Farmers affected by the bluetongue outbreak are to receive further support following a decision by Devon County Council
The new measures include greater flexibility for tenants on their County Farms Estate whose cashflow has been directly affected by confirmed bluetongue incidents.
Where appropriate, reasonable and proportionate alternative rental payment plans will be considered to help affected tenants manage financial pressures.
They will also step up pressure on Government to improve broadband connectivity for farming communities.
Reliable broadband is becoming increasingly important for farmers to run their businesses, meet regulatory and reporting requirements, manage disease outbreaks and access funding.
As part of the measures agreed they will call for national investment in better broadband provision in rural areas affected by bluetongue.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin will also write to Devon MPs, alongside the Chair of the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee, asking them to ensure the impact of the bluetongue outbreak and lessons learned in Devon are reflected in future Government policy and disease control arrangements.
Our decision this week builds on our agreement last month to reinstate the Rural Support and Wellbeing Programme, with up to £180,000 over three years to provide practical advice, wellbeing support and early intervention services for farming families.
Councillor Louise Wainwright, is vice-chair on our Farms Estate committee and has a background in the commercialisation of biological controls of pests and diseases. She is bringing together a consortium of researchers, veterinary experts, and farmers in Devon. They are seeking funding to evaluate whether a fungus could be commercialised to reduce populations of the midges that carry the blue tongue virus. She emphasises that vaccination remains the most important way to protect animals.
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