Foot-and-mouth Crisis
I have been getting emails from other farmers, here are some of them. Reading these you can see why I feel so privileged to live here: (if you are a farmer and want to speak to a different group of people I will be happy to put your email on this page. (I suppose with all the usual provisos about slander etc.!) email a message
To anyone. If you have something you want to say about farming, I'll put it on my farming page.
When this is over, take a holiday in the West Country or stay on a farm in Cumbria. See www.cornish-farms.co.uk or www.devonfarms.co.uk or www.farm-holidays.co.uk
I haven't put them all in yet. sorry, there's so much! Much later. I'm still sorry. I will really try.
From a sheep farmer in Sussex 9th April
Dear Jo
This feels very strange writing to a complete stranger, although having read
your diaries, I feel I do know you a bit. I have only last night and today
found your page, I am not very good on this machine yet, but thank goodness
for my 20 odd year ago manual typing course, at least I can write fairly
fast.
I am a farmers daughter and do remember the 67 outbreak as a small child,
I
remember my fear that my pony and donkey would be shot until the cloven foot
bit was explained. Somehow, that fear has stayed with me, all but semi shut
away all these years and now the worst is happening to our beautiful
country. I am married to a sheep farmer in Sussex who farms with his
brother but my husband is mainly the sheep man. This year, as every year we
send our ewes 1550 and 4-500 tegs out to keep for the winter. Most of our
land is only a few feet above sea level and very heavy old clay, so we try
to clear the farm completely. The terrible floods in the South East since
October meant we had to keep 300 ewes at home as their keep home was washed
away. Another 400 were all within 20 miles of home. Our main flock of
Romney ewes (30% ewe tegs to lamb the first time this April) went away three
weeks before tupping , were joined by 15 multiple birthed rams on 6th
November and spent a happy winter on good grazing miles from any other
stock. On Wed 21st Feb my husband went to see the sheep and the state of
the grazing. ( they are lookered each day by a man on site). The ewes
looked great , loads of grass and plans to bring the girls home in the next
7-10 days to crutch and inject prior to lambing on 1st April. Yes, those
were the happy innocent days before the country was sent to the wolves by
Tony. Sadly for us they were in Essex on a bird wildfowl sanctuary. The
following Tuesday 27th we were called and informed the Maff had been in to
test as there were some suspicious signs. We were told to be inside on the
phone from midday the next day. What an afternoon, jumping every time the
phone went, not wanting to collect the children from school in case I was
not around when they did phone, I dont want to live through another session
like that. 5.50 pm the maff vet phoned and said they were confirmed
positive and would be culled the next day. 600 prime ewes close to lambing
what a waste of life. It was on the news by 6pm. Would they have still
mentioned it on the news if they had not been able to contact us? Yes, they
were all slaughtered on 1st March. We were shell shocked. My Husband was
asked if he wanted to go up for the slaughter! How stupid can they be,
they, maff, were very aware that we had sheep at home in Sussex, how
irresponsible can they get. We had to arrange a valuer - how much do you
want? - we want our sheep - how do you value such stock? The deed was done
and for days we sat inside wondering what had hit us. The poor Children did
not understand our worries and fears, although at 9 and 6 they are well
aware of what can and does happen. Later on the 1st a more local maff vet
phoned and said he was coming to serve us with a form D. In those days we
did not know what it meant, were we to be shut up , could the kids go to
school and most importantly I did not want my Husband to go over the road
to
the farm in case he was isolated there.
They seem such stupid fears now. The notice was served, the vet returned
the next day, inspected the sheep, turned hundreds over to look at their
feet, we have several a bit lame, and said we were clear at the moment. Why
does a vet need a hard hat to look at sheep in the mud in a field?!Surely
a
bath hat for cleanliness would be more appropriate!
We lived in fear wondering if we had bought the dreaded home with us from
Essex. Each sheep was inspected at crutching time the next week, and again
run through the mud to the yards the following week. We were finally
declaired clear and the form D lifted after 3 weeks from the date of
contact. In fact they , maff, reckoned the sheep were not even infected
when visited on 21st Feb. We have asked and asked how can they get it with
no contact with other stock since October. Firstly they said wind, then
they denied it was carried on the wind and just said we were contiguous with
Canewden. The one thing they will not comment on is the fact that the
sheep graze on large areas that are used by the Brent Geese as part of their
migratory routes. Of course no-one can prove anything but if foxes and crows
are known carriers why not wildfowl? We were the first in this part of the
country to be affected and infected, it was very strange , some people were
afraid of us in case we ourselves were contaminated, but they soon rallied
around and the phone did not stop for days and days, it is good to know we
have friends out there.
Life then moved up a level, I spent days and days on the phone to Maff
trying to organise licences to get the rest of our girls home, from all of
20 miles away, although some were on local licences. The rigmarole involved
with getting C & D'd , 45 miles round trip the wrong way before setting
off.
The worries, the utter chaos and confusion at maff and the general agro and
costs involved have taken an enormous toll of us both. Thank goodness we
are both pulling the same way.
