Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

FOOT AND MOUTH

Only last week I sat in an old barn flanked by local farmers on all sides and listened as the deputy president of the National farmers Union gave an update on the state of their industry. For the first time in years, it contained glimmers of hope; the supermarkets were getting worried about lack of supply and were beginning to increase their prices to British farmers; concern about environmental sustainability meant it suddenly made more sense to source locally, rather than flying the same thing in from New Zealand; there was a new dynamic in the industry that suggested better times lay ahead. Farmers never smile, but I could see the frowns reducing. That was Wednesday

Late on Thursday night news of the outbreak of foot and mouth in Surrey began to break. And with it the hearts of farmers everywhere. Just when the industry was beginning to get into its stride once again, this massive blow strikes from nowhere. For me it brought images from the early sixties, dipping our shoes in disinfectant at the top of the farm lane on the way home from school.

Hopefully, this outbreak will be short-lived and contained to those immediately alongside government and private bio- lab facilities. Hopefully, the nationwide ban on transport can be lifted before too long. Hopefully, our friends in the EU, always so ready to help, will be persuaded to lift the export ban instantly the all clear is sounded. Hopefully such a preventable escape of this virulent virus will never happen again.

In the meantime what can we all do to help? Although farming contributes only 1% of national income, in this region it underpins our rural economy and preserves the countryside for us all to enjoy. It is vital for all of us that agriculture prospers. We can continue to use the countryside this year and support the many rural businesses that rely on a very short season. We can continue to buy and eat meat, and apply as much pressure as possible on supermarkets to continue the trend to source their products locally. We can frequent butchers and farm shops wherever possible.

In times of global uncertainty, when all kinds of events could disrupt the fetching and carrying of food supplies around the world, home grown food supplies are vital. Let us hope that this week’s news will shortly be tomorrow’s fish (locally caught) and chip (potatoes locally grown) paper.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, August 21, 2007