Farmer support state aid

							 Advice/Support to Farming Businesses under Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) restrictions in
                                     England

Introduction

Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is currently one of the most serious and costly animal health
problems, particularly in the South West and West Midlands.

The TB Eradication Group for England, which was established in November 2008, and is
made up of representatives from Defra, Animal Health, the farming industry, and the private
veterinary profession, has been tasked with reviewing TB control policies and recommending
improved measures for its control and eradication in England. The Group has identified a
number of priority issues, including a need to better support farmers under TB restrictions so
as to reduce the risk of repeat TB breakdowns and minimise the business impacts of the
disease.

Aims and objectives of the scheme

The objective of the aid is to reduce the number of TB breakdowns and minimise the business
impacts of the disease by providing focussed, professional advice covering bio-security,
veterinary, and business issues (with emphasis on those that have been under TB restrictions
for a lengthy period (over 12 months) and those experiencing their first breakdown).

The scheme is to provide independent advice, based on the latest scientific evidence,
covering:

Bio-security advice

Provision of advice on practical measures that can be taken to minimise cattle to cattle, and
wildlife to cattle disease transmission risks. Defra will work in partnership with industry to
deliver this through on-farm demonstration events - we have concluded that this approach
(e.g. advice being delivered to groups of farmers rather than individuals) would be the most
cost-effective. Guidance material used at the events will be based on the latest research and
existing best practice. On-farm discussion, farmers' reactions, comments etc, will be
recorded, and feedback will be sought to determine reaction to the events, the effectiveness of
the approaches and any action farmers are likely to take after the event.

This model was initially trialled and evaluated through 2 on-farm pilot events. All farmers
that meet the qualifying criteria will be eligible to receive this advice.

Veterinary advice
There are two distinct stages. Firstly, since January 2010, Animal Health, an executive
agency of Defra, have provided an enhanced advisory service for herd owners with new TB
breakdowns through extended disease investigation visits, spending more time talking to the
herd owners, advising them on TB issues.

Under stage 2 we will trial a scheme in the South West (SW), a TB endemic area, to provide
additional support to first time breakdown farmers through one-to-one visits from private vets
soon after the breakdown is confirmed. The extra benefits of the advice, covering the effects
of movement restrictions, re-stocking decisions, etc will be monitored and assessed before
wider roll-out is considered.

Under the SW trial, we will also provide for veterinary advice (by private vets) to farmers
under long-term TB restrictions (12 months or more). The advice will cover the implications
of TB, what might be done to reduce risks, whether restrictions on sub-groups within the herd
could be lifted earlier, etc. The national scheme will involve the following options:

      Holding of single/multiple Veterinary Practice events for vets and their farming
       clients.
      Provision of specific individual training to a nominated vet from each Practice in the
       relevant region to enable them to act as a „TB specialist‟, with a view to cascading
       their knowledge to colleagues and farming clients.
      Meeting the costs of TB trained vets (see previous bullet) to provide one to one advice
       to eligible farmers.

Training/guidance material has been produced by Animal Health and Defra. The scheme will
also provide enhanced intelligence on issues/recurring themes on TB affected farms – useful
intelligence for policy developers. Eligible farmers will be identified by Animal Health, and
offered the service, but may also apply for this service.

Business Advice

The aim is to help TB affected farmers identify what they could do to reduce the business
impacts of TB. This element of the scheme will be delivered by a non-Defra organisation
(currently, the Farm Crisis Network), contracted by Defra, who will:

      train and put in place TB advisers in each county to provide informed and focused
       business advice.

      proactively signpost clients to the best sources of advice, and continue to support
       them, as appropriate, through the period of their TB breakdown.

      produce specific publicity to alert farmers under TB restrictions to the availability of
       the support from the very beginning of a breakdown, i.e. before financial problems
       become acute.

The scheme would be available to all farmers experiencing a TB breakdown, subject to state
aid regulation No. 1857/2006 – any farmer can contact the FCN helpline and receive the
appropriate advice.


Compliance with state aid rules

Aid will be provided in accordance with Article 15 of European Commission (EC) state aid
regulation No. 1857/2006, which relates to granting technical support and covers training,
education, consultancy advice and support, and participation in exhibitions.

No aid under this measure will be paid directly to beneficiaries. Technical support will be
available from external consultants and other experts.
Eligibility

Eligible cattle farming businesses must be agricultural and classified as a “small or medium
enterprise”, i.e. must have less than 250 employees, less than €50 million annual turnover or
€43 million balance sheet equity, and not be owned at a rate of more than 25% by other
companies.

All farmers in England that meet the qualifying criteria will be eligible to receive advice
under this scheme. Potential beneficiaries have been identified during the scheme planning
stage. The criteria for determining beneficiaries is based on the time farmers‟ herds have
been under TB restrictions or whether they are experiencing their first ever breakdown.


The statutory body responsible for the scheme is: Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra)

What does the beneficiary need to do to take part in the scheme?

Details of the scheme and farmer eligibility will also be posted on the Defra and Animal
Health websites. Animal Health will identify from their database, those farmers that are
eligible for the veterinary advice scheme. Farmers may also contact Animal Health to check
eligibility - http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/ For business support services, the Farm
Crisis Network should be contacted at 0845 367 9990
(http://www.farmcrisisnetwork.org.uk/tb_support)

Duration of the scheme

The scheme will begin in November 2010 and is expected to run until February 2017, at
which time it will be reviewed. But the rolling forward of the scheme (to and beyond
financial year 2011/12) will depend on a review of its effectiveness in Spring 2011).

Contact

Geoff Jasinski, Defra, Bovine TB Programme, London

Other information

Bovine TB website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/index.htm


Further and more detailed information relating to eligibility and rules for the scheme can be
found in the web links above.