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EID battle continues
The battle to prevent the compulsory introduction of the electronic identification of sheep in the UK has not been lost and should continue NSA President Lord Plumb said at NSA Welsh Sheep 2009. Speaking to journalists before officially opening the event, he said the voice of sheep farmers had to be heard loud and clear.
“My feeling is that other countries are beginning to appreciate that we have the largest sheep flock in Europe”, he added. “A lot have been supporting the scheme and not realising the effect it would have on a country like this, particularly where you have a lot of sheep out on the hills.”
Lord Plumb said that a derogation with regard to slaughter lambs would not be enough. It would only be a temporary measure and the day would come when it would have to be readdressed.
NSA Chief Executive, Peter Morris, added that an EID seminar organised for farmers at the event had given him ‘a clear steer’ that there was little support for the slaughter derogation. He urged sheep producers to take part in the Welsh Assembly Government’s Consultation process which continues until the end of July.
“I hope the meeting helped to inform farmers about some of the potential consequences of the slaughter derogation both positive and negative”, he added.
“And that it will give them the confidence to express their views about what they think is the best way forward.”
NSA Chairman, Jonathan Barber, added that the organisation would continue to take a two pronged approach. They were continuing to fight the proposal as hard as possible, but also had to prepare people as well as possible for the likely introduction of EID.
NSA Welsh Sheep Chair Margaret Dalton added that the main theme of the day was EID. There were demonstrations of equipment, seminars and advice.
Officially opening the event, Lord Plumb referred to the UK’s economic difficulties. He said the day had had to come when the bubble would burst.
“The credit crunch is nothing new to the farming community and something we have been accustomed to over many years “, he said.
” I look back to the times of shortages and surpluses during my farming career and I think of the criticism we faced as soon as we reached surpluses in one commodity or another and the grants and the payments that were made at that particular time and the criticism the farming community received.
“That is chicken feed compared with the debt that this country owes at the moment, owes to the taxpayer. It’s an amazing thought that the child born today will be still paying off this huge debt that this country has at a time when they are eligible to vote.”
Lord Plumb added that there was opportunity in recession. There was an opportunity to produce what the country needs in terms of quality and through co-operation and organisation.
“Consumer attitudes are changing. People are beginning to say why import it if we can grow it. The old slogan that we used to use years ago and we’ve been through an age where the reverse was the case where they were saying why grow it if we can import it cheaper. That is going.”
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