NSA seeking official Fallen Stock stance as snow-thaw reveals volume of losses
3rd April 2013
As the snow begins to slowly thaw around the country, NSA is aware of many members struggling with large volumes of fallen stock. While the Welsh Government has announced that farmers in the worse affected parts of Wales (Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham, Gwynedd, Flintshire and Montgomeryshire) can bury fallen stock if they have evidence that a collector cannot reach the farm, there are still many farmers throughout the UK in need of a clear idea of what they need to do to remain legal.
Given the difficulty in disposing of fallen stock (and indeed even finding animals or picking them up in areas that have not yet thawed) we have contacted the Chief Veterinary Officer to ask for officials to recognise that flexibility is needed on fallen stock regulations.
NSA has made it clear that, while disposing of fallen stock is important, the first priorities for farmers at the current time are tending to animals that have survived (especially those that are lambing) and keeping themselves and their staff safe. The Chief Veterinary Officer has acknowledged the situation and we hope to have more information soon. In the meantime, members are encouraged to store collected fallen stock in a secure and bio-secure manner, and collect fallen stock in remote situations when it possible to do so.
We have also been contacted by Waste Spectrum Management, who has generously offered to make mobile incinerators available to NSA members who are particularly struggling with high volumes of stock. Please call NSA on 01684 892661 for more information.
For any member wanting additional support (be it financial or emotional) please contact one of the organisations listed below. Both RABI and the Addington Fund will consider applications to pay bills (e.g. feed or fuel bills) on a farmer’s behalf.
- Addington Fund: 01926 620135
- Scotland’s Gatepost Helpline: 0300 1114166 (ran by RASBI)
- RABI: 01865 727888
- Farm Crisis Network: 0845 367 9990
- Find more information on the Farming Help website.