We now have an enormous fear that although our part of the world is clear
at
the moment an incredible amount of sheep have returned under licence to
their home farms from the West County and Middle England. They have all
obviously been inspected by vets etc and have come from unrestricted areas,
but how far from the 8 or 10km zones were they. The vets all say sheep are
difficult to diagnose, what are they harbouring, It is the unknown that is
so frightening.
Meanwhile lambing has started with a vengeance, the weather is foul, our
small shed has been full with problems, we lamb outside and only bring in
ewes and lambs with trouble. They then go out as soon as we can get things
sorted out, grass is best, even if it is half under water! My Husband has
lost the buzz of lambing this year, normally even if we have foul weather,
heavy wet snow last April, he revels , as most stockmen, in the joys of new
life, the bonding of ewes and lambs, and even the problems that need to be
sorted. Yes you win some and you loose some, but each one we loose this
year seems like another nail in the coffin of our way of life. Always in
our minds is the question, Are we fighting through lambing just to see them
all slaughtered. Are we next?
One point I meant to mention earlier on was the question of compensation.
Although we would much rather have our original, home bred stock, we are
looking at replacing. The Compo that was signed by our unknown valuer and
a
Spanish Maff vet was an individual one , It is not enough to fully restock
on and having received no paperwork whatsoever from Maff we started chasing
them. Suddenly a cheque arrived 28 days after culling. Three days before
that a new set valuation was announced which far exceeded our original one.
We had already tried to contact Maff about wanting the new valuation before
our cheque arrived but kept getting fobbed of. We now discover that a
formal complaint had to be sent within 14 days of original valuation to
receive the new amount. How could we appeal for more within 14 days when we
had no paperwork, and more importantly the new amount was not available
until 25 days after our first valuation? We are fighting, I know through
the NFU that there are other cases like us but most were within the time
limit. We were hit too early in the whole terrible situation. I will let
you know any further developments on this point but do feel free to warn
others in your area to appeal a.s.a.p
I am sorry to rabbit on for so long, although we talk and talk it is good
to
put things down, especially to someone unknown but whom one knows is on our
side and lives with the same fears and worries. Do write back, do use any
of
this you want on diaries, and above all else STAY LUCKY
Regards Lisa
From a dairy farmer in Cumbria 25th March
I honstly don't think that anyone knows what they are
doing least of all MAFF. It all put out to the press before they are informed
about anything. I do know that all the sheep are being culled as I had a
telephone call about ten minutes before I was due to go off to Church to
lead the Mothering Sunday service! Talk about perfect timing. WE are
delighted that there are signs that the sheep cull is beginning because our
neighbour at the end of the farm, about a mile and three quaters away has
just had foot and mouth confirmed and his sheep can touch our sheep through
the gate. perhaps if they take the sheep out it will provide a break between
our cows and the disease ! I just pray that it will. There seems to be a lot
of inconsistancy about culling cattle. My son has heard a rumour that a
family who have a big pig enterprise and a very valuable Holstein herd had
asked to have their pigs slaughtered to make a break between them and farms
which had already had foot and mouth. They are now being told that their cows
have to go as well which is ridiculous if the cows and pigs actually had no
disease! They only wanted rid of the pigs as a precaution and anyway there
are no farms left in that area. Couldn't they have waited to see of the cows
showed any signs of the disease ? I must emphasise that this is only a rumour
but I do hope that it doesn't happen to us! It seems so senseless to be
slaughtering perfectly healthy indoor housed animals when they are so mired
up with diseased animals !
The country is going to be short of milk as well as meat if this senseless
slaughter goes on! I feel as if Cumbria is being sacrificed to save Blair's
face over the fiasco of the government's handling of the situation. If it
is
ever over I think that there should be an independent enquiry into how things
were allowed to get out of hand. The disase spread into our area via some
sheep which had gone out from Longtown mart which should have been slaughterd
immediately as dangerous contacts and were just left because they had no
visible symptoms. Were they being penny piching trying to save money on
compensation or is this a new strain of Foot and mouth disease.
I have been trying to get onto the web to see the latest figures but cannot
cvontact either of the MAFF sites that I have addresses for.
I think we shall just have to keep on praying ! God must understand whwat
is
going on for I am sure I don't. I hope that you mange to preserve some of
your animals.
From Sussex 25th March
We are shaking with anger and horror at the latest news and
praying that as so often before they are incorrect. Blair MAFF
Brown seem to give contrary statements to use the uncertainity to
be as cruel as possible. Surely a month in the clear for an
isolated case must be OK. But of course every farm animal must be
destroyed before the election so that the electorate have a few
days to forget about the way they have dealt with it all.
Was told by a retired News man that the present generation of
reporters rely so much on 'leaks' and handouts from government
that they dare not tell the truth and risk upsetting their
sources.
Did see an interview on Sky News yesterday in which a Cumbrian
farmer was excellent. They could not interrupt or stop him as in
absolute fury he gave his piece.
Blair is already handing out spin to the news, beginning the
task
of putting all the blame on farmers. For God's sake don't let us
let him off the hook.
