Farming vital to our countryside – Rogerson
The local Liberal Democrat MP was invited along by Martin Howlett, Cornwall Chairman of the NFU to discuss the issues facing Britain's agricultural industry. Every year Mr Rogerson helps local farmers solve their problems with the Government's Single Farm Payment scheme.
The group heard that the soaring cost of energy is hitting farmers, while rising feed and fertiliser prices mean it's hard to make ends meet. The industry faces further pressure since the spread of Bovine TB puts restrictions on the trade in cattle, and sees whole herds slaughtered to try and curb outbreaks of the disease.
Commenting after his visit, he said:
"A thriving agricultural sector is vital not just to produce food we trust but to maintain the countryside we all enjoy living in.
"Yet our farming industry faces serious pressure as the economy declines into recession.
"Farmers are scarcely helped by a Government which cannot even administrate the Single Farm Payment scheme properly. I've encountered case upon case where whole lives and livelihoods have been unnecessarily plunged into crisis because of Labour's failed bureaucracy.
"Meanwhile, Ministers' action over Bovine TB amounts to no more than Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
"I'm very grateful to Martin Howlett for inviting me along and will continue to work with the NFU to tackle these problems."
