Farmers are praying BSE scare is just a scare

Another outbreak of BSE would be a dagger in the heart of, not just farmers, but the entire community.

So crucial is the food industry to Ireland now that anything that jeopardises our markets would be a catastrophe for all of us. Every year we export 470,000 tonnes of beef, a business that’s worth €2 billion to the economy.

Just as Irish beef exports to the US and China are getting back on track a suspected case of BSE is deeply disappointing. Furthermore, with the end of quotas, hopefully it will not deter the optimism of many young dairy farmers already under pressure as they endeavour to build up herds.

We are confident the Department of Agriculture and farm organisations will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to avert the spread of the dreaded disease.

The rest of us can only pray!

James Gleeson

The Grove

Thurles

CoTipperary