New measures to contain the spread of the country’s worst-ever bird flu outbreak came into force across England at midnight last night. But East Anglian farmers are reportedly feeling abandoned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). This comes just as Suffolk Coastal MP Thérèse Coffey takes on her new role as its minister.
On 28 October DEFRA announced it was amending its compensation for farmers affected by the bird flu outbreak, which has hit farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex. Since the announcement, there have been further outbreaks reported in East Anglia this week at commercial poultry premises in Halesworth, Attleborough and most recently on Saturday in Dereham. A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone are in place around each of the premises and all poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
Bird flu compensation changes
Under the new plans, the Government will allow compensation to be paid to farmers from the outset of culling rather than at the end. The intention is to assist with easing the cash flow pressures on farms affected.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer acknowledged the pressures faced by farmers and poultry producers affected by the outbreak. “We know many are concerned about the impact on their flocks. We hope the practical solutions announced today will help provide greater financial certainty. We very much appreciate the continued cooperation from the sector as we battle this insidious disease and will continue to keep the situation under close review.”
Some East Anglian poultry producers were left unimpressed by the announcement. Suffolk producer Alistaire Brice described the plan as “woolly” and “lukewarm” when he spoke to BBC. “It’s not going to make a great deal of difference,” he said, “because the time frame between diagnosis, and the birds being killed, is still too long.”
East Anglia hardest hit
East Anglia has been the epicentre of the avian flu outbreak. On 12 October the government required all poultry and captive birds in Norfolk, Suffolk and North Essex to be housed. As of 00:01 today, the mandatory housing measures were extended to a new England-wide zone. In addition, poultry producers must follow a stringent set of biosecurity measures in a bid to halt the epidemic.
There are fears in the poultry industry that should the situation get worse there will be an impact on the region’s ability to produce ‘free range’ eggs or chickens. If the housing order was prolonged it would mean such products would need special dispensation to continue to be sold as free-range. Turkey farmers in the region are also concerned as they have lost around a third of their free range birds, placing Christmas supplies at risk.
