IT WAS almost exactly seven years ago that we first heard about the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Northumberland.
As an active farmer then, I did not think it would affect me here in North Wales.
A few short-term measures to combat the outbreak would prove beneficial in the longer term and our lives would quickly return to normal.
But that is not what happened. Ignorance, a failure to identify the true source of the disease and general governmental incompetence was to change farming for ever.
It was the beginning of the end of my farming life: I have to say now that I wished I had actually caught that wretched disease or disposed of my animals through the contiguous cull as that would have provided a more dignified end of my career.
In the last week history seems to be repeating itself with the outbreak of bird flu virus in Suffolk.
A combination of “too little, too late” governmental action and the complete absence of ministerial leadership, indicates that worse things may happen.
The great myth perpetuated by the present government is its absolute belief in the creation of bureaucratic biosecurity controls.
Its biggest problem now is the wanton destruction of large quantities of both diseased and healthy turkeys.
Once dead they all have to be treated in the same manner as contaminated material.
To me the transport of this material in unsealed lorries halfway across the country to an incinerator in Staffordshire provides the best way to spread this disease.
What if one of those vehicles is involved in an accident?
Until such time as the responsible minister, David Miliband, returns from his enforced holidaying, I shall hold my breath.
But he can hardly be referred to as a man of action who took rapid control of the situation before it was extensively dissected by our newspapers.