"The source of the infection was feeding swill"
No No NO. The SOURCE OF THE INFECTION was imported on cheap meat
due to Blair's refusal to take note of the advice and pleadings
of Britains farmers, especially pig farmers (and anyway could
well have come from barracks waste tipped in a nearby landfill).
"The spread of the infection was due to greedy sheep farmers"
No No NO. The SPREAD after the initial week was almost entirely
farm to farm due to MAFF incompetence and Blair's disinterest in
the Country.
As one Labour Minister was overheard to say at the start, "What
are they whinging about, they don't matter, they don't vote for
us anyway"
Please everyone, don't let Blair come in at the finish as the
hero who put a stop to the outbreak.
As that Cumbrian farmer screamed at the camera, he should be
able
to sue the government for twenty years lost income for allowing
cheap infected meat imports (by the army and others) just to save
a couple of pence a kilo.
I hope you read the news articles on the npa website by Hellena
Spedding
just one quote 'Agriculture Minister Nick Brown insisted today
that the Government's new, tougher policy on FMD is starting to
work - only 24 hours after they were announced. The average times
from confirmation of the disease to slaughter has almost halved,
to just over 12 hours, he claimed. Given that on Thursday and
Friday there were plenty of reports quoting diagnosis-slaughter
intervals up the region of four to five days, one wonders whether
Mr Brown is perhaps confusing our outbreak with the one just
across the channel.'
Take care of yourselves.
This has all brought back to me horribly the month that I had to
sell all of my sows, seeing the old friends and the young healthy
gilts going down the drive. But as I wrote to a poor pig farmer
recently, never forget, there really is a 'life after pigs'. I am
sure if it has been clear round your isolated case for a month
you will be OK. At the very worst, and I know that it is no
consolation, remember that it is what farming is about, that
unending cycle that whatever anyone of us does Will go on and on
and on.
From a dairy farmer in Cumbria 22nd March
I write from the Eden Valley no longer the Garden of Eden but
the Valley of
the shadow of death where we live in fear of an invisible enemy !
To listen to our Prime Minister and his Minister of Agriculture announcing
the grand plan to cull every sheep and pig in a 3km radius of a Foot and
Mouth out break sounds like a bold strike against the enemy and makes
dramatic headlines ! Especially if it is announced that all animals are to
be culled and the initial reaction of the shell shocked farmers is to resist
the idea , that makes it look as if the obstacles to controlling the disease
are being put there by the farmers themselves.
The reality is quite different, the government and MAFF are unable to handle
the cases of infection let alone embark on any sort of cull, the disease is
spreading rapidly because of the shortage of personnel and consequent
failure to cull and to dispose of carcasses.
When my son telephoned MAFF to volunteer our wintering
sheep for culling because we are terrified that they might be harbouring the
disease and we wish to protect our valuable Holstein dairy herd he was met
by
" We know nothing about the planned cull and have received no instructions,
the media know more than we do !" This was days after the Minister made
his announcement. I know of several other farmers who are more than happy
to
sacrifice their sheep and pigs to salvage their dairy and beef herds, they
too have appealed to MAFF to have them taken out to no avail.
The whole thing has been grossly mismanaged from day one .
There has been too much observing
and testing of dangerous contacts form the Longtown Auction mart instead of
taking the sheep out of the picture whether or not they were showing symptoms
of foot and mouth.
To add insult to injury a friend had been shopping in a local
supermarket and
noticed that they were selling meat labelled, produce of Botswana !. South
Africa and Botswana are well known to have problems with foot and mouth
disease. Do you suppose that the meat had been imported illegally without
a
licence from the Food Standards Agency !! I doubt it ! I could hardly believe
it! I had just seen on Television a farmer from Northern Ireland talking
about how he couldn't sell his beef cattle because ,in spite of the fact that
Foot and Mouth seems to have been controlled in N Ireland , because he was
classed as UK and therefore banned from export.
Does our Government not care about our farmers at all ? Northern Ireland is
part of the UK and should surely take priority over Botswana for being
granted a licence to send its meat here.
I shudder to think where this crisis will end. Only Divine intervention will
halt the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease unless the Government changes its
priorities from bothering about being re-elected and trying to fool the
world that there isn't crisis here in the UK.
From Cathy 21st March
The weather has been much better today - such a complete contrast
to yesterday's gales. Here the wind has drop (though this late afternoon I
noticed that the wind direction has changed (from yesterday- easterly, today,
westerly!) and it has been milder that I didn't have to wear a coat. I was
able to cut the grass in the garden this afternoon.
I too have been checking on my girls, I wonder which one of us will have lambs
first!! When are your girls supposed to lamb? Mine are suppose to start on
29th, so anytime now.
I had a fax from my pastor this morning which brought a smile to my face,
he thought he remind me that Jesus is Lord and to keep the faith and to keep
walking in the truth!
Yesterday I had a card from a family who stayed in the cottages - I think
it is nice when they take trouble to write to let us know that they are thinking
of us etc, don't you.
