29/07/08
Christopher Thomas-Everard who farms on Exmoor in Somerset has been appointed new chairman of the National Beef Association.
He replaces Duff Burrell of Alnwick in Northumberland who stood down two weeks ago because he said his view of what should happen over joining DEFRA’s proposed TB “Partnership” Group was different to that of the NBA’s regional chairmen and the majority of other Board members”.
“I am very honoured to have been appointed chairman. I want to commend the excellent work undertaken by our former chairman, Duff Burrell, on behalf of NBA members (and the rest of the cattle industry) during his three years in office in opening doors and taking a practical farmer’s view into Whitehall,” said Mr Thomas-Everard.
“I must also thank Frank Momber (who remains as Vice-Chairman) for standing in at short notice and organising the confirmation of a replacement chairman for the Association in less than two weeks.”
“I should like to confirm that the NBA will stand shoulder to shoulder with the other 16 industry bodies in seeking to persuade Mr Benn of the only way possible to eradicate TB in cattle and wildlife. TB in wildlife has spread alarmingly in the first 4 months of this year and is moving outwards at over 10 miles a year. The resulting incidence of TB in the sentinel species, cattle, has therefore increased - causing much distress to farmers and a heavy financial burden to them and to the UK. TB is now forecast to result in the destruction of 40,000 cattle in 2008 which were healthy in 2007. TB in badgers means they suffer a long lingering painful death. >From that point of view alone it is important to stop the spread and eradicate this disease. At worst, because of the vastly greater area affected by TB, the disease may spread from badgers to people in contact with contaminated pasture.”
“My family run suckler cattle and sheep on a hill farm on Exmoor. As new NBA chairman I am determined to do my best on behalf of beef farmers of all types and in all part of the UK. We hope to arrange NBA meetings in the nine membership regions in the next few months which will be open to all beef farmers and I will try to attend all of these.”
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