WITH no confirmed foot and mouth case in Yorkshire since August 17, and in the country since September 30, the vast army of DEFRA staff are now running out of work; and in an effort to justify their continued employment, they are roaming around in packs to implement bio-security regulations.

We had a trio of their veterinary advisory troops turn up at the Livestock Centre last Thursday, demanding to inspect the whole of our premises without so much as the courtesy of a phone call. The pretty searching examinations have been repeated over the county at collection centres and abattoirs; and, in our case at least, by people who are not aquainted with practical marketing.

But most of all, it is their attitude to our industry that concerns me. It was made very clear to us that matters raised by them were not open to discussion and unless implemented our collection centre would be closed.

Thankfully, the inspector who actually came on to site last Monday was sensible and realistic but we have to be aware that in the aftermath of this dreadful crisis we do not overreact and such experiences only emphasise the need for a proper public enquiry.

By the way, one precaution upon which DEFRA placed a lot of weight was the need for farmers and hauliers to wear suitable clothing when coming to the collection centre or market. Clean clothing, wellies or waterproofs should be worn where possible.

* Another example of overreaction is the Morley-Beckett bill going though Parliament at the moment by which the Government will be given fresh powers to enter farms for culling on a precautionary basis only and without any evidence of disease.

Even more sinister is the addition in the bill of a clause which reduces the farmer's automatic right to compensation to 75pc of market value.

The remaining 25pc would be dependent upon the farmers co-operation and compliance!

Despite William Hague's vitriolic protest, the legislation is being indecently rushed through Parliament without any consultation with the farming industry.

Do we have a police state already?

* With movement licences filtering through the system at long last, we are going to have another video auction of store cattle and lambs on Wednesday, December 5, at Malton Rugby Club. Please get your entries in by phone or post as soon as possible to Paul Morse and Keith Warters.

* It is with mixed feelings, but mostly sadness, that we say farewell to Charlie Breese as a member of the Malton auctioneering team.

Charlie is one of life's characters and has brought a breath of fresh air to the agricultural scene. His enthusiasm, commitment and genuine concern for our agricultural industry have been unquestionable; and we will be sorry to lose him as he goes back to the family firm of Westlers.

Charlie has been a regular deputy reporter for the Gazette on many occasions and following is his final contribution:

* Well, under duress, and in a state of almost disbelief, I have managed to shake off the manacles that seem to have become agriculture. I write in this column for the last time, a "Farewell to Farms" so to speak!

After five years of harsh overworking, and with considerably less hair than on arrival, I am moving on to a new venture where I shall be trying to pull my weight in the family business in Amotherby.

My learning curve during the last five years has been absolutely vertical. I have met an enormous amount of people and I would like to thank each and every one of you who I have done business with for your support, and wish you all the very best for a brighter and more prosperous future.

We are still living very much in the locality and hope to see many of you in and around Malton.

* Herewith some brief items for the bulletin board:

* John Dowson rang to report that he had received a Sole Occupancy Licence back within 24 hours. It makes you wonder what has been happening this past month!

* John Smithson brought a delightful South African vicar called Tammy into the Livestock Centre on Tuesday. Tammy couldn't understand our burning and disposal policy of FMD contiguous cattle. In his homeland, where FMD is endemic, their solution is subtly different in that they burn the beef in the oven and eat it! Quite refreshing really.

* I have to hand an MG report from October 31 in which Graham Megson of North Yorkshire County Council's Heritage Department suggests that it would be more sensible to pay farmers to have declining rare birds or plants instead of producing food.

My comment would be that there has to be a balance in everything and if we don't keep a proper economic structure in our rural economy then the environment itself could rapidly deteriorate to a rather unpleasant wilderness full of thorn bushes and thistles.

* BSE cases in the UK are down to 569 for the first nine months of this year, compared to over 1,000 per week at the height of the epidemic in 1992. Meanwhile, the trend is reversed on the continent where Belgium has just had it's 50th case.

* I came across an interesting comparison betwixt the attitudes to agriculture in this country and France.

In order to start exporting pork again, the EU has insisted on pretty costly procedures including on farm inspections before any departure.

Our Government has decreed that these extra costs must be born once more by the producer which is now jeopardising our return to normal trading.

Meanwhile, over the water, not only has the French farm minister, Jean Glavany, appealed, with dubious legality, to the public to only buy French beef but also French farmers and slaughter houses have agreed a pact to set minimum prices and not import any foreign beef.

Why do I think our rules of cricket are different to theirs?

* This week has seen a stabilisation of the gradual improvement in prices that has been creeping into the system.

Lambs have settled from 175p/kilo to 200p/kilo but be careful as often the higher prices are tied to a maximum weight payment.

Cull ewes have taken a sharp rise also and are running from 90p/kilo to 105p/kilo.

With cattle, the supplies are tightening and the R Grade Intervention type steer is now making from 162p/kilo to 166p/kilo with premiums for better quality. Light heifers are still particularly scarce and these are running from 170p/kilo to 185p/kilo.

Bulls are trailing a little but even their R grade is now hovering around 160p/kilo.

Pigs are heading in the right direction with very little under 95p/kilo and the bulk of bacon pigs around 100p/kilo with the better smaller pigs upto 110p/kilo

Help us to help you and ring our help lines at Malton on (01653) 692151 and York on (01904) 489731.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, November 15, 2001