Bluetongue Disease

On 13 February, 2008 a Restricted Zone was declared in South East Wales following the confirmation of a case of Bluetongue in Poole, Dorset. The Restricted Zone in Wales is the same as the Surveillance Zone in England. There are currently two Protection Zones in England.

Farmers and livestock keepers are reminded that the Bluetongue vector-free period in came to an end from 23.59 hours on Saturday, 15 March.

This means that no susceptible animals can move from the Restricted Zone in Wales and the Surveillance Zone in England into the rest of Wales or other Bluetongue free zones in Great Britain. Only animals moving direct to slaughter to approved abattoirs will be able to move out of the Restricted and Surveillance Zones. No animals can move from the Protection Zones in to the free area of Wales, even for slaughter. 

For the latest news and information from the Assembly Government, visit www.wales.gov.uk/bluetongue 
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NFU Cymru is working to secure a better future for Welsh Farmers and the wider rural community.  We believe that farmers must be encouraged and supported to produce and market high quality food for customers here in Wales, in Britain and abroad. We also encourage producers to ensure that they maintain and develop a vibrant and diverse Welsh countryside, and exercise high quality welfare standards. 

NFU Cymru wants rural communities, of which agriculture is the backbone, to be sustainable economically, socially and environmentally.  Here in NFU Cymru we provide a variety of services to help our members run their businesses successfully, with advice on legal, planning and taxation matters.  We also offer expert advice on marketing their produce and promoting local food produced to the highest standard.  One publication which keeps our members in touch with Welsh news, policies and interests is Farming Wales.  The magazine is published monthly offering members an opportunity to understand a little more of what NFU officials and staff are doing behind the scene to ensure a première agricultural service.

We take a keen interest in all rural affairs and work with other groups and organisations to advance rural interests.  One of our main objectives is to work with politicians and officials at the National Assembly of Wales, the Government in London and the European Union in Brussels in order that our members interests are advanced on a whole range of issues.  

NFU Cymru promotes farming to the widest possible audiences through its public relations campaigns. In 2006 the Why Farming Matters campaign was launched to give everyone a much clearer idea of the contribution that farming makes to the economy, to the quality and security of our food supplies, to the beauty and diversity of our countryside, to combating climate change and to the rural economy. Since the campaign was launched, NFU Cymru has been promoting the benefits of a sustainable and profitable agricultural industry to both Wales’ decision makers and to the general public. A number of high profile public figures have signed up in support of the campaign and more details can be found at http://www.nfuonline.com/nfuwfmlive/

One major campaign set up to integrate farm assurance and combined marketing techniques  is the British Farm Standard mark.  The Little Red Tractor logo highlights to the customer food you can trust as the produce has been independently checked to ensure high quality welfare issues and an environmentaly friendly producer.  All in all, campaigns, roadshows and PR events bring the farming industry alive to the most important people in our industry - the consumers.