TB testing penalty threat ‘causing stress for NI farmers’

The threat of cutting farmers’ direct support if they do not carry out TB testing of their herd on time must end, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said.

During the earlier stages of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) relaxed this warning for overdue TB tests.

Under normal circumstances, herd restrictions are automatically applied once a TB test is seven days overdue – but Daera increased the period to 35 days while acknowledging that facilities on some farms make it difficult for vets and farmers to observe social distancing.

See also: Q&A: Chief vet outlines bovine TB strategy for Northern Ireland

But UFU president Victor Chestnutt told Farmers Weekly that farmers were reporting that government vets were still using this tactic and it was causing stress and having a damaging impact on their mental health.

“It starts off with some farmers losing 3% or 5% of the single farm payment, but then they ramp it up,” he said. “There are farmers who have lost out. I know one who lost more than £40,000.

“When you are operating a farm business, to be threatened with the removal of direct support causes a lot of stress.

“Daera have all the tools in the box they need without threatening farmers’ direct support, which is essential to sustain their family businesses.”

Mr Chestnutt said cattle on many Northern Ireland farms are housed for large parts of the year due to the climate. “Farmers generally do not like TB testing when cattle are out at grass,” he added.

The UFU executive committee held a virtual meeting with Daera chief vet Robert Huey, and his team, on 16 June to discuss bovine TB policy.

During the meeting, Mr Chestnutt said Dr Huey confirmed that his department would review the threat of reducing Basic Payment Scheme entitlements.

Farmers also raised their dissatisfaction and accused Daera of “inaction” to tackle bovine TB.

Daera are planning to release a report and consultation over its future TB policy before the Stormont summer recess in July. But Mr Chestnutt said the report had been promised for months.

Wildlife issue

In the meantime, he said NI farmers were seeing TB testing ramped up in herds and nothing being done from Daera about its promise of wildlife intervention.

“Northern Ireland has never culled badgers to tackle cattle TB. The density of our badger population has grown enormously,” said Mr Chestnutt.

“Farmers say they are seeing more evidence of badgers on the ground. A roadkill survey found 17% of badgers have TB lesions. It could be much higher.

“You meet these departmental officials who say they understand what it feels like to lose a large part of your herd to TB – but until it happens to you, you can’t.

“I know a farmer who has recently had two more tests and lost 14 cows, then another 10 cows. It’s devastating. Farmers get attached to their livestock.”

Mr Chestnutt said Daera must also make reforms to its compensation system and pay farmers more fairly. For example, in the Republic of Ireland, if more than 10% of your herd is removed, farmers are paid an additional €55 (£47) a cow.

Farmers Weekly has contacted Daera to request a comment.