THE Wensleydale creamery has lost almost half its milk suppliers in the foot and mouth crisis - but early contingency plans have paid off and full production continues.

Twenty-one of the 46 dairy farms which supply the Hawes factory have had stock slaughtered, some of them infected and others culled.

Creamery director Ms Alice Amsden said only emergency measures taken in March following the first outbreaks in Wensleydale had ensured production was maintained.

The creamery negotiated with Zenith, which buys milk in the lower dale, to take additional milk.

"We took something of a gamble early on, after the first couple of cases were confirmed, to ensure supplies were maintained," said Ms Amsden. "It is still Wensleydale milk and we are still buying in Wensleydale.

"We contracted to take 50pc more milk than we needed from April 1 on the basis that we may lose some suppliers. It has paid off and we are now buying the right amount to keep production at its usual level."

She was deeply concerned about the future of dairy farming in the dale. "The worst case scenario is Wensleydale completely devoid of cattle. That would leave us with a big question mark. We don't know how many farmers will want to return and, if they do, when they could restock."

All at the creamery had been affected by the plight of local farmers. "Staff have taken calls from farmers literally in tears and saying this was the last time the creamery would pick milk up from them. It is devastating."

A foot-and-mouth self-help group set up in Wensleydale said 3.5m litres of milk a year had vanished from the dale - the equivalent of a tonne of Wensleydale cheese every day.

Rejuvenate, made up of business people, councillors, farmers, bankers and NFU representatives, accused the government of creating a "smokescreen" which prevented the public from appreciating the full horror of the situation.

A statement from the group said: "The Maff website proclaims 12 outbreaks of foot and mouth in Wensleydale and yet 112 farms have been cleared out.

"Inconsistent policy, a plethora of confused public agencies and frequent chaos is causing unacceptable anguish in the community."

Fifty-five family farms were affected recently, taking out nearly 9,000 breeding ewes, 1,455 dairy cows and 477 beef cattle.

Anxious wait for Picton farms

farmers had an anxious wait yesterday while MAFF decided its latest foot-and-mouth slaughter policy.

Farms adjoining the latest case at Picton would normally have had their stock destroyed within 48 hours, to stem the spread of the virus. It is the 21st confirmed case in North Yorkshire.

But a spokesman said Maaf was waiting for an afternoon announcement from agriculture minister, Mr Nick Brown, to clarify a proposed relaxation of the slaughter of healthy animals.

In the meantime the killing of foot-and-mouth free animals on farms neighbouring Picton Grange Farm, between Yarm and Northallerton, was suspended.

Mr Michael Walker, who owns Picton Farm, had 248 cattle and 23 sheep culled by midnight on Wednesday. The nearest case is five miles away at East Cowton.

l MAFF told the D&S Times: "There is no dramatic change in policy. We will still take action against contiguous premises. Sheep and pigs will continue to be culled."

Regional officers would have the discretion to leave cattle, depending on whether they had been kept in barns and what precautions individual farmers had taken.

A decision on farms near the Picton outbreak was expected before the day was over.

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