MAFF has this weekend issued guidance on the precautions to be taken in order to safeguard all types of farming operations in the light of the current foot and mouth problems. A copy of the guidance is attached.
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The guidance, which has been produced in consultation with the State Veterinary Service and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), will help farmers plan their field operations this year. Because it covers agricultural contractors, the guidance has also been agreed with the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC).
The guidance is being distributed widely by the NFU and NAAC, as well as by the trade associations representing the agricultural supply industry. The guidance has also been placed on MAFF’s website – http:/www.maff.gov.uk.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
GUIDANCE FOR GROWERS OF CROPS AND GRASS
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By GlobalDataFoot and mouth disease (FMD) is highly contagious. It can be spread by contact with infected livestock, in the air or through contact with contaminated material (including soil and other residues on farm machinery and vehicles).
Even if you have no susceptible livestock on your farm (essentially cattle, pigs, sheep, goats or deer), you may still come into contact with FMD and risk passing it on to someone who does have susceptible livestock.
The whole of Great Britain is currently classed as a Controlled Area, which means that susceptible livestock cannot be moved without permission in any part of the country.
Anyone taking an active part in any farming operations anywhere in the country should familiarise themselves with basic information about FMD and its spread (e.g. from the MAFF FMD website or from your Local Authority Trading Standards Department).
Where possible the responsible authorities will seek to avoid restrictions that will interfere with cropping operations provided that this can be done without significantly increasing the risk of transmitting the disease.
If you are in doubt about the current disease status of the area in which you farm please contact your local MAFF Regional Service Centre or State Veterinary Service office.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDANCE NOTE
Everyone should read the BASIC PRECAUTIONS box.
The remainder of the guidance is split into Sections according to farm type and disease status as follows:
Non-infected farms outside Infected Areas
Section 1 – Crops only
Section 2 – Crops and susceptible livestock, or using manure from such livestock
Non-infected farms in Infected Areas
Section 3 – All farms
Infected farms (in Infected Areas)
Section 4 – All farms subject to statutory restrictions
Previously infected farms (any area)
Section 5 – All farms which were infected but where restrictions have now been lifted.
BASIC PRECAUTIONS (ALL FARMS, ALL AREAS)
In order to safeguard all types of farming operations and to ensure that movements can be traced, should this become necessary as a result of subsequent developments, all farmers are advised to observe the following basic precautions:
- It is imperative that you only allow access to your farm with prior permission. It is strongly recommended that visits are arranged in advance by telephone, fax or e-mail and that you advise any contractors or suppliers accordingly.
- Keep the number of visitors to the farm to the minimum necessary to do the job. Do not allow children to come on the farm unless absolutely necessary.
- Keep any visitors away from fields where susceptible livestock have been, are or will be.
- If people or machinery coming on to your farm (particularly contractors) are visiting more than one farm in a day, it is in your interest to ensure that they leave visits to holdings with susceptible livestock until last and that you are aware of other visits they may have made.
- Diaries should be kept recording details of all visitors, where possible noting the time of visit, which fields were entered, the route taken to the farm and fields and the operations carried out. The proximity to visitors of any susceptible livestock should be noted. Anyone who visits different farm premises during the course of their work should be encouraged to keep similar records.
For more detail of the definition of infected areas and restrictions applying please consult your local MAFF Regional Service Centre or State Veterinary Service Office and/or check the information available on MAFF FMD website. Because of the changing nature of the situation it is important to keep up to date with the latest local information
SECTION 1
Observe the Basic Precautions above. If you have a crops only farm (ie. without any susceptible livestock whatsoever and not using manure from susceptible animals) and you are not in an Infected Areaall cultivations, plantings or harvesting (including hay and silage making) can proceed as normal. No additional restrictions or special cleaning requirements apply, though good agricultural practice should always be followed.
SECTION 2
Observe the Basic Precautions above If you also have susceptible livestock (including any for non-commercial purposes), or use manure from susceptible livestock, in a non-Infected Area, there are still no restrictions on the crop-related activities (including hay and silage making) you may carry out on your farm. But you should ensure that all people or machinery entering or leaving the farm are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected following the guidance in Annexes 1 and 2. This is particularly important when they have come from another farm with livestock, whether in an infected area or not.
