FARM DIARY

Another frustrating week of waiting for the FMD restrictions to be lifted; we are promised they will be lifted this week. I am desperate to move calves and our yearling heifers from Tillington before the weather breaks.

This whole saga is dragging on far too long as Government is now being over cautious. The disease is contained in a very small area, and as all the tracings are done, we should not be made to suffer any longer.

The aid package offered last week to farmers in the hills (in particular) and stock farmers generally, at 12.5m was not welcomed with open arms, as with the cost to the industry now running at over 250m, it is hardly sticking to the government principle of 'the polluter pays'.