West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today offered her support to farmers who are facing up to the triple whammy of livestock diseases, poor weather conditions and uncertain EU support. The Tenbury farming community gathered in Bockleton last Friday (May 31) to discuss a wide range of issues affecting their businesses and to meet with their local MP. Harriett was taken on a tour of a local farm with West Midlands MEP Anthea MacIntyre and both representatives held a group discussion afterwards with a group of local farmers and National Farmers’ Union officials. Harriett commented: “It is clear that there are a number of significant issues which are affecting farmers and making their job difficult at the moment. “Uncertainty over CAP reform of EU subsidies are a major point of contention and my colleague, Anthea MacIntyre will be taking a clear message back to Brussels of what support local farmers need from the EU, while I keep battling for a better deal for British farmers in our own Parliament. “The unseasonable weather has had a huge impact on crop returns and cash flow is clearly a real concern after a number of failed crops over last year and this winter. “Alongside this, farmers have seen a number of diseases threaten their stocks and render them unsaleable at certain times of the year. In this part of Worcestershire, bovine TB is an increasing problem and farmers are losing many of their cattle to the disease. “We all hope that the new Schmallenberg virus vaccine will help prevent that disease in sheep. “Farmers are hoping that the DEFRA badger control trials are able to take place and they look forward to creating a further control area to cover the devastating progress of the disease through this part of Worcestershire” “The media are focusing on the plight of the badger, but these farmers are losing stock to TB on an ongoing basis. More than 38,000 animals had to be slaughtered last year. “This is affecting the price and availability of milk and meat for all consumers and has cost the taxpayer £100 million so far.” Photo: Tenbury farmers gather with Harriett Baldwin MP and Anthea McIntyre MEP for local NFU meeting.