Farming cheer as marts are back (From Western Telegraph)

Farming cheer as marts are back

OPTIMISM returns to the Pembrokeshire countryside today (Wednesday) when trading resumes at the first West Wales livestock market since foot and mouth devastated the local economy.

It is nearly 12 months to the day when the first outbreak was confirmed and all markets were suspended.

The financial impact on the Pembrokeshire economy has been immense. The slow recovery takes a step forward today when the biggest market serving Pembrokeshire re-opens at Carmarthen.

But it will be a very different system that will greet farmers and dealers. Strict bio-security rules will be in place to minimise the risk of spreading disease into a region which remained free of foot and mouth.

Auctioneers Bob Jones-Prytherch and Co, operator of the marts at Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, appeal to farmers to be patient. For 12 months they have been restricted to trading through livestock collection centres. Today sees a return to near normality, says auctioneer Huw Evans.

It has been a difficult and costly 12 months but the resumption of trading through the marts is the boost the industry needs, says Mr Evans, livestock director at Bob Jones-Prytherch.

Our sector has suffered as much as any but we can now start looking to the future with confidence.

His company planned to re-open Haverfordwest mart ground yesterday but the complex rules imposed by DEFRA took longer to implement than it had anticipated. Trading will now resume at that market next Tuesday, February 19th.

Only the trading of cattle will be allowed between producers while sheep, goats and pigs are restricted to slaughter markets.