Comment

IN this issue of "Smallholder" we have devoted a number of pages to blue tongue, which by now I am sure everyone knows affects not only cattle and sheep but also camelids (llamas and alpacas) deer and goats. Readers are also no doubt aware of the JAB campaign, the Joint Action Against Bluetongue, group who are trying to ensure that all livestock is vaccinated for the disease. I feel that smallholders are very likely to wish to vaccinate their animals as soon as the vaccine becomes available in their area.

Smallholders were at the forefront of calls for both avian flu vaccination and foot and mouth vaccination but so far, due to world trade issues we are led to believe, this has not been possible. I can see no reason for any smallholder stockkeepers not to embrace this vaccination programme with enthusiasm. What smallholders can also do if they know of anyone in their locality who maybe has a pet sheep or a goat perhaps they run with their horses and may not be quite so active in their knowledge of smallholding livestock issues, is to tell these owners about the campaign and that they need to vaccinate. Doses will be in 20ml bottles or in 50ml so it makes sense to offer the vaccination to your neighbours if you have some over and they only have one or two animals. (The vaccine will have to be used within eight hours and, of course, new needles will be needed). Your vet is the first port of call and the BVA said when the first batch of the vaccine was released in the UK, that their aim has been to achieve the mass vaccination of blue tongue susceptible animals, including goats and camelids. President Nick Blayney told "Smallholder" that the veterinary profession was the corner stone of the vaccination programme with responsibility for vaccine delivery, proper usage and monitoring for efficacy. The message from all sides is "Don't hesitate - vaccinate!" Contact your vet today!

Another avenue for smallholders who don't wish to actually do the vaccination themselves but would prefer someone else to do it is to contact a professional livestock contractor via their local machinery ring. Chris Smith, who is an NFU chairman in the South East, told us that machinery rings are well placed to make the best of the vaccine where the unused portion can be passed to another flock by the contractor, thus keeping costs down. Machinery rings share machinery, labour and skills and are non-profit organisations. You can find your nearest one by going on to their website www.machineryrings.org.uk.

If you belong to a smallholders' association then you could use the contacts in that to have vaccination days or you could form your own group amongst your friends. It is so important for our animals' welfare that we keep stop this disease so please use all the resources you can to make sure that everyone vaccinates within the area. At the moment the vaccination has only been released into the current Protection Zone but if you check out the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/ notifiable/bluetongue then you can get some idea of when it will be in your area. Or you can phone the Defra helpline on 08459 335577 or email at helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Blue tongue has meant that some shows have cancelled livestock classes and, although most of the competitive livestock classes are able to go ahead at the RWAS Smallholder and Garden Festival, unfortunately the pygmy goat show was cancelled although there will still be a terrific display from a couple of top breeders.

This year at the show, I have some more bee keeping items to buy. It's nice to be able to see the items on the stands and talk to the experts. I hope I will have time to attend some of the free talks on a variety of subjects (see page 11 for full details). I will be out and about at the show but will be on the "Smallholder" stand at the entrance to the Glamorgan Hall at 11am and 3pm on both days and look forward to meeting readers. Those readers who have looked at my blog will know that Katie, the Exmoor pony foal, arrived safely on April 16 and it will be hard to tear myself away from her for a weekend. Luckily, friends are brilliant when I am away and I am so grateful to them all. You can read and comment on my blog at www.smallholder.co.uk/news/bloggers. I try to add to it at least once a week.

One thing I talked about in one of the blogs was the creation of allotments by our parish council. Not many people realise but under the 1887 Allotments Act I understand that local authorities must take into consideration any representations made to them by six voters or council tax payers and provide sufficient plots. So if your local parish or town council does not supply plots, you need to get five other people who want to have an allotment and write to their clerk, quoting the Act. In defence of councils, it is sometimes very difficult to do this if they don't own any ground and to buy some for allotments in areas where land prices are high, is beyond the purse of most parishes. But in our case, we are using ground that has been set aside for use as a cemetery in the years to come and it is hoped that when established, future councils will look into providing plots elsewhere in the village. We were fortunate that a very positive woman from the Allotment Regeneration Initiative came to address both our fledgling allotment association and our parish council and answered our many, many questions. Every parish is different of course but generally it's about setting up suitable agreements and identifying a plan for the plots.

There is funding out there from the Lottery too. The Big Lottery Fund recently announced a £100 million investment in locally-produced food and the environment and allotments could well qualify for this as could community gardens. So if you haven't managed to realise your dream and move to the country (or if you have and your free range hens are destroying your veg plot at home), then why not look into the possibility of becoming an allotment holder with all its hard work but also community spirit. It's also a good way to make new friends and keep fit - and a lot cheaper than gym! Better still, you will probably be able to cycle to it.

My own garden looks a bit dismal with the late start due to the cold spring but nature has a wonderful way of catching up and I am sure that the newly-planted seeds will rush to grow now the weather is getting warmer at last. Last year I was picking tomatoes until November so I hope that I can repeat this feat. Not so much new year resolutions but new season resolutions - this will be the year that we eat all the salad leaves before they flower, the year that I keep the weeds in order, or at least subdue them a little, that I try new varieties and keep a record of them but most of all, the same resolution as last year which I know I can keep, that I grow some of our fruit and vegetables and enjoy doing so. Because I do enjoy it very much. Time spent with my tomatoes is never wasted.I spend many happy hours in the summer with them!

Hope to see some of you at Builth Wells in May.

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login