The government’s poor handling of foot-and-mouth and avian flu outbreaks on UK farms this year is threatening the very existence of the farming industry.
News of the latest outbreak of avian flu on one farm in Suffolk, which contained the deadly strain H5N1, would almost certainly lead to the animals being culled. Ever since the devastating foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001, farmers have suffered a decline in their standard of living . Many fell into debt because the financial help given from the government was inadequate, and others were forced out of the the industry altogether. Despite being criticised by independent experts, the government continues to make basic mistakes when dealing with the problem.
It is increasingly likely that farming would certainly disappear as an industry within twenty years unless proper measures are put in place to prevent further outbreaks.