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Powys County Times

Bluetongue restrictions 'disatrous' for Powys faming says MS

Farmers on the English border in Powys are facing a huge shock in proposed disease restrictions that have been described as 'disastrous'. Plans to ban the movement of sheep and cattle from England into Wales unless they have been tested for Bluetongue have been branded as 'baffling' and 'impractical'. The change will come into place on July 1 and will restrict the movement of sheep and cattle across the border unless they have a test which can cost anywhere between £40 to £70 per animal, even if they have been vaccinated. This comes as England is moved into being a restricted zone as the disease which is spread by infected midges, continues to be found in different locations in England. Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George warned of a looming economic crisis and would cause millions of pounds in losses to the rural economy and severely disrupt vital cross-border livestock trade. 'The policy will have huge implications for cross-border trade and will ripple through the entire supply chain," said Mr George.. 'Farmers are anxious and worried about their livelihoods. They're concerned about not being able to source stock, including breeding stock." Fellow Powys MS James Evans said farmers now face 'sky high testing fees, red tape, and chaos'. 'No common sense has been applied whatsoever,' said Mr Evans. 'What it does show is a real disconnect and a real lack of understanding from the government of how livestock movements and livestock sales will actually work. 'The impact on cross border trade is also going to be significant, having a two-tiered system when buying livestock in terms of prices and hitting our breeding sales across the country.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Former leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies said the move 'puts the livestock industry here in Wales on the altar of stupidity' adding that 'this makes no sense whatsoever". Meanwhile, calls have been made in Powys County Council to put pressure on the Welsh Government to change course. Reform Cllr Geoff Morgan and independent Cllr Ed Jones have submitted a motion to call on the council to write to the Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies 'urging an urgent review of the current Bluetongue movement restrictions". This would request that the Minister give 'a formal update on any plans to facilitate testing, vaccine rollout, and compensation for affected livestock holders in Powys'. 'Farmers across Powys, especially those with land on both sides of the border, are being severely impacted by arbitrary rules that prevent them from moving livestock between fields on the same farm — while livestock can still legally travel the length of England from Cornwall to Cumbria,' said Cllr Morgan. 'Many of Powys County Council's own Farms Estate tenants are among those affected, so this is a matter directly linked to council business.' Mr Irranca Davies told the Senedd that he had come to the decision after "meeting with senior representatives of the livestock and veterinary sectors on June 5."