North Tuddenham Bird Flu Free - but Farmers need Support

12.18.58am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 27th May 2006

I grew up on a farm neighbouring those in North Tuddenham hit by the bird flu outbreak, so I have been following developments there with a personal interest. Restrictions around the village have today been lifted, but the effects will continue be felt by farmers.

Poultry farmers are being hit by cheap imports from countries where demand for poultry meat has fallen as fears of bird flu rise - despite there being no known risk of transmission through cooked food.

Compensation is available to farmers who have had to slaughter healthy birds. But Geoffrey Dann, one of the farmers in North Tuddenham hardest hit by this outbreak, questions whether the compensation will be sufficient.

While money will come for the slaughtering of birds, I have asked Fakenham County Councillor David Callaby (who has been following the strategy for dealing with bird flu outbreaks as part of his responsibilities) whether compensation payments also cover the large costs of cleaning up and disinfecting farms hit by the disease.

It is vital that the compensation packages for farmers hit by outbreaks give them a real chance of continuing their business.