Interesting article in today's WMN from a vet. Have you read it?
Sorry not to write much tonight - hang on there!
Lots of love and prayers
Cathyxxx
Like you said, God is good, what ever happens, we know we have Him. He is
Lord.
From a Dairy Farmer North of Launceston 21st March
Thank you for that info, it certainly gives a different view.
I think most farmers would rather vaccinate given the choice, especially as
the threat of infection grows with each day.
I hope you are both well.
blessings
From NFU London 21st March
The NFU has met regularly with the Minister and officials at
all levels and raised all, yes all, the points you highlight with MAFF in
the strongest possible terms. Publicly we are keen to maintain an united front
as this disease will only be brought under control by the combined efforts
of all parties. We are keen to ensure that the focus of attention remains
on the tough measures needed to control the disease and that all decisions
are based on sound veterinary advice. We also wish to ensure that we continue
to be granted full and regular access to the people making decisions which
affect farmers and communities in the most fundamental way.
From Cathy 20th March
Hello there, your dairy (19th March) made me cry with the bit
about the vet. Even few hours later I was telling my mother about it, it brought
tears to my eyes! It has been very hard on those in the front lines. I understand
they are now giving lethal injections to pregnant ewes which is better than
shooting them even it takes longer to cull them - at least the unborn lambs
don't suffer terribly as they do when their mother is shot.
I was watching the 1'0 clock news and the major of the military army being
called in was saying that they were looking forward to getting out and stuck
into action etc as if it was fun, oh my they're in for a shock. I am sure
after one day out when reality set in, they will think different.
Sunday night was beautiful though cold (frosty) as the stars were out in full
splendour - it is times like this when you think of the song "all heavens
declare the glory of the risen Lord" I love it when you can see the stars
esp on clear night where you can see the God's glory. Here in one area (west)
you can see glow of Plymouth's lights on the horizon. What it must have been
like in the war when it was being bombed I don't know, but I would have thought
you must have been able to see the bombing taking place. Sometimes if the
air is clear and crisp you can see the light from the lighthouse. I don't
know where the lighthouse is - I must find out one day! I must get myself
a small simple book with stars chart so that I can identify which star is
which etc!
Today, oh boy it's a foul weather out here - I don't know about your end,
but the wind is howling (we've got gales here!) I had to put a tyre in front
of the barn door and tie the door leaving just a gap for the hens to shelter
from the weather. They love coming in the barn and scratching around the straws
in the pens and the ewes find them very relaxing (therapy!) I must say I am
not looking forward to walking over to the barn tonight in this weather! I
will have to wait and see if we got any damage in the morning. I spent the
good part of the day doing decant housework which my place need doing badly!!!!
Do hope you had a good day out with shopping for supplies and then visiting
your mum in law. It will do you good to get out of the farm. Any news of the
farm near your place being test, I do pray that it will be false alarm.
My mother saw this letter in the Sunday Times (18th March) which I will type
out for you-
THE SILENCE OF LAMBS
Living in the heart of the country, I see the misery and devastation that
foot and mouth is wreaking.
At this time of the year, we would expect to be woken at first light by hungry
lambs bleating for their breakfast, but the fields are empty.
No tractors trundle past the house; no shouts and cries of children at play
emanate from the village school; no horses clip-clop down the lane; even the
dogs have ceased to bark. there is only an eerie quiet.
I miss all the noise of a bustling farming community, but the one sound I
most want to hear is that of the government gearing up to prevent a reoccurrence
of this disease.
Will there be more stringent controls at ports of entry into this country
to prevent the importation of illegal foodstuffs?
Will they curtail the importation of meat from countries where FMD is epidemic?
Will they ban the use of pigswill, or at least tighten the controls?
Will they examine the need to slavishly implement the EU directives leading
to the closure of small, local abattoirs, when few others EU countries appear
to implement them?
I have been straining my ears, but so far there is only silence.
Maura Ashworth, Holdsworthy, Devon.
That sums it up very well does it.
Had a lovely card from one family who stayed in the cottages - it is nice
that they have taken trouble out to write to say that they are thinking and
praying.
I am going to finish off with a benediction (based on Psalm 5:11 &12)
which a friend sent to me:-
May God bless you, may He protect you and may He surround you with His shield
of favour, that you may be glad.
With love and prayers,
Cathyxxxx
From Devon 19th March
Dear Jo and James,....Just a line to say "well done"
with the website, it is obviously a big commitment. I am a ,soon to be organic,
dairy farmer and SWARD group leader for the South Hams Dairy CO-OP. My friend
Leyland Branfield had his stock slaughtered on Dartmoor last Wednesday. We
have for the last three years, been supplying him with suckler cow replacements
( Angus/Friesian), so we feel the loss quite a bit, but nothing like he does.
All his stock were FMD free, fourteen days after he was informed that his
stock would be killed, and three weeks after his neighbour had a confirmed
case.......if this is stopping the spread of the disease......then I am the
Flying Dutchman.
