News

The RPA and Natural England have this afternoon (5th September) stated that as the restrictions on movements of susceptible animals have in the main be removed, agri-environment scheme agreement holders should now be in a position to comply with the grazing requirements of their agreements. If there are individual cases where the 20 day standstill rule or restrictions still in place in the Surveillance Zone affect the agreement holder's ability to comply with the requirements of his...

Defra has updated the timetable for the return to disease free status in terms of FMD. This, as previously stated, sees the lifting of the 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone in Surrey on 8th September provided there are no further changes in the current disease situation. In addition, 8th September will see the lifting of the 20 day standstill on movements of livestock, the end of the additional requirements imposed on livestock markets and shows, and the removal of the more restrictive requirement...

From 00:01 on Monday 3 September, livestock markets for cattle, sheep, and pigs will be allowed to resume in England and Wales, outside of the Surveillance Zone in Surrey. Also from this date, animals susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease can be taken to shows involving animals, outside of the Surveillance Zone. There are additional conditions being imposed as a result of FMD which need to be adhered to for both livestock markets and animal gatherings and further information regarding this is...

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Office, has today confirmed that from 00.01h on Thursday 23rd August, movements of livestock will be permitted direct to collection centres and slaughter markets provided there is no alteration to the current level of disease risk. Where operators are already approved under the Animal Gatherings (England) Order 2006 should apply for a licence to operate a collection centre/slaughter market from their local Animal Health Office. Further details regarding this can...

The two Temporary Control Zones imposed in Surrey and Kent were lifted with effect from last night (15th August) following further negative laboratory Foot and Mouth disease test results. To view the Defra news release, please click here.

12.50 - We understand that Defra has stated that initial test results for the the farm in Kent and Chessington World of Adventures, both of which had suspected cases of FMD reported yesterday (14th), are negative but that further tests are being carried out to confirm that this is definitely the case. A press conference with Defra is expected shortly.

18.00 - Defra have just confirmed the imposition of a further Temporary Control Zone at 17.45 for a premises located between Esher and Epsom in Surrey (a map showing the TCZ can be viewed here). We are awaiting further details with regard to this possible case but understand it to involve sheep on a holding in Chessington. This follows the declaration earlier today of a TCZ around a farm in Kent where test results relating to 3 cattle are being awaited and are expected either later today or...

An entirely new 3km Temporary Control Zone was imposed at midnight on a farm just west of Dorking, some six miles outside the existing Protection and Surveillance Zones after an "inconclusive assessment" of animals showing suspected symptoms of FMD. This Dorking case is understood to be the Head Tenant of the second infected case. It has not been confirmed as FND. To view the temporary control zone please click here. The new general licences for movement to slaughter and for fallen stock will...

Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer, has just announced during a press conference this afternoon that there is to be a relaxation in the livestock movement ban in England with effect from midnight tonight (Wednesday 8th August) in order to allow the movement of livestock direct to slaughter with strict biosecurity requirements and for the collection of fallen stock. These movements will be done under general licence. We understand that the movement straight to slaughter provisions are also...

Defra has this evening (6th August 2007) identified a further suspected case of FMD within a herd of cattle located in the larger of the two Protection Zones. The suspect herd is to be culled as soon as possible. A total of 97 animals have been culled from the initial situation found, 64 from the infected premises and 33 from two dangerous contact premises. To view further updates on Defra's website, please click here....

Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, confirmed last night (Thursday 3rd August) that further investigations into the suspected case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on what is understood to be a beef fattening farm near Guildford in Surrey had found that FMD was present. All of the cattle on the farm, which number around 60, are to be culled. A 3 kilometre Protection Zone has been imposed as well as a 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone. All movements of ruminants and pigs have been banned on...

Defra have just announced the imposition of a Temporary Control Zone under the Foot andMouthDisease(England)Order2006

1st August 2007 will see the introduction of the compulsory requirement for Home Information Packs (HIPs) for houses with 4 or more bedrooms. This requirement will be extended to small properties once there are sufficient energy assessors trained to carry out the Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs) element of the HIPs. To view further information regarding HIPs, information to be included, EPCs, guidance to buyers/sellers and property professionals, please click here....

The Court of Appeal has overturned the decision made in a High Court judgment to spare Shambo, the 'sacred' bullock kept in the Skanda Vale multi-faith community which tested positive for bovine TB some weeks ago. Following the High Court judgement which ruled that the slaughter of Shambo would contravene the rights of Skanda Vale community under the European Convention of Human Rights, the Welsh Assembly Government had lodged an appeal against the ruling. Unless the Skanda Vale community...

Lord Rooker has today (26th June) presented a written Ministerial Statement to Parliament regarding the Business Plan and Performance targets for the RPA for 2007/8. The targets which Lord Rooker has set are contained in his statement, a link to which is provided above. The RPA 2007/08 Strategy and Business Plan may be viewed on the RPA's website....

New CAAV President - At the AGM of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) held last Friday (8th June) in Bedford, Graham Martyn of the Cheshire Agricultural Valuers Association, and partner of Wright Manley, was elected President of the CAAV. Graham is joined on the CAAV Presidential team by Paul Clayson as Vice-President and Mark Webb as Junior Vice-President. The Debate on Biofuels - It is time for UK farmers to start committing to growing crops for biofuels, a leading merchant...

A farmer from Devon whose cattle were culled due to bovine TB and was paid compensation on the basis of Defra's table valuations system and who as a result felt that his cattle were vastly under-valued has been granted permission to bring a Judicial Review of the system backed by the NFU. It is expected that the case will be heard in the High Court later in 2007. Please see the Farmers Guardian report for further information....

With effect from 6th April 2007, the rules governing cattle identification and tracing have been changed in England, Wales and Scotland. The new Cattle Indentification Regulations 2007 see two main changes to former procedures: Temporary calf passports - these have been abolished which means that full passports are required for all cattle before they are moved from their holding of birth. Late passport application procedure - if an application has not been submitted within the stipulated 27...

David Miliband presented a written statement to the House of Commons today (29th March) in which he announced the rates of voluntary modulation to be applied to the Single Payment Scheme from 2007 onwards as well as plans for national co-financing to voluntary modulation to support the effective delivery of agri-environment schemes, particularly Environmental Stewardship, under Axis 2 of the Rural Development Regulation. The rates of voluntary modulation are to be: 2007 - 12% 2008 - 13% 2009...

The RPA has released the latest figures regarding 2006 Single Payment Scheme payments made as at 21st March 2007: a total of 95,737 claimants have received a payment (partial or full) out of the total number of claimants which is approximately 109,000. 57.84% have received a full payment (which equates to approximately 63,000 claimants) and 29.99% have received a partial payment and are awaiting a top-up to full payment (some 32,689 claimants) total value of payments made is £1,056.36...

With effect from 1st March 2007, pre-movement testing for bovine TB has been extended in England and Wales to include movements of animals over 42 days old (6 weeks) from a one or two yearly tested herd. Such cattle must have tested negative to a TB test within 60 days before the movement. To view Defra's news release, please click here.

David Miliband has this morning (22nd February) presented a written statement to the House of Commons giving an update on full and partial 2006 SPS payments made to date. In addition to the 40,697 full payments made prior to the commencement of the partial payments, 40,270 partial payments have now been made to 2006 SPS claimants which equates to a total of £919.13 million paid (59% of estimated total fund) to 83,967 (77%) claimaints.Further partial payments are to be made to small number of...

The RPA have released figures (as at 31st January) of how many full 2006 SPS payments have been made to farmers. A total of 21,940 full payments have been made during the second half of January with a value of £201 million. To view the RPA's press release, please click here.