LASTMINUTE plans for a Government-backed carcass disposal scheme look likely to quell widespread fears that a ban on the on-farm burial of fallen stock would plunge the livestock industry into chaos.

This week the Government announced it would write to all livestock farmers in South Lakeland and across the UK to find out if they will back the scheme.

An estimated five million sheep, cattle and pigs are buried on Britain's 111,000 livestock farms every year.

A Government ban on the practice is due to take effect

next month and had looked likely to leave farmers facing the whole cost of disposing of their fallen stock elsewhere.

But the Government scheme to meet half the costs and leave farmers with an average annual subscription fee of around £100, depending on farm size, now looks likely to allay farmers' worst fears.

The NFU is urging its members to support the scheme - which will depend on widespread backing from farmers if it is to be viable.

Cumbria NFU chairman Steve Dunning said: "The NFU believes the scheme is a good deal and one that farmers should support."

The carcass disposal scheme is likely to take some time to get up and running. In the meantime, said DEFRA minister Elliot Morley, the Government would take a pragmatic approach and enforce the new regulations with a light touch".

April 17, 2003 12:00