His cooperation with Maff, and his quiet dignity are very humbling.
I hope you stay clear........Best Wishes ....
From Neil 19th March
we have been told that there might be a cull in Tregeer about
2miles north of us. aAnother dealer who has an infected farm in Hatherleigh,and
is pals with Willy Cleeve. I'm not sure how true this is but it reached me
by my neighbour up the road.
It's not stopping for anyone, is it? Got to check the ewes again. Take care
Neil
Oh yes I have got gammons! 16' cold room and 8 gammons in it!
though the thought of killing a pig on the farm is growing, if I can muster
up the bottle! want some pork!!!!! speak soon
From Cathy 18th March
Just a quick note to say hi and hang on there!! It is getting
late and I am suppose to go over to the barn and check up and feed the triplets
to be, and see to the lambs that I am rearing (mum got mastitis - very annoying!)
I know what you mean about feeding the ewes, some of them are right monsters
in feeding- they have never heard of the saying "don't bite the hand
that feeds you"!!!! I have tegs out in the field which I am feeding as
the field they are in hasn't got much grass (thanks to the wet winter we have
had - the grass hasn't been growing much - though it is starting to grow now)
so am giving them extra feed to keep them going. They can be a right monsters
- yesterday they surround me just when I was about to pour the food out onto
the trough and I was unable to move for few mins which was crazy! I recall
few years back when we had a drought one summer and end up having to give
some food to the ewes. The ewes in their wisdom thought it would be wonderful
to knock me off my feet and carry me! There I was holding tight the bag of
food on my back with the ewes holding me off the ground! I had a young lad
(14yrs) with me who loves helping me on the farm, he was rolling with laughter
at the sight of me and eventually had to rescue me by pulling me upright and
back to ground!!
Are you within the "2 mile Zone?" I hope not.
Take care
with love and prayers
Cathyxxx
From a pig farmer 18th march
The parts of your diary I read are very sobering with you so
close to an outbreak, we are so lucky in Norfolk and Suffolk with no confirmed
cases as yet. We just hope that the public takes no notice of Michael Meacher
and does not visit un affected areas!
The disease will be overcome and lets hope some good comes out of it for us
all, although at present it is difficult to see what.
Best wishes
From North Cornwall 18th March
In view of the confused messages being given out by MAFF on
the one hand saying avoid visiting the countryside and the DOE saying please
do visit the countryaside but not livestock farms, we personally have taken
the decision to cancell all visitors at least until after Easter because we
feel that until FMD has been destroyed there is no hope of realistically encouraging
visitors back and if it means stopping people from moving around then that
is what must be enforced.
We are about to start lambing and have had a first calf and I don't feel I
can jeopardise their lives by accepting guests at the moment though it will
cost us hugely.
wishing you all the best
From Lockerbie 18th march
Hi I've just found your web site, we farm just outside Waterbeck
near Lockerbie. Until now we've been really lucky. But since Friday night
there has been two confirmed cases near our second farm near Corrie, we like
the rest of the neighbours round haven't been notified of this yet and only
found out through the text on the television. We weren't even told that they
were suspect. The farmers from these farms didn't even pick up the phone and
say, the worst thing of all is that a neighbour of theirs had been in touch
with them only a few hours before they were confirmed, and they said nothing.
Farmers are spending a lot of time on the phone supporting one and other and
keep each other up to date. F&M is affecting us all, but we can only deal
with what we know if you might have this then it,s not a secret you want to
keep. On a lighter note I think BT should be giving us all discounts as they
say "it's good to talk"
Good luck
S
From Essex 18th march
I have a smallholding in Essex, a few sheep and 6 GOS sows.
I'm a hobby farmer
but I would be heartbroken to lose my animals so surely for full time farmers
like you it would be much worse. I will keep hoping that everything will be
alright for
you and your stock - don't lose heart.
Carol
www.stockmaster.co.uk/mysite/alsafarm
From Cathy 17th March
Hello Jo, the last few days has been very hard going has it.
My heart goes out to the farmers under the gov's new policy of slaughter -
like those in Cumbria. I was reading today of one farm in Cumbria who said
that it makes no sense as not only she has sheep and goats but she got Llamas
and they are not under the slaughter policy and yet they are nose to nose
with sheep and have cloven hooves.
The whole thing makes no sense esp when you hear that it is only the sheep,
goats and pigs are to be eliminate and yet the cattle are not being slaughtered.
It seems crazy when you realise more and more what it involves. It may sounds
good in sense but not for those farmers, I ache for them - it can not be easy
having to deliver lambs etc and to know there's this threat over your head
etc. Myself, I think its too late, its bit like shutting the gate after the
horse has bolted. They should have burn up the carcass on the same day and
not to leave them laying around for days and more so leaving them alive for
few days before killing them. Why on earth can they not, when a F&M is
confirmed, slaughter on that same day and burn on that same day. Especially
when you consider the stock suffering from the virus. Like you mention earlier,
back to the last outbreak in '67, when one farmer said that when his stock
was affected - (they didn't have the testing so there was none of the time
wasting hanging for results, having said that, there is a case for testing
to confirm as it could just be orf not F&M, even then I say - speed it
up don't wait for few days for results) the stock was killed and burned on
the same day with the army's aid.
