Latest news with #MNFU
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Stamp set celebrates Isle of Man agricultural heritage
A stamp collection celebrating the Isle of Man's farming heritage is set to be launched at an agricultural show at the end of with the Manx National Farmers' Union (MNFU), the six-stamp set featured six original drawings of farm animals by local artist Yolande from the collection will contribute to the union's Greener Grass mental health support scheme, and the Isle of Man Agricultural Benevolent Alberts said the "stamps celebrate free range farming on our beautiful island" and highlighted the work the MNFU does to support the industry. The Isle of Man has an active meat, dairy and arable farming sector, and is home to one abattoir, one creamery and one flour stamp collection will be launched to coincide with the first of the Isle of Man's major annual agricultural events, the Southern Agricultural Show, to be held on 26 and 27 colourful images, which feature drawings of a highland cow, a goat, a border collie, two hens, a ram and a dairy cow, will also go on display at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show on 8 and 9 August. 'High welfare' MNFU general secretary Sarah Comish said the shows welcomed thousands of visitors every year, highlighting the importance of the industry to the public. She said the MNFU provided information and education and it would be "great to have this set of stamps to further support our work".Union president Ean Parsons added that "high welfare and health standards" for all farmed animals was a priority for Manx farmers "along with protecting the environment". He said he was "delighted" the Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) had been "keen to recognise Manx agriculture" with the artwork which "beautifully captures some unique images of the different types of stock on the island". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
Isle of Man farmers' 'Respect our livelihoods' plea to TT fans
Farmers have implored motorsport fans visiting the Isle of Man for the TT festival to "respect their livelihoods" amid warnings about foot and mouth disease (FMD).The Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) issued the plea due to a growing outbreak of the disease in this year, restrictions were put in place on the island which ban the importation of meat and dairy products for personal use from anywhere outside of Great secretary Sarah Comish said she was concerned both about the highly contagious nature of the disease and the fact that there will be "so many people travelling from Europe to the island" for the two-week festival. FMD is a highly infectious virus that causes blisters inside an animal's mouth and under their hooves, and can cause lameness and problems Comish said that while the threat level "now seemed to be under control" it remained vital for travellers not to bring dairy and meat products to the Isle of also asked TT spectators not to leave any food waste lying often watch the racing from farmland, added Ms Comish, "so it is just about respecting the environment you are in". 'Huge impact' An FMD outbreak would have a "huge impact" on livestock farmers, said Ms Comish, since the Isle of Man is "heavily dependent on export trade". The TT festival was cancelled in 2001 following outbreaks of the disease in the week saw the first seizure of meat and dairy products brought in from kilograms of meat and 800g of cheese found in a campervan were confiscated by customs and immigration officers in seizure could lead to a "significant fine" if the matter proceeds to court, the government recent discovery of bluetongue disease "right next door" in Lancashire has also "caused worry" in the Isle of Man's farming community, said Ms disease can cause cattle to become infertile and even be it is spread by midge bites, its spread is "more difficult to control", she added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
