Farmers in areas at low risk of foot-and-mouth disease are able to take animals to market after government vets eased movement restrictions.
Farmers in areas at low risk of foot-and-mouth disease are able to take animals to market after government vets eased movement restrictions.
Markets are reopening in Scotland, Wales and parts of England.
Markets are reopening in Scotland, Wales and parts of England.
One Skipton auctioneer said the move would be a boost for hard-hit farmers but sale prices are expected to be especially low.
One Skipton auctioneer said the move would be a boost for hard-hit farmers but sale prices are expected to be especially low.
Until exports are restarted, prices will remain low while surplus meat is still available in the UK.
Until exports are restarted, prices will remain low while surplus meat is still available in the UK.
EU experts have agreed that exports for some parts of the UK can resume next week if there are no more outbreaks.
EU experts have agreed that exports for some parts of the UK can resume next week if there are no more outbreaks.
I'm not looking forward to too high a price David Pearson, farmer
I'm not looking forward to too high a price David Pearson, farmer
Auctioneer Jeremy Eaton said he was glad to be able to put some cash in the farmers' pockets when Skipton market reopens later.
Auctioneer Jeremy Eaton said he was glad to be able to put some cash in the farmers' pockets when Skipton market reopens later.
"We are pleased to be back trading but obviously it's against a backdrop of not being able move stock down into the south of England and the Midlands," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We are pleased to be back trading but obviously it's against a backdrop of not being able move stock down into the south of England and the Midlands," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It's fundamental to making sheep industry work in this part of the world."
"It's fundamental to making sheep industry work in this part of the world."
"I fully expect the prices we achieve today to be well, well below the cost of production," he said.
"I fully expect the prices we achieve today to be well, well below the cost of production," he said.
Farmer David Pearson who is hoping to sell some of his stock, said: "I'm not looking forward to too high a price."
Farmer David Pearson who is hoping to sell some of his stock, said: "I'm not looking forward to too high a price."
RESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Greater London and BuckinghamshireFMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and ScotlandBluetongue controls: Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire
RESTRICTED AREAS Foot-and-mouth risk areas: West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Greater London and BuckinghamshireFMD low risk area: The rest of England, Wales and ScotlandBluetongue controls: Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire
He said he had hoped the government might have made some payments to hill farmers to give them "some breathing space".
He said he had hoped the government might have made some payments to hill farmers to give them "some breathing space".
Restrictions on moving livestock to market in areas classed as being low-risk for foot-and-mouth disease are being eased from Thursday.
Restrictions on moving livestock to market in areas classed as being low-risk for foot-and-mouth disease are being eased from Thursday.
To allow important movements of animals, rules which restrict lorry drivers' operating hours have been relaxed.
To allow important movements of animals, rules which restrict lorry drivers' operating hours have been relaxed.
The Department for Transport have increased the daily driving limit to 10 hours, instead of nine, for the next month.
The Department for Transport have increased the daily driving limit to 10 hours, instead of nine, for the next month.
The foot-and-mouth low risk area includes all of England, Scotland and Wales, apart from south-east England and the Home Counties.
The foot-and-mouth low risk area includes all of England, Scotland and Wales, apart from south-east England and the Home Counties.
Disease confirmed
Disease confirmed
There were also concerns that movement restrictions in south-east England and East Anglia because of bluetongue disease - which will continue to apply - could reduce the numbers of people willing to buy livestock at reopened markets.
There were also concerns that movement restrictions in south-east England and East Anglia because of bluetongue disease - which will continue to apply - could reduce the numbers of people willing to buy livestock at reopened markets.
The restrictions could last for two years with experts warning they will only be lifted when an, as yet unavailable vaccine, is developed.
The restrictions could last for two years with experts warning they will only be lifted when an, as yet unavailable vaccine, is developed.
Earlier this week, the government announced that cattle at four farms surrounding the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak would be culled as a precaution.
Earlier this week, the government announced that cattle at four farms surrounding the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak would be culled as a precaution.
The disease had been confirmed at a Surrey farm, near Wraysbury, after tests on livestock returned positive.
The disease had been confirmed at a Surrey farm, near Wraysbury, after tests on livestock returned positive.
The farm is within the current protection zone around previously-infected farms.
The farm is within the current protection zone around previously-infected farms.
It is the eighth farm in Surrey found to have the disease since August.
It is the eighth farm in Surrey found to have the disease since August.
Meanwhile, national farmers' leaders have rejected calls from farmers in East Anglia for a protection zone imposed after the declaration of bluetongue to be extended to cover the whole country.
Meanwhile, national farmers' leaders have rejected calls from farmers in East Anglia for a protection zone imposed after the declaration of bluetongue to be extended to cover the whole country.
Such a change would make it easier for animals to be moved but it would also mean that live animals would not be allowed to be exported for two years.
Such a change would make it easier for animals to be moved but it would also mean that live animals would not be allowed to be exported for two years.
Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Do you work in the livestock trade? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Do you work in the livestock trade? Send us your comments, experiences and any pictures from the market using the form below.