Surly, leaving the stock waiting to be slaughtered or the carcass waiting
to be burned is encouraging the virus to spread etc. No need to tell me that
the virus doesn't breed etc when the host is dead, you still have to realise
there's predator like rats, crows and foxes who when they discover a carcass
will help themselves to free meal. I have seen this myself, when I find a
fallen stock out in the field and usually the savangters have help themselves
to a free meal - who can blame them, when there's a corpse on the plate so
to speak! Much easier then trying to catch your dinner!! They are after all
nature's dustbins.
I see from today's WMN one MAFF said that when a host is killed the virus
is killed - if that is the case then why do they think the source comes from
imported meat? can anyone tell me!!
I am so sick of it all, one wonders when the nightmare will end.
I went out last night as I need to get away from the farm!! I went to Plymouth
to my church as they John Gaugham Cabaret Evening. It was very interesting
and enjoyable evening. John used to be a member of Herman's Hermits. He spoke
of his life and how his life has changed from worse to better when he came
to Know Jesus Christ personally as his Saviour and Lord. He was a alcoholic
and drank heavily daily. Since becoming a Christian he has devoted his life
to singing and speaking about Jesus. It was a nice relaxing evening away from
the farm!
I printed out your last dairy (15th) and took it with me and several people
read it and were moved by what you wrote. Thought you may like to know!
I have had to cancel bookings up to 14th April - after that I have no idea.
Flete Estate rang yesterday and said that they were now cancelling bookings
for April. A conversation with one client made their discussion. They were
explaining to her that she will have to use disinfect etc and she replied
saying oh yes she knows all about that, she lives next door to a farm where
they had a outbreak!! No wonder they don't want her coming over! The only
bookings I have not cancelled is a group booking for two nights next weekend.
They are a wedding party, one is the groom and best man. You can see it was
difficult - one has no wish to spoil their special day. However we have spoken
to them and they are not from restricted zone and they are only going to the
weeding etc. They have agreed to use the disinfect and stay only in the cottages
complex and no walks etc around the farm.
I am finding that enquires have dropped now. I have had some cancellations
for later in April but none for the summer season. What about your end?
Cheerful weather out here!! still better than late yesterday evening! When
do you start lambing? mine are suppose to start on 29th.( I say suppose as
few like to lamb week early!)
Oh well take care you two, hang on there.
lots of love Cathyxxxx
And the Lord, he is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will
not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear, nor be dismayed. (Det 31v 8)
From Canada 15th March
I am e-mailing from British Columbia, Canada and saw your message
at the Country Life Web Site. I am new at this e-mail business and hope you
receive this. I have been to England twice and really love the countryside.
I have lived in the country all my life here an Vancouver Island. We are about
5 miles in from the east coast and have similar winters to yours but hot,
dry summers (except for the first haying!). I have been keeping up with farming
issues in England because farming is dear to my heart and I have a 23 acre
small holding that I am slowing building up. I bought 5 Shetland ewes last
fall (4 hopefully are expecting) and hatched out a few Austalorp chickens.
We also raise "meat" birds on pasture in the summer and I plan on
a few pigs this year. Those looked like GOS pigs in your photos. They are
really lovely; we don't have that breed here but we do have Large Blacks in
eastern Canada. We also have two Smooth Fox Terriers and 5 cats. We are very
fortunate to have a neighbour who butchers our chickens for us and another
who can do all the other livestock. I plan on getting Light Sussex chicks
this year (very rare here) and white Chinese geese. We also have a large organic
veggie garden which really wrecked my back last year. The strawberries and
raspberries were great!
The point of all this is to say that I am really sorry for what is happening
to you and all the other farmers in Britain. We don't have the disease problem
here (yet???) but it is the same otherwise; people want cheap food and the
government wants to support Big Business and to hell with the land. Here on
Vancouver Island we are blessed with a lovely climate and pockets of good
soil but we import 90% of our food from the Mainland, much of it American!
Where do the Yanks get much of their food? From Third World nations and so
on down the line. The whole system is designed to impovrish farmers no matter
where they are.
Nevertheless, I intend to keep growing my own food and some extra for my community.
I buy organic when possible although most of that is foreign! It seems like
you are on the frontline of the battle. Please hang in there and know that
there is someone on the other side of the world who can appreciate what it
must be like. Good luck!
From Cathy 13 March
Hello there! The news seems to get worse daily does it! Like
you I was totally taken aback at Nick Brown comments last Sun - who does he
think he's kidding! I am totally fed up the way the gov is handling the crisis
- get the army in now instead of considering - it now looks like we are in
for a long haul and there will be more cases - last I heard there's now well
over 200 confirmed cases. ..........
I am not going to go on about F&M - its depressing enough as it is!
