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Foot-and-mouth meetings are held Farmers meet over foot-and-mouth
(about 2 hours later)
Farming unions are meeting the Welsh Assembly Government on Monday, in the wake of the UK-wide foot-and-mouth disease restrictions. Farming unions are meeting the Welsh Assembly Government in the wake of the UK-wide foot-and-mouth disease restrictions.
A UK-wide ban on moving livestock was brought in late on Friday after a case at a farm in Guilford, Surrey.A UK-wide ban on moving livestock was brought in late on Friday after a case at a farm in Guilford, Surrey.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said there would be other meetings with the Environment Agency, local councils and other agencies. Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said there would be other talks with the Environment Agency, local councils and other agencies.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has flown back from a New Zealand holiday.Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has flown back from a New Zealand holiday.
She has been attending the government's Cobra emergency committees on Sunday and Monday.
"My top priority at the moment is that Wales remains disease free," Ms Jones said.
People have been urged to continue visiting the countryside as normal
"It's important that all the restrictions that have been put in place and all the precautions are implemented here in Wales."
She said she wanted to see the restrictions on moving live-stock lifted as quickly as possible but added that she would not do anything which would jeopardise the future of the Welsh livestock industry.
The ban on moving cows , sheep and pigs means farmers are not able to sell any livestock or take them to abattoirs.The ban on moving cows , sheep and pigs means farmers are not able to sell any livestock or take them to abattoirs.
The South Wales Sheepdog Association have cancelled trials at Builth Wells on Monday and Tuesday and Cwmowen in Powys on Wednesday. But Ms Jones said she wanted to minimise the damage to the economy adding that "Wales and rural Wales was open for business".
"Rural Wales is there for people to enjoy," said the deputy first minister.
ADVICE FOR FARMERS Defra Helpline: 0845 9335577Animal Health Offices - Caernarfon: 01286 674144 Carmarthen: 01267 245400; 07000 780144 (eve)Cardiff: 029 20 768500 Welsh assembly website
"The contingency plan provides for footpaths to be closed only on a local basis in the vicinity of any disease outbreak," he said.
Dai Davies, president of NFU Cymru, said he would thank the assembly and Defra at Monday's meeting for their "quick reaction".
He said: "It's something the industry takes on the chin but from there on we'll be gleaning more information about where we're going forward - to find relief for the industry, to see if there is a way that some people can get animals to abattoir and if there's a way forward."
"It all depends how long the standstill goes on for. I think every farmer in the UK accepts if you take a bit of pain up front we might get out of this quicker."
Meanwhile, the South Wales Sheepdog Association have cancelled trials at Builth Wells on Monday and Tuesday and Cwmowen in Powys on Wednesday.
Show cancelled
Cardigan livestock market, which would normally expect to sell 400 cattle, will not be open on Monday and a rams sale at Builth Wells has also been cancelled.Cardigan livestock market, which would normally expect to sell 400 cattle, will not be open on Monday and a rams sale at Builth Wells has also been cancelled.
Over the weekend some agricultural events like the Gower Show and Whitland market in Carmarthenshire were cancelled as restrictions on moving livestock were imposed.Over the weekend some agricultural events like the Gower Show and Whitland market in Carmarthenshire were cancelled as restrictions on moving livestock were imposed.
ADVICE FOR FARMERS Defra Helpline: 0845 9335577Animal Health Offices - Caernarfon: 01286 674144 Carmarthen: 01267 245400; 07000 780144 (eve)Cardiff: 029 20 768500 Welsh assembly website
One auctioneer, Huw Evans from Carmarthenshire, said: "August and September are big months for sheep sales. Many producers will be dependent on getting rams there to put them to work with the flocks.One auctioneer, Huw Evans from Carmarthenshire, said: "August and September are big months for sheep sales. Many producers will be dependent on getting rams there to put them to work with the flocks.
"It will delay lambing next year - it throws the whole farming programme out of the window.""It will delay lambing next year - it throws the whole farming programme out of the window."
Edwin Harris, who farms at Libanus near Brecon, lost his stock in the 2001 outbreak, which saw 20,000 sheep slaughtered in the Brecon Beacons alone.Edwin Harris, who farms at Libanus near Brecon, lost his stock in the 2001 outbreak, which saw 20,000 sheep slaughtered in the Brecon Beacons alone.
He said he and other farmers were "stunned" about the news of fresh foot-and-mouth case in Surrey. "We're entering a trading season in farming for selling sheep and cattle, there are specialised ewe sales, all these hang in the balance - everything's on stop," he said.
"We're entering a trading season in farming for selling sheep and cattle, there are specialised ewe sales, all these hang in the balance - everything's on stop. "There's a great deal of uncertainty and the faster we can move, the better."
Everybody recognises that to maintain Wales as free from foot-and-mouth we need the measures to stay in place until we get the all clear Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister
"There's a great deal of uncertainty and the faster we can move, the better," Mr Harris said.
However, Mr Jones moved swiftly at the weekend to issue a message that rural Wales was still "open for business" in terms of tourism.
"Rural Wales is there for people to enjoy," said the deputy first minister.
"The contingency plan provides for footpaths to be closed only on a local basis in the vicinity of any disease outbreak," he said.
Mr Jones appealed to farmers to remain vigilant while the prohibition remains.
"That's the reason we can reasonably more confident that it won't spread, providing people keep to the restrictions that have been imposed.
People have been urged to continue visiting the countryside as normal
"Everybody recognises that to maintain Wales as free from foot-and-mouth we need the measures to stay in place until we get the all clear."
Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) chairman, Julian Burrell, praised the swift response and the message sent out.
"It is still early days - we all hope this outbreak is a one-off and that Wales remains trouble-free.
"That's why in the coming days, as things become clearer, the WTA will work to ensure that the tourism industry stays close to the farmers of Wales and to the Welsh Assembly Government."
Dai Davies, president of NFU Cymru, said he would thank the assembly and Defra at Monday's meeting for their "quick reaction".
He said: "It's something the industry takes on the chin but from there on we'll be gleaning more information about where we're going forward - to find relief for the industry, to see if there is a way that some people can get animals to abattoir and if there's a way forward."
"It all depends how long the standstill goes on for. I think every farmer in the UK accepts if you take a bit pf pain up front we might get out of this quicker."