place across Government, resources were being targeted to minimise risk at all times.