My parents are now back . I have had to contact the guests who have booked
this month and cancelled their booking - it'ssomething you don't want to do
- not just the loss of money but their holiday has to be cancelled - not nice
for them. I have cancelled all bookings to end of this month - after that
it is matter of waiting and see what develops over the next coming weeks.
The farm is still ok - I put the two ewes and lambs out yesterday morning
- it was nice and dry, only the heavens opened up about ten minutes later!!
the lambs certainly had a baptism of rain!! oh well they are big enough to
cope whatever the weather elements throw at them!! They were fine today.
Saw a large group of pheasants hens this afternoon in the Orchard - about
ten of them - I first saw them back in Jan and it was nice to see them about
- I love seeing them about - the cocks are so handsome with their colourings
- saw three of them in another field this morning, they were hoping that I
hadn't see them, so I gave them a wide berth!
Do you scan your ewes? We do ours and find it very useful in knowing how many
lambs are expecting and feed them according - it also cuts down the prolapse
risk as we feed the triplets separate from the twins and the singles. The
triplets are fed in small portions several times a day (I feed ours three
time a day, their last feed is after 10.00pm) They are still having hay adlib
but if I had any with bad prolapse I would if possible remove the ewe from
others. I had one ewe two years ago who was expecting quads and she end up
having to have a harness on as her prolaspe was bad. She was removed from
the main pen and feed several times a day in smaller portions - when her lambs
were born, it was no surprise to see why she prolapsed as they were huge lambs
- just a pair would have made a good size twins let along four!! It certainly
paid off giving her T.L.C.!!
Not long to lambing - looking forward to odd hours now (NOT!) oh well at least
it is not for very long - I am just thankful we have none of the problems
other farmers have with their lambing flocks stuck in the fields. Pretty awful
situation to be in.
Pleased to hear that your cats haven't found any more exits so far!! We haven't
got any here though we had a lovely pair in our last farm and believe it or
not one was called Toxo and the other Plasmosis! They were lovely and one
of them loved having a ride in the tractor! We left them behind as they came
with the farm and it seem unfair to uproot them.
Take care, with much love and prayers,
From the other side of Bodmin Moor 13th march
Worrying time for all of us, but more so for you being so close.Hope it wont be too long before we can all meet up again, fingers crossed infact every thing crossed.
From Bodmin Moor 13th March
I hope you are bearing up all right - I must admit the constant anticipation of bad news is beginning to wear me down - I can't help feeling that in the end there is no way we can protect/isolate ourselves (I agree with your dairy - straw and disinfectant seems so inadequate). Modern day living (and farming for that matter) is built around enormous mobility and I don't think society will be able to standstill long enough to let us contain FMD Anyway I think I have depressed you enough for today ......
From Anglesea10th March
This fmd is really awful and really a threat to our livelyhood as well. We are disinfecting, holding our breath and keeping fingers crossed, what else is there to do, really.....
Another email from Cathy (see 10th March)
Hi Jo , lovely to hear from you - I have just had a shower,
wash my hair and changed into clean and dry clothes, mmmm, I feel better for
it!!!!
I don't know what the weather is like at your end, here its very misty, raining
and no wind, so everything is damp, wet and muddy!!
I had hoped to put out two ewes with their lambs (I'm too soft to put them
out in wet weather, it seems unfair on them!!) - I have three ewes with lambs
still indoors, one is fostering a triplet - the ewe herself had a very rough
start, she had a very bad prolapse which I managed to get the prolapse back
in. A hour later when I checked her up I found some blood clots which didn't
look good so decided to call the vet and have a Caesar (it is very rare for
us to call the vet out for lambing, in fact it is the second call in 11 years!).
Vet came - we have a group of vets and this one was young and has been in
the practise for about say well over a year now. Anyway he felt that it was
best to stitch her up and give the lambs more chance of surviving (she was
only a week early - he didn't think that they would be able to breath being
a week early though we point out that it is common for the breed to lamb a
week early!) I wasn't happy with her for whole day and we made another call
to the vet and another came and thought as she seem calmer, and she had no
temp and looked happy (Huh, she didn't to me!) Anyway she started to lamb
the following morning, and funnily enough the first vet arrived when I was
examining her, (we hadn't called him) so I let him deliver the lambs which
were stillborn and from look of them they died yesterday. Next time I will
put my foot down, as I am certain had she had a Caesar her lambs would have
been alive. That same day I had another ewe who lambed eight days early and
they were fine though did look premature. The prolaspe ewe was very poorly
(gave her TLC!) and few days later I had a triplet lamb for her so gave it
to her, but had to top the lamb with extra milks she was ill and not producing
sufficient milk. Her foster lamb I have to say was a right monster when feeding!
He is a very strong lamb. Anyway to cut the story short, she has now accepted
her lamb after few weeks and only recently the last five days the foster lamb
hasn't asked me for extra milk so the pair are ready to go out now. Nice to
have a happy ending, eh!