SECTION 3
Observe the Basic Precautions above. On non-infected farms in Infected Areas (with or without susceptible livestock), all crop-related operations (including hay and silage making) can proceed as normal. But all machinery and personnel should undergo cleaning and disinfection as in Annexes 1 and 2 before entering and on leaving the premises.
SECTION 4
Observe the Basic Precautions above.
On infected farms, or farms where disease is suspected or being investigated (Form A and Form D), special restrictions will apply at the direction of the Divisional Veterinary Manager on the basis of a risk assessment. No farming operations of any kind should be undertaken without prior permission (including work by contractors). Depending on individual circumstances and the risk assessment, it may be possible for some field operations to take place. But advice on this and on the treatment or use of any feed, grain, hay, straw or silage already produced and stored on the premises will be given by the veterinary authorities. Preparing a schedule of intended cropping plans and related machinery movements in advance will help the veterinary authorities reach a decision. (NB. The use of baled silage or in-field clamps are options that can facilitate speedier silage making if the access and cleaning requirements make central silage making impracticable). Where infected farms have off-lying cropping land entirely separated from the main holding and manures from susceptible livestock are not used (and the land is not grazed), the veterinary authorities will be able to advise whether the land is under restriction. Subject to their advice, such land can be visited to inspect crops and to carry out cultivation and application of agrochemicals and inorganic fertiliser, provided such materials have not been stored at, or require movement from, the distant infected premises. Anyone visiting such land should obtain permission beforehand and before carrying out agreed field operations.
SECTION 5
Observe the Basic Precautions
Once statutory restrictions have been lifted field operations will be able to resume as normal without the need for any additional delay (subject to the cleaning and disinfection procedures already described). This includes planting/drilling, the cutting of crops or grass for hay, straw or silage and any other harvesting of crops. There are similarly no limitations on the subsequent use of crops or crop products. But access routes to fields being cultivated must be discussed with the veterinary authorities in order not to compromise other FMD control measures.
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
30 March 2001
Annex 1
PROCEDURES FOR TRAVEL TO AND ENTRY ON FARMS TO UNDERTAKE CROP RELATED OPERATIONS
The following instructions apply to all personnel and field equipment, whether farm employees or contractors, when visiting premises to carry out cropping or related activities.
VISITS TO NON-INFECTED FARMS OUTSIDE INFECTED AREAS
Section 1 of main note (and Section 5 where the farm is no longer in an Infected Area)
There are considerable amounts of cropping land with no livestock in the immediate area. MAFF is aware that these businesses need to be able to continue business operations with as little hindrance as possible. However all in the industry have duty to behave responsibly, and to assist in reducing risk wherever possible.
All visitors to farms should only visit with prior permission, and should declare previous visits to other farms. Good agricultural practice should be followed and all footwear and machinery should be clean before entering and before leaving the premises. Apart from Foot and Mouth, adhering material can also spread plant viruses like Barley and Wheat mosaic viruses and Rhizomania.
Those managing farms purely involved in the growing of crops and grass need to acknowledge that those visiting their farms may subsequently visit livestock premises and any livestock manures used on the cropping farm may be infective. Setting up adequate disinfecting facilities at the point of entry can help to reduce the risk of transfer to other vehicles, especially on crops only holdings where there are many livestock premises in the locality.
Sections 2 and 3 of main note (and Section 5 where the farm is still in an Infected Area)
Where susceptible livestock are present, or where manures from susceptible livestock are used, all personnel and visitors should in addition clean and disinfect footwear and machinery before entering and again before leaving the premises. Complete diary records of all visits should be recorded.
Cars and other transport vehicles should not be brought onto fields and in general use should be kept clean without the accumulation of excessive underbody dirt. Field machinery and the footwear of anyone entering fields should be demonstrably clean, disinfected and free from adhering material and should be similarly cleaned after use, so as to leave the premises in the same clean and disinfected condition. Details of effective cleaning procedures for machinery are given in Annex 2.
Where machinery is used entirely within the boundaries of any farm, cleaning and disinfection is not required to move from field to field. But if such field to field movement involves the crossing of any public road where there is open access, cleaning and disinfection is required as if entering new premises. At the minimum this must include removal of organic material and disinfection of the tyres. Soil carried onto the roadway should be swept up and returned to the field from which it came
VISITS TO INFECTED FARMS (ANY AREA)
Section 4 of the main note
All entries, exits, vehicle or machinery movements will be subject to veterinary direction.
Annex 2
INTER FARM TRANSFER-GUIDELINES FOR CLEANING CROP RELATED EQUIPMENT
The guidelines below are for the removal of material adhering to machinery. Once clean machinery should be sprayed with an approved disinfectant before it is moved to other premises, or to other parts of the same holding that involves travel over public highways or tracks. On arrival at new premises cleaning and disinfection should clean road wheels and all new dirt collected during transit
Removal of all foreign matter from any implement is vital if contamination is to be avoided or for disinfection to be effective. Foreign matter includes soil, whether as mud, caked dry deposits, fine soil dust on greasy layers, fine soil dust in crevices or any vegetative material caught up anywhere. Old rags, sacks and twine should also be removed. When using machinery on outlying parcels of land, cleaning and disinfection procedures may be logistically difficult. It may, however, be possible to utilise farm sprayer rinse tanks, knapsack sprayers or to adapt water bowsers for this purpose.
Troublesome areas on much equipment are likely to be:
- Behind soil wearing parts – plough points, mouldboards, landsides, cultivator points, wearing shins, voids behind points etc. A plough or cultivator will need lifting up and thoroughly supported prior to washing. Each body or leg must be thoroughly inspected. If possible lift the implement higher than normal, working safely.
- All flat surfaces, or where vertical to horizontal beams join, turnover mechanisms, angled corners will retain soil etc.
- Inspect all equipment for open-ended box or tube sections where mud or soil can lie. Remove the soil, wash section out and ensure drainage is complete.
- All wheels, whether support with tyres or simple steel depth type will accumulate soil. Always check the inner wheel rim surface, close to any stub axles or frames. Ensure that all scrapers are working effectively. Similar areas apply to all disc harrows, press rings and plough presses.
- Underneath sections of many cultivator frames will show soil build up particularly where corner bracings/stiffeners exist. Chassis or frame sections of all equipment will have many areas similarly holding soil.
- Many rollers, whether flat, gang, crumble or packer type accumulate soil in between sections, rings or within their main roll, particularly if soil is moist. Remove all soil and debris.
- Many powered cultivators have soil “hung up” under the drive bed, hood, shield or guards. Ensure these are all thoroughly clean. Again the implement may need lifting higher than normal and thoroughly supported prior to any work.
- All seed drill coulters or shoes will have some soil build up, particularly upwards into open seed tubes. Clean these mechanically prior to washing down.
- Implement transport/seed supply trailers will have soil accumulations, particularly on undersurfaces close to the draw bar, wheels and on their front surfaces.
- Potato equipment works into deep tilths, consequently soil rides upward onto under surfaces. Check all openers and casings/guards for soil build up.
Check all destoner/declodder webs/stars and cross conveyors, remove all soil and stones hung up.
- Fertiliser spreaders are normally thoroughly washed out after use but particular attention is needed to mud thrown up from wheels.
- Root harvesters. All harvesters include a complex mix of webs, conveyors, link and rubber elevators as well as many frame issues listed above. Thorough inspection throughout progressive equipment movement/rotation is vital to total cleaning.
- Tyres – Mud left on tyres and thrown from tractor and implement wheels at speed acumulates on all implements and contaminates roads. It is essential that all tractor wheels are thoroughly washed before moving off to avoid undoing all the valuable implement cleaning work. This tyre cleaning also applies to all prime movers with no implements e.g. self-propelled sprayers/ spreaders or harvesters.
- Footwear – The footwear of machinery operators, and anyone visiting arable land should be demonstrably clean and free from adhesions and disinfected as required. Clean the inside of the cab to ensure for example that material is not carried on the pedals. If necessary disinfect the inside of the cab. Remember to disinfect before entering the cab for the last time before leaving the premises.
- Fertiliser spreaders are normally thoroughly washed out after use but particular attention is needed to mud thrown up from wheels.