Try not to let the news about the F&M and the Holiday bookings get you
down too much. Despite being on my own, I have not feel totally alone as I
know God is with me. I have had times when I feel down esp when I look at
my sheep and think what "if" etc, all those negative thoughts, when
that happens I just rebuke those thoughts and turn to God and get into His
word. I don't know if you believe in God, but it is worth looking up at Psalm
91 and pray those verses over your farm. I go to a community church in Plymouth
and they have been very supportive to me during this crisis.
I had a surprise when I walked in after doing the evening chores yesterday,
to find a fax from Russia of all places!! It was a family asking about the
holiday cottages for June /July. Have you ever had any guests from Russia?
Yesterday morning I had to cancelled a booking for this coming weekend. I
will be having to cancel the rest of the bookings for this month. What a shame
- The number of enquires have gone down for March, so obviously people are
realising that there is no sense in booking for this month - have you found
that the same?
No problem with putting my email on web. I agree I don't think people from
town and cities realise exactly what it is like for us farmers, I have been
amazed and annoyed when I read some comments from townies that they think
we have no feelings for our stock. Okay you may have some farmers but I am
certain you will find out of every one you will find at least say 20 who do
care for their animals. Oh well enough of my ramblings!
Must be nice to have James back!
Take care lots of love and prayers,
From a farm just north west of Launceston
Jo
We enjoyed looking at your diary, we are barricaded into the farm and I have
had to close my whole craft business which is such a scarey thing, I was having
a major exhibition at easter with J B and L M. Students were coming from France,
Belgium, Halifax in Yorkshire and I just dont know what to say I have left
it another week before I cancel and have found a church hall where I could
carry on but not sure if it will be good to encourage people into the area.
I have so many visitors to the farm and the thing that most worries me is
will it ever be safe again as we never seem to know what is around the corner.
Also listening to the news etc it all seems to be about going back to small
farms and local produce organic etc, which is what all of the Sward group
and even before we have been fighting for but nobody listened, I was invited
to a Maff dinner through my tourist board connections 18 months ago with Lord
Donaghue, after his day at the races to see what the westcountry was like
he insisted that all little farms were totally inefficient and to be disposed
of. It seems impossible to get through that we all know where our animals
go what they eat etc. Tony Blair said last sunday we need to look at things,
it seems impossible to get through that the normal people know where things
are going wrong and want to be traditional farmers but are powerless to get
through to the right places.
What do you think, we are just worried it will be too late particularly when
you see terrible pictures of unburried carcases etc.
A small holding on the South coast with holiday accommodation and art classes
Dear Jo,
what a story...I had no idea that you were in the thick of it.
what can I say, except 'hang in there'
We have disinfected straw and foot baths at every entrance and I have had
to cancel my art classes...which is a real shame. I understand that feeling
of isolation, it's terrible. But poor you having to cope without a husband
around, I don't know how you do it.
the news that this is going to continue for a while yet is depressing, to
say the least. We also have wild cats and cannot contain them...God help us
if there's an outbreak near here....we'll have to go around with large nets
or dope to knock them out|!
although we only have a Gloucester Old Spot (I felt so sorry for yours) called
Polly, who has a bull ring in her nose to allow her to wander at will, and
3 sheep and 6 lambs, 2 guinea pigs, 8 cats, 2 ducks, 13 hens and 1 dog...the
problem is still serious. OK, if we got F&M and they all died, it wouldn't
be so horrific (sad, but not a matter of our livelihood). The trouble is,
up behind us is a pedigree herd of Simintels (sp?), which has taken 25 years
to build-up...now that would be awful if anything were to happen to them.
I am desperate to get the classes going again, but feel there is still a risk.
anyway, I wish you all the luck in the world and keep your pecker up!
thank you for sharing your problem...keep in touch!
From a farm on the North coast. She is normally busy with lovely candlelit diners in the old farm house
Thank you for your news. It is a most worrying time indeed and we can only take one day at a time- I just hope we will be able to open again at Easter. We are fortunate to live down a lane with no through traffic and have had no vehicles in or out since the beginning of this hell and we park our car at the end of the lane and walk down dipping our feet and changing footwear. We start lambing in 10 days and if we allow guests to stay they will walk down the lane between two paddocks of ewes and lambs so we have difficult decisions to make but at least we are not as close to it as you are.
From a farmer who suffers from OP poisonning
glad to see James is back and hope you are coping OK
If you are getting a lot of prolapses, Esp. in twins and triplets, it might
be an idea to reduce Hay consumption by only feeding 1 bale per 20 ewes, or
letting silage feeders be emptied every day
You are both in my thoughts and Prayers
HAB 3:17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
HAB 3:18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
HAB 3:19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
From my brother who was a pig farmer for 20 years and now does water and drainage work . His wife is many talented, relief milking, schooling horses, catering, making jewelry. Nick once thought one of his pigs had swine fever. I was really chuffed to get this message. Brothers are usually reticent of compliments!
Well done for getting on with things through this. You are a
Real
Farmer now.Congratulations. June and I both think of you all the time. Like
me with swine
fever, when June was younger looking after a herd of cows she
thought she had a calf with FMD.
To earlier pages (starting 28th February).
If you have anything to say